“I knew, monseigneur, that it was safe. Various events have deprived me of my wealth; but, knowing that I had this sum in reserve, I have waited patiently until the last moment.”
“And has that arrived?”
“Alas! yes, monseigneur.”
“So that you can really wait no longer?”
“No, monseigneur.”
“You want it at once?”
“If it please you to pay it.”
The cardinal was at first silent, through despair. Then he said, in a hoarse voice:
“M. le Comte, we unhappy princes of the earth do not improvise fortunes as quickly as you enchanters.”
“Oh, monseigneur,” said Cagliostro, “I would not have asked you for this sum, had I not known beforehand that you had it.”