On returning to their hotel, these gentlemen found Ducorneau dining quietly in his bureau. Beausire desired him, when he had finished, to go up and see the ambassador, and added:
“You will see, my dear chancellor1, that M. de Souza is not an ordinary man.”
“I see that already.”
“His excellency,” continued Beausire, “wishes to take a distinguished2 position in Paris, and this residence will be insupportable to him. He will require a private house.”
“That will complicate3 the diplomatic business,” said Ducorneau; “we shall have to go so often to obtain his signature.”
“His excellency will give you a carriage, M. Ducorneau.”
“A carriage for me!”
“Certainly; every chancellor of a great ambassador should have a carriage. But we will talk of that afterwards. His excellency wishes to know where the strong-box is.”
“Up-stairs, close to his own room.”
“So far from you?”
“For greater safety, sir. Robbers would find greater difficulty in penetrating4 there, than here on the ground-floor.”
“Robbers!” said Beausire, disdainfully, “for such a little sum?”
“One hundred thousand francs!” said Ducorneau. “It is easy to see M. de Souza is rich, but there is not more kept in any ambassador’s house in Europe.”
“Shall we examine it now?” said Beausire. “I am rather in a hurry to attend to my own business.”
“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 ambassador.”
They found Don Manoël drinking chocolate, and apparently5 much occupied with a paper covered with ciphers6.
“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. Bœhmer and Bossange, jewelers to the queen.”
“But they are precisely7 the people I do not wish to employ. I have just quitted them, never to return.”
“Have they had the misfortune to displease8 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 majesty9 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 interfere10?”
“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. Bœhmer and Bossange. Don Manoël 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 destined11 to f............