"
"How?" quoth Binet, frowning, and slowly withdrawing the hand which
the other had already retained rather longer than was necessary.
"Thus," Andre-Louis explained himself. "You may set me down as a
sort of knight of rueful countenance in quest of adventure, with no
fixed purpose in life at present. You will not marvel that what I
have seen of yourself and your distinguished troupe should inspire
me to desire your better acquaintance. On your side you tell me
that you are in need of some one to replace your Figaro - your
Felicien, I think you called him. Whilst it may be presumptuous of
me to hope that I could discharge an office so varied and so
onerous... "
"You are indulging that acrid humour of yours again, my friend,"
Binet interrupted him. "Excepting for that," he added, slowly,
meditatively, his little eyes screwed up, "we might discuss this
proposal that you seem to be making."
"Alas! we can except nothing. If you take me, you take me as I am.
What else is possible? As for this humour - such as it is - which
you decry, you might turn it to profitable account.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199