Monsieur Vigo was surprisingly calm.
"It make hot weather, my frens," said he. "How can I serve you,
messieurs?"
"Hain't the Congress got authority here?" said one.
"I am happy to say," answered Monsieur Vigo, rubbing his hands, "for I
think much of your principle."
"Then," said the man, "we come here to trade with Congress money. Hain't
that money good in Kaskasky?"
There was an anxious pause. Then Monsieur Vigo's eyes twinkled, and he
looked at me.
"And what you say, Davy?" he asked.
"The money would be good if you took it, sir," I said, not knowing what
else to answer.
"Sapristi!" exclaimed Monsieur Vigo, looking hard at me. "Who teach you
that?"
"No one, sir," said I, staring in my turn.
"And if Congress lose, and not pay, where am I, mon petit maitre de la
haute finance?" demanded Monsieur Vigo, with the palms of his hands
outward.
"You will be in good company, sir," said I.
At that he threw back his head and laughed, and Bill Cowan and my friends
laughed with him.
"Good company--c'est la plupart de la vie," said Monsieur Vigo. "Et quel
garcon--what a boy it is!"
"I never seed his beat fer wisdom, Mister Vigo," said Bill Cowan, now in
good humor once more at the prospect of rum and tobacco. And I found out
later that he and the others had actually given to me the credit of this
coup.
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