"You care a good deal about it, don't you? Are you personally interested in the affair?"
"I care about it as I do about my everlasting salvation, and the affair is of the deepest interest to the persons who are dearer to me than anybody else on earth since your father died. My brother is in danger, as well as this excellent young man, for whom I demand your sincere and loyal friendship."
"Have I not shaken his hand?"
"Therefore I count upon you. When I see that you are ready, I will tell you something that will be a more enticing bait to you than gold or glory."
"I am ready. Is it an enemy of the country who is to be killed?"
"I told you that there is nobody to be killed; you forget that I serve the God of peace and mercy. But there is some one to be thwarted, some one whose treacherous plans must be utterly foiled; and that man is a spy and a traitor."
"His name?"
"Will you come?"
"Am I not on my feet?"
"Abbé Ninfo."