"
Pascal's presentiments had not deceived him, and he said to
himself: "This is a good thing to know. Before this evening I
shall look into this affair a little."
A storm was decidedly gathering over the Marquis de Valorsay's
head. Did he know it? Certainly he must have expected it. Still
he had sworn to stand fast until the end. Besides, he would not
concede that all was lost; and, like most great gamblers, he told
himself that since he had so much at stake, he might reasonably
hope to succeed. He rose, stretched himself, as a man is apt to
do after the conclusion of a tiresome task, and then, leaning
against the mantel-shelf, he exclaimed: "Now, Monsieur Maumejan,
let us speak of the business that brings you here." His negligent
attitude and his careless tone were admirably assumed, but a
shrewd observer would not have been deceived by them, or by the
indifferent manner in which he added: "You bring me some money
from Baron Trigault?"
Pascal shook his head, as he replied: "I regret to say that I
don't, Monsieur le Marquis."
This response had the same effect as a heavy rock falling upon M.
de Valorsay's bald pate. He turned whiter than his linen, and
even tottered, as if his lame leg, which was so much affected by
sudden changes in the weather, had utterly refused all service.
"What! You haven't--this is undoubtedly a joke.
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