Alpha Book

But I
ought to tell you this: that first of all I must offer it to the
Government. That is only decent, you see--"
"Who ever heard of the Government's gratitude?" broke in Austin.
"Nonsense, Phil; you are wasting time!"
"I've got to do it," said Selwyn; "you must see that, of course."
"But I don't see it," began Lawn--"because you are not in the Government
service now--"
"Besides," added Austin, "you were not a West Pointer; you never were
under obligations to the Government!"
"Are we not all under obligation?" asked Selwyn so simply that Austin
flushed.
"Oh, of course--patriotism and all that--naturally--Confound it, I don't
suppose you'd go and offer it to Germany or Japan before our own
Government had the usual chance to turn it down and break your heart.
But why can't the Government make arrangements with Lawn's Company--if
it desires to?"
"A man can't exploit his own Government; you all know that as well as I
do," returned Selwyn, smiling. "_Pro aris et focis_, you know--_ex
necessitate rei_.


Pages:
455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479