Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
—theirmain,branchandleasedlinesforlastyear—wasbetweennineteenandtwentymillionsofdollars.Doyoumeantosaythattwentymilliondollarsissevenpercent.oftheoriginalcostoftheroad?”
S.Behrmanspreadouthishands,smiling.
“Thatwasthegross,notthenetfigure—andhowcanyoutellwhatwastheoriginalcostoftheroad?”“Ah,that’sjustit,”shoutedHarran,emphasisingeachwordwithablowofhisfistuponhisknee,hiseyessparkling,“youtakecursedgoodcarethatwedon’tknowanythingabouttheoriginalcostoftheroad.Butweknowyouarebondedfortrebleyourvalue;andweknowthis:thattheroadCOULDhavebeenbuiltforfifty-fourthousanddollarspermileandthatyouSAYitcostyoueighty-seventhousand.Itmakesadifference,S.Behrman,onwhichofthesetwofiguresyouarebasingyoursevenpercent.”
“Thatallmayshowobstinacy,Harran,”observedS.Behrmanvaguely,“butitdon’tshowcommonsense.”
“Wearethreshingoutoldstraw,Ibelieve,gentlemen,”remarkedMagnus.“Thequestionwasthoroughlysiftedinthecourts.”
“Quiteright,”assentedS.Behrman.“Thebestwayisthattherailroadandthefarmerunderstandeachotherandgetalongpeaceably.Wearebothdependentoneachother.Yourploughs,Ibelieve,Mr.Derrick.”S.Behrmannoddedtowardtheflatcars.
“Theyareconsignedtome,”admittedMagnus.
“Itlooksatriflelikerain,”observedS.Behrman,easinghisneckandjowlinhislimpcollar.“Isupposeyouwillwanttobeginploughingnextweek.”
“Possibly,”saidMagnus.
