“You go on, Archie Maine,” said the Major. “Capital! Hang the expense!”
“But all these things have to be considered, sir,” said the diplomat rather coldly.
“Yes, sir; and I am considering them,” said the Major. “I think the plan’s excellent. It will be killing two birds with one stone. I’ll make it so real that we shall overawe the people, and please them and make them more friendly, at one stroke. Why, it will be worth in prestige twenty times as much as the money it will cost.”
“Then you think we ought to do it, Major?”
“Think we ought to do it, Dallas?” said the Major in astonished tones. “Why, of course. Don’t you?”
“I think it’s worth consideration, certainly, but I am not for coming to a rash decision.”
“Rash!” said the Major hotly. “I don’t call that rash. What is there rash in it?”
“Several things occur to my mind,” said the Resident.
“Never mind the several; let’s have one,” said the Major, with the facial muscles making his moustache twitch sharply.
“Well, sir, we are few in number. Would it be wise to invite these two Eastern princes to come here in force and well-armed, so that they could combine and try to sweep us out of existence?”