"
"Something much more disagreeable--something you would rather not hear."
"I wish to hear it."
"You should, as a matter of fact."
"Go on."
"We are completely in Del Ferice's hands."
"We are in the hands of his bank."
"What is the difference? To all intents and purposes he is our bank. The
proof is that but for him we should have failed already."
Orsino looked up sharply.
"Be clear, Contini. Tell me what you mean."
"I mean this. For a month past the bank could not have discounted a
hundred francs' worth of our paper. Del Ferice has taken it all and
advanced the money out of his private account."
"Are you sure of what you are telling me?" Orsino asked the question in
a low voice, and his brow contracted.
"One can hardly have better authority than the clerk's own statement."
"And he distinctly told you this, did he?"
"Most distinctly."
"He must have had an object in betraying such a confidence," said
Orsino. "It is not likely that such a man would carelessly tell you or
me a secret which is evidently meant to be kept.
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