"A thousand francs, if we
succeed in bringing my cousin safely back to Dantzig."
"It is agreed," said Barlasch, and Desiree looked from one to the
other with an odd smile of amusement. For women do not understand
that spirit of adventure which makes the mercenary soldier, and
urges the sailor to join an exploring expedition without hope of any
reward beyond his daily pay, for which he is content to work and die
loyally.
"And I," she asked, "what am I to do?"
"We must know where to find you," replied D'Arragon.
There was so much in the simple answer that Desiree fell into a
train of thought. It did not seem much for her to do, and yet it
was all. For it summed up in six words a woman's life: to wait
till she is found.
"I shall wait in Dantzig," she said at length.
Barlasch held up his finger close to her face so that she could not
fail to see it, and shook it slowly from side to side commanding her
careful and entire attention.
"And buy salt," he said. "Fill a cupboard full of salt. It is
cheap enough in Dantzig now. The patron will not think of it. He
is a dreamer. But a dreamer awakes at length, and is hungry. It is
I who tell you--Barlasch."
He emphasized himself with a touch of his curved fingers on either
shoulder.
"Buy salt," he said, and walked away to a rising knoll to make sure
that no one was approaching. The moon was just below the horizon,
and a yellow glow was already in the sky.
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