'Well, we had as pleasant an evening as might be expected. I won five hundred pistoles and came home straight to my study, and on entering it imagine my feelings on seeing Sophie there—and you can guess the rest.'
'Poor devil,' I laughed, 'so your little plan failed utterly.'
'Vallon failed utterly. It appears that Sophie came up about ten, and, being waved off, went away. She returned, however, about an hour later to find Monsieur Vallon, who had got tired of his position, asleep with his mouth open in the chair in which you are sitting. She refused to believe it was only a card party—though I said I would call the Marshal and de Vitry to witness—burst into tears, and in fine, my friend, I had a bad quarter of an hour, and Sophie has gone off to Belin.'
'And the pistoles?' I asked slily.
He looked at me, and we both laughed.
'She took them,' he answered.
'Belin,' I said after a moment, 'will you ever change?'
'Ventre St. Gris! As the King swears. Why should I? After all, Sophie will come round again. I really am very happy. I have many things to be thankful for. I can always help a friend——'
'I know that,' I interrupted, 'and I want your help.'
'How much is it? Or is it a second?'