Page:Roy Norton--The unknown Mr Kent.djvu/146

 "I promise to do the very best I can to get the best of you," Provarsk asserted.

"I like that, too, " Kent said, heartily. "You're welcome to get away with all you can; with this understanding, that you must agree to accept and honestly carry out all orders given you. Otherwise"

"Otherwise what?" queried the baron, when the American hesitated.

"Otherwise we'll have you promptly shot. Also, you are 'honoured,' as you put it, because I believe you are a good enough gamester, once having given your word, to obey orders."

Provarsk studied Kent, wonderingly, while the latter, without a change of expression, stared back at him.

"You don't want to be bothered hanging or shooting me, now; you think I'm too dangerous to exile; and you therefore prefer to keep me directly under your eye. So you appoint me chancellor! Bather clever, it strikes me."

Kent nodded and smiled.

"You have it," he said.

"All right, Mr. Richard Kent, I accept this chancellorship, and agree to obey all of your orders—or should I say His Majesty's?—with just one provision, which is that after one year's service I have the privilege of resigning and walking away, scot free, whenever I choose to do so." [142]