What can I do ?" "Monsieur likes excitement," Louis murmured.
"Indeed I do!" I answered fervently.
Louis hesitated.
"If there were some plot against this man Delora," he said, "to prevent his carrying out some undertaking, monsieur would help to frustrate it ?" "With all my heart," I answered.

"There is only one thing I would ask.

What is Mr.Delora's undertaking ?--To sell his coffee ?" Louis' inimitable smile spread over his face.
"Ah!" he said, "monsieur is pleased to be facetious!" Then I knew that I was on the point of learning a little, at any rate, of the truth.
"Mr.Delora has other schemes," Louis said slowly.
"So I imagined," I answered.
I saw Louis half turn his head.

There was no change in his tone nor in his expression.

Naturally, therefore, his words sounded a little strangely.
"My conversation with monsieur, for the moment, is finished," he said.