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Updated: May 2, 2025
"M. Mascarin?" asked Paul hesitatingly. "What do you want with him?" asked the man, without looking up from his work. "Do you wish to enter your name? We have now vacancies for three bookkeepers, a cashier, a confidential clerk six other good situations. Can you give good references?" These words seemed to be uttered by rote.
"If you wish to get rid of the masher," said he, "I can show you a way;" and throwing himself into the position of a fencer, he made a lunge with his right arm, exclaiming, "One, two!" "A Prussian quarrel," remarked Mascarin. "No; a duel would do us no good. We should still have the girl on our hands, and violent measures are always to be avoided."
Mascarin stopped for a moment and consulted his notes afresh. "Your departure from Poitiers," he went on, "was your last act of folly. The very day after your poor mother's death you collected together all her scanty savings, and took the train to Paris." "Then, sir, I had hoped " "What, to arrive at fortune by the road of talent? Foolish boy!
"I want absolute obedience from you," said he; "a blind and undeviating obedience, one that makes no objections and asks no questions." "I will obey you, sir; but, oh! do not desert me." Without making any reply, Mascarin rang for Beaumarchef, and as soon as the latter appeared, said, "I am going to Van Klopen's, and shall leave you in charge here."
Up till now Paul did not know that I was Mascarin, and believed me to be the victim of blackmailers. As a dupe he respected me, as an accomplice he will scorn me. This disastrous marriage must be hastened."
Beaumarchef listened to his master's wisdom in silent surprise. "And pray, who is this woman?" asked Mascarin. "You will know her when you see her, sir. She is registered under class D, that is, for employment in rather fast establishments."
"I beg your pardon," returned Paul; "but I should like to see M. Mascarin. One of his friends sent me here." This statement evidently impressed the official, and he replied almost politely, "M. Mascarin is much occupied at present, sir; but he will soon be disengaged. Pray be seated." Paul sat down on a bench, and examined the man who had just spoken with some curiosity.
Now you are getting quite reasonable." "Yes, I am reasonable enough now; that is, that I mean to be wealthy. You have no need to urge me on any more. I am willing to do whatever you desire, for I will never again endure degradation like that I have gone through to-day." "You have let temper get the better of you," returned Mascarin, with a shrug of his shoulders.
"And so," said he, turning to Catenac, "you have only two hundred thousand francs?" "That or thereabouts." "And you offer to divide this sum with us. Really we ought to be deeply grateful to you, but " Mascarin paused for a moment; then settling his spectacles more firmly, he went on,
"No; and on my last visit I plainly told him that I was getting sick of all this mystery; and he said that he himself was tired, and was sorry that he had ever meddled in the affair." Tantaine was not surprised at hearing this, and accounted for Catenac's change of front by the threats of Mascarin. "Well, what do you draw from this?" asked he. "That Catenac has no more information than I have.
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