"The first is, that the devastation of the country should be retarded, and as far as possible hindered altogether." "That," said Minas, "you may safely leave to myself and Souza's other friends, the northern noblemen who have no intention of becoming the victims of British disinclination to pitched battles." "The second--and this is more difficult--is that we should obtain by hook or by crook a plan of the fortifications." And he looked directly at Samoval.
The Count nodded slowly, but his face expressed doubt.
"I am quite alive to the necessity.

I always have been.

But--" "To a man of your resource and intelligence--an intelligence of which you have just given such very signal proof--the matter should be possible." He paused a moment.

Then: "If I understand you correctly, Monsieur de Samoval, your fortunes have suffered deeply, and you are almost ruined by this policy of Wellington's.

You are offered the opportunity of making a magnificent recovery.