'You have not put in the word "answer."'
'No; but I put it in the despatch I sent. I remember that now.'
'Have you had a reply yet?'
'Oh no; you see, it takes a long time to get there, because there are so
many changes from the end of the cable to the office where Kenyon is. And
then, again, you see, they may have to look for him. He may not be
expecting a message; in fact, he is sure not to be expecting any. From
his own cablegram to me, it is quite evident he has given up all hope.'
'Show me that cablegram, please.'
Wentworth hesitated.
'It is hardly couched in language you will enjoy reading,' he said.
'That doesn't matter. Show it to me. I must see all the documents in
the case.'
He handed her the paper, which she read in silence, and gave it back to
him without a word.
'I knew you wouldn't like it,' he said.
'I have not said I do not like it. It is not a bit too strong under the
circumstances. In fact, I do not see how he could have put it in other
words. It is very concise and to the point.'
'Yes; there is no doubt about that, especially the first three words, "We
are cheated!" Those are the words that make me think Kenyon has given up
all hope; so there may be some trouble in finding him.'
'Did you learn whether money could be sent by cable or not?'
'Oh yes; there is no difficulty about that. The money is deposited in a
bank here, and will be credited to Kenyon in the bank at Ottawa.'
'Very well, then,' said Miss Longworth, handing him the piece of paper,
'there is the money.'
Wentworth gave a long whistle as he looked at it. 'Excuse my rudeness,'
he said; 'I don't see a bit of paper like this every day. You mean, then,
to buy the mine?'
'Yes, I mean to buy the mine.'
'Very well; but there is ten thousand pounds more here than is
necessary.'
'Yes. I mean not only to buy the mine, but to work it; and so some
working capital will be necessary. How much do you suppose.'
'About that I have no idea,' said Wentworth. 'I should think five
thousand pounds would be ample.'
'Then, we shall leave five thousand pounds in the bank here for
contingencies, and cable twenty-five thousand pounds to Mr. Kenyon. I
shall expect him to get me a good man to manage the mine. I am sure he
will be glad to do that.'
'Most certainly he will. John Kenyon, now that the mine has not fallen
into the hands of those who tried to cheat him, will be glad to do
anything for the new owner of it. He won't mind, in the least, losing his
money if he knows that you have the mine.'
'Ah, but that is the one thing he must not know. As to losing the money,
neither you nor Mr. Kenyon are to lose a penny. If the mine is all you
think it is, then it will be an exceedingly profitable investment; and I
intend that we shall each take our third, just as if you had contributed
one-third of the money, and Mr. Kenyon another.'
'But, my dear Miss Longworth, that is absurd. We could never accept any
such terms.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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