“How did you meet it?” Harleston asked.
“I was at a loss how to meet it—whether to be indignant and order him out, or to be acquiescently non-committal. I chose the latter course; and after a few preliminary feelers he came out with his offer: five thousand dollars for liberty to make a copy of the original letter. I thought a moment, then came back at him with the counter proposition: if he would secure the key-word from the French Embassy, I would obtain the letter; then together we would make the translation.”
“Delightful!” Harleston applauded. “What did he say to that?”
“What could he do but accept? It was fair, and he had premised his offer by a solemn assurance that the United States was not involved!”
“Delightful!” said Harleston again. “I reckon you’ve seen the last of Marston.”
“He said he would have the key-word by tomorrow night or sooner,” Carpenter remarked.
“I suppose you parted like fellow conspirators,” Harleston laughed.
“Yes; suspicious of each other and ready for anything. We were strictly professional. Diplomatic manners and distrustful hearts.”
“Do you think that Marston will try for the key-word?” Harleston asked.
“I do! He probably has it, or rather Spencer has it. Also I think he will submit it for a test with the letter. He knows his attempt to bribe me failed, and that the only way he can have access to the letter is to come with the key-word. And you need not fear that I shall let him copy the letter until after I’ve tested the key-word and found it correct.”