Carmella Commands
price now or you do not buy. You pay his price or go to hell.”
“Listen, kid,” said Mr. Richmond, taking a roll of bills from his pocket. “You tell your dad five thousand flat. That’s the limit. But here’s a hundred extra dollars, for you yourself, to spend as you like, to bind the bargain.”
He counted out ten tens. Long experience in bargaining had taught him the value of money in sight. Carmella waved her hand, and spoke quickly to Tommaso.
“Now he tries to bribe me to get you to accept his price. Do you see? They want your land because Mr. Barrington must have it for his plans. That’s the only reason they want it. Tell them you will sell to him yourself or not at all.”
Tommaso grew angry at the situation. These two Americans trying to beat him down! And the more angry he grew, the faster he talked. Which suited Carmella well.
“And tell them,” he added, at the end of a long harangue, “that they can pay my price of four thousand or they can vai al diavolo.”
Carmella turned calmly to the two men, though her heart was beating wildly. This was the first time she had ever deceived her father. And it was a gamble beyond her years. But—she had seen Mrs. Barrington, and seen strength turn to weakness. She had
[48]
