"Pooh! I have perfect confidence in you,--whatever you do is done well,
and you are not the man to fling away your trump cards."

"True; but I may lose the game, after all, and then----"

The doctor merely shook a large gold locket that depended from his watch
chain.

This movement seemed to annoy Mascarin a great deal. "Why do you flash
that trinket at me?" asked he. "We have known each other for five and
twenty years,--what do you mean to imply? Do you mean that the locket
contains the likeness of some one that you intend to make use of later
on? I think that you might render such a step unnecessary by giving me
your present advice and attention."

Hortebise threw himself back in his chair with an expression of
resignation. "If you want advice," remarked he, "why not apply to our
worthy friend Catenac?--he knows something of business, as he is a
lawyer."

The name of Catenac seemed to irritate Mascarin so much, that calm, and
self-contained as he usually was, he pulled off his cap and dashed it on
his desk.

"Are you speaking seriously?" said he angrily.

"Why should I not be in earnest?"

Mascarin removed his glasses, as though without them he could the more