"
"So the stars have failed?" asked the Abbe.
"No," returned Lilly, "they have put the king to thinking, but more, they
have sowed the seeds of fear, a plant which grows rapidly in a coward's
heart by night."
"But not rapidly enough to suit our purposes, I fear," returned the Abbe.
"Yes," insisted Lilly. "If the king's inclination can be changed, fear
will sweep aside all other considerations in a moment, and he will accept
the one hundred thousand pounds which you will offer to-morrow morning.
But in case the king does conclude to accept the French king's offer, the
iron will at once take on a white heat, and--well, iron remains at white
heat only a short time. You must be ready to act quickly when the proper
moment comes, or London will spring between you and the king."
"I shall be ready," returned the Abbe. "The king shall be inclined to our
proposition before another day is past."
"Shall I tell you what the stars predict concerning the signing of the
treaty?" asked Lilly.
"Yes, yes," I answered eagerly.
"I have found Venus in conjunction with--" began Lilly.
"Oh, damn the stars!" cried the Abbe, most uncanonically. "Tell me what
you think about it!"
"The stars tell me that the treaty will be signed to-morrow night--that
is, to-night, this being the early morning," answered the Doctor,
persistently maintaining his attitude of stellar interpreter.
"Very well.
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