“If he had not thought so he would not have treated.”
“Agreed; but every man in possession of 1,500,000 francs holds himself above all the ambassadors in the world; and every one who gives that value in exchange for pieces of paper wishes first to know what the papers are worth.”
“Then you mean to go to Portugal—you, who cannot speak Portuguese properly? I tell you, you are mad.”
“Not at all; you shall go yourself, if you like.”
“Thank you,” said Don Manoël. “There are reasons why I would rather not return to Portugal.”
“Well, I tell you, M. Bœhmer would never give up the diamonds for mere papers.”
“Papers signed Souza?”
“I said you thought yourself a real Souza.”
“Better say at once that we have failed,” said Manoël.
“Not at all. Come here, captain,” said Beausire to the valet; “you know what we are talking of?”