“And if he finally recover?”
“His fellow-Christians will take care to keep him out of the way.”
“Didst thou say twenty-four hours alive? I wish thou hadst made it twelve.”
“Well, but I know that thou canst calculate close. Let him die in the twenty-fifth hour, for what I care.”
“It is impossible, Jubala, impossible; he is too important a person.”
“Very well, then; there is an end to our bargain. The money is given only on this condition. Six hundred pounds thrown away!” And she turned off to go.
“Stay, stay,” said Hyphax, eagerly; the demon of covetousness coming uppermost. “Let us see. Why, my fellows will consume half the money, in bribes and feasting.”
“Well, I have two hundred more in reserve for that.”
“Sayest thou so, my princess, my sorceress, my charming demon? But that will be too much for my scoundrels. We will give them half, and add the other half—to our marriage-settlements, shan’t we?”
“As it pleases thee, provided the thing is done according to my proposal.”