Part 11 (1/2)
Trotto coughed. ”But the risk, excellency, is greatly increased now that this man is mixed up in the affair.”
Simon straightened himself in his chair and looked at the captain.
”I suppose you want more money. Well, what is your plan?”
”With your excellency's permission I will keep that to myself, for a plan is a plan when one head holds it. But if I were to place your prize in your hands by tomorrow morning?”
”Impossible!”
”But I say it is possible.”
”Then five hundred crowns the day you reach Paris.”
Trotto shook his head. ”It could be done for a thousand, excellency--for certain.”
Simon's eyes seemed to sink back deeper into their hollow sockets, and his face became paler, if possible.
”A thousand devils! Impossible! It's a fortune!”
”Your excellency is playing for a fortune; and this time we win--faith of a gentleman! Make it a thousand crowns, and your bonny bird is yours with the dawn, and I will myself perform the wedding ceremony if you like.”
”You?”
”Yes, excellency,” and Trotto put his hand to the crown of his head.
”My hair has grown, but, you will remember, I am none the less a priest for all that.”
There was another silence. Simon knitted his brow, as if in thought.
Then he cursed again at his wounded arm, and spoke:
”It is an exorbitant sum; but I agree on one condition.”
”And that is?”
”If you fail you get nothing; you have sucked enough from me already.”
”As your excellency pleases.” And then, bending for an instant over the wounded arm: ”He must have been a rare swordsman to have beaten you.”
Simon writhed in his chair. ”Beaten me! I had the dog at my mercy, but was not quick enough in the last parry.”
”Ah, excellency, 'tis always that little delay that causes accidents like this.” And Trotto made a gesture towards the wounded arm; but Simon snarled at him:
”Don't touch it, fool! Ugh! how it stings! There is one consolation, however--that he must be squirming himself with pain now.”
”Eh! Then you touched him?”
”Twice, Trotto, twice!”
”Ah! that accounts for his wearing his cloak so tightly over his left shoulder.”
Simon started: ”Wearing his cloak so tightly! Have you seen him?”