“As to my body, monsieur, that is for sale cheap.”
“And souls are not dear in France,” said Merton.
“Yes, monsieur; but the price varies.”
“What would you say to—well, a thousand francs down and a thousand in three months?”
“If monsieur would explain.”
I did not dislike his caution, but I still had a residue of doubt as to the man who was serving two masters. Merton had none. He went on:
“We mean to be plain with you. We are caught in the net of a big and dangerous business.”
“I had thought as much,” said Alphonse. “Would M. le Capitaine explain? No doubt there are circumstances—”
“Precisely. A woman has done what makes it necessary for us to recover a certain document despite the police and the government. Understand that if we succeed you get two thousand francs and run meanwhile risks of a very serious nature.”
“And my master?”