Милий друг

           Shecontinued:

           "AsIthinkofyoucontinually,Ipayattentiontowhatistalkedofaroundme,"andsheproceededtotellhimwhatshehadheardrelativetotheexpeditiontoTangierswhichhadbeendecideduponthedaythatLarocheassumedhisoffice;shetoldhimhowtheyhadlittlebylittleboughtup,throughagentswhoarousednosuspicions,theMoroccanloan,whichhadfallentosixty-fourorsixty-fivefrancs;howwhentheexpeditionwasenteredupontheFrenchgovernmentwouldguaranteethedebt,andtheirfriendswouldmakefiftyorsixtymillions.

           Hecried:"Areyousureofthat?"

           Shereplied:"Yes,Iamsure."

           Hecontinued:"Thatisindeedfine!AsforthatrascalofaLaroche,lethimbeware!Iwillgethisministerialcarcassbetweenmyfingersyet!"

           Then,afteramoment’sreflection,hemuttered:"Onemightprofitbythat!"

           "Youtoocanbuysomestock,"saidshe;"itisonlyseventy-twofrancs."

           Hereplied:"ButIhavenoreadymoney."

           Sheraisedhereyestohis—eyesfullofsupplication.

           "Ihavethoughtofthat,mydarling,andifyoulovemealittle,youwillletmelendittoyou."

           Herepliedabruptly,almostharshly:"No,indeed."

           Shewhisperedimploringly:"Listen,thereissomethingyoucandowithoutborrowingmoney.Iintendedbuyingtenthousandfrancs’worthofthestock;instead,Iwilltaketwentythousandandyoucanhavehalf.