I shall go from site to site of the ruined cities of
Egypt. No one can imagine what treasures I may not discover. I shall
even go on to a part of Africa--but I need not weary you with this. I
simply wanted you to understand that the desire for wealth is not
necessarily vulgar."
Burton yawned slightly. His eyes sought once more the velvety shadows
which hung over the lawn. He wondered down which of those dim avenues
she had passed.
"I am so sorry," he said apologetically. "You are a man of business,
Mr. Bomford, and you, professor, see much further into life than I can,
but I do not wish to have anything whatever to do with your scheme. It
does not appeal to me in the least--in fact it offends me. It seems
crassly vulgar, a vulgar way of attaining to a position which I,
personally, should loathe."
He rose to his feet.
"If you will excuse me, professor," he said. Mr. Bomford, with a
greater show of vigor than he had previously displayed, jumped up and
laid his hand upon the young man's shoulder. His hard face seemed
suddenly to have become the rioting place for evil passions. His lips
were a little parted and his teeth showed unpleasantly.
"Do you mean, young man," he exclaimed, "that you refuse to join us?"
"That is what I intended to convey," Burton replied coldly.
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