“But it is a monstrous fortune,” said the Cuban. “It is an opportunity that cannot come twice to a man. Do you hear? Great ingots of gold and bars of silver. Treasures untold, of which I offer you half, and yet you English people are so cold and unmovable. Why, a Spaniard or a Frenchman would have gone mad with excitement.”
“Yes,” said Mr Parkley, “but we don’t do that sort of thing here.”
“No,” said the Cuban, “you are so cold.”
“It takes some time to warm us, sir,” said Dutch, sternly; “but when we are hot, we keep so till our work is done. Your Frenchman and Spaniard soon get hot, and are cold directly.”
“That’s right, Pugh, every word,” said Mr Parkley, nodding his head.
“Then you refuse my offer?” said the Cuban, with a bitter look of contempt stealing over his face.
“Do I?” replied Mr Parkley.
“Yes, you are silent—you do not respond.”
“Englishmen don’t risk ten thousand pounds without looking where it is to go, my fine fellow,” said Mr Parkley, drumming away at the desk. “I don’t say I shall not take it up, and I don’t say I shall.”
“You doubt me, then. Are not my papers good?”