The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 90: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

474 Ree ‘THE GOLD DELUGE, Whether it was really so, is open to question, but it seemed to them as though the very servants in the hotel measured them with suspecting glances. Perhaps they also knew of the presence of the police, as they were polite though reserved, and when Erik had placed his signature upon the hotel register, the proprietor closely scanned the same, apparently doubting its genuineness. The next day he appeared at the door of Erik’s room, knocked, and with a deep bow announced that a servant of the imperial chancellor had arrived with a letter awaiting a reply. Erik hastily perused the lines - I beg you for an interview today at 2 P.M. Erik wrote: I shall be there at the appointed time. ' ERIK POULSEN. The imperial chancellor received Erik in his private cabinet. ‘“Good morning, Mr. Poulsen, I am exceedingly glad to become ac- quainted with you. Be seated and let us immediately proceed to business. I wish to speak of your brilliant discovery. ‘There can of course be no thought of making the matter public. The Danish government acted rather childishly in the affair, but so much the better. ‘That gives me the oppor- tunity to make you an offer in the name of the German nation: sell us your discovery.”’ Erik looked startled. ‘“ Naturally I do not think of offering you money—say, for instance, five hundred millions ; but what do you think of the title of privy councilor and the highest Prussian order ?’’ Erik shrugged his shoulders. Privy councilor ! ‘‘Or count? Anything?’ went on the chancellor, drumming impatiently with his fingers on the table. Erik felt his pride asserting itself within him. He knew now what his value and importance was. What mattered that it was the powerful empire’s chancellor with whom he spoke? Was he not his equal in power? These were the thoughts in his mind as he replied, ‘‘I do not sell myself for a miserable title or for an equally miserable cross.” ‘‘ Great heavens !’’ exclaimed the minister angrily, and he hammered on the table with his fist; ‘‘ you are very presumptuous! Notwithstanding, the discovery must be ours. Germany will make you the governing potentate over Bulgaria.’’ Krik started violently. “Or king !’’ 3 Erik’s eyes seemed suddenly to lose sight ; everything around him turned black. King! A rain of fiery sparks seemed to fly by his dazzled eyes, and the blood sang in his ears. King! And his wife? Queen! He felt as though he must hold fast to something. The room whirled around him << Tt seemed to have turned bottom upwards ; the ceiling seemed to be the floor, the floor the ceiling ! And yet! Was his discovery worth no more than a king- dom? Would he not contaminate himself if he entered into such a bargain? 5