They
will say, why did you keep me in ignorance of this move, and the
answer - why, it is very clear! I knew you were selling what was
not yours to sell!"
"I kept you away," Trent said scornfully, "because I was dealing
with men who would not have touched the thing if they had known
that you were in it!"
"Who will believe it?" Da Souza asked, with a sneer. "They will
say that it is but one more of the fairy tales of this wonderful
Mr. Scarlett Trent."
The breath came through Trent's lips with a little hiss and his
eyes were flashing with a dull fire. But Da Souza held his ground.
He had nerved himself up to this and he meant going through with it.
"You think I dare not breathe a word for my own sake," he continued.
"There is reason in that, but I have other monies. I am rich enough
without my sixth share of that Bekwando Land and Mining Company
which you and the Syndicate are going to bring out! But then, I am
not a fool! I have no wish to throw away money. Now I propose to
you therefore a friendly settlement. My daughter Julie is very
charming. You admire her, I am sure. You shall marry her, and then
we will all be one family. Our interests will be the same, and you
may be sure that I shall look after them. Come! Is that not a
friendly offer?"
For several minutes Trent smoked furiously, but he did not speak.
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