"Immediately, monsieur."
They went up and the money was found all right.
Ducorneau gave his key to Beausire, who kept it for some time, pretending to admire its ingenious construction, while he cleverly took the impression of it in wax. Then he gave it back, saying, "Keep it, M.
Ducorneau; it is better in your hands than in mine. Let us now go to the amba.s.sador."
They found Don Manoel drinking chocolate, and apparently much occupied with a paper covered with ciphers.
"Do you understand the ciphers used in the late correspondence?" said he to the chancellor.
"No, your excellency."
"I should wish you to learn it; it will save me a great deal of trouble.
What about the box?" said he to Beausire.
"Perfectly correct, like everything else with which M. Ducorneau has any connection."
"Well, sit down, M. Ducorneau; I want you to give me some information.
Do you know any honest jewelers in Paris?"
"There are MM. Boehmer and Bossange, jewelers to the queen."
"But they are precisely the people I do not wish to employ. I have just quitted them, never to return."
"Have they had the misfortune to displease your excellency?"
"Seriously, M. Ducorneau."
"Oh, if I dared speak."
"You may."
"I would ask how these people, who bear so high a name----"
"They are perfect Jews, M. Ducorneau, and their bad behavior will make them lose a million or two. I was sent by her gracious majesty to make an offer to them for a diamond necklace."
"Oh! the famous necklace which had been ordered by the late king for Madame Dubarry?"
"You are a valuable man, sir--you know everything. Well, now, I shall not buy it."
"Shall I interfere?"
"M. Ducorneau!"
"Oh, only as a diplomatic affair."
"If you knew them at all."
"Bossange is a distant relation of mine."
At this moment a valet opened the door, and announced MM. Boehmer and Bossange. Don Manoel rose quickly, and said in any angry tone, "Send those people away!"
The valet made a step forward. "No; you do it," said he to his secretary.
"I beg you to allow me," said Ducorneau; and he advanced to meet them.
"There! this affair is destined to fail," said Manoel.
"No; Ducorneau will arrange it."
"I am convinced he will embroil it. You said at the jewelers that I did not understand French, and Ducorneau will let out that I do."
"I will go," said Beausire.
"Perhaps that is equally dangerous."
"Oh, no; only leave me to act."
Beausire went down. Ducorneau had found the jewelers much more disposed to politeness and confidence since entering the hotel; also, on seeing an old friend, Bossange was delighted.
"You here!" said he; and he approached to embrace him.
"Ah! you are very amiable to-day, my rich cousin," said Ducorneau.
"Oh," said Bossange, "if we have been a little separated, forgive, and render me a service."
"I came to do it."
"Thanks. You are, then, attached to the emba.s.sy?"
"Yes."
"I want advice."
"On what?"
"On this emba.s.sy."
"I am the chancellor."
"That is well; but about the amba.s.sador?"
"I come to you, on his behalf, to tell you that he begs you to leave his hotel as quickly as possible."
The two jewelers looked at each other, disconcerted.
"Because," continued Ducorneau, "it seems you have been uncivil to him."
"But listen----"