"It would be more correct to say that he _was_ a distinguished man," said Doolittle, smiling at the recollection of the general as he had last seen him. "He has been demoted, as many others have been, or will be, but he has not taken it in good part. He is a reckless adventurer, who has risen from the ranks of the Legion, and yet--I believe that he is a gentleman. He has, I regret to say, taken to--er--drink, to some extent, out of disappointment, but no doubt the prospect of excitement would restore him to sobriety. And he has told me that he might marry--if it were made a sporting proposition." "A sporting proposition! _Mon Dieu!_ And is such a thing their idea of sport? These Americans are mad!" "They might say the same of you, it seems to me," said the banker dryly. "At any rate there it stands. The general might agree as a sporting proposition. Married to the general there should be no difficulty in securing passage to America. After you get to America the matter is in your hands." "But I should be married to the general," exclaimed Solange in protest. Doolittle waved this aside. "The general would, I believe, regard the marriage merely as an adventure. He does not like women. As for the rest, marriage, in America, is not a serious matter. A decree of divorce can be obtained very easily. If this be regarded as a veritable _mariage de convenance_, it should suit you admirably and the general as well." "He would expect to be paid?" "Well, I can't say as to that," said Doolittle, smiling as he thought of De Launay's oil wells. "He might accept pay. But he is as likely to take it on for the chance of adventure. In any event, I imagine that you are prepared to employ assistance from time to time." "That is what the money is for," said Solange candidly. "I have even considered at times employing an assassin. It is a regrettable fact that I hesitate to kill any one in cold blood. It causes me to shudder, the thought of it. When I am angry, that is a different matter, but when I am cold, ah, no! I am a great coward! This General de Launay, would he consider such employment, do you think?" "Judging from his reputation," said Doolittle, "I don't believe he would stop at anything." Solange knew something of De Launay and Doolittle now told her more. Before he had finished she was satisfied. She rose with thanks to him and then requested the general's address. "I think you'll find him," he referred to a memorandum on his desk, "at the café of the Pink Kitten, which is in Montmartre. It is there that he seems to make his headquarters since he resigned from the army." "Monsieur," said Solange, gratefully, "I am indeed indebted to you." "Not at all," said Doolittle as he bowed her out. "The pleasure has been all mine." CHAPTER III A SPORTING PROPOSITION