Now, if anything untoward happened, you would vanish, and only Butor would remain a prey for the police." Tantaine paused for a moment, and then slowly added, "Such tactics usually succeed unless a man has some secret enemy, who would take advantage of his knowledge, to do him an injury by obtaining irrefragable proofs of his complicity." The ex-cook easily perceived the threat that was hidden under these words.

"They know something," muttered he, "and I must find out what it is." "If a man has a clear conscience," said he aloud, "he is all right.

I have nothing to conceal, and therefore nothing to fear.

You have now seen my establishment; what do you think of it ?" "It seems to me a very well-conducted one." "It may have occurred to you that a factory at Roubaix might have been a better investment, but I had not the capital to begin with." Tantaine nodded.

"It is not half a bad trade," said he.
"I agree with you.