"Enough said, then," he answered,
lightly. "I accept with pleasure. But----"
"Ah! so there is a but!"
"There is always one. I must warn you that it will be difficult
for me to repay this loan in less than two months."
This, then, was the time he thought necessary for the
accomplishment of his designs.
"That does not matter," replied Pascal, "and even if you desire a
longer delay "
"That will be unnecessary, thank you! But there is one thing
more."
"What is that?"
"What will this negotiation cost me?"
Pascal had expected this question, and he had prepared a reply
which was in perfect keeping with the spirit of the role he had
assumed. "I shall charge you the ordinary rates," he answered,
"six per cent. interest, plus one-and-a-half per cent.
commission."
"Bah!"
"Plus the remuneration for my trouble and services."
"And what remuneration will satisfy you?"
"One thousand francs. Is it too much?"
If the marquis had retained the shadow of a doubt, it vanished
now. "Ah!" he sneered, "that strikes me as a very liberal
compensation for your services!"
But he would gladly have recalled the sneer when he saw how the
agent received it. Pascal drew up his head with a deeply injured
air, and remarked in the chilling tone of a person who is strongly
tempted to retract his word, "Then there is nothing more to be
said, M.
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