myself, I am only half-confident."

"Nonsense, governor! I've been working with you for three years
now... I'm beginning to know the ropes!"

"Yes, my lad, you're beginning," said Lupin, "and that's just why I'm
afraid of blunders... Here, get in with me... And you, Vaucheray, take
the other boat... That's it... And now push off, boys... and make as
little noise as you can."

Growler and Masher, the two oarsmen, made straight for the opposite bank,
a little to the left of the casino.

They met a boat containing a couple locked in each other's arms, floating
at random, and another in which a number of people were singing at the
top of their voices. And that was all.

Lupin shifted closer to his companion and said, under his breath:

"Tell me, Gilbert, did you think of this job, or was it Vaucheray's idea?"

"Upon my word, I couldn't tell you: we've both of us been discussing it
for weeks."

"The thing is, I don't trust Vaucheray: he's a low ruffian when one gets
to know him... I can't make out why I don't get rid of him..."

"Oh, governor!"

"Yes, yes, I mean what I say: he's a dangerous fellow, to say nothing of