Part 52 (1/2)
”H'm. I presume Genevieve could come down to visit us occasionally.”
”Herbert! You surely cannot mean--?”
”Griffith has told me something in connection with this bridge that proves Thomas Blake to be one of the greatest engineers, if not the greatest, in America. I'd be proud to have him for a son-in-law.”
”Impossible! _impossible!_ It can't be you'll withdraw your opposition!”
”Not only that; I'll back him to win. I like your earl. He's a fine young fellow. But, after all, Blake is an _American_.”
”He's a brute! Herbert, it is impossible!”
”They said that dam was impossible. He has mastered it. He's big; he's got brains. He'll be a gentleman within six months. He's a genius!”
”_Poof!_ He's a degenerate!”
”You'll see,” rejoined Mr. Leslie. He went back to the table and tapped the sleeper sharply on the shoulder.
Blake stirred, and mumbled drowsily: ”Huh! what--whatcha want?”
”Wake up,” answered Mr. Leslie. ”I wish to congratulate you.”
Blake slowly heaved himself up and blinked at his disturber with haggard, bloodshot eyes. He was still very weary and only half roused from his stupor.
”Huh!” he muttered. ”Must 'uv dropped 'sleep--Dog tired.” His bleared gaze swung around and took in Mrs. Gantry. He started and tried to sit more erect. ”Excuse me! Didn't know there was a lady here.”
”Don't apologize. That's for me to do,” interposed Mr. Leslie, offering his hand. ”My--that is, the Coville Company officers tell me you've worked out a wonderful piece of engineering for them.”
Blake stared hard at the bookcase behind Mrs. Gantry and answered curtly, oblivious of the older man's hand. ”That remains to be seen.
It's only on paper, so far.”
”But I--h'm--it seems they are sufficiently satisfied to wish to put you in charge of the Michamac Bridge.”
”In charge?”
”Yes.”
”How about Ashton--their contract with him?”
”That's to be settled later. I wish--h'm--I understand that you are to be sent nominally as a.s.sistant Engineer.”
”I am, eh? Excuse _me_!”
”At double the salary of Ashton, and--”
”Not at ten times the salary as _his_ a.s.sistant!”
”But you must know that Griffith's doctor has ordered him to Florida, and with the work rus.h.i.+ng on the bridge--He tells me it has reached the most critical stage of construction--that suspension span--”
”You seem mighty interested in a project you got rid of,” remarked Blake, vaguely conscious of the other's repressed eagerness.
”Yes. I was the first to consider the possibility of bridging the strait.”