But the Frenchman shook his head.
"Two; I cannot part with the letter under two," he said, in much better English than he had hitherto spoken.
"Well, I'm blest! Why couldn't you speak like that before? We'd have come to business much sooner."
"I thought Monsieur would like to exhibit his extensive knowledge of the French tongue, but here is the letter."
"And here's the coin. I will buy as many as you can get at the same figure."
"You shall certainly have the first chance."
Chivey helped himself to another glass, and asked—
"When is the trial to be?"
"The judge, unfortunately, has been taken ill, and the prisoners will have to wait about three weeks for an opportunity of proving their innocence."
"That's unfortunate. What do you think they'll get?"