After several attempts, he drew an important statement from Bobinette. He played the part of sceptic. The more enthusiastically convinced Bobinette was that the "great affair" would be successful, the more sceptical he grew.
She committed herself to a statement of extreme importance.
"Don't I tell you, old unbeliever that you are, that Corporal Vinson is to bring the plan of the piece in question?"
"The plan!" objected Juve-Vagualame. "That is good, as far as it goes; but that is not sufficient!"
Bobinette shrugged her plump shoulders. She was exasperated. The noise of the orchestra covered the sound of her imprudently loud answers.
"Since I tell you I have in my hands the piece of the gun which is to go to the Havre agent! I expect you have forgotten the details concerning this object? The manufacture of it is so complicated that, without the design for its construction, the piece would be much like any other.... We have the piece—I tell you it is in our hands.... To-morrow we shall possess the design of it, thanks to Vinson—can we possibly expect anything more complete than that?"
There was a pause. Then Bobinette announced:
"If, after that, you do not pay me what you owe me, you can be sure I shall not serve you ever again!"
Juve-Vagualame promised immediate payment.
"But," said he to himself, "her remuneration will not take the form she expects!"