Page:Roy Norton--The unknown Mr Kent.djvu/63

 "Because I could conceive of no one being fool enough to offer me such a sum for a concession," replied the king. "It would require more capital or labour than I can produce to make them pay." Kent stared speculatively at him, and took a turn through the room.

"I'm not certain that I wouldn't be foolish enough to try it," he said thoughtfully. "I've been well informed that they are valuable. Why not grant me a twenty-year concession, out of which I give you ten per cent of the profit; but with this clear agreement: that I am to have full power to handle you and your kingdom to make them pay? It's the only way I can find to save Rhodes' money for him."

The king looked tempted, yet cautiously considerate; but did not answer in haste.

Kent paced the room thoughtfully, and at last, with a kindly air, walked across and laid his hand on the king's shoulder.

"You are not a king to me," he said, quietly. "You are just a fine, brave young fellow, with high ideals, who deserves a chance. I hate to see as decent a young chap as you are fail, irretrievably, for the want of some one to back him, and to show him the way through. We don't have kings in my country; but we have the young fellows. And I have helped a lot of them, when about all they needed was some one to pat them on [59]