“I thought of five thousand pounds,” said the Admiral.
“And on what security?”
“I am a retired admiral of the British navy. You will find my name in the Navy List. There is my card. I have here my pension papers. I get L850 a year. I thought that perhaps if you were to hold these papers it would be security enough that I should pay you. You could draw my pension, and repay yourselves at the rate, say, of L500 a year, taking your five per cent interest as well.”
“What interest?”
“Five per cent per annum.”
Mr. Metaxa laughed. “Per annum!” he said. “Five per cent a month.”
“A month! That would be sixty per cent a year.”
“Precisely.”
“But that is monstrous.”
“I don't ask gentlemen to come to me. They come of their own free will. Those are my terms, and they can take it or leave it.”