34
DIAMONDS TO SIT ON
‘ Seventy, perhaps seventy-five, thousand.’ ‘ H’m, that means it’s worth a hundred and fifty thousand to-day.’ ‘ What ? As much as that ? ’ Hippolyte asked. ‘ Certainly not less. But you, my friend, you should leave this matter alone. Nothing will come of it.’ ‘ What do you mean ? ’ ' Just what I say. How many chairs were there ? ’ ‘ A dozen. It was a drawing-room suite.’ ' The suite has probably gone up in smoke long ago.’ Hippolyte was so alarmed at this that he jumped up from his seat.
- Gently, gently,’ said Bender. ‘ I’m taking this
matter in hand. The conference is not yet at an end ; you and I must draw up a little agreement together.’ Breathing heavily, Hippolyte expressed his consent with a nod, and Bender began to work out the con ditions. ‘ In the event of our realizing the treasure, I, as a participator and technical adviser in this affair, shall receive sixty per cent. You don’t need to worry about paying insurance for me—that doesn’t matter to me.’ ‘ Why, it’s daylight robbery ! ’ said Hippolyte, turn ing pale. ‘ But how much did you think of offering me ? ’ ‘ Well, perhaps five per cent or ten per cent at the most. After all, that is fifteen thousand roubles.’ ‘ Are you quite sure you don’t want anything else out of me ? ’ ‘ N-no.’ ‘ Oh ! I thought you might want me to work for nothing and give you the key of my room where I keep my money and tell you how to escape the police.’ ‘ Excuse me,’ said Hippolyte. ‘ I have every reason to believe I can manage this business by myself.’ ‘ Oh ! ’ said Bender, ‘ in that case you must excuse me, for I too have every reason to believe I can manage this business alone.’
