'His death redeemed—much,' said Rallywood, shortly.
'Yes,' Counsellor puffed out a great cloud of smoke, 'yes, but we have no reason to forget the fact that he was very ready to secure himself at a heavy cost to you.'
'For the sake of Maäsau,' interposed Rallywood.
'Hum—for the sake of Maäsau! And you were an inconvenient personality also. Well, well, let it pass. But it was touch and go with you, John, for no one could have foreseen that shaky old Gustave would rise to the occasion as he did. And what has he done for you after all?'
'He saved my life first, and gave me the Gold Star of Maäsau afterwards,' said Rallywood, 'an honour which I share with some monarchs—and Major Counsellor.'
'Dirt cheap, too!' grunted Counsellor. 'I hear that Madame de Sagan sent you a very neat congratulation.
"A genoux sur la terre
Nous rendons grâces à Dieu
Et nous lui faisons vœux
D'une double prière."
You can take your own meaning out of it,' ended the Major.
'And the people being chiefly malicious will take the wrong one.'
'That is as it may be. But for you I hope a fine morning will follow the stormy evening. You will grow fat and selfish, John, like many a better man.'