"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 021 - Shadowed Millions" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Responses came from the men at the table. One, a portly individual, who sat at the end, arose and
stepped toward the visitor.
“Hello, Legira,” he said, extending his hand. “Sorry we had to keep you waiting. You arrived a little
earlier than we expected.”

“To be early is to assure punctuality, Mr. Hendrix,” returned Legira, with a gleaming, affable smile.

He shook hands with the heavy-set gentleman, who then ushered him to a chair at the far end of the
table. With Legira seated, Hendrix took his place at the head.

The members of the group shifted their chairs. While they puffed their cigars, Alvarez Legira calmly
dangled his cigarette holder from his fingers, and watched them with a beaming smile that betokened his
assurance. He looked toward Hendrix.

“Go ahead, Legira,” said the portly man. “We want to hear your summary. Then there will be some
questions. Our discussion has been favorable. It's up to you, now.”

Legira smiled. These men were just the type that he had expected to meet. In appearance, they
resembled the standardized pattern of American businessmen whom he had encountered so often since
his arrival in New York.

He felt a vast superiority over men of this type. His suavity, his keenness, his clever ease of
speech—these were all to his advantage. Legira had a mission with these men, and he could picture
himself swaying them by his persuasive arguments.

Yet there were elements present that made his task a mighty challenge. These men were more than
ordinary businessmen. They were financiers who represented vast interests. That, in itself, was a factor
that required skill and diplomacy of speech. But to Alvarez Legira it was only a secondary matter.

The great challenge to the man from Santander was the tremendous stake that hinged upon to-night's
negotiations. If he could be calm, keen, and persuasive, he would gain his mission. If he should betray
anxiety and lack assurance, he would lose.

This thought was uppermost in Legira's mind as he began to speak. He had come here to ask for
something. Before he left, he would have the final answer from this group. That answer would be either
“yes” or “no”—without further qualification.

The matter that thus hung in the balance was a sum of money which Legira hoped to receive in return for
concessions that he had offered.

That sum was exactly ten million dollars!

CHAPTER II. LEGIRA ANSWERS QUESTIONS
THE silent group of financiers listened with intense interest while Alvarez Legira spoke persuasively. The
soft, purring voice of the South American carried a convincing tone.

With keen eyes watching his auditors, Legira unfolded a large map and spread it upon the table. All eyes
followed his finger as it indicated the territorial divisions that Legira had marked upon the chart.

“The state of Santander,” explained the consul, “has always been regarded as an important territorial