“You're right, mate,” Trent assented. “Plank down the brass, and it's a deal.” “I will give you four thousand pounds for a quarter share,” Da Souza said. Trent knocked the ashes from his pipe and stood up. “Here, don't waste any more of my time,” he said. “Stand out of the way, I'm off.” Da Souza kept his hands upon the concession. “My dear friend,” he said, “you are so violent. 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 minute Da 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. “Have a drink?” he asked. Da Souza shook his head. “The less we drink in this country,” he said, “the better. I guess out here, spirits come next to poison. I'll smoke with you, if you have a cigar handy.” Trent drew a handful of cigars from his pocket. “They're beastly,” he said, “but it's a beastly country. I'll be glad to turn my back on it.” “There is a good deal,” Da Souza said, “which we must now talk about.” “To-morrow,” Trent said curtly. “No more now! I haven't got over my miserable journey yet. I'm going to try and get some sleep.”