There was a deep silence; at last the captain determined to fire the train, if he were blown up.
"Then you think I must go by land," he said.
"There is no choice," responded Hebrard.
"The conditions?" remarked Tom.
"One hundred thousand francs, not in notes, but in golden ounces, stamped with the effigy of the King of Spain."
"That is tolerable, for a beginning."
"Then there will be as much more for the negotiations, or, as I see you hesitate, at first one hundred and fifty thousand."
"Why at first?" asked Tom.
"Because your mission will be divided into two distinct parts," replied the envoy, quietly.
"Let us thoroughly understand the first," continued the outlaw; "we will talk of the second presently."