And I care not whether my cats are turned into the angels of Paradise." I groaned.

"You are wasting a great deal of money over this affair," I urged.
"What is money to my gigantic combinations ?" "Tell me," I cried with considerable impatience.

"What are your confounded combinations ?" He began to tremble violently.

"I would rather die," said he, "than betray my secret." "It's all some silly nonsense about that wretched horse!" I exclaimed.
He covered his ears with his hands.

"Blasphemy! Blasphemy! Don't utter it!" In another moment he was cowering on his knees before me.
"You, of all men, mustn't blaspheme.