"Five thousand francs, you said, and expenses. Not bad. I'm a pretty good hand myself. Will I do?"
The Pole was enjoying the stupid little plot; for it could wear no other guise to him, and Count Julius was mortified by the knowledge that he had blundered egregiously at the first step in the negotiation. What would Beliani say? This wizened elf of a man had seen clear through their precious scheme in an instant, and, worst of all, it had not advanced an inch. Julius made a virtue of necessity, and placed all his cards on the table.
"I want you to credit my statements," he said emphatically. "This proposal is quite straightforward. My principal is prepared to pay half the money down before the lady leaves Paris, and the balance when the picture is delivered. Further, he will bear the expenses of any one who accompanies her,—a relative, or a friend, such as yourself, for instance. I don't figure in the matter at all. I am a mere go-between, and if you think otherwise you are utterly mistaken."
Felix began to whistle softly between his teeth, and the action annoyed Julius so greatly that he decided to try a new line.
"I seem to have amused you by my sincerity, monsieur!" he snapped. "Pray forget that I have troubled you——"
"But why, my paragon? Que diable! one does not spurn five thousand francs like that! I hum or whistle when I am thinking, and just now I am wondering how this business can be arranged. Who is your client?"
"Who is yours?" retorted Julius.
"She exists, at any rate."
"So does the other."