"But ze money—" began the Frenchman, protestingly.
"There isn't money enough across the Atlantic to hire us," Jack answered, bluntly.
"And ze honneur—"
"Honor? What would that word afterwards mean to Americans, Chevalier, after they had left their own country to serve another?"
The Chevalier d'Ouray began to look as though he realized he had a harder task before him than he had expected.
"So you see, sir," Jack went on, "it will not be in the least worth your
while to try to tempt us. Come what will or may, we are under the
American flag for life. You yourself, Chevalier, wouldn't leave the
French flag to serve this country, Great Britain or Germany."
"No; but zat is deeferent, for I, monsieur, am French."
"And we are American," Jack responded.
"I will leave you, now, zen, gentlemen," replied the Frenchman, in a tone of disappointment. "But I shall not go away before to-morrow. If you change ze mind—or weesh to hear w'at I have to mek ze offer—"
"Thank you," nodded Jack. "But don't waste any more time on us,
Chevalier. And now—good-bye!"