Manoël cried out angrily; Beausire looked fierce.
Manoël said “that the bargain was completed, and the money ready.”
Bœhmer persisted.
Manoël, always through Beausire, replied, “that his Government had been apprised of the conclusion of the bargain, and that it was an insult to his queen to break it off.”
M. Bœhmer was very sorry, but it was impossible to act otherwise.
Beausire, in Manoël’s name, refused to accept the retractation, and abused M. Bœhmer as a man without faith, and ended by saying, “You have found some one to pay more for it.”
The jewelers colored.
Beausire saw that he was right, and feigned to consult his ambassador. “Well,” said he at length, “if another will give you more for your diamonds, we would do the same, rather than have this affront offered to our queen. Will you take 50,000 francs more?”
Bœhmer shook his head.
“100,000, or even 150,000,” continued Beausire, willing to offer anything rather than lose the booty.