And the kiss was given, a faithful copy of the one that Judas gave Christ nearly twenty centuries ago.
“I will give you a thousand francs!”
“Oh! oh! oh!”
And here followed a long and loud laugh.
“A thousand francs! a thousand francs! What are you thinking of? I want ten thousand francs, not a penny more or less. If not, I will give them to your father for nothing, only reserving two or three of the most lascivious to publish in the papers. Do you agree?”
“Give them to him if you will. I shall say that you wrote them, that they are false. My father esteems me highly.”
“Um! Your father is not a fool, and the writing of the count is not forged. I want ten thousand francs!”
“I will give you five.”