“It would take you a long time to wipe it off on what you’d save out of two dollars a day.”
“Very true,” Bethune admitted. “To clear the ground, I suppose you believe we’d try?”
“We’ll take it that you mean to deal straight with me. Anyway, you believe you have a pretty good chance of getting at the gold?”
“I think it’s a fair business risk. In proof of this, we’re going back to do our best if you will give us the supplies we want. We wouldn’t be willing to incur the liability unless we had some hope of success.”
“Very well; you don’t suggest my letting you have the truck and taking a partner’s share on the strength of it?”
“No,” Bethune answered decidedly; “not unless you press the point.”
Mrs. Jaques nodded as if she had approved of the question and found the answer reassuring. It implied that the adventurers thought the scheme good enough to keep to themselves.
“I’d rather my husband stuck to his regular line,” she said.
“Then,” said Bethune, “this is my proposition: Give us the goods, and charge us ten per cent. interest until they’re paid for. You’ll get it as well as the principal, sooner or later.”
Jaques looked at his wife; and she made a sign of assent.