The million pound banknote

I was in a kind of agony. I was just about to say, 'Lloyd, I'm a pauper myself. I am absolutely penniless, and in debt!' But then a white-hot idea came flaming through my head. I gripped my jaws together, and calmed myself down until I was as cold as a capitalist. Then I said, in a businesslike and self-possessed way

'I will save you. But I will do it in a way that would be fair to you, after your hard work and the risks you've taken. I don't need to buy mines. In a commercial center like London I can keep my money moving without buying anything. It's what I'm at, all the time; but here is what I'll do. I know all about that mine, of course. I know it is very valuable, and I can swear to it if anybody asks me to. In a fortnight you shall sell all your shares for three million cash by using my name freely. We'll divide, share and share alike.'

Do you know, in his insane joy he would have danced on the furniture until he had smashed it to kindling? He would have broken everything in the place, if I hadn't tripped him up and tied him. Then he lay there, perfectly happy, saying

'I may use your name! Your name - think of it! Man, these rich Londoners will come to buy in droves, they'll fight for those shares! I'm a made man, I'm a made man forever, and I'll never forget you as long as I live!'

Vocabulary:

Agony: Great pain
Pauper: Poor person, penniless
Self-possessed: In control of one's emotions
Commercial center: Somewhere a lot of buying and selling is done
What I'm at: Who I am and what I do
Share and share alike: I share with you, you share with me
Kindling: Small bits of wood used to start a fire
Droves: Large numbers
A made man: Someone whose life is sorted out