“You spoke the truth there,” replied Zabra, still continuing to regard him with the same earnestness; and the broker’s attempts to conceal his passion and his uneasiness became every moment more unsuccessful.
“He is thus to every one,” observed Oriel Porphyry; “and he means no offence. But let us proceed to business. According to your request, my father has sent you a lot of fabrics of the choicest patterns and materials, which I shall give you an order to remove from the docks upon receiving payment in gold. You can examine them if necessary, whenever it is convenient to you, when you will find them exactly of the description you ordered. I am also commissioned to purchase, to any amount, ivory, gold dust, gums, pearls and precious stones, ostrich feathers, amber, and any other article of traffic of approved quality that may suit the Columbian markets, or that may be turned to a profitable account during my voyage. They can be paid for in money or in goods—whichever should be most desirable.”
“Good—good,” remarked the broker, losing, in his attention to business, all his angry feelings. “Ah! let me see. I think I shall be able to treat with you for a considerable portion of your cargo; and, as a particular friend, I should not advise you to go to any strange brokers; they’ll take you in, depend upon it.”
“Why, I thought, in this free country, all your transactions were distinguished by a degree of honesty superior to that of other nations;” said Oriel.
“Yes, yes,” hastily replied master Boor, considerably puzzled to account for the discrepancy in his statements. “But every man will make a good bargain, if he can.”
“Then what offer are you inclined to make for a thousand bales of lace and cambric goods, best quality?”
“Why, you see, master Porphyry, the truth is, the market here is a little overstocked just now with those articles; they are a complete drug.”
“I have good reason to believe there is a great demand for them,” said Oriel.
“Nothing of the kind, master Porphyry. I wouldn’t deceive you for the world. But, although things are so heavy, I don’t mind offering twenty thousand dollars for them, either in money or goods.”
“That is just half I am commissioned to take;” remarked the young merchant, rising to go away. “And as we shall not be able to do business on those terms, I must seek a more advantageous market.”