The President rose and put his hand on my shoulder.
“Better say yes. I might take it, you know, and cause you to disappear—believe me, with reluctance, Mr. Martin. It is true I shouldn’t like this course. It would perhaps make my position here untenable. But not having the money would certainly make it untenable.”
I saw the force of this argument, and gulping down my brandy and soda, I said:
“I can refuse your Excellency nothing.”
“Then take your hat and come along to the bank,” said he.
This was sharp work.
“Your Excellency does not mean to take the money now—to-night?” I exclaimed.
“Not to take, Mr. Martin—to receive it from you. We have made our bargain. What is the objection to carrying it out promptly?”
“But I must have the bonds. They must be prepared, sir.”
“They are here,” he said, taking a bundle from the drawer of a writing-table. “Three hundred thousand dollars, six per cent. stock, signed by myself, and countersigned by Don Antonio. Take your hat and come along.”