Besides, it was
his ambition to be regarded as the most swindled man in Europe.
But though he was shamefully imposed upon, it was not voluntarily--
for there was a strong dose of Arabian avarice and distrust in
his composition.
"Frankly, prince," said the baron, "your story sounds like one of
the wild legends of your native land. Valorsay is certainly no
fool. How is it possible that he could have been guilty of so
gross a fraud--a fraud which might be, which could not fail to be
discovered in twenty-four hours--and which, once proven, would
dishonor him forever?"
"Before perpetrating such a piece of deception upon any one else,
he would have thought twice; but upon me it's different. Isn't it
an established fact that a person incurs no risk in robbing Kami-
Bey?"
"Had I been in your place I should have quietly instituted an
investigation."
"What good would that have done? Besides, the sale was only
conditional, and took place under the seal of secrecy. The
marquis reserved the right to take his horses back on payment of a
stipulated sum, and the time he was to have for consideration only
expired on the day before yesterday."
"Eh! why didn't you tell us that at first?" cried the baron.
The marquis's rascality was now easily explained. Finding himself
in a desperate strait, and feeling that his salvation was certain
if he could only gain a little time, he had yielded to temptation,
saying to himself, like unfaithful cashiers when they first
appropriate their employers' money: "I will pay it back, and no
one will ever know it!" However, when the day of settlement came
he had found himself in as deplorable a plight as on the day of
the robbery, and he had been compelled to yield to the force of
circumstances.
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