“Five—five hundred American dollars?” screamed the doctor. “A hundred pounds? You don’t mean that, do you? Why, hum—haw—can you afford it?”
“Oh, yes,” said Zaidos simply. “I suppose I can afford almost anything I want. I had a long talk with my father the night he died, so I happen to know just what my income is. And I don’t spend much. There isn’t anything to spend it for. Of course, when I go back to school, I mean to put up a new gymnasium. The one we have is a freak; but that won’t break me, either.”
“A hundred pounds!” said the doctor. Delightful visions of endless rolls of bandages, antiseptics, medicines, nurses, litters, shelter tents, beds, and food appeared before the doctor’s delighted eyes. “A hundred pounds!” he repeated. “Zaidos, Zaidos, you will erect a monument to your cousin finer—” he choked, then turned, and with an arm over Zaidos’ shoulder continued: “Well, Zaidos, it is hard for an Englishman, and an old Englishman at that, to express what he feels; but, my boy, I am as proud of you as though you were my own son! Proud of you, Zaidos! You are perfectly sure you mean it?”
“Of course,” said Zaidos, laughing. “I think the thing to do is to put money in a bank and fix it so you yourself can draw it, as needed, at the rate of five hundred a month. I’ll be busy in school catching up so I won’t be able to see to it.”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” said the doctor. “I think I will go see the General, Zaidos. I have got to tell someone. I can never keep all this to myself.”
He went hurrying off and Zaidos watched him. Once he bumped into a tree and twice an orderly called him. He made no reply. He was thinking with whirling brain of the lives he would be able to save.
Then he reached the General’s tent, and burst in unceremoniously. They had been classmates at college.
“Dick,” cried the doctor, “Dick, the most amazing thing has happened!” and with a rush of words he poured out the fine news.
“Well, bless me, bless me!” cried the General, shoving back from the table where a map of Europe was spread. “Now, Henry, I know just how well pleased you are. Why, what wonderful things you can do with all that money! But are you sure the lad will do as he says?”
“You ought to know that lad, Dick!” exploded the doctor. “He’s the finest boy! He’s just what you would have wanted your boy to be like, if you had loved some girl, and had married her, and had had a baby, and it had grown up. He won’t disappoint me, rest assured of that!”