'You would not need to repay the money. I would take that risk. It is a
sort of speculation. If you form the company, then I shall expect a very
large reward for furnishing the funds. It is purely selfishness on my
part. I believe I have a head for business. Women in this country do not
get such chances of developing their business talents as they seem to
have in America. In that country there are women who have made fortunes
for themselves. I believe in your mine, and I am convinced you will
succeed in forming your company. If you or Mr. Wentworth were
capitalists, of course there would be no need of my assistance. If I were
alone, I could not form a company. You and Mr. Wentworth can do what I
cannot do. You can appear before the public and attend to all
preliminaries. On the other hand, I believe I can do what neither of you
can do; that is, I can supply a certain amount of money from time to time
to pay the expenses of forming the company--because a company is not
formed in London for nothing, I assure you. Perhaps you think you have
simply to go and see a sufficient number of people and get your company
formed. I fancy you will find it not so easy as all that. Besides this
business interest I have in it, I have a very friendly interest in Mr.
Wentworth.'
As she said this, she bent over towards John Kenyon, and spoke in a lower
tone of voice:
'Please do not tell him so, because I think that he is a young man who
has possibilities of being conceited.'
'I shall say nothing about it,' said Kenyon dolefully.
'Please do not. By the way, I wish you would give me Mr. Wentworth's
address, so that I may communicate with him if a good idea occurs to me,
or if I find out something of value in forming our company.'
Kenyon took out a card, wrote the address of Wentworth upon it, and
handed it to her.
'Thank you,' she said 'You see, I deeply sympathized with Mr. Wentworth
for what he had to pass through on the steamer.'
'He is very grateful for all you did for him on that occasion,' replied
Kenyon.
'I am glad of that. People, as a general thing, are not grateful for what
their friends do for them. I am glad, therefore, that Mr. Wentworth is an
exception. Well, suppose you talk with him about what I have said, before
you make up your own mind. I shall be quite content with whatever share
of the profits you allow me.'
'Ah, that is not business, Miss Longworth.'
'No, it is not; but I am dealing with you--that is, with Mr.
Wentworth--and I am sure both of you will do what is right. Perhaps it
would be better not to tell him who is to furnish the money. Just say you
have met a friend to-day who offers, for a reasonable share of the
profits, to supply all the money necessary for the preliminary expenses.
You will consult with him about it, will you not?'
'Yes, if it is your wish.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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