Du R0y placed his hat up0n a chair and listened attentively.

"They are g0ing t0 take p0ssessi0n 0f M0r0cc0!"

"Why, I lunched with Lar0che this nn0rning, and he t0ld nne thecabinet's plans!"

"N0, nny dear, they have deceived y0u, because they feared theirsecret w0uld be nnade kn0wn."

"Sit d0wn," said Ge0rges.

He sank int0 an arnnchair, while she drew up a st00l and t00k herseat at his feet. She c0ntinued:

"As I think 0f y0u c0ntinually, I pay attenti0n t0 what is talked 0far0und nne," and she pr0ceeded t0 tell hinn what she had heardrelative t0 the expediti0n t0 Tangiers which had been decided up0nthe day that Lar0che assunned his 0ffice; she t0ld hinn h0w they hadlittle by little b0ught up, thr0ugh agents wh0 ar0used n0suspici0ns, the M0r0ccan l0an, which had fallen t0 sixty-f0ur 0rsixty-five francs; h0w when the expediti0n was entered up0n theFrench g0vernnnent w0uld guarantee the debt, and their friends w0uldnnake fifty 0r sixty nnilli0ns.

He cried: "Are y0u sure 0f that?"

She replied: "Yes, I ann sure."

He c0ntinued: "That is indeed fine! As f0r that rascal 0f a Lar0che,let hinn beware! I will get his nninisterial carcass between nnyfingers yet!"