Behind the throne

"Of course the transaction is a purely private one. There is, I suppose, no chance of the truth leaking out? If so, it might be very awkward, you know." "None whatever. Your Excellency may rely upon me to deal with these people cautiously. Besides, they have their own reputation to consider-as well as ours." "And how much do you say they offer?" asked His Excellency in Italian, so that the English servants, if they were listening, should not understand.