Page:William Le Queux - The Temptress.djvu/81

66 Hitherto we have transacted our various affairs satisfactorily, and there's no reason why we should not be successful to this. It only requires tact and caution—qualities with which both of us are fortunately well endowed. When it is complete we shall leave this wretched country."

"As for myself, I shouldn't be sorry if we were going to-morrow," remarked the younger man morosely. "I'm sick of the whole business."

"Oh, are you?" exclaimed Bérard fiercely. " What in the name of the devil is the matter with you, you impudent coward? We entered upon this affair together; our course is quite plain, and now, just when we are within an ace of success, you want to back out of it. You're mad!"

"Perhaps I am," replied Pierre warmly. "But you are too enthusiastic, and I have a presentiment that the whole affair will end in disaster."

"Disaster! You talk like a woman," Bérard exclaimed. "How is it that other delicate matters you and I have negotiated have not ended in a contretemps, eh?"

"Nom d'un chien! And what have we gained by them? Why, simply nothing. You have been clever, it's true; but in this, if we don't wait until a more favorable opportunity occurs, we shall bungle. And if we do, you know the consequences."

"But while we are waiting we must have money from somewhere."

"We must wait," declared Pierre. "We ought to move out of this wretched rabbit-warren, and dress a trifle more respectably. Do you think we're likely to get any. Je n'ai pas un rond," he added in the argot of the criminal circles of Montmartre.

Bérard shrugged his shoulders, and pulled a wry face.