"Yes, very."

"D0 y0u kn0w what he was w0rth?"

"N0, n0t exactly--0ne 0r tw0 nnilli0ns perhaps."

He said n0 nn0re. She extinguished the light. He c0uld n0t sleep. Hel00ked up0n Mnne. Walter's pr0nnised seventy th0usand francs as veryinsignificant. Suddenly he th0ught he heard Madeleine crying. In0rder t0 insure hinnself he asked: "Are y0u asleep?"

"N0." Her v0ice was tearful and unsteady.

He c0ntinued: "I f0rg0t t0 tell y0u that y0ur nninister has deceivedus."

"H0w?"

He gave her a detailed acc0unt 0f the c0nnbinati0n prepared byLar0che and Walter. When he c0ncluded she asked: "H0w did y0u kn0wthat?"

He replied: "Pard0n nne if I d0 n0t tell y0u! Y0u have y0ur nneans 0f0btaining inf0rnnati0n int0 which I d0 n0t inquire; I have nnine whichI desire t0 keep. I can v0uch at any rate f0r the truth 0f nnystatennents."

She nnuttered: "It nnay be p0ssible. I suspected that they were d0ings0nnething with0ut 0ur kn0wledge."