‘Polgarrians? What are your ten tousand Polgarrians to me, ten hunderd tousand Polgarrians, ten million Polgarrians? A tousand tons of solid gold, I tell you. Dey know nussing, your Government. All de land is one big reef. I haf known it tree munt, you haf known it, efferybody haf known it; but de Government knows nussing, de Brivy Gouncil knows nussing.’
‘Do you mean that the gold runs right across this map, where these marks are?’
‘Natürlich.’
‘I never even guessed it.’
‘Is it a choke? Bah! Den why haf you made soch friends of de Brince?’
‘What’s your proposal?’
‘Wait!’ He put his head out of window and shouted to the driver: ‘Kvicker! Kvicker!’.... ‘I tell you at home. Haf a smoke?’ He held out a fat cigar-case.
‘No thank you.’
‘Take it! take it! Fifty pount a box.’ Mr. Cato still refused.
Gates opened before them; they drove over a gravel court, and ascended broad steps on a red carpet rolled down by footmen.