So don't treat with
any one."
"Oh, no! You may rest assured I won't."
"I should be quieter in mind if I had your promise in writing."
Without a word, Wilkie darted to a table, and wrote a short
contract by which he bound himself to give M. Ferdinand de Coralth
one-half of the inheritance which the aforesaid Coralth might
prove him to be entitled to. The viscount read the document,
placed it in his pocket, and then said, as he took up his hat:
"Very well. I will see you again on Monday."
But M. Wilkie's doubts were beginning to return. "Monday, so be
it!" said he; "but swear that you are not deceiving me."
"What, do you still doubt me?"
M. Wilkie reflected for a moment; and suddenly a brilliant
inspiration darted through his brain. "If you are speaking the
truth, I shall soon be rich," said he. "But, in the meantime,
life is hard. I haven't a penny, and it isn't a pleasant
situation. I have a horse entered for the race to-morrow, Pompier
de Nanterre. You know the animal very well. The chances are
enormously in his favor. So, if it wouldn't inconvenience you to
lend me fifty louis "
"Certainly," interrupted the viscount, cordially. "Certainly;
with the greatest pleasure."
And drawing a beautiful little notebook from his pocket he took
from it not one, but two bank-notes of a thousand francs, and
handed them to M.
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