The million pound banknote

Then I suddenly realized what had happened, and I admitted it like a man.

'I was not listening, because at the ambassador's, I took the dearest girl in this world into my heart.'

So then he came over with a rush, and we shook hands, and shook, and shook till our hands ached. He was not angry with me for not having heard a story which had lasted while we walked three miles. He just sat down, like the patient, good fellow that he was, and told his story all over again.

In brief his story was this. Lloyd had come to England with what he thought was a grand opportunity. He had the chance to sell the new part of the Gould and Curry Mine. He had to give a million dollars to the people who had found that part, and if he sold for more than a million dollars, he could keep the rest.

He had worked hard. He had talked to anyone who might help him. He had tried everything possible without being dishonest. Now he had spent nearly all the money he had in the world. Still he had not been able to get a single capitalist to listen to him, and his money would run out at the end of the month. In a word, he was ruined. Then he jumped up and cried out:

'Henry, you can save me! You can save me, and you're the only man in the universe that can. Will you do it? Won't you do it? Give me a million dollars and pay for my journey home and you can sell the mine extension instead! Please don't, don't refuse!'