Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/238

 that Louis Bourcet would marry me, no matter how outlandish my behavior was; and I also knew, as long as I had a hundred thousand francs, Cartouche never would marry me. And as I wanted to be happy, I concluded to get rid of my hundred thousand francs, and that horrid, pious, correct, stupid, pompous Louis Bourcet at the same time—"

And then Fifi burst into the whole story of her adventures, beginning with her putting the box of old shoes in the bank, and sewing her money up in the mattress. Through it all the Holy Father sat with his hand to his lips and coughed occasionally.

Fifi knew how to tell her story, and gave very graphic pictures of her life and adventures in the Rue de l'Echelle. She told it all, including her return to the street of the Black Cat in the same van with her boxes, her proposal of marriage to Cartouche and Toto's share in the proceedings. The Holy Father listened attentively, and after an extra spell of coughing at the end, inquired gravely:

"And what did Cartouche say to your proposition to marry him?"

"Holy Father, he behaved horridly, and has not