"Another hundred thousand on your return with despatches," continued the diplomatist, warmly.
"Hum!" said Tom; "That makes—"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand francs (£14,000) for only the first part of your mission," said Hebrard.
"It is very liberal. Now for the second mission," said Tom Mitchell, watching the diplomatist with his wary eye.
He knew that the real thing was coming now; he was satisfied of this from the other's uneasy manner.
"Hum!" said M. Hebrard, as if speaking to himself; "Three hundred and fifty thousand francs is a pretty sum."
"Well, for the first part of the mission which you have explained to me I don't say no. It is," he added, "a tough job, that I know. Still, nothing risk, nothing have. Now for the second part."
The diplomatist assumed an air of genial frankness that made the outlaw shudder. He was at once on his guard.
"The Spaniards, as I have said," observed M. Hebrard, jauntily, "are forever on the watch. No one, no matter what his position, is safe on the frontiers. To go in or out is simply impossible."
"Diable!" cried Tom; "What you say is not calculated to give me much confidence or hope."