“We accept.”
And, after a slight pause, he repeated:
“We accept. The ambassador shall receive his instructions this evening.”
“Do you give me your word, sir?”
“I give you my word.”
“In that case, we are agreed.”
“We are agreed. Now then! . . .”
All these sentences were uttered rapidly. Not five minutes had elapsed since the former prime minister had appeared upon the scene. Nothing remained to do but for Don Luis to keep his promise.
It was a solemn moment. The four men were standing close together, like acquaintances who have met in the course of a walk and who stop for a minute to exchange their news. Valenglay, leaning with one arm on the parapet overlooking the lower quay, had his face turned to the river and kept raising and lowering his cane above the sand-heap. Patrice and M. Masseron stood silent, with faces a little set.
Don Luis gave a laugh: