“I shouldn’t care about that. I hope you beat me.”
“You’re my enemy now. That’s not the way to talk.” His eyes twinkled merrily.
“Am I your enemy? Let’s be friendly enemies, then. And there’s something I want to talk to you about. Before he died Mr. Harley told me he had made you an offer. I didn’t understand the details, but you were to be in charge of all the copper-mines in the country. Wasn’t that it?”
“Something of that sort. I declined the proposition.”
“I want you to take it now and manage everything for me. I don’t know Mr. Harley’s associates, but I can trust you. You can arrange it any way you like, but I want to feel that you have the responsibility.”
He saw again that vision of power—all the copper interests of the country pooled, with himself at the head of the combination. He knew it would not be so easy to arrange as she thought, for, though she had inherited Harley’s wealth, she had not taken over his prestige and force. There would be other candidates for leadership. But if he managed her campaign Aline’s great wealth must turn the scale in their favor.
“You must think this over again. You must talk it over with your advisers before we come to a decision,” he said gravely.
“I’ve told Mr. Jarmyn. He says the idea is utterly impossible. But we’ll show him, won’t we? It’s my money and my stock, not his. I don’t see why he should dictate. He’s always ‘My dear ladying’ me. I won’t have it,” she pouted.
The fighting gleam was in Ridgway’s eyes now. “So Mr. Jannyn thinks it is impossible, does he?”
“That’s what he said. He thinks you wouldn’t do at all.”