"Had it been small, I should have said theft. Embezzling commences
only when the sum has reached a round figure."

Annoyed at the sardonic tone of the commissary:

"The fact is," resumed M. Chapelain, "Favoral was our friend; and,
if we could get him out of the scrape, we would all willingly
contribute."

"It's a matter of ten or twelve millions, gentlemen." Was it
possible? Was it even likely? Could any one imagine so many
millions slipping through the fingers of M. de Thaller's methodic
cashier?

"Ah, sir!" exclaimed Mme. Favoral, "if any thing could relieve my
feelings, the enormity of that sum would. My husband was a man of
simple and modest tastes."

The commissary shook his head.

"There are certain passions," he interrupted, "which nothing betrays
externally. Gambling is more terrible than fire. After a fire, some
charred remnants are found. What is there left after a lost game?
Fortunes may be thrown into the vortex of the bourse, without a trace
of them being left."

The unfortunate woman was not convinced.

"I could swear, sir," she protested, "that I knew how my husband