Nor M.Richard either, for that matter!" "Aha!" said Richard, suddenly assuming a swaggering air which Moncharmin did not like.

"I knew nothing either! You put twenty-thousand francs in my pocket and I knew nothing either! I am very glad to hear it, Mme.

Giry!" "Yes," the terrible dame agreed, "yes, it's true.

We neither of us knew anything.

But you, you must have ended by finding out!" Richard would certainly have swallowed Mme.