Part 16 (2/2)
”My dear Pendarve, I implore you not to do so for that boy's sake,”
cried the Major.
”It is for his sake I am going to venture upon what seems to me a very safe piece of business.”
”No, no; a wild-goose chase, sir.”
”Mining is not so reckless as that, if carried out on business principles, my dear Jollivet.”
”There, we shall never agree. But in the name of all that is sensible, why did you come to me?”
”Partly because you are my oldest friend, and one in whom I should confide any important business.”
”And partly,” cried the Major, warmly, ”because you thought I should be weak enough to join you.”
”Quite right, all but the question of weakness,” said the Colonel.
”Absurd! There, I am obliged to speak plainly; I could never dream of such a thing.”
”I don't want you to dream,” said the Colonel, smiling; ”I want you to act--to join me; and upon this basis: I will find the mine, and half the money for the machinery, if you will find the other half.”
”It would be folly. Look at the money we know to have been lost on mines.”
”Yes, in companies, and over very doubtful affairs. In this case we have the proof of mining having been carried on. We have the mine, and we should not have to share profits with a number of shareholders.”
”Nor losses neither,” said the Major, testily.
”Nor the losses neither,” a.s.sented the Colonel. ”Then we live on the spot and could oversee matters.”
”Bah! What do we know about mines? I could manage a regiment, not a hole underground.”
”We could soon learn, my dear boy,” said the Colonel; ”and it would be very interesting to have such an occupation. I have felt for years past that you and I have been wasting time. No occupation whatever, nothing to do but think about our ailments. It's rusting, Jollivet--it's rusting out; and I'm sure that if we both worked hard, we should be healthier and better men.”
”Humph! Well, there is something in that. But, no, no, no, I'm not going to be tempted to spend money that ought some day to come to Joe.”
”Oh, I don't mind, father, if it's going to do you good,” cried the boy, eagerly. ”I should like for you to have a mine.”
”Shall I have any money some day, father?” said Gwyn.
”I suppose so, my boy, what I leave when I die,” said the Colonel, frowning.
”Oh, then, I'll give it to go into the mine, father,” cried Gwyn; and the stern look pa.s.sed off the Colonel's face. He nodded, and looked pleased.
”Think of the anxiety that such a venture would bring,” said the Major.
”I have thought of it, and also of the anxieties and worries which come to a man who has nothing to do. Look here, Jollivet, I firmly believe in this adventure, and I should very much like it if you would join me, for I feel that it would do you good, and that we should get on well together.”
<script>