Part 5 (1/2)
Gustave would not be intimidated, but replied firmly--
”Knavery!”
”Gustave!” cried Sandow furiously, ”you dare”--
”Naturally that word applies only to Mr. Jenkins. The remarkable attention with which that honourable personage received me, the constant sounding of my praises, the popularity of my name, and the brilliant success of my pen, which were to work wonders here as they had done at home--all this roused my suspicions and induced me to undertake the journey. You don't know the place, Frank, or at all events have only glanced superficially at it. But now that I have opened your eyes you will seek for the proof of my a.s.sertions, and let the whole thing drop.”
Sandow did not seem much disposed to profit by the means of escape which his brother offered to him.
”Who says I shall?” asked he harshly. ”Do you think I can give up without an effort the hundreds of thousands already invested there, merely because you have some sentimental objections to urge. The land is as good or as bad as in many other districts, and the immigrants have to struggle with climate and soil everywhere. These difficulties will be easily overcome by perseverance. It would not be the first German colony which had flourished under most unfavourable circ.u.mstances.”
”After hundreds and thousands had been ruined! That is enriching foreign soil with German blood at too great a cost.”
Sandow bit his lips; he evidently controlled himself with difficulty, and his voice was hoa.r.s.e and stifled as he replied.
”What business had you to go there on your own account? Such exaggerated conscientiousness is here quite misplaced, and also quite useless. And if I did not accept Jenkins' offer there are plenty of others who would; and I must acknowledge that he applied to me first.”
”First to you--a German--that was certainly a sign of remarkable respect from an American.”
It was singular that the same man who a quarter of an hour before, had shown himself so anxious to conceal the choice of his heart from his austere brother, since it might displease him, now boldly defied him, under circ.u.mstances in which he could not be so profoundly interested.
Sandow, though ignorant of his conversation with Jessie, was astonished to the highest degree at this conduct.
”You seem to be now playing the part of moral hero,” said he with bitter sarcasm; ”that does not suit very well with the extremely material motives which brought you here. You should have first made things clear to yourself. If you want a share in my house you must set its interest before everything, and in that interest I require you to write this article, and take care that it appears in a suitable place.
Do you hear, Gustave? Under any circ.u.mstances you will do that!”
”To bring my countrymen here to rot in that swamp of fever and misery!
No.”
”Consider the subject well before you give such a decided refusal,”
warned Sandow with an icy calm, under which lay a half-concealed threat. ”It is the first demand I make on you; if you fail me now, any future accommodation is impossible. It is quite in my power to draw back from the proposed arrangement; think of that!”
”Frank, you would not force me”--
”I force you to nothing; I only explain to you that we part if you persist in your refusal. If you are prepared for the consequences, well and good. I hold to my conditions.”
He bent over his writing table, and took from it some papers which he placed in his pocket-book. Gustave stood silently by, his eyes fixed on the floor, a dark cloud on his brow.
”Just at the moment when Frida is on her way here,” murmured he.
”Impossible. I cannot sacrifice that.”
”Well?” asked Sandow, turning to him.
”Give me time for consideration. The thing has come so suddenly, so unexpectedly. I will think it over.”
The elder brother was quite contented with this partial submission; he had certainly not doubted that his threat would produce its effect.
”Good! a week sooner or later does not matter. I hope you will have sense to see that one must act according to circ.u.mstances. But come now, it is high time that we were at the office. And once more, Gustave, give yourself up to my guidance for the future, and undertake no more extravagances like this journey. You see, it only gives rise to differences between us, and increases the difficulties of your position.”
”Decidedly,” said Gustave, half aloud, while he prepared to follow his brother. ”My position is tolerably difficult, worse than I had antic.i.p.ated.”