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"Did we, or did we not, have to pay much more than we expected?" "My dear Thuillier," said la Peyrade, "I think, with you, that the matter is now settled, and it can only be embittered by discussing it further. My course was decided on before I came here; all that I have now heard can only confirm it. I shall not be the husband of Celeste, but you and I can remain good friends."
"You remember," said Cerizet, coming out with it, "that some time ago Dutocq and I were much puzzled to know how la Peyrade was, all of a sudden, able to make that payment of twenty-five thousand francs?" "Ha!" said the old man quickly, "have you discovered the origin of that very improbable sum in our friend's hands; and is that origin shady?" "You shall judge," said Cerizet.
The terms of the manifesto, after la Peyrade had made a rough draft of it, were discussed at great length. This discussion took place in Cerizet's presence, who, acting on du Portail's advice, accepted the management, but postponed the payment of the security till the next day, through the latitude allowed in all administrations for the accomplishment of that formality.
But she was the daughter of my old friend, your uncle, and when, feeling the years creep on me, I propose to you, between sacks of money, to fit yourself to take my place " "What!" cried la Peyrade, "is that girl my uncle's daughter?"
"If I do no more for you than is possible, it will not be enough." "Vell, vell, I vill act qvite frankly." "Frankly that is all I ask," said Peyrade, "and frankness is the only thing at all new that you and I can offer to each other." "Frankly," echoed the Baron. "Vere shall I put you down." "At the corner of the Pont Louis XVI."
While you are getting under arms I'll do a little courting to Celeste; you and I can talk as we drive along." La Peyrade had seen, as he passed the door of the salon, Celeste and Felix Phellion in close conversation. Flavie had such confidence in her daughter that she did not fear to leave them together.
Three banknotes, of a thousand francs each, lying visibly before him on Desroches's desk, informed la Peyrade that the negotiation had already taken place, and that the lawyers were worsted. Godeschal's eyes told the rest, and the glance which Desroches cast at the "poor man's advocate" was like the blow of a pick-axe into the earth of a grave.
Peyrade was finishing his second bottle when one of the hotel waiters unceremoniously showed in a man in whom Peyrade and Contenson both at once discerned a gendarme in mufti. "Monsieur Peyrade," said the gendarme to the nabob, speaking in his ear, "my instructions are to take you to the Prefecture." Peyrade, without saying a word, rose and took down his hat.
Carlos, by disappearing for a few days, would put malice off the scent. Human prudence had foreseen everything; no error was possible. The false Spaniard was to start on the morrow of the day when Peyrade met Madame du Val-Noble.
"I couldn't say every day; but he came often. Well, I am told to give the countess's letters to him." "And for other persons of her acquaintance," said la Peyrade, carelessly, "did she leave no message?" "None, monsieur." "Very well," said la Peyrade, "good-morning." And he turned to go out. "But I think," said the porter, "that Mademoiselle Thuillier knows more about it than I do.
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