“You were always a dogged beggar,” he said.
“I don’t like being beaten.”
“The same thing another way round,” he laughed. “And so you’ve come back to the old hunting ground to take a hand here as a big financier. You’ll have to be careful, Bergwyn. This is no gold mine.”
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Oh, there’s nothing to tell; nothing much. I entered the army here, and having some influence, got my captaincy sooner than I deserved it. I like it well enough; but I wish I’d gone with you. I’d rather be a millionaire.”
“Why does Colonel Petrosch send you to me?”
“I’m a favourite of his a bit, and of others. They’ve let me know things, you see; trust me, I suppose; and all that. When I heard your name mentioned I pricked up my ears, and told Petrosch I fancied I knew you. He wants you and your money bags on the side of the army in all this mess of messes; and picked me out as a sort of informal ambassador to negotiate with you. Though why the devil you want to meddle with things here beats me.”
“I had the Colonel’s name given me this morning as a man who could tell me the hang of things in regard to the intentions of the army. I suppose he could.”
Nikolitch laughed. “If he can’t no one can, Bergwyn. But who sent you to him?”
I told him the name of the Minister.