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 in the hank and sewing the money up in the mattrees, just as she had told the Pope, and both the Emperor and the Empress laughed aloud at it. And Fifi further explained how Cartouche's letter had showed her the way to make a good use of her uncomfortable fortune instead of merely throwing it away.

The Empress then asked, in her charming manner, some questions about Fifi's life, and both the Emperor and Empress seemed excessively amused at the simplicity of Fifi's answer.

"I shall have to tell Lebrun, the arch-treasurer, about this," cried the Emperor; "and now, what can I or the Empress do for you?"

Fifi reflected a moment.

"If you please, Sire," she replied after a moment, "to send for Cartouche—he is just outside in the gardens—and order him to marry me a week from next Thursday. For, if he should happen to find out that I have forty francs the week as long as I live, there's no telling what he will do, unless your Majesty gives him positive orders."

The Emperor rang, and his aide appearing, he was directed to find the fellow named Cartouche.