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Джек Лондон / Jack London

Сердца трёх / Hearts of Three

Chapter I

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir; I’ve read of him, sir. ”

Parker had paused in the doorway.

“Nothing to be proud of, the old pirate. ”

“Hm, we Morgans never found his treasure. ”

Francis went to the phone.

Five minutes later the clerk was back, this time with a message. Regan read it:

Regan shook his head.

Senor Torres paused in eloquent inability to describe more definitely.

“And sir,” Senor Torres continued, “I am somewhat embarrassed for immediate funds. ”

“You need the money,” the stock operator assured him brutally, and he bowed.

Regan wrote a check, in the name of Alvarez Torres, and when that gentleman glanced at it he read the figures of a thousand dollars.

“Now here’s the idea,” said Regan. “I don’t believe a word in your story. But I have a young friend, and he is too tired to live in a big town, you understand?”

Senor Alvarez Torres bowed.

“Now, for the good of his health, as well as his wealth and the saving of his soul, the best thing that could happen to him is a trip after treasure, adventure, exercise, and… you readily understand, I am sure. ”

Again Alvarez Torres bowed.

“You need the money,” Regan continued. “Try to interest him. That thousand is for your effort. If he departs after old Morgan’s gold, two thousand more is yours. If he remains away three months, two thousand more; six months – five thousand. Oh, believe me, I knew his father. We were comrades, partners, I might say, almost brothers. I can sacrifice any sum to his son. What do you say? The thousand is yours to begin with. Well?”