CHAPTER XX.
A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
Ferdinand found life at the farm-house rather slow, nor did heparticularly enjoy the society of the spinster whom he called aunt.But he was playing for a valuable stake, and meant to play out hisgame.
"Strike while the iron is hot!" said he to himself; "That's a goodrule; but how shall I know when it is hot? However, I must risksomething, and take my chances with the old lady."
Aunt Deborah herself hastened his action. Her curiosity had beenaroused by Ferdinand's intimation that he wished her advice on amatter of business, and the next morning, after breakfast, she said,"Ferdinand, what was that you wanted to consult me about? You may aswell tell me now as any time."
"Here goes, then!" thought the young man.
"I'll tell you, aunt. You know I am offered a large salary in SanFrancisco?"
"Yes, you told me so."
"And, as you said the other day, I can lay up half my salary, and intime become a rich man."
"To be sure you can."
"But there is one difficulty in the way."
"What is that?"
"I must go out there."
"Of course you must," said the old lady, who did not yet see thepoint.
"And unfortunately it costs considerable money."
"Haven't you got enough money to pay your fare out there?"
"No, aunt; it is very expensive living in New York, and I was unableto save anything from my salary."
"How much does it cost to go out there?"
"About two hundred and fifty dollars."
"That's a good deal of money."
"So it is; but it will be a great deal better to pay it than to loseso good a place."
"I hope," said the old lady, sharply, "you don't expect me to payyour expenses out there."
"My dear aunt," said Ferdinand, hastily, "how can you suspect such athing?"
"Then what do you propose to do?" asked the spinster, somewhatrelieved.
"I wanted to ask your advice."
"Sell your ring. It's worth over six hundred dollars."
"Very true; but I should hardly like to part with it. I'll tell youwhat I have thought of. It cost six hundred and fifty dollars. Iwill give it as security to any one who will lend me five hundreddollars, with permission to sell it if I fail to pay up the note insix months. By the way, aunt, why can't you accommodate me in thismatter? You will lose nothing, and I will pay handsome interest."
"How do you know I have the money?"
"I don't know; but I think you must have. But, although I am yournephew, I wouldn't think of asking you to lend me money withoutsecurity. Business is business, so I say."
"Very true, Ferdinand."
"I ask nothing on the score of relationship, but I will make abusiness proposal."
"I don't believe the ring would fetch over six hundred dollars."
"It would bring just about that. The other fifty dollars representthe profit. Now, aunt, I'll make you a regular business proposal.If you'll lend me five hundred dollars, I'll give you my note forfive hundred and fifty, bearing interest at six per cent., payable insix months, or, to make all sure, say in a year. I place the ring inyour hands, with leave to sell it at the end of that time if I failto carry out my agreement. But I sha'n't if I keep my health."
The old lady was attracted by the idea of making a bonus of fiftydollars, but she was cautious, and averse to parting with her money.
"I don't know what to say, Ferdinand," she replied. "Five hundreddollars is a good deal of money."
"So it is, aunt. Well, I don't know but I can offer you a littlebetter terms. Give me four hundred and seventy-five, and I'll giveyou a note for five hundred and fifty. You can't make as muchinterest anywhere else."
"I'd like to accommodate you," said the old lady, hesitating, for,like most avaricious persons, she was captivated by the prospect ofmaking extra-legal interest.
"I know you would. Aunt Deborah, but I don't want to ask the moneyas a favor. It is a strictly business transaction."
"I am afraid I couldn't spare more than four hundred and fifty."
"Very well, I won't dispute about the extra twenty-five dollars.Considering how much income I'm going to get, it isn't of any greatimportance."
"And you'll give me a note for five hundred and fifty?"
"Yes, certainly."
"I don't know as I ought to take so much interest."
"It's worth that to me, for though, of course, I could raise it byselling the ring, I don't like to do that."
"Well, I don't know but I'll do it. I'll get some ink, and you canwrite me the due bill."
"Why, Aunt Deborah, you haven't got the money here, have you?"
"Yes, I've got it in the house. A man paid up a mortgage last week,and I haven't yet invested the money. I meant to put it in thesavings bank."
"You wouldn't get but six per cent there. Now the bonus I offer youwill be equal to about twenty per cent."
"And you really feel able to pay so much?"
"Yes, aunt; as I told you, it will be worth more than that to me."
"Well, Ferdinand, we'll settle the matter now. I'll go and get themoney, and you shall give me the note and the ring."
"Triumph!" said the young man to himself, when the old lady had leftthe room. "You're badly sold, Aunt Deborah, but it's a good job forme. I didn't think I would have so little trouble."
Within fifteen minutes the money was handed over, and Aunt Deborahtook charge of the note and the valuable diamond ring.
"Be careful of the ring, Aunt Deborah," said Ferdinand. "Remember, Iexpect to redeem it again."
"I'll take good care of it, nephew, never fear!"
"If it were a little smaller, you could wear it, yourself."
"How would Deborah Kensington look with a diamond ring? Theneighbors would think I was crazy. No: I'll keep it in a safe place,but I won't wear it."
"Now, Aunt Deborah, I must speak about other arrangements. Don't youthink it would be well to start for San Francisco as soon aspossible? You know I enter upon my duties as soon as I get there."
"Yes, Ferdinand, I think you ought to."
"I wish I could spare the time to spend a week with you, aunt; butbusiness is business, and my motto is, business before pleasure."
"And very proper, too, Ferdinand," said the old lady, approvingly.
"So I think I had better leave Centreville tomorrow."
"May be you had. You must write and let me know when you get there,and how you like your place."
"So I will, and I shall be glad to know that you take an interest inme. Now, aunt, as I have some errands to do, I will walk to thevillage and come back about the middle of the afternoon."
"Won't you be back to dinner?"
"No, I think not, aunt."
"Very well, Ferdinand. Come as soon as you can."
Half an hour later, Ferdinand entered the office of the "CentrevilleGazette."
"How do you do, Mr. Kensington?" said Clapp, eagerly. "Anything new?"
"I should like to speak with you a moment in private, Mr. Clapp."
"All right!"
Clapp put on his coat, and went outside, shutting the door behind him.
"Well," said Ferdinand, "I've succeeded."
"Have you got the money?"
"Yes, but not quite as much as I anticipated."
"Can't you carry out your plan?" asked Clapp, soberly, fearing he wasto be left out in the cold.
"I've formed a new one. Instead of going to California, which isvery expensive, we'll go out West, say to St. Louis, and try ourfortune there. What do you say?"
"I'm agreed. Can Luke go too?"
"Yes. I'll take you both out there, and lend you fifty dollars eachbesides, and you shall pay me back as soon as you are able. Will youlet your friend know?"
"Yes, I'll undertake that; but when do you propose to start?"
"To-morrow morning."
"Whew! That's sh
ort notice."
"I want to get away as soon as possible, for fear the old lady shouldchange her mind, and want her money back."
"That's where you're right."
"Of course you must give up your situation at once, as there is shorttime to get ready."
"No trouble about that," said Clapp. "I've hated the business for along time, and shall be only too glad to leave. It's the same withLuke. He won't shed many tears at leaving Centreville."
"Well, we'll all meet this evening at the hotel. I depend upon yourboth being ready to start in the morning."
"All right, I'll let Luke know."
It may be thought singular that Ferdinand should have made so liberalan offer to two comparative strangers; but, to do the young manjustice, though he had plenty of faults, he was disposed to begenerous when he had money, though he was not particular how heobtained it. Clapp and Luke Harrison he recognized as congenialspirits, and he was willing to sacrifice something to obtain theircompanionship. How long his fancy was likely to last was perhapsdoubtful; but for the present he was eager to associate them with hisown plans.