登陆注册
5392600000068

第68章

This, however, is a different matter.We are not hogs, Mr.Paine, but business men.If our plans go through, Denboro will be grateful to us and to you.""IF they go through? I thought you were certain of their going through.""Certainly, certainly.There is, of course, an 'if' in all human plans, but our particular 'if' is a small one.I hope you will name your figure now, at once.Don't be afraid.We are disposed to be liberal.And, understand, this is entirely a cash transaction.You shall have the money in one hand as you sign the contract with the other.Ha! ha! What is the price to be?"But I would not name a price.I seemed to feel as unreasonably reluctant to close with the Bay Shore Development Company as I had been with Captain Jed or Colton.

"Shall I make a bid?" asked Keene.

"No, not yet at any rate.Tell me, this: Whose land have you already bought?"He shook his head."That, of course," he said, with the same gracious smile, "I can hardly tell even to you.Some of the deals are not yet closed, and, as a business man yourself, Mr.Paine, you--""I am not a business man," I interrupted, impatiently."At least, not much of a one.You say there are capitalists behind your scheme.Who are they?"He laid his hand on my knee."Why, that," he said, "is a secret no one is supposed to know.Men--financiers such as we are proud to serve--permit their names to be known only when the corporation is ready to begin actual operations.That is natural enough.If Iwere to mention names--well, some of your Yankee neighbors would want to become millionaires before selling."There was truth in this.I imagine that he guessed he had made an impression, for he went on to shout his praises of the company and the greatness of its plan.He talked and talked; in fact he talked too much.I did not like to hear him.I did not like HIM, that was the trouble.He was too smooth and voluble altogether.And he made a mistake in patting my knee.

"Very well," said I, rising from my chair; "I'll think it over."He was plainly disappointed."I don't wish to hurry you, of course," he said, not moving from his chair, "but we are anxious to close.This is to be cash, remember, and I stand ready to make an offer.I am sure we can reach an agreement, satisfactory to both sides, Mr.Paine.""Perhaps, but I prefer to think the matter over before naming a price or hearing your offer."As a matter of fact I did not intend to sell, or consider selling, until I had discussed the whole affair with Mother.But there was no need to tell him that.

"I am sorry, I confess," he said."I hoped this particular deal might be closed.We have so many of these little details, Mr.

Paine, and time is money.However, if you insist upon it, Ipresume the company will be willing to wait a few days.""I am afraid it will have to."

"Very well, very well.I shall be down again in a day or two.Of course, waiting may have some effect upon the price.To-day I was empowered to...You don't care to hear? Very well.So glad to have met you, Mr.Paine.Of course you will not mention the subject of our interview to anyone.Business secrets, you know.

Thank you, thank you.And I will see you again--Thursday, shall we say?"I refused to say Thursday, principally because he had said it first.I suggested Saturday instead.He agreed, shook hands as if I were an old friend from whom he parted with regret, and left me.

No, I did not like Mr.Keene.He was too polite and too familiar.

And, as I thought over his words, the whole prospectus of the Bay Shore Development Company seemed singularly vague.The proposal to buy my land was definite enough, but the rest of it was, apparently, very much in the air.There was too much secrecy about it.No one was to tell anyone anything.I was glad I had insisted upon time for consideration.I intended to consider thoroughly.

同类推荐
  • 洞真太上八道命籍经

    洞真太上八道命籍经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Lost Face

    Lost Face

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 祇洹图经

    祇洹图经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 须颂篇

    须颂篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说频婆裟罗王经

    佛说频婆裟罗王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 妖王的亲亲妖妃

    妖王的亲亲妖妃

    此乃男强女强宠文她乃现代金牌杀手,因在执行任务时,却被一直嫉妒自己的银牌杀手暗杀。一朝穿越,成赫兰国丞相之女,爹不疼娘不爱。姐妹丫鬟仆人欺负她。搞笑,从来都是她欺负别人,何来你们欺负她?妹妹安排杀手杀自己?很好,有胆量,那你就等着痛不欲生吧?让人死不可怕,等死才可怕。哥哥也想杀自己?那就将他身败名裂,再送去要饭。公主嫉妒自己,想毁自己的容?好,那就让蜜蜂蛰她。因得罪公主,而被迫嫁给传说中的妖王?说他残忍,绝情,鬼魅。是个妖?为啥见了后,这人绝美如斯,不似凡人呢?他好像跟传说中不一样啊。他乃影歆国妖王,因出生时皇宫内所以的喂养的动物狂躁不堪。搞得皇宫恐吓不堪,便被人说成是妖。于是刚出生的他便被封为妖王,赶出皇宫。片段一:“王爷,王妃差点被首富家大少爷调戏了。”云逸说道“什么?派绝顶杀手,灭了他全家。”正在书房画自己王妃画相貌的妖王说道。竟敢调戏自己小女人,注定被灭门。片段二:“王爷,王妃把皇上赐来的夜明珠,全都当石头扔水里玩了。”云逸说道。他可是好心疼哎,多么珍贵的夜明珠啊。“是吗?既然她喜欢,把国库里的夜明珠偷来给她玩。”妖王毫不在意的说道。只要自己女人能开心,即使把月亮摘下来都行。云逸擦汗,这王爷实在是太宠他家王妃了。片段三:“王爷,王妃说她想看看皇上的玉玺是什么样。”云逸对这些已见怪不怪了。“派人把皇上的玉玺偷来给她看。告诉她,玩坏了都没关系。”妖王毫不在意的说道。别说一个玉玺,就是她要天下都没关系。云逸听到,当场吓个半死,那可是皇上的玉玺啊。。。不过谁让她家王妃喜欢呢。片段四:“王爷,夏禹国皇帝送给王妃,黄金万两,要娶王妃为皇后,并且今生只王妃一人,而且王妃已经收下了。”云逸怕怕的说,要知道他家王爷很宝贝自己王妃的,王妃也是的,竟然收下了。“什么?”一向淡定的妖王,此时不淡定了。只见一个身影后,妖王已不见了。
  • 美女总裁的修真高手

    美女总裁的修真高手

    会逆天医术,会捉鬼除妖。炼丹、画符、咒术、武学也样样精通。他是全能的修真者。因一纸婚约,下山来到都市,娶了个冷艳的美女总裁老婆。刘磊表示,都市逍遥,看我怎么玩转。
  • 左手增广贤文,右手小窗幽记

    左手增广贤文,右手小窗幽记

    没有多少人能傲视天下,也没有几个人能看透人生。世俗中难免为名利所累,众人都说,视名利如粪土,但谁又能抵挡得住诱惑?据说晋朝的狄希酿得好酒,人饮后能醉千日。而今日醉心于名与利者,无一日不醉。高官厚禄、荣华富贵,自古皆然。如果能从醉中醒来,需要服上一剂清凉散,从这个意义上来说,《增广贤文》和《小窗幽记》都是一剂普惠人间的清凉散。
  • 大魔神王

    大魔神王

    这里是一个魔法与斗气竞相奔放的世界,在这里魔法与斗气始终是这个世界不二的交响曲。魔法与斗气,二者之间水火不相容,但是当二者相互交融时,又会产生一个什么样的存在?
  • 考上大学的苦恼

    考上大学的苦恼

    在中国,上大学是多少人的梦想。无论对家长、学生还是学校,中小学长达12年所有的教育,归根结底目的似乎只有一个,那就是考上大学。然而,当成千上万的考生挥汗如雨奋力拼搏饥不择食般地从拥挤不堪的高考独木桥中挣脱,总算闯进大学的校门时,迎接他们的难道只有鲜花与欢笑吗?不!当他们如梦初醒,发现自己原本选择志愿的权利被无情剥夺、进入的大学和专业是学非所爱、对大学的陈旧的教材和平庸的教师都大失所望的时候,苦涩与无奈便不可避免。
  • 天火大道

    天火大道

    天火大道是一条长达两千零四十八米的街道,这里有着一百六十八间店铺,每一位店铺的主人,都是一位强大的异能者。绰号宙斯的佣兵界之王,因为妻子在意外中身亡隐居于天火大道。他的店铺,就叫做:宙斯珠宝店。在天火大道,他被称之为:珠宝师。【突破自我,神王无敌,唐门所出,必为精品】
  • 剑影留香

    剑影留香

    他无眠之下碰到了一生中付予他几次生命的白衣仙子依祁,自此秦臻踏上了一条江湖之路。一个书生背景的他心中始终有着对于天下苍生的热爱。可是他入世不深,对于情,他一开始便懵懵懂懂。所以他欠着太多人的情,胡月,一个可爱的小妹妹,也是陪伴他最久的女人。他两过襄阳,替贾蓉解围,后贾蓉跟着秦臻。三人便一起去济南,济南那个繁华的地方,看起来实在是太平静,可是暗藏着汹涌,一股恶势力正向江湖扩散。江湖之危在秦臻手中解决以后,贾蓉也离他而去。贾蓉不是为江湖死去,而是为了秦臻。秦臻此刻方能知道一点什么是情,所以他心中再也忘不掉贾蓉的死。这次之后,秦臻在江湖上名声大振……
  • 快穿:男配稳住不要挂

    快穿:男配稳住不要挂

    俗话说,每个成功的男主,在通往幸福大道上,一定会有个垫脚石男配。而安素,一个技(娱)术(乐)主播,在坚持了88小时无休息直播后,成功把自己作死了。从此,踏上了保护我方男配的不归路。在被世界男配碾压到怀疑人生后,安素实在是忍不住掀桌反抗,“喂,那边那个男配,你过来死一下啊!”躺在榻上的男人狭长的眸子微微一眯,“你确定?”“对不起打扰了,在下告辞。”男配你好,男配请你继续深爱女主。
  • 玉手厨娘

    玉手厨娘

    内容简介一夜之间,她从高高在上的宰相千金,变成身无分文的小乞儿,而常在她家喝茶聊天的“叔叔”却一个个视她为传染病患者避之不及。她是堂堂女丈夫,一定会以自己的力量救出含冤的爹爹,什么?要救她爹就必须找到那个神龙教教主——当朝太子李昊亭?那个可恶的太子却要她先喂饱他的身,心才肯帮她!哼,她才不怕他呢,要知道,她可是煮遍长安无敌手的“玉手厨娘”!
  • 掌上天庭

    掌上天庭

    天庭至宝散落人间,竟与手机相结合,被都市凡人张钟所获。入天庭,盗仙丹,戏仙女,学仙术。张钟凡尘的天宫之旅虽然惬意,却终究惹来强敌,天庭派人追杀于他,凡间魔道更是窥觊那至宝,且看张钟如何在重重危机下,降临天庭。