“On the whole,” said Beausire, interpreting for Manoël, “his excellency sees nothing to complain of in the necklace, but there are ten of the diamonds rather spotted1.”
“Oh!” said Bœhmer.
“His excellency,” interrupted Beausire, “understands diamonds perfectly2. The Portuguese3 nobility play with the diamonds of Brazil, as children do here with glass beads4.”
“Whatever it may be, however,” said Bœhmer, “this necklace is the finest collection of diamonds in all Europe.”
“That is true,” said Manoël.
Then Beausire went on: “Well, M. Bœhmer, her majesty5 the Queen of Portugal has heard of this necklace, and has given M. de Souza a commission to buy it, if he approved of the diamonds, which he does. Now, what is the price?”
“1,600,000 francs.”
Beausire repeated this to the ambassador.
“It is 100,000 francs too much,” replied Manoël.
“Monseigneur,” replied the jeweler, “one cannot fix the exact price of the diamonds on a thing like this. It has been necessary, in making this collection, to undertake voyages, and make searches and inquiries6 which no one would believe but myself.”
“100,000 francs too dear,” repeated Manoël.
“And if his excellency says this,” said Beausire, “it must be his firm conviction, for he never bargains.”
Bœhmer was shaken. Nothing reassures7 a suspicious merchant so much as a customer who beats down the price. However, he said, after a minute’s thought, “I cannot consent to a deduction8 which will make all the difference of loss or profit to myself and my partner.”
Don Manoël, after hearing this translated, rose, and Beausire returned the case to the jeweler.
“I will, however, speak to M. Bossange about it,” contained Bœhmer. “I am to understand that his excellency offers 1,500,000 francs for the necklace.”
“Yes, he never draws back from what he has said.”
“But, monsieur, you understand that I must consult with my partner.”
“Certainly, M. Bœhmer.”
“Certainly,” repeated Don Manoël, after hearing this translated; “but I must have a speedy answer.”
“Well, monseigneur, if my partner will accept the price, I will.”
“Good.”
“It then only remains9, excepting the consent of M. Bossange, to settle the mode of payment.”
“There will be no difficulty about that,” said Beausire. “How do you wish to be paid?”
“Oh,” said Bœhmer, laughing, “if ready money be possible——”
“What do you call ready money?” said Beausire coldly.
“Oh, I know no one has a million and a half of francs ready to pay down,” said Bœhmer, sighing.
“Certainly not.”
“Still, I cannot consent to dispense10 with some ready money.”
“That is but reasonable.” Then, turning to Manoël: “How much will your excellency pay down to M. Bœhmer?”
“100,000 francs.” Beausire repeated this.
“And when the remainder?” asked Bœhmer.
“When we shall have had time to send to Lisbon.”
“Oh!” said Bœhmer, “we have a correspondent there, and by writing to him——”
“Yes,” said Beausire, laughing ironically, “write to him, and ask if M. de Souza is solvent
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