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"It is not enough," she answered. Monsieur de Founcelles raised his eyebrows. "We do not bargain," he said coldly, "and money is not the chief thing in the world. It is for you, then, to name a sum." "Monsieur de Founcelles," she said, "can you tell me the amount of the national debt of France?" "Somewhere about nine hundred million francs, I believe," he answered. She nodded.
"And I am to be married in a month!" he exclaimed. There was a murmur of dismay. If those other seven men had not once intervened, it was because the conduct of the affair had been voted into the hands of Monsieur de Founcelles, and there was little which he had left unsaid. Nevertheless, they had formed a little circle around the two men.
"A young person to be conciliated by all means," Monsieur de Founcelles declared. "Well, we must see. When, Monsieur Ruff, may I have the opportunity of making the acquaintance of this young lady?" "To-morrow morning, or rather this morning, if you will," Peter Ruff answered. "We are taking breakfast together at the cafe de Paris. It will give me great pleasure if you will join us."
Here in Paris, I promise you, here we can do much better than that for you. You have not, perhaps, a dot? Good! That is our affair. Give up our friend here, and we deposit in any bank you like to name the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs." "Two hundred and fifty thousand francs!" Violet repeated, slowly. Monsieur de Founcelles nodded. "It is enough?" he asked. She shook her head.
"On the contrary," Monsieur de Founcelles declared, "I must beg of you slightly to alter your plans. I will ask you and Mademoiselle to do me the honor of breakfasting at the Ritz with the Marquis de Sogrange and myself, at the same hour. We shall find there more opportunity for a short discussion." "I am entirely at your service," Peter Ruff answered.
There were signs now of a breaking-up of the little party. "We must all regret, dear Monsieur Ruff," Monsieur de Founcelles said, as he made his adieux, "this temporary obstruction to the consummation of our hopes. Let us pray that Mademoiselle will not be unreasonable." "You are very kind," Peter Ruff murmured.
Peter Ruff had thought of many things, but he had not thought of this! He gasped, recovered himself, and realized at once the dangers of the position in which he stood. "The Council of Five!" he said thoughtfully. "Precisely," Monsieur de Founcelles replied.
"Mademoiselle," he said, "Monsieur Ruff has doubtless told you that last night I made him the offer of a great position among us." She looked at him with twinkling eyes. "Go on, please," she said. "I offered him a position of great dignity of great responsibility," Monsieur de Founcelles continued.
"Monsieur Ruff," he said, "putting aside, for one moment, your sense of honor, which of course forbids you even to consider the possibility of breaking your word supposing that the young lady herself should withdraw " "You don't know Miss Brown!" Peter Ruff interrupted. "It is a pleasure to which I hope to attain," Monsieur de Founcelles declared, smoothly.
"Mon ami," he said, "we will now discuss, if it pleases you, the little matter concerning which we took the liberty of asking you to favor us with a visit." "What, here?" Peter Ruff asked, in some surprise. His friend, who had introduced himself as Monsieur de Founcelles, smiled. "But why not?" he asked. "Ah, but I think I understand!" he added, almost immediately.
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