Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/257

 Was it not your whole fortune? For I remember well hearing that you had drawn the grand prize in the lottery."

"Yes, Sire," replied Fifi, "but I am still well off."

"I am glad to hear it, Mademoiselle."

"Sire, the manager of the Imperial Theater is to give me fifty francs the week, and the Holy Father, to whom my grandfather was cousin, is to give me forty francs the week as long as I live; that is, if I do not put it on the bill-boards that I am Mademoiselle Chiaramonti, granddaughter of the Pope's cousin."

"It was I who caused that relationship to be established, after having heard your name, the evening that my good friend Cartouche invited me to see you act. But what ingenious person was it who dreamed of putting your relationship to the Pope on the bill-boards?"

"I and our manager, Monsieur Duvernet, Sire. Monsieur Duvernet knows how to advertise."

The Emperor laughed a little.

"I should think so. I have met Monsieur Duvernet—the same evening, Mademoiselle, that I had