"Pardieu! Boyer, you are right. As for me, I should prefer such an arrangement. I will see Montbrison, and speak to him. What are your terms?"
"Your lordship will easily understand that we are desirous of profiting as much as possible by your generosity."
"And turn your bargain to the best advantage? Nothing can be plainer! Let us see,—what's the price?"
"The whole, two hundred and sixty thousand francs (10,400l.), my lord."
"And you and Edwards will thus clear—"
"About forty thousand francs (1,600l.), my lord."
"A very nice sum! But so much the better, for, after all, I am very much satisfied with you, and, if I had to make my will, I should have bequeathed that sum to you and Edwards."
And the vicomte went out, first to call on his creditor, then on Madame de Lucenay, whom he did not suspect of having been present at his conversation with Badinot.