I suppose the crash will come soon enough.

But tell me how I stand; I have not had time to think the last few days." He had, indeed, thought only of others.
"We have," answered I, "done all that is possible to stop the payment of these cheques; but a clever villain might succeed in realising them one by one in different parts of the world, and thus outwit us." "I wonder how it is," said my companion, afloat on a side issue like any woman, "that a fool like myself--an incompetent ass with no brains, eh ?--always finds such a friend as you." He leant forward and tapped me on the chest in his impulsive way, as if sounding that part of me.
"A solid man," he added, apparently satisfied with the investigation.
"I do not know," answered I, truthfully enough; "unless it be that solid men are fools enough to place themselves in such a position." "How have you placed yourself in such a position?
When you have finished that cup of coffee--you have no sugar, by the way--you have but to take your hat and--'_Bon jour._' You leave me still in your debt." With a few quick gestures he illustrated his argument, so that I saw myself--somewhat stiff and British, with my hat upon my head--quit the room, having wished him good day, and leaving him overwhelmed in my debt in a chair.
"I told your father that I would share the responsibility as regarded the safety of his money," I replied.

"It was said only half in earnest, but he took it seriously." "Ah! the poor, dear man! He always took money matters seriously," put in Alphonse.
"I am, at all events, going to try to recover your wealth for you.
Besides, I have a singular desire to twist the neck of Monsieur Charles Miste.

I ought to have known that the Vicomte was too old to be trusted with the arrangement of affairs such as that.

Your father knew it, but thought that I was taking an active part in the matter.