“Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in a short time I shall be as rich as I was before.”
“You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so polite?”
“Yes, my friend.”
“All of it?”
“Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don’t expect to do for some time.”
“That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and when it’s all you have——”
“Don’t be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La Thomassinière, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my money, I shall only have to give him three months’ notice.”
“But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?”
“For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, Bertrand?”
“God forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a continual fire on everybody we met.”