intelligence and foresight you may ask who is going
to purchase my villas; you may wish to know what I
propose to do in order to bring them to the notice of
the public. My idea is to use Beauvais5 land as a
bait; I shall publish the fact that the celebrated artist
has acquired a large piece of ground near the port and
will very shortly be building a mansion. Our first
little nest shall cling close to his fence, which I seem to
remember you yourself put up for him. Ah, yes, he
should prove very useful indeed, a celebrity is always
a valuable asset. Well, those are my plans; have I
made them quite clear?5
'Very clear indeed you have made them,5 said
Jouse*
Kahn nodded: 'That is good. Now about your
profit: I propose to advance you a reasonable sum
on account, you to find reliable workmen and yourself
to work under my architect who will doubtless suggest
a small monthly payment. I shall tell him that you
are well acquainted with these parts and that therefore
I wish you to act as foreman. The precise amount
which you will eventually receive must depend on the
cost of materials and labour. But this I do promise:
for every two sous that you save, one shall find its
way into your pocket, and surely I cannot be fairer
than that, or do more to show how much I wish to
work with you.5
Kahn stopped speaking and the room grew heavy
with silence. Jouse stared out of the broken window.
He was wavering; this offer meant regular work,
months of regular work for him and Christophe —
Christophe was nearly thirteen years old, and so would
be leaving school in the summer. With the prospect
of more than one villa to be built, the boy could very
soon begin earning —and then there was always le
tout petit Loup who continued to cost a great deal
of money. Yes, despite his antagonism to Kahn,
280