It is a matter of business like anything
else, isn't it? We all hold shares in the great Speculation of
Eternity."
"I tell you this," said Claparon angrily, "that I am just the man to
lend you a slap in the face. When a man is in trouble, it is no time
to pay silly jokes on him."
"I am talking seriously," said Castanier, and he drew a bundle of
notes from his pocket.
"In the first place," said Claparon, "I am not going to sell my soul
to the Devil for a trifle. I want five hundred thousand francs before
I strike----"
"Who talks of stinting you?" asked Castanier, cutting him short. "You
shall have more gold than you could stow in the cellars of the Bank of
France."
He held out a handful of notes. That decided Claparon.
"Done," he cried; "but how is the bargain to be make?"
"Let us go over yonder, no one is standing there," said Castanier,
pointing to a corner of the court.
Claparon and his tempter exchanged a few words, with their faces
turned to the wall. None of the onlookers guessed the nature of this
by-play, though their curiosity was keenly excited by the strange
gestures of the two contracting parties. When Castanier returned,
there was a sudden outburst of amazed exclamation.
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