"If it had not been for that, half your fortune would have been goodness knows where by now.

You wanted to put it into some big speculation in this country, if I remember aright.

And big speculations in France are the very devil just now.

Whereas, now, you see, it is all safe and you can invest it in the beginning of next year in some good English securities.

It seems providential, does it not ?" He rose as he spoke and held out his hand to say goodbye.