[Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas Pere]@TWC D-Link bookTen Years Later CHAPTER 6 5/6
It contained three double louis, which amounted to the six louis demanded by the host. But it was seven that Cropole had required. He looked, therefore, at the unknown, as much as to say, "And then ?" "There remains one louis, does there not, master hotelier ?" "Yes, monsieur, but----" The unknown plunged his hand into the pocket of his haut-de-chausses, and emptied it.
It contained a small pocket-book, a gold key, and some silver.
With this change he made up a louis. "Thank you, monsieur," said Cropole.
"It now only remains for me to ask whether monsieur intends to occupy his apartments to-morrow, in which case I will reserve them for him; whereas, if monsieur does not mean to do so, I will promise them to some of the king's people who are coming." "That is but right," said the unknown, after a long silence, "but as I have no more money, as you have seen, and as I yet must retain the apartments, you must either sell this diamond in the city, or hold it in pledge." Cropole looked at the diamond so long, that the unknown said, hastily: "I prefer your selling it, monsieur; for it is worth three hundred pistoles.
A Jew--are there any Jews in Blois ?--would give you two hundred or a hundred and fifty for it--take whatever may be offered for it, if it be no more than the price of your lodging.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|