Part 4 (2/2)
The allusion did not fail of its effect. The projected marriage was too important to Sandow, and his ward's disinclination to it, too well known to him, to allow him to throw the slightest hindrance in the way of his brother's courts.h.i.+p. He therefore replied more graciously--
”I suppose it was one of your usual altercations; you amuse yourselves with this continual wrangling; but I do not find that you make much progress with Jessie. She is more reserved than ever towards you.”
”Frank, you cannot judge of my progress,”, said Gustave, with an injured air. ”It is considerable I a.s.sure you.”
”We will hope so,” replied Sandow, significantly, ”and now to business.
I want to talk to you of the affair, which I, and some business friends in New York contemplate taking in hand together. Jenkins tells me he has already spoken of it to you, and yesterday I gave you the correspondence to look over, so you must now be pretty well up in the subject.”
”Decidedly I am.”
Gustave had all at once become serious, and the answer rang quite differently from his usual cheerful, careless tone. Sandow took no notice of the change, but continued--
”You know we possess in the West large districts which are not yet settled. The purchase was to be made under extremely advantageous circ.u.mstances; but the extent of territory was so enormous that Jenkins was not able to complete it with his own means alone. He therefore applied to me and won me over to his views. We were fortunate in obtaining the land for a very moderate sum, and what now concerns us is to have it occupied advantageously. This can only be done by colonisation, and German colonisation in particular seems most suitable. We have prepared all the necessary notices, and intend now to begin seriously.”
”Only one question,” said Gustave, interrupting the dry business-like narration. ”Have you any personal knowledge of your possessions?”
”Why, I should not undertake such an extensive business without full information. Naturally I know all about it.”
”So do I,” said Gustave laconically.
Sandow started and drew back a step.
”You! How? When? Is it possible?”
”Certainly, and in the most simple manner. Mr. Jenkins, whom I looked up in New York at your express wish, explained to me when the conversation fell on this subject, that you reckoned greatly on me, or rather on my pen. I therefore held it necessary to make myself thoroughly acquainted with the whole affair. That was really the cause of my late arrival, and of my 'pleasure tour,' as you called it. Before all, I wished to know where my country people were to be sent.”
Sandow knitted his brows gloomily.
”All this trouble was quite superfluous. We are not in the habit of going to work in such a circ.u.mstantial manner. But what seems to me very remarkable is, that you should have been here a whole week without giving me the slightest hint of your journey. But never mind. We certainly reckon much on you and your literary connections. Our agents will do their best, but that is not enough. People have become very suspicious about agents, and the outlay has been too great to let us run any risks. Our great wish is that one of the great influential German papers which stands above all suspicion of a puff, should open the subject in our interest. It is true that you are no longer on the staff of the _K--sche Zeitung_; but they regret having lost you, and would gladly receive your contributions from America. A series of articles written in your eloquent and brilliant style would secure our success, and if you use your other literary connections skilfully so as to make the thing widely known, there is no doubt that in a few years a great German emigration will take place.”
Gustave had listened in silence without offering the least interruption; but now he raised his eyes and fixed them earnestly on his brother's face.
”You forget one trifle, which is that your territory is totally unfit for colonisation. The land lies as unfavourably as possible, the climate is in the highest degree unhealthy, indeed, in some seasons deadly. The soil is unproductive, and to the most gigantic efforts returns only the smallest results. All the aids of skilful cultivation are utterly wasted, and the few settlers who are scattered here and there are sunk in sickness and misery. They are exposed, utterly defenceless, to the rigour of the most cruel elements, and those who might follow them from Europe would share the same fate.”
Sandow listened with ever-growing surprise, and at first words failed him, at last he exclaimed angrily--
”What absurd exaggerations! Who has put such ideas into your head, and how can an utter stranger judge of such circ.u.mstances? What can you know of it?”
”I have made the strictest inquiries on the spot. My information is authentic.”
”Nonsense! And if it were what have I to do with it? Do you think that you, who have scarcely been a week in the counting-house, can give me instructions in the management of my speculations?”
”Certainly not! But when such a speculation costs the life and health of thousands we are accustomed to call it by a different name.”
”By what name?” asked Sandow, threateningly, advancing close to his brother.
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