“I am incorruptible,” said he, and closed the door.
That evening the ambassador received this letter:
“Monseigneur,—A man who waits for your orders, and desires to present you our respectful excuses, is at the door of your hotel, and at a word from your excellency he will place in the hands of one of your people the necklace of which you did us the honor to speak. Deign to receive, monseigneur, the assurances of our most profound respect.
“Bœhmer and Bossange.”
“Well,” said Manoël, on reading this note, “the necklace is ours.”
“Not so,” said Beausire; “it will only be ours when we have bought it. We must buy it; but remember, your excellency does not know French.”
“Yes, I know; but this chancellor?”
“Oh, I will send him away on some diplomatic mission.”
“You are wrong; he will be our security with these men.”
“But he will say that you know French.”