"Marshal, I should like to know with what amount you will back your opinion," he sneered.
"With whatever sum your grace is prepared to back yours."
"I will stake five thousand roubles—" began the duke.
"Oh! your grace, make it more than that," said Zabern affably.
"I will double the amount. I will wager ten thousand roubles that the votes given against the bill will fall short of seventy."
"Let me have that wager in your handwriting, dear duke," said Zabern blandly. "The like sum from me if ministers have not seventy votes on their side, or a clear majority of twenty."
When the written pledges had been interchanged Radzivil spoke, addressing the duke in somewhat indignant tones.
"And do you bet, then, on the success of a measure known to be hateful to the princess?"
Bora shrugged his shoulders.
"This is a bill on which the best of friends may differ, as is shown by the schism among your own Polish adherents. Remember," he added, "there must be no underhand work to secure the passing of this bill, or my wager becomes null and void. There must be no bribery on the part of the ministry."