"
"Are they worth eighteen thousand dollars?"
She put the question in such a way that Hargrave understood her
perfectly.
"Well," he said, "that depends upon a good many conditions. But
I'm willing to say, quite frankly, that if you don't want the
jewels I'm ready to take them for our house at eighteen thousand
dollars."
The big, dominant, aggressive woman made the gesture of one who
cracks a dog whip.
"That's all right," she said. Then she turned to the foreigner.
"Now, major, when do you want this money?"
The big old officer shrugged his shoulders and put out his hands.
"To-morrow, madam; to-morrow as I have said to you; before midday
I must return. I can by no means remain an hour longer; my leave
of absence expires. I must be in Bucharest at sunrise on the
morning of the twelfth of October. I can possibly arrive if I
leave London to-morrow at midday, but not later."
Mrs. Farmingham began to wag her head in a determined fashion.
"Nonsense," she said, "I can't get the money by noon. I have
telegraphed to the Credit Lyonnais in Paris. I can get it by the
day after to-morrow, or perhaps to-morrow evening.
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