"She has the king's ear if any one has,
and the ear is very close to the mind. What may I do to serve Monsieur
l'Abbe?"
"If I may see you privately---the baron and me--I shall tell you how you
may serve me," answered the Abbe.
The Abbe and I excused ourselves to Frances and Bettina, and went with
the Doctor to the room which he called his observatory, where we came to
the point very quickly:--
"I want to buy Dunkirk for my master for the sum of one hundred thousand
pounds," said the Abbe, by way of starting the consultation.
"But London has already offered that sum," returned Lilly, "and stands
ready to pay more."
"In payments," suggested the Abbe.
"Yes," returned Lilly. "But I see no way of bringing the king to accept
the sum you offer unless--unless Mistress Jennings can persuade him."
"She may be able to do so," answered the Abbe, shrugging his shoulders.
He spoke very bad English throughout the consultation. "But the stars,
too, may be very persuasive with King Charles. To be plain, he will
probably consult you, and if--"
"I am to see him to-night. That is why your visit was postponed until
to-morrow," interrupted Lilly.
"That is as I supposed," remarked the Abbe. "Now, if I buy Dunkirk for
one hundred thousand pounds, you shall receive two thousand pounds within
ten days after signing the treaty, and Baron Clyde will be my surety."
"Two thousand pounds?" mused Lilly.
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