Page:The fortunes of Fifi (IA fortunesoffifi00seawiala).pdf/91

 back, "I know no more what to do with a hundred thousand francs than you do; I never had a hundred thousand francs of my own in my life. I have a civil list of forty millions, which I disburse for the benefit of the state, but it is as much as I can do to keep myself and my wife in clothes. Women are expensive creatures, Cartouche."

"True, your Majesty," replied Cartouche, "and Fifi does not know what to do with money when she gets it—" Then, in a burst of confidence he told the Emperor about the thirty francs Fifi had saved up for a cloak and invested in a little black dog instead. The Emperor threw back his head and laughed heartily.

"This Fifi must be a character. Well, I shall ask Lebrun, the arch-treasurer, to give us his advice about Fifi's hundred thousand francs. But suppose she will not trust you and me and the arch-treasurer with her money?"

"I don't know about the arch-treasurer, your Majesty, but I am sure Fifi will trust you, Sire, and me. But what is to be done with Fifi herself, is puzzling me."

"That can be easily settled, I think. You remember I told you, when I found her name was