“It is because I wish it to succeed that I speak of the difficulties. But stop—a thought strikes me: in every ambassador’s house there is a strong box.”
“Yes; but it may be empty.”
“Well! if it be, we must ask MM. Bœhmer and Bossange who are their correspondents at Lisbon, and we will sign and stamp for them letters of credit for the sum demanded.”
“That will do,” said Manoël, “I was engrossed with the grand idea, but had not sufficiently considered the details.”
“Now, let us think of arranging the parts,” said Beausire. “Don Manoël will be ambassador.”
“Certainly,” they all said.
“And M. Beausire my secretary and interpreter,” said Manoël.
“Why so?” said Beausire, rather uneasily.
“I am M. de Souza, and must not speak a word of French; for I know that that gentleman speaks nothing but Portuguese, and very little of that. You, on the contrary, M. Beausire, who have traveled, and have acquired French habits, who speak Portuguese also——”
“Very badly,” said Beausire.