“I stayed away rather long; but I did not lose any time. In the first
place, I procured a month’s leave of absence; then I put my hand upon
the very man whom I wanted to send after Sir Burnett and Miss Suky.
He is a good fellow, called Barousse, fine like a needle, and speaks
English like a native. He demands twenty-five francs a day, his
travelling-expenses, and a gratuity of fifteen hundred francs if he
succeeds. I have agreed to meet him at six to give him a definite
answer. If you accept the conditions, he will leave for England
to-night, well drilled by me.”
Instead of any answer, M. Folgat drew from his pocket-book a
thousand-franc note, and said,--
“Here is something to begin with.”