"
"Five millions of crowns?" The minister's astonishment was so
genuine that in jerking back his head his glasses slipped from
his nose and dangled on the string.
The Englishman bowed again, the wrinkle of a smile on his face.
"I would not believe him serious at first, count," said the king,
laughing easily, "but he assured me that he is. What can be
done about it?"
"O, your Majesty," cried the minister, excitedly, "it would not
be politic. And then the measure--"
"Is it possible that I have misconstrued its import?" the
diplomat interposed with a fine air of surprise.
"You are familiar--" began the count, hesitatingly.
"Perfectly; that is, I believe so."
"But England--"
"Has nothing whatever to do with the matter. Something greater,
which goes by the name of self-interest."
"Ah," said the count, his wrinkles relaxing; "then it is on your
own responsibility?"
"Precisely."
"But five millions of crowns--two hundred and fifty thousand
pounds!" The minister could not compose himself. "This is a
vast sum of money. We expected not an individual, but a
syndicate, to accept our securities, to become debtors to the
various banks on the continent.
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