Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/258

 the pleasure of seeing you act. So the Holy Father interfered with yours and Duvernet's little plan—ha! ha!"

"Yes, Sire. First, Monsieur Duvernet said he would give me twenty francs to be billed as the Pope's cousin, and the Holy Father said he would give me twenty-five francs to be billed simply as Mademoiselle Fifi. Then Monsieur Duvernet said thirty francs, and the Holy Father said thirty-five; and Monsieur Duvernet said thirty-eight, and the Holy Father said forty. That was such a large sum, Sire, that Monsieur Duvernet could not meet it."

"And what does our friend Cartouche say to this? Cartouche," he explained to the Empress, "is my old friend of Lodi, the only man who crossed the bridge before me, and he came to see me and consulted me about this young lady's fortune."

"Cartouche, Sire, does not know it."

"Why? Have you fallen out with Cartouche?"

"Oh, no, Sire. Cartouche and I are to be married a week from Thursday," replied Fifi, smiling and blushing.

"Then explain why he does not know about the