"Ah, Sir, it is too much, a great deal too much."
"No, Sir, since I assist an honourable man, who will owe me thanks for it."
"Ah! I shall be eternally grateful, sir; but, do not be angry with my frankness, you will oblige me to offer up vows to keep you as long as possible."
"Who knows, sir, whether my departure will not some day be more advantageous than my stay here?" he said with a meaning smile; "be good enough to lend me your tablets."
The Major offered them to him.
The Count tore out a leaf, with a few pencilled words on it, and handed it back to him.
"Here," he said, "is a draught for 16,000 livres, which you can receive at sight from Messrs. Dubois, Loustal, and Co., of Toulon, whenever you have leisure."
The governor clutched the paper with a start of joy.
"But it seems to me that this draft is 800 livres in excess of the sum agreed on between us?" he said.
"That is correct, sir, but the 800 livres are for the purchase of different articles, of which here is the list, and which I must ask you to procure for me."