Anyhow, he's coming to stop here."
"For any time?"
"Likely enough. He said something about going through the course,
taking the baths, and among the rest asked me to find out the best
doctor."
"That'll mean a lengthened stay; three weeks at least."
"Well, why shouldn't he? He's his own master."
"Then he's finished with that foolish business about the lady; had
enough of it, I suppose; burnt his fingers and done no earthly good."
"How do I know? It's not my business; but I fancy I have fallen into a
snug berth, a soft job, better than making beds in a sleeping-car and
being shaken to death in express trains."
"Good wages, if it's a fair question?"
"Fifty francs a week, _pour tout potage_."
I looked at him hard, revolving in my mind how best to approach him.
L'Echelle was a Swiss, and with most of his sort it is only a question
of price. How much would it take to buy him?
"Well, how have you fared? Have you succeeded in getting your rooms?
Will your Colonel move up?"
"What would his lordship say? Wouldn't like it much, I expect. Shall I
prevent it? It will be easy to say there are no rooms.
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