This discouraged Schomberg, who had looked up hopefully.
"Why do you want to stick here?" he cried. "It can't pay you people
to fool around like this. Didn't you worry just now about moving your
governor? Well, the police would move him for you; and from Singapore
you can go on to the east coast of Africa."
"I'll be hanged if the fellow isn't up to that silly trick!" was
Ricardo's comment, spoken in an ominous tone which recalled Schomberg to
the realities of his position.
"No! No!" he protested. "It's a manner of speaking. Of course I
wouldn't."
"I think that trouble about the girl has really muddled your brains,
Mr. Schomberg. Believe me, you had better part friends with us; for,
deportation or no deportation, you'll be seeing one of us turning up
before long to pay you off for any nasty dodge you may be hatching in
that fat head of yours."
"Gott im Himmel!" groaned Schomberg. "Will nothing move him out? Will
he stop here immer--I mean always? Suppose I were to make it worth your
while, couldn't you--"
"No," Ricardo interrupted. "I couldn't, unless I had something to lever
him out with. I've told you that before."
"An inducement?" muttered Schomberg.
"Ay. The east coast of Africa isn't good enough. He told me the other
day that it will have to wait till he is ready for it; and he may not be
ready for a long time, because the east coast can't run away, and no one
is likely to run off with it.
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