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"Now I can enter the Larsagny palace," he said to himself; "as the pasha they will admit me." Coucou jumped into a carriage and told the coachman to drive to the Rue de Pelletier.
"Well?" "I must leave the house about twelve o'clock for one or more hours " "He lies," thought Carmen to herself. "To do this," continued Larsagny, "I must pretend some sudden sickness. You will have me brought to my room, and then " "Since when are the bankers and the money-brokers at night in their offices?" asked Carmen. "But "
"Hello, Coucou where do you hail from?" cried the soldier, joyously. "Rather tell me where you come from?" "Ah, I have been only three days in Paris." "What business have you in the Larsagny palace?" he asked. "Oh, I must deliver a letter." "So must I; from whom, if I may ask?" "Oh, it is no secret. I have a Bedouin prince for a friend who accompanied me to Paris.
The young girl returned the kiss, and who knows but that they would have continued their osculatory exercise had not a voice close to the terrace said: "Take care, Monsieur de Larsagny, that you do not try to find out my name. You will know it sooner than will be agreeable to you." Carmen shuddered, and leaning far over, she tried to espy the speakers.
The doors were wide open and the whole front of the house swam in light. The Zouave entered a restaurant opposite, ordered a bottle of wine, and began a conversation with the waiter. "What is going on to-day in the Larsagny palace?" he asked. "Oh, the banker is giving a great ball," said the waiter. "He is very rich, I suppose." "Enormously so."
In a few words Carmen related what had brought her there, and showed the letter she had taken from Larsagny. "In Courbevoie!" cried Gontram. "How shall we find Spero there?" "I know the house," said Carmen; "it belongs to the banker, and I believe we shall find the vicomte there." "May God grant it." Ten minutes later they were all on the road to Courbevoie.
An accident had brought Signor Fagiano and Monsieur de Larsagny together. Hardly had the secretary caught a glimpse of the banker than he recoiled in affright and nearly fell to the ground. Larsagny sprang to his rescue, but Fagiano muttered an excuse and hastily left the parlor. Carmen and her companion were witnesses of the meeting, and Gontram felt the young girl's arm tremble.
"Do you mean to tell me that you have business on the Bourse at midnight?" "Carmen, I swear to you that " "If you imagine that you can make me your accomplice in some crime that you are planning, you are mistaken. I will be the first one to deliver you over to the law." Larsagny trembled, but he tried to smile, and with a hasty au revoir he went away.
"The gentleman is waiting in the parlor," he said; "will the baron receive him?" Before Larsagny could throw a look at the card, Carmen had grasped it. "Signor Fagiano," she read aloud, and as the banker with trembling voice said he would be down, she nodded to the servant to go away, and then mockingly said: "Signor Fagiano has no doubt come to tell the baron his name. Good luck to him!"
Don't think bad of me that I did such a thing, but there was no other choice. As soon as the two exchanged their first words, I saw at once they were partners in crime. I heard the Italian say: "'I have taken the preliminary steps, and guarantee the success of the plan. Revenge is assured for us, but I must have some more money. "'Here is what I promised you, replied Larsagny.
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