“They will soon begin; Jardine has already threatened me.”

“They are going to begin?  Then they have not begun.  If he does, as we presume he will, proceed by a replevin, we shall have sufficient time before the judgment.  Do you owe anything to your landlord?”

“The lease expired on the fifteenth.”

“Do not pay it.”

“That is easy; it is the only thing that is easy for me to do.”

“It is an obstacle in the way of your Jardine, and may stop him a moment.  We can manage this way more easily.  The important thing is to warn me as soon as the fire begins.  ‘Au revoir’, my dear Sir.”

CHAPTER V

A CHARMING VISITOR

Although Saniel had had no experience in business, he was not simple enough not to know that in refusing him this loan Caffie meant to make use of him.

“It is very simple,” he said to himself, as he went downstairs.  “He undertakes to manage my affairs, and in such a way that some day I shall have to save myself by marrying that charming girl.  What a scoundrel!”

However, the situation was such that he was glad to avail himself of the assistance of this scoundrel.  At least, some time was gained, and when Jardine found that he was not disposed to let himself be slaughtered, he might accept a reasonable arrangement.  But he must manage so that Caffie would not prevent this arrangement.

Unfortunately, he felt himself hardly capable of such manoeuvring, having been always straightforward, his eyes fixed on the end he wished to attain, and thinking only of the work through which he would attain it.  And now he must act the part of a diplomat, submitting to craftiness and rogueries that were not at all in accord with his open nature.  He had begun by not telling Caffie, instantly, what he thought of his propositions; but it is more difficult to act than to control one’s self, to speak than to be silent.

What would he say, what would he do, when the time for action came?

He reached his house without having decided anything, and as he passed before the concierge’s lodge absorbed in thought, he heard some one call him.

“Doctor, come in a moment, I beg of you.”

He thought some one wished to consult him, some countryman who had waited for his return; and, although he did not feel like listening patiently to idle complainings, he turned back and entered the lodge.

“Some one brought this,” the concierge said, handing him a paper that was stamped and covered with a running handwriting.  “This” was the beginning of the fire of which Caffie had spoken.  Without reading it, Saniel put it in his pocket and turned to go; but the concierge detained him.

“I would like to say two words to ‘monchieur le docteur’ about this paper.”

“Have you read it?”

“No, but I talked with the officer who gave it to me, and he told me what it meant.  It is unfortunate, doctor.”