“Well, that's a comfort, Colonel.”
“You have investigated your mining concession, Webster?” Ricardo Ruey asked.
“You bet.”
“What did you find?”
“A couple of millions in sight.”
Ricardo shook his head slowly. “It is not in sight, old man,” he reminded Webster. “Without our aid—and you cannot have our aid unless our revolution is successful, when you shall have it freely—your millions are, most positively, not in sight. If you want those millions, friend Webster, there is but one way to get them—and that is to close your eyes and play our game to the limit.”
“It seems to me I've been showing a pretty willing spirit right along—and that without being consulted in the matter, Rick:”
“You're one man in a million. I wonder if you'd go further—about forty thousand dollars further, to be exact.”
“I might, but I never go it blind for a wad like that. What's your trouble?”
“The revolution will fail if you decide to deny my request. I realize I have the most amazing presumption to ask anything of you, and yet I am moved to stake my all on your goodness of heart, having already had ample evidence of that goodness. In other words, I am going to apply the old principle of driving a willing horse to death.