"I don't ask you to trust Galdar; my people will find the money. In a sense, it doesn't matter to us who is president, except that we want the concessions Galdar promised, and they're worth an extra two thousand pounds. We'll give you American bills for the sum if your steamer lands her cargo too late to be of use."
Kit thought hard. It looked as if Olsen knew the Rio Negro had broken down. If so, he was obviously well informed and his employers were persuaded that the probability of the president's downfall was strong enough to justify the bribe. Two thousand pounds would go some way to making Ashness a model farm, while it was plain that Adam might lose the money he had hinted he meant to leave Kit. Kit, however, did not feel tempted, although he wanted to find out something about Olsen's plans.
"You seem to take my agreement for granted," he remarked. "You must see that I could embarrass you by telling Alvarez."
Olsen laughed. "You could put him wise; but you couldn't embarrass us. The president knows whom he's up against. The trouble is he isn't strong enough to get after us."
"Well, suppose I refuse?"
"You'll be a blame fool. That's all there is to it."
Kit doubted. He knew what had happened to Adam, and, in spite of Olsen's statement, imagined Galdar's friends would not let him warn the president.
"Anyhow, you must give me until the morning. I want to think about it," he said, in order to test his suspicions.
"We can't wait; the thing must be put over now. There's no use in trying to raise my offer. You know our limit."
"Oh, well!" said Kit, "I'm afraid I'll have to let it go. There are difficulties, and if you can't wait—"