Then, without waiting for an answer, he sank back into the corner of the carriage beside Vincent, and lowering his voice once more: “This is what it is. I want to take your brother away with me this summer. Yes; I tell you so frankly; what’s the use of beating about the bush between us two?... I haven’t the honour of being acquainted with your parents and of course they wouldn’t allow Olivier to come away with me unless you were to intervene on my behalf. No doubt you’ll find a way of disposing them in my favour. You know what they’re like, I suppose, and you’ll be able to get round them. You’ll do this for me, won’t you?” He waited a moment, and then, as Vincent kept silent, went on: “Look here, Vincent.... I’m leaving Paris soon.... I don’t know for where as yet. I absolutely must have a secretary.... You know I’m founding a review. I have spoken about it to Olivier. He seems to me to have all the necessary qualities.... But I don’t want to look at it merely from my own selfish point of view: I also think that this will be an opportunity for him to show all his qualities. I have offered him the place of editor.... Editor of a review at his age!... You must admit that it’s unusual.” “So very unusual, that I’m afraid my parents may be rather alarmed by it,” said Vincent at last, turning his eyes on him and looking at him fixedly. “Yes; you’re no doubt right. Perhaps it would be better not to mention that. You might just put forward the interest and advantage it would be for him to go travelling with me, eh? Your parents must understand that at his age one wants to see the world a bit. At any rate, you’ll arrange it with them, won’t you?” He took a breath, lighted another cigarette, and went on without changing his tone: “And since you’re going to be so nice, I’ll try and do something for you. I think I can put you on to a thing which promises to turn out quite exceptionally.... A friend of mine in the highest banking circles is keeping it open for a few privileged persons. But please don’t mention it; not a word to Lilian. In any case I can only dispose of a very limited number of shares; I can’t offer them both to her and you... Your last night’s fifty thousand francs?...” “I have already disposed of them,” answered Vincent rather shortly, for he remembered Lilian’s warning. “All right, all right....” rejoined Robert quickly, as though he were a little piqued; “I’m not insisting.” Then with the air of saying: “I can’t be offended with you,” he added: “If you change your mind, send me word at once ... because after five o’clock to-morrow evening, it’ll be too late.” Vincent’s admiration for the Comte de Passavant had become much greater since he had ceased to take him seriously. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 3: Robert here makes a pun impossible to translate. _Dessalé_ (literally _unsalted_) is a slang expression meaning something like _unscrupulous_. --Translator’s note.] XVIII