I humbly beg of you, it must be till the term not of his but of my natural life." "Yes, yes, till the term of your natural life." "But if he won't have it ?" "I'll pay you myself.

You shall receive your regular salary from me without including whatever you may get over and above from him.

Will you be satisfied with a yearly salary of three hundred florins with your board and keep ?" At these words Margari's breath failed him.

It was not without difficulty that he put the rapacious question: "Will your honour do me the favour to give me this promise in writing ?" "Certainly! Bring writing materials and I will dictate it to you on the spot." And so an agreement was duly drawn up whereby Mr.Margari, in consideration of a yearly salary of 300 florins to be punctually sent to him at the beginning of every quarter, undertook in his capacity of secretary to Baron Hatszegi, to keep his Honour Demetrius Lapussa informed of all that he saw and heard at the residence of that gentleman, Henrietta's future husband, and this obligation of maintaining Margari was to be transferred on the death of Mr.Demetrius to his son John.

And no doubt Mr.Demetrius knew very well what he was about.
This document signed and sealed, Mr.Margari, with the greatest alacrity, produced the Latin exercises in question, first of all, however, respectfully kissing the hand of his patron.
It took till midnight to read and translate all these documents one by one.