“What is this they are telling me, Count?” he said, addressing Agostini. “You have been bidding up to four thousand francs for the contents of this stall? What a trifling sum! You must have had some very sorry competitors against you!”
An expression of disdain came over his face as he looked round on Marcel and Uncle Graff.
“Formerly my opponents were more tenacious. The struggle for gold has considerably cooled them down.”
Turning towards the nun he wrote a few lines on a piece of paper, saying—
“Here, madame, is a cheque for ten thousand francs.”
“What shall I give you in return?” asked Madame Sainte-Alix, stupefied.
“Your prayers,” said Elias, humbly.
A group had formed round the stall, and a murmur of approving admiration reached the ears of Lichtenbach. Agostini exclaimed, with emphasis—
“This is a magnificent gift!”
“Come along, my daughter,” said Elias.