And, when Lupin did not reply, he said, with a little hesitation:
"More? Two hundred thousand? Very well! I agree."
Lupin smiled and, in a low voice, said:
"It is a handsome figure. But is it not likely that some sovereign, let us say, the King of England, would give as much as a million? In all sincerity?"
"I believe so."
"And that those letters are priceless to the Emperor, that they are worth two million quite as easily as two hundred thousand francs . . . three million as easily as two?"
"I think so."
"And, if necessary, the Emperor would give that three million francs?"
"Yes."
"Then it will not be difficult to come to an arrangement."