Are you not well ?" "I am merely preoccupied, and that is excusable on the eve of the battle we are about to fight," returned Mascarin.
He only, however, told a portion of the truth; for there was more in the background, which he did not wish to confide to his friend.

Toto Chupin's revolt had disquieted him.

Let there be but a single flaw in the axletree, and one day it will snap in twain; and Mascarin wanted to eliminate this flaw.
"Pooh!" remarked the doctor, playing with his locket, "we shall succeed.
What have we to fear, after all,--opposition on Paul's part ?" "Paul may resent a little," answered Mascarin disdainfully; "but I have decided that he shall be present at our meeting of to-day.

It will be a stormy one, so be prepared.

We might give him his medicine in minims, but I prefer the whole dose at once." "The deuce you do! Suppose he should be frightened, and make off with our secret." "He won't make off," replied Mascarin in a tone which froze his listener's blood.