"True. And you English will find you have backed the wrong horse."
"You haven't been much troubled here, then?"
"No. The bombardment did us no harm. Our cruisers sank three Japanese transports the other day, and they captured another of your ships with contraband, the Allanton: you'll see her lying in the harbour now."
"Well, it appears to be lucky for us that the Waverley was, in a sense, on your side. About this consignment of flour: do you think you can find an immediate purchaser? We want to realize and get away at once."
The Russian's eyes gleamed, but his reply was cautious.
"Well, Ivan Ivanovitch, it is always more difficult to sell in a hurry than if you can wait. A good profit can be made, but we must take our time. It is a matter of bargaining. The man in a hurry always suffers."
"Yes, I know. We must be prepared to sacrifice something. At the market rate the flour ought to fetch about 27,000 roubles; but look here, if you can find an immediate purchaser at 25,000 I'll let it go."
Orloff still hesitated, but Jack could see that he was making an effort to restrain his eagerness.
"In business," he said, "it is best to be frank. If you will give me my usual commission of two and a half per cent—what do you say to my taking over the stuff myself?"
Jack smiled.