Page:Ten Years Later 2.djvu/40

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TEN YEARS LATER

30 TEN YEARS LATER. "That is transparent enough, I think; you take that paper." "Well?" "And you set out instead of me." "Ah!" "You put your horses to their best speed." "Good!" "In six hours you will be at Etampes; in seven hours you have the letter from the comte, and I shall have won my wager without stirring from my bed, which suits me, and you, too, at the same time, I am very sure." "Decidedly, Manicamp, you are a great man." Hein! I know that." "I am to start, then, for Etampes?" "Directly." "I am to go to the Comte de Guiche with this order?" "He will give you a similar one for Monsieur." "Monsieur will ajjprove?" "Instantly." "And I shall have my brevet?" "You will." "Ah!" "Well, I hope I behave genteelly." "Adorably." "Thank you." "You do as you please, then, with the Comte de Guiche, Malicorne?" "Except making money of him — everything." ^^Diahle! the exception is annoying; but then, instead of asking him for money, you were to ask " "What?"_ "Something important." "What do you call important?" "Well, suppose one of your friends asked you to render him a service?" "I would not render it to him." "Selfish fellow!" "Or, at least, I would ask him what service he would render me in exchange." "Ah! that, perhaps, is fair. Well, that friend speaks to you." "What, you, Malicorne?" "Yes; it is I." "Ah! ah! you are rich, then?" "I have still fifty pistoles left."