Yes, it was--and is--a big thing, a real
thing--the one right in the whole world that there's no doubt about.
Other rights are theories, views, preachments! Right of conquest is a
fact. I had it. I could make him do what I liked, say what I liked, sign
what I liked. Do you begin to see where I found myself? I say found
myself, because really it was a surprise to me. At first I thought he was
in a pretty small way--he only gave me a hundred a year besides my keep.
True, he always talked of his money, but I set that down mainly to his
delusion. But it was true that he had a lot--really a lot. A good bit
besides what you saw in there; he must have speculated cleverly, I think,
he couldn't have made it all in his business. Doctor Mary, how much gold
do you think there is in the grave in there?"
"I haven't the least idea. Thousands? Where did you get it?"
"Oh yes, thousands--and thousands. We got it mostly from the aliens in
the East End; they'd hoarded it, you know; but they were willing to sell
at a premium. The premium rose up to last month; then it dropped a
little--not much, though, because we'd exhausted some of the most obvious
sources.
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