Nothing like this has ever before been conceived, 'Leave your
bodies alone for a time,' we shall say. 'Take our food and improve your
moral system.' We shall become the crusaders of commerce. Your story
will be told in every quarter of the globe, it will be translated into
every conceivable tongue. Your picture will very likely adorn the lid
of our boxes. It will be a matter for consideration, indeed, whether we
shall not name this great discovery after you."
"So it was for this," Burton exclaimed, "that you offered me that
thousand pounds!"
"We were to blame," Mr. Bomford admitted.
"Very much to blame," the professor echoed.
"Nevertheless," Mr. Bomford insisted, "it is an incident which you must
forget. It is man's first impulse, is it not, to make the best bargain
he can for himself? We tried it and failed. For the future we abandon
all ideas of that sort, Mr. Burton. We associate you, both nominally
and in effect, with our enterprise, in which we will be equal partners.
The professor will find the capital, I will find the commercial
experience, you shall hand over the bean. I promise you that before
five years have gone by, you shall be possessed of wealth beyond any
dreams you may ever have conceived.
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