But never before had any one been accused of such an audacious and
impudent piece of rascality as that which Kami-Bey imputed to
Valorsay.
"How did you fail to discover this at the outset, prince?"
inquired Pascal in an incredulous tone.
"Because my time was so much occupied."
"But your servants?"
"Ah! that's another thing. I shouldn't be at all surprised if it
were proved that the man who has charge of my stables had been
bribed by the marquis."
"Then, how were your suspicions aroused?"
"It was only by the merest chance. A jockey whom I thought of
employing had often ridden one of the animals which I fancied
myself the owner of. Naturally, I showed him the horse, but he
had no sooner set eyes on it than he exclaimed: 'That the horse!
Never! You've been cheated, prince!' Then we examined the others,
and the fraud became apparent."
Knowing Kami's character better than Pascal, the baron had good
reason to distrust the accuracy of these statements. For the
Turkish millionaire's superb contempt of money was only affected.
Vanity alone unloosed his purse-strings. He was quite capable of
presenting Jenny Fancy with a necklace costing five-and-twenty
thousand francs for the sake of seeing his generosity recorded in
the Gaulois or the Figaro the next day; but he would refuse to
give a trifle to the mother of a starving family.
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