“The proposition resolves itself then into a matter of virtual commercial seizure,” Allison pointed out.
The Grand Duke, still with his hand in his beard, chuckled, as he regarded Allison amusedly.
“I shall not mind if you call it piracy,” he observed. “We, in Russia, must collect our revenues as we can, and we are nearly as frank as Americans about it. Returning to your matter of protection. I shall admit that the only agreement upon which we can secure what you want, would not hold in international equity; and, in consequence, the only protection I can give you is my personal word that you will not be molested in anything which you wish to do, providing it is pleasant to myself and those I represent.”
“Then we’ll make it an annual payment,” decided Allison, putting away some figures he had prepared. “We’ll make it a sliding scale, increasing each year with the earnings.”
The Grand Duke considered that proposition gravely, and offered an amendment.
“After the first year,” he said. “We shall begin with a large bonus, however.”
Allison again put out of his mind certain figures he had prepared to suggest. Apparently the Grand Duke needed a large supply of immediate cash, and the annual payments thereafter would need to be decreased accordingly, with still another percentage deducted for profit on the Duke’s necessities.
“Let us first discuss the bonus,” proposed Allison, and quite amicably they went into the arrangement, whereby Ivan Strolesky filched the only valuable railroad lines in his country from the control of its present graft-ridden possessors, and handed it over to the International Transportation Company.
“By the way,” said Allison. “How soon can we obtain possession?”
Ivan Strolesky put his hand in his beard again, and reflected.