Part 26 (2/2)
”No; but I could have done some work these last three years and made it not matter whether it failed or not. You can't comfort me out of that knowledge. I knew all along that I was being a waster and a loafer, but I was so happy that I didn't mind. I was so interested in seeing what you and the kid would do next that I didn't seem to have time to work. And the result is that I've gone right back.
”There was a time when I really could paint a bit. Not much, it's true, but enough to get along with. Well, I'm going to start it again in earnest now, and if I don't make good, well, there's always Hank's offer.”
Ruth turned a little pale. They had discussed Hank's offer before, but then life had been bright and cloudless and Hank's offer a thing to smile at. Now it had a.s.sumed an uncomfortably practical aspect.
”You will make good,” said Ruth.
”I'll do my best,” said Kirk. But even as he spoke his mind was pondering on the proposition which Hank had made.
Hank, always flitting from New York into the unknown and back again, had called at the studio one evening, after a long absence, looking sick and tired. He was one of those lean, wiry men whom it is unusual to see in this condition, and Kirk was sympathetic and inquisitive.
Hank needed no pressing. He was full of his story.
”I've been in Colombia,” he said. ”I got back on a fruit-steamer this morning. Do you know anything of Colombia?”
Kirk reflected.
”Only that there's generally a revolution there,” he said.
”There wasn't anything of that kind this trip, except in my interior.”
Hank pulled thoughtfully at his pipe. The odour of his remarkable brand of tobacco filled the studio. ”I've had a Hades of a time,” he said simply.
Kirk looked at him curiously. Hank was in a singularly chastened mood to-night.
”What took you there?”
”Gold.”
”Gold? Mining?”
Hank nodded.
”I didn't know there were gold-mines in that part of the world,” said Kirk.
”There are. The gold that filled the holds of Spanish galleons in the sixteenth century came from Colombia. The place is simply stiff with old Spanish relics.”
”But surely the mines must have been worked out ages ago.”
”Only on the surface.”
Kirk laughed.
”How do you mean, only on the surface? Explain. I don't know a thing about gold, except that getting it out of picture-dealers is like getting blood out of a turnip.”
”It's simple enough. The earth h.o.a.rds its gold in two ways. There's auriferous rock and auriferous dirt. If the stuff is in the rock, you crush it. If it's in the dirt, you wash it.”
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