Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/236

 dazes one to be suddenly overwhelmed with riches, to be taken away from all one knows and loves, to be compelled to be idle when one would work—to be, in short, transplanted to another world. At first, I would have agreed to anything."

"I understand. Now, open your heart to me as to your father."

"I was very wretched after I got the money. I was idle, I was unhappy, I was unloved—and I had been used to being busy, to being happy, to being loved. And what gave me the courage to rebel was, that I found out I loved Cartouche. Holy Father, he is my only friend—" An expression in the Holy Father's eyes made Fifi quickly correct herself. "Was my only friend. And when I thought of being married, I could not imagine life without Cartouche. So, I made up my mind to marry him. But Cartouche said he was neither young nor rich, nor handsome, and with my youth and newly-*acquired fortune, I ought to marry above him. I do not claim that Cartouche is what is called—a—" Fifi hesitated, the term "brilliant marriage" not being known in the street of the Black Cat. But the Holy Father suggested it with a smile—

"A brilliant marriage?"