There was, however, a huge chest against the wall near the window, and Shangois sat down on this, with his legs hunched up to his chin, looking at Ferrol with steady, inquisitive eyes.

Ferrol laughed outright.

A grotesque thought occurred to him.

This little black notary was exactly like the weird imp which, he had always imagined, sat high up in his brain, dropping down little ironies and devilries--his personified conscience; or, perhaps, the truth left out of him at birth and given this form, to be with him, yet not of him.
Shangois did not stir, nor show by even the wink of an eyelid that he recognised the laughter, or thought that he was being laughed at.
Presently Ferrol sat down and looked at Shangois without speaking, as Shangois looked at him.

He smiled more than once, however, as the thought recurred to him.
"Well ?" he said at last.
"What if she finds out about the five thousand dollars--eh, m'sieu' ?" Ferrol was completely dumfounded.