"It's purely from force of habit,"
said he. "Ah! since I've been in Paris---- But what do you wish?"
The baron sat down, and gravely replied: "You told us scarcely an
hour ago that you had been cheated in the purchase of some
horses."
"Cheated! it was worse than highway robbery."
"Would it be indiscreet to ask you by whom you have been
defrauded?"
Kami-Bey's purple cheeks became a trifle pale. "Hum!" said he, in
an altered tone of voice, "that is a delicate question. My
defrauder appears to be a dangerous fellow--a duellist--and if I
disclose his knavery, he is quite capable of picking a quarrel
with me--not that I am afraid of him, I assure you, but my
principles don't allow me to fight. When a man has an income of a
million, he doesn't care to expose himself to the dangers of a
duel."
"But, prince, in France folks don't do a scoundrel the honor to
cross swords with him."
"That's just what my steward, who is a Frenchman, told me; but no
matter. Besides, I am not sufficiently sure of the man's guilt to
noise it abroad. I have no positive proofs as yet."
He was evidently terribly frightened, and the first thing to be
done was to reassure him. "Come," insisted the baron, "tell us
the man's name. This gentleman here"--pointing to Pascal--"is one
of my most esteemed friends. I will answer for him as I would for
myself; and we will swear upon our honor not to reveal the secret
we ask you for, without your permission.
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