Jack Hinton: The Guardsman

by Charles James Lever

'Eh, you think she likes me?—Capital champagne that!—I always thought she did from the first. That's what I call walking inside of Hinton. How he'll look! Ha! ha! ha!'

'Yes, how he'll look!' echoed Burke, endeavouring to join the laugh. 'But now one thing is yet wanting.'

'You mean those despatches,' replied De Vere suddenly. 'You always come back to that. Well, once for all, I say no!'

'Just hear me, Dudley! Nothing is easier; nothing incurs less risk.'

'Less risk! what do you mean? No risk for me to steal the papers of the embassy, and give them to you to hand over to that scoundrel at the head of the secret police? Devilish green I may be, but not so green as that, Master Burke!'

'Guillemain will give us forty thousand francs. Forty thousand! with half that, and your luck, De Vere, we'll break every bank in Paris. I know you don't wish to marry Louisa.'

'No; hang it, that's always the wind-up. Keep that for the last throw, eh?—There's heavy play there; see how silent they are.'

'Ay; and with forty thousand francs we might join them,' said Burke, as if musing; 'and so safely it may be done.'

'I say no!' replied De Vere resolutely.

'What do you fear? Is it me?'