“You see, I have not told you all yet. But you are my friend; and I know
I can open my heart to you. _I_ did not have the--the--cleverness to
overcome all the restrictions which hamper this kind of business. I was
imprudent, in spite of all Sir Thorn’s warnings. To-morrow there will be
a meeting of the stockholders; and, if they do not grant me what I shall
have to ask of them, I may be in trouble. And, when a man calls himself
Count Ville-Handry, rather than appear in a police-court--you know what
I mean!”
He was interrupted by one of the clerks, who brought him a letter. He
read it, and said,--
“Tell them I am coming.”