If success attended the attempt, I was to disappear; if it failed, my name and I were to be the shield and bear the brunt.

The reward was fifty guineas, and perhaps a serviceable gratitude in the minds of two great men, provided I lived to enjoy the fruit of it.
"You'll accept this task ?" asked the Duke.
The task was to thwart M.de Perrencourt and gratify the Duke of Monmouth.

If I refused it, another might accept and accomplish it; if such a champion failed, M.de Perrencourt would triumph.

If I accepted, I should accept in the fixed intention of playing traitor to one of my employers.

I might serve Buckingham's turn, I should seek to thwart Monmouth.
"Who pays me fifty guineas ?" I asked.
"Faith, I," he answered with a shrug.