"Can we draw a cheque--a plain unadorned cheque and not a
draft--for a hundred thousand francs to-day? Or shall we be able to draw
it to-morrow? Capital! We have a lot of brick and mortar in our
possession, put together more or less symmetrically according to our
taste, and practically unpaid for. If we manage to sell it in time we
shall get the difference between what is paid and what we owe. That is
our capital. It is problematical, to say the least of it. If we realise
less than we owe we are bankrupt."
He came back suddenly to Orsino's table as he ceased speaking and his
face showed that he was really disturbed. Orsino looked at him steadily
for a few seconds.
"It is not only Ronco's failure that frightens you, Contini. There must
be something else."
"More of the same kind. There is enough to frighten any one."
"No, there is something else. You have been talking with somebody."
"With Del Ferice's confidential clerk. Yes--it is quite true. I was with
him last night."
"And what did he say? What you have been telling me, I suppose.
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