CHAPTER XVIII.
AN INFAMOUS TRADE.
Mascarin, who was anxious to make as deep an impression as possible upon Croisenois and Paul, broke off his story abruptly, and paced up and down the room.

Had his intention been to startle his audience, he had most certainly succeeded.

Paul was breathless with interest, and Croisenois broke down in attempting to make one of his usual trivial remarks.

He was not particularly intelligent, except as regarded his self-interests, and though, of course, he knew that there must be some connection between his interests and the recital that Mascarin had just made, he could not for the life of him make out what it was.

Mascarin seemed utterly careless of the effect that he had produced.