The Young Vampire by J.-H. Rosny Aîné

Author:J.-H. Rosny Aîné
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Coat Press
Published: 2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00

VI.

Bullerton has advised me by telegram that he is coming to see me this morning. A dozen words without any further indication than the day and the hour. In principle, that ought to mean that he isn’t backing out of the deal, but I force myself to be incredulous and succeed in being pessimistic. My success in that respect increases as the hour draws nearer, but pessimism doesn’t obliterate hope. It creeps furtively, insinuating itself into every impression and every idea, like a penetrating odor. In any case, it reinforces my black mood rather than attenuating it, by introducing a maddening fear, an oppression of the soul of the sort to which I am liable.

The doorbell. 10 a.m. He’s naturally punctual…

Here are the rectangular shoulders, the smoke-black hair, the mahogany eyes, the dead-leaf complexion and the small teeth encased in the hyena’s jaws. The other has come too—the authentic Anglo-Saxon with the horse’s teeth, the long face and skull, and the sloping shoulders.

Bullerton gets straight to the point. “You haven’t changed your mind?” he says, in his harsh voice.

Here we go! In a minute, everything will be resolved. My tongue is very dry, and I can hear the hammering of my heart.

“No,” I reply. “No change of mind.”

“All right. We’ve looked at everything. The thing is possible. 200,000 dollars cash, and a half a percent per sale. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“In that case, read…”

He has taken a sheet of headed paper from his pocket. The text is brief and clear. I cede the entire ownership of my apparatus to Bullerton, Ruthven & Co., in return for the payment of 200,000 dollars on signature of the contract and half of one percent of the sale price, payable every year at the end of January.

“Now,” says Bullerton, “would you prefer a check or a credit note on the North American and Canadian Bank in New York? A credit note will give you better protection against the exchange-rate, which is becoming highly dangerous. Your choice.”

I choose the credit note. Bullerton bursts out laughing. “As anticipated. Here’s the paper, stamped New York. You’ll have every facility at the Parisian branch.”

He has become cordial, almost affectionate; laughing open-mouthed, with a “boyish” air; he comes to give me a light tap on the shoulder. “I reckon we’ve both made a good deal. I dare say your machine will sell very well, and you’ll make a handsome profit.”

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