"You have but to name the sum you want, Citizen Chauvelin," said
the Incorruptible, with an encouraging smile, "the government will
not stint you, and you shall not fail for lack of authority or for lack of
funds."

"It is pleasant to hear that the government has such uncounted
wealth," remarked Chauvelin with dry sarcasm.

"Oh! the last few weeks have been very profitable," retorted
Robespierre; "we have confiscated money and jewels from emigrant
royalists to the tune of several million francs. You remember the
traitor Juliette Marny, who escape to England lately? Well! her
mother's jewels and quite a good deal of gold were discovered by one
of our most able spies to be under the care of a certain Abbe
Foucquet, a calotin from Boulogne--devoted to the family, so it
seems."

"Yes?" queried Chauvelin indifferently.

"Our men seized the jewels and gold, that is all. We don't know yet
what we mean to do with the priest. The fisherfolk of Boulogne like
him, and we can lay our hands on him at any time, if we want his old
head for the guillotine. But the jewels were worth having. There's a
historic necklace worth half a million at least."

"Could I have it?" asked Chauvelin.

Robespierre laughed and shrugged his shoulders.