‘What is the amount you propose?’
‘I was to negotiate for a thousand pounds first. I was to give two thousand at the last resort. I will begin at the last resort and pay you two.’
‘Why not piastres, Mr. Atlee? I am sure your instructions must have said piastres.’
Quite unmoved by the sarcasm, Atlee took out his pocket-book and read from a memorandum: ‘Should M. Kostalergi refuse your offer, or think it insufficient, on no account let the negotiation take any turn of acrimony or recrimination. He has rendered me great services in past times, and it will be for himself to determine whether he should do or say what should in any way bar our future relations together.’
‘This is not a menace?’ said the Greek, smiling superciliously.
‘No. It is simply an instruction,’ said the other, after a slight hesitation.
‘The men who make a trade of diplomacy,’ said the Greek haughtily, ‘reserve it for their dealings with Cabinets. In home or familiar intercourse they are straightforward and simple. Without these papers your noble master cannot return to Turkey as ambassador. Do not interrupt me. He cannot come back as ambassador to the Porte! It is for him to say how he estimates the post. An ambitious man with ample reason for his ambition, an able man with a thorough conviction of his ability, a patriotic man who understood and saw the services he could render to his country, would not bargain at the price the place should cost him, nor say ten thousand pounds too much to pay for it.’
‘Ten thousand pounds!’ exclaimed Atlee, but in real and unfeigned astonishment.
‘I have said ten thousand, and I will not say nine—nor nine thousand nine hundred.’
Atlee slowly arose and took his hat.