登陆注册
15452000000124

第124章 CHAPTER XXIX.(3)

Henry could only grin in reply to this beautiful piece of reasoning; and that same afternoon the pair were in Hillsborough, and Mr. Bolt, under Henry's guidance, inspected the grinding of heavy saws, both long and circular. He noted, at Henry's request, the heavy, dirty labor. He then mounted to the studio, and there Henry lectured on his models, and showed them working. Bolt took it all in, his eye flashed, and then he put on, for the first time, the coldness of the practiced dealer. "It would take a good deal of money to work this properly," said he, shaking his head.

"It has taken a good deal of brains to invent it."

"No doubt, no doubt. Well, if you want me to join you, it must be on suitable terms. Money is tight."

"Well, propose your own terms."

"That's not my way. I'll think it over before I put my hand to paper. Give me till to-morrow."

"Certainly."

On this Mr. Bolt went off as if he had been shot.

He returned next day, and laid before Henry an agreement drawn by the sharpest attorney in Hillsborough, and written in a clerk's hand. "There," said he, briskly, "you sign that, and I'll make my mark, and at it we go."

"Stop a bit," said Henry. "You've been to a lawyer, have you? Then I must go to one, too; fair play's a jewel."

Bolt looked disappointed; but the next moment he affected cheerfulness, and said, "That is fair. Take it to your lawyer directly."

"I will," said Henry; but, instead of a lawyer, he took it to his friend Dr. Amboyne, told him all about Ben Bolt, and begged his advice on the agreement. "Ought he to have the lion's share like this?"

"The moneyed man generally takes that. No commodity is sold so far beyond its value as money. Let me read it."

The purport of the agreement was as follows:--New premises to be built by Bolt, a portion of the building to be constructed so that it could be easily watched night and day, and in that part the patent saw-grinding machines to be worked. The expenses of this building to be paid off by degrees out of the gross receipts, and meanwhile Mr. Bolt was to receive five per cent. interest for his outlay and two-thirds of the profits, if any. Mr. Little to dispose of his present factory, and confine his patents to the joint operation.

Dr. Amboyne, on mature consideration, advised Little to submit to all the conditions, except the clause confining his operations and his patents. They just drew their pen through that clause, and sent the amended agreement to Bolt's hotel. He demurred to the amendment; but Henry stood firm, and proposed a conference of four.

This took place at Dr. Amboyne's house, and at last the agreement was thus modified: the use of the patents in Hillsborough to be confined to the firm of Bolt and Little: but Little to be free to sell them, or work them in any other town, and also free, in Hillsborough, to grind saws by hand, or do any other established operation of cutlery.

The parties signed; and Bolt went to work in earnest. With all his resolution, he did not lack prudence. He went into the suburbs for his site and bought a large piece of ground. He advertised for contracts and plans, and brought them all to Henry, and profited by his practical remarks.

He warned the builders it must be a fortress, as well as a factory: but, at Henry's particular request, he withheld the precise reason.

"I'm not to be rattened," said he. I mean to stop that little game.

I'm Ben Bolt, that's bad to beat."

At last the tender of Mr. White was accepted, and as Mr. Bolt, experienced in the delays of builders, tied him tight as to time, he, on his part, made a prompt and stringent contract with Messrs.

Whitbread, the brickmakers, and began to dig the foundations.

All this Henry communicated to Grace, and was in high spirits over it, and then so was she. He had a beautiful frame made for the little picture she had given him, and hung it up in his studio. It became the presiding genius, and indeed the animating spirit, of his life.

Both to him and Grace the bright and hopeful period of their love had come at last. Even Bolt contributed something to Little's happiness. The man, hard as he was in business, was not without a certain rough geniality; and then he was so brisk and bustling. His exuberant energy pleased the inventor, and formed an agreeable relief to his reveries and deep fits of study.

The prospect was bright, and the air sunny. In the midst of all which there rose in the horizon a cloud, like that seen by Elijah's servant, a cloud no bigger than a man's hand.

Bolt burst into the studio one day, like a shell, and, like a shell, exploded.

"Here's a pretty go! We're all at a standstill. The brickmakers have struck."

"Why, what is the matter?"

"Fourpence. Young Whitbread, our brickmaker's son, is like you--a bit of an inventor; he altered the shape of the bricks, to fit a small hand-machine, and Whitbreads reckoned to save tenpence a thousand. The brickmakers objected directly. Whitbreads didn't want a row, so they offered to share the profit. The men sent two of their orators to parley; I was standing by Whithread when they came up; you should have heard 'em; anybody would have sworn the servants were masters, and the masters negro slaves. When the servants had hectored a bit, the masters, meek and mild, said they would give them sixpence out of the tenpence sooner than they should feel dissatisfied. No; that wouldn't do. 'Well, then,' says young Whitbread, 'are you agreed what will do?' 'Well,' said one of the servants, 'we WILL ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THE BRICKS, if you give us the tenpence.'"

"That was cool," said Henry. "To be sure, all brainless beggars try to starve invention."

同类推荐
  • 千手眼大悲心咒行法

    千手眼大悲心咒行法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 嗜卧门

    嗜卧门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 六门陀罗尼经

    六门陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 风骚要式

    风骚要式

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 净土极信录

    净土极信录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 不良神偷

    不良神偷

    李胜利拉住六儿的手激动道:组织终于找到你了!六儿浑身哆嗦,不就砸了几百个ATM机嘛……李胜利继续道:你愿意为国捐躯吗!六儿哭泣道:留个活口行不……李胜利满意的点头,这么说你答应把苏家大小姐泡上手了?六儿:……
  • 修商成佛

    修商成佛

    本书介绍了中外十位著名企业家:林尚沃、松下幸之助、稻盛和夫、原一平、乔布斯、李嘉诚、黄如论、曹德旺、刘长乐和李宁。书中讲述了这些企业家成功的秘诀和他们一心向佛的故事。
  • 天不容我,我为天

    天不容我,我为天

    神五是一个弃婴,从小在华夏西部一个偏僻小县城福利院长大,也是福利院里唯一一个孩子,福利院里住的多是一些上了年纪的老人,其中有一个被其他人叫做李疯子的老人,自神五有记忆开始李疯子总拿着鸡血一直在福利院里到处乱画、乱刻,任何人阻止他就会被打拳打脚踢,但是每次神五只要一靠近他,李疯子就会低头后退。说也奇怪神五所在这个县城曾发生过的流行病、地震,但是福利院却安然无恙。神五的一生也许会和多数孤儿一样,可能是一个励志故事、也可能会过着更加凄惨的生活,但是神五的人生轨迹在他八岁那年转变了,因为福利院莫名其妙的遭到了雷击,神五第二天醒来的时候呈现在他眼前的是一片废墟和这一辈子都忘不了的场景。。。。。。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 太霄琅书琼文帝章诀

    太霄琅书琼文帝章诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 英雄联盟之传颂

    英雄联盟之传颂

    改编自英雄联盟五杀摇滚乐队背景故事,但又不同于原故事寥寥数字的简介,更宏大更精彩,复活与重生,信念与热血,阴谋与忠诚,和平与战争!
  • 只说给我听

    只说给我听

    她先天性的哑巴,本以为生活已经没有什么滋味,可是却遇见了他,他竟然知道她心中想着的一切。这会是命中注定的吗?尽管全世界都听不到你的话语,但是你可以说给我听。
  • 霸道前夫,太凶猛!

    霸道前夫,太凶猛!

    离婚前夕她一不小心睡了自己老公,逃跑三年被男人逮个正着。从此前夫变上司,日日解码新姿势。“总裁,您确定这咖啡是这样磨得?”“换个姿势也可以。”直到叶漫被折腾的腰肢乱颤,一拳打在男人胸膛,“你个骗子,说好的上下属关系呢?!”“白天下属关系。”男人说着再次将她压下身,“晚上是上下关系……”
  • 古玩日记

    古玩日记

    我是一个古董商人,也是一个专门做旧的手艺人,还是一个背负着家族血咒的盗墓贼。神秘的飞鱼图,诡异的定星盘,一件件的事件连起来以后,到底是解开了一段历史的真相?还是步入了另一段谜团?不到最后一刻,谁也说不清......
  • 特工妖妃生成记

    特工妖妃生成记

    穿越就算了我苏紫璃忍了!可是你为什么给我穿成个彩色的杀马特狐狸!好吧~_~是个杀马特狐狸这我也可以忍但是那个时常在耳边念叨着叫我变强的那个是什么鬼?为了你,我逆天而行。为了你,我以我血肉之躯来补好这满目疮痍的世界。可……宇殇俎你……终究是忘了我们曾经的誓言。【这是剧情梗概。微虐emmm……算了微虐吧!】男女主身心干净,女强男强,不知道会不会是成长流看我心情。如果是成长流是男主女主共同成长但是前期男主还是和一般小说套路一样比女主强很多。这个文开了很久了,之前懒没写现在看心情码字。剧情还是前面的剧情。不管有没有人看,都不接受反驳。请君随意,爱来我欢迎,要走我不会留你。