Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/62

 *actly as he did the day he caught her acting with the strolling players on the street.

"Oh, no, Cartouche. It is a little—a little—I would much rather have him than a cloak. It is a dear little—"

But Toto himself revealed his species at that moment, by pushing the cupboard door open; and bouncing out, he ran to Fifi's protecting arms.

Cartouche was too much staggered to say a word, but Fifi, in the terrible silence, said timidly:

"He can dance, Cartouche—and—and stand on his hind legs like a little angel!"

"I see," cried Cartouche, recovering his speech and uncorking his wrath. "It is for a little black angel that can stand on his hind legs that you have sacrificed the cloak!"

"Yes," cried Fifi, likewise recovering her speech, now that the murder was out. "Toto is worth a dozen cloaks to me, and he only cost twenty francs. It is almost like buying a dear little child for twenty francs. I shall love Toto so much and he will love me back—we shall love each other better than anything in the world!"

Cartouche drew back a little as if he had re