You are so abrupt.
Now listen. I will give you five thousand for a quarter share. It
is half my fortune."
"Give me the concession," Trent said. "I'm off."
"For a fifth," Da Souza cried.
Trent moved to the door without speech. Da Souza groaned.
"You will ruin me," he said, "I know it. Come then, five thousand
for a sixth share. It is throwing money away."
"If you think so, you'd better not part," Trent said, still
lingering in the doorway. "Just as you say. I don't care."
For a full minuteDa Souza hesitated. He had an immense belief in
the richness of the country set out in the concession; he knew
probably more about it than Trent himself. But five thousand pounds
was a great deal of money and there was always the chance that the
Government might not back the concession holders in case of trouble.
He hesitated so long that Trent was actually disappearing before he
had made up his mind.
"Come back, Mr. Trent," he called out. "I have decided. I accept.
I join with you."
Trent slowly returned. His manner showed no exultation.
"You have the money here?" he asked.
Da Souza laid down a heap of notes and gold upon the table. Trent
counted them carefully and thrust them into his pocket. Then he
took up a pen and wrote his name at the foot of the assignment which
the Jew had prepared.
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