Madame swallowed her last sip of brandy.
“The price?” she said.
“You cannot,” said Gorman, “expect as much for a small island like that as if you were able to sell the whole kingdom; the revenue can’t be anything much.”
“There is no revenue in Megalia either,” said the King.
“But Donovan is getting what he wants. His daughter will be a reigning queen. I daresay we’ll be able to screw him up to——”
“The price of that rope of pearls,” said Madame, “is ten thousand pounds.”
“Oh,” said Gorman, “we’ll get that and a bit over.”
“At once,” said Madame, “cash down. For if we have to wait and wait for months that imbecile girl will buy the pearls. Do not say no. I know it. I have a feeling. There is a presentiment. And if she gets those pearls I shall——”
Gorman did not want her to go mad again.
“Couldn’t you see Goldsturmer,” he said, “and arrange with him to give you the refusal of the pearls, say, three months from now?”