He did not complete the verse. He turned round, and by the red gleam of a lantern slung on the wall he recognized Chéri-Bibi and the Nut.
He did not utter a cry nor make a movement. He only regretted his omission to close the door when he first went out, and he stood waiting.
Chéri-Bibi was not long in coming to the point.
"Look here, there's a chance for you to make a bit. Instead of placing those bodies in your sack and throwing them, as you always do, off the jetty, put us, the Nut and me, in sacks one after the other and drop us into the sea in the ordinary way, but as near as you can to the 'Haversack's' launch. Do you follow me?"
"How much?" asked Pernambouc.
Chéri-Bibi undid the lining in the waistband of his trousers and took out something which glittered. Pernambouc unhooked the lantern from the wall and bent over the shining substance.
"I'll give you half this gold dust," said Chéri-Bibi.
"I want the lot," returned Pernambouc.
Chéri-Bibi offered to give him half then for carrying the Nut first, and the other half when he came back to fetch him.
"That's a fair proposal," said Pernambouc. "All right, my lord. But what am I going to do with my corpses?"