Rough Diamond by Fish Robert L.;

Author:Fish, Robert L.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road

8

October 1887

The directors of the De Beers Mining Company, alerted by telegraph from his previous stop at Bloemfontein in the Free State, were waiting for Cecil Rhodes as his express coach from Cape Town rolled down the Dutoitspan Road and came to a halt before the Kimberley Club, the horses panting in the early-spring heat, the coachman covered with dust, the outriders weary from holding their precarious perch. The trip from Cape Town had been accomplished in six days, a record, and its toll was apparent on all passengers and crew. With instructions to Pickering to proceed with the carriage to Market Square and handle the luggage, Rhodes got down stiffly and marched into the club, followed by those who had been awaiting him. He walked through the half-deserted bar and into their usual meeting room beyond, taking his place at the head of the table, quite as if he had not been gone for the past three months on a most delicate mission for the company to London. The others seated themselves around the table while Rhodes considered each one in turn, his face a stone façade. The others glanced at each other uneasily as they waited. At last Rhodes smiled, a wide smile, almost an elfin grin, a most unusual expression on that normally dour face.

“I got the money,” he said quietly, but with great effect on his companions.

There was a general atmosphere of relief at his words; their faces began to relax. The smiles became general.

“How much?” Dr. Jameson asked.

“Whatever it takes to accomplish our mission, up to five million pounds. That’s for complete control, of course, not just for this stage. I believe that together with our own funds it should be more than ample.” The smile was removed from Rhodes’ face as if holding it that long had begun to become painful. He got down to serious business. “We cannot afford to fail this time! There is too much at stake! The Rothschilds would become most concerned if we did, and we shall need them in the future if my plans mature as I expect them to. Besides, I have worked on these Jew bankers for nearly four years to reach this point, and I have no intention of letting this opportunity slip through my fingers at the last moment! Is that understood?”

There was silence. Rhodes nodded and went on.

“Good. Barnato took over the Central Company when Robinson went bankrupt as a result of that most suspicious explosion which I am sure we are all convinced was due not to an act of God but to an act of Barnato, even though nothing was ever proven. He outbid us for the French Company by a whopping three hundred thousand pounds, all, I am convinced, earned on the illicit diamond market. He combined Barnato-Central with the French Company to form Kimberley Mines, and that covers the entire Big Hole. I’m repeating this although I know you know the facts as well as I do, because I want you all to realize the full importance of the operation we are about to start.

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