He would not ask--thousands for it." "No," Basterga answered, with something of asperity and even contempt in his tone.

"He does not ask thousands for it, Messer Blondel.

But he asks, none the less, something you cannot give." "Money ?" "No." "Then--what is it ?" Blondel leant forward in growing fury.

"Why do you fence with me?
What is it, man ?" Basterga did not answer for a moment.

At length, shrugging his shoulders, and speaking between jest and earnest, "The town of Geneva," he said.