"Could not do it."
"Tventy----"
"Sorry it cannot be."
"Ze lands aire rich."
"Realize them, then, Mr. Rouget. I will promise to place no unnecessary impediments in your way."
"Zere is vealth in ze ground itself. Richesses of minerals. See! Behold," and he drew from under his fur gloves, cap, and muffler, which he had thrown upon the table in a heap on entering, a small box which he proceeded to open, and displaying a number of mineralogical specimens, handed across to the other. There was a green incrustation on the stones where they had been long exposed to the weather, but the new faces made by recent hammer-fracture, shone red and metallic like a beetle's back.
"Ah," said Jordan. "Really very nice. I am no judge of such things, but to my ignorant eye some of these must be nearly pure copper. Were they found at La Hache, and does the deposit appear extensive?"
"Dey were in de swamp, a mile back from the river, last fall. We were shooting, I, that is, and a young savant of my friend's, who studies wit Professor Hammerstone. The professor has examined, himself, since den, and he finds the indications ver rich and abundant. He says zere is a fortune there beyond compute. Now! What say you? You know the Professor Hammerstone is of great reputation. Wat you say now?"
"Say? For one thing, Mr. Rouget, I congratulate you, and I would say that your prospects look infinitely more hopeful from this point of view than in connection with your 'system,' which--you must forgive my saying it--was leading you to destruction. In heaven's name let the 'system' slide, and apply yourself to develop your property."
"But ze money? my friend. You cannot develop wid notting. Lend me money, and I vill give my vor d'honneur"--and he patted his palms outstretched on the bosom of his greatcoat--"to abandon de système."