Let us part friends--au revoir--and,
above all, keep me well posted about matters in general."
M. de Coralth's temper was already somewhat ruffled when he
entered Valorsay's house; and he was in a furious passion when he
left it. "So we are to survive or perish together," he growled.
"Thanks for the preference you display for my society. Is it my
fault that the fool has squandered his fortune? I fancy I've had
enough of his threats and airs."
Still his wrath was not so violent as to make him forget his own
interests. He at once went to inquire if the agreement which M.
Wilkie had just signed would be binding. The lawyer whom he
consulted replied that, at all events, a reasonable compensation
would most probably be granted by the courts, in case of any
difficulty; and he suggested a little plan which was a chef
d'oeuvre in its way, at the same time advising his client to
strike the iron while it was hot.
It was not yet noon, and the viscount determined to act upon the
suggestion at once; he now bitterly regretted the delay he had
specified. "I must find Wilkie at once," he said to himself. But
he did not succeed in meeting him until the evening, when he found
him at the Cafe Riche--and in what a condition too! The two
bottles of wine which the young fool had drank at dinner had gone
to his head, and he was enumerating, in a loud voice, the desires
he meant to gratify as soon as he came into possession of his
millions.
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