human
I will now tell you what I omitted to say yesterday, he began.
gpt
When an order comes for this lighthouse--and it will arrive by the next steamer--it will not be signed by Senor Garlicho, but by me. I have reasons for this which I cannot explain, and which are not necessary for you to know. The ironwork--all you will have to furnish--will also be shipped in my name. With the order will be sent a letter introducing my bankers, who will call upon you at your convenience, and who will pay the amounts in the way you desire--one-third on the signing of the contract (one of the firm will act as my agent), one-third on erection and inspection of the ironwork properly put together in the yard, and the balance on delivery to them of the bills of lading. Is that quite satisfactory?
human
And have you signed your estimate showing what you consider to be a fair price for both the lighthouse itself and for the cost of its erection on the Lobo Reef?
gpt
Yes; there it is, and I pointed to the document lying on my desk.
human
And now one word, please. When did you last see Mr. Lawton? He's our agent, you know, and you must have met him in connection with this matter. When Senor Garlicho arrived he brought us a letter from him.
gpt
I have never seen him. If I had I should not have wasted my time in getting a letter from him or from anybody else. As to Senor Garlicho, his time has expired; he has not asked for its renewal, and so far as this deal is concerned he does not count. I am here, as I told you, to keep the affair alive. I would have come sooner, but I have been away from the city of San Juan for months. Most of us who have opinions of our own have been away from San Juan--some for years. San Juan has not been a healthy place for men who believe in Paramba.
human
And do you?
gpt
Absolutely. So do thousands of our citizens.
human
You don't seem to agree with Senor Garlicho, then. He thought your former president, Paramba, a tyrant. As for President Alvarez, he looked upon him as the saviour of his country.
gpt
Saviour of his country! Saviour of his pocket! Pardon me; I am not here to discuss the polities of our people. Is this your estimate? And he reached over and picked it from my desk.
human
Ah, yes: forty thousand dollars for the ironwork; one hundred and twenty thousand for the erection on the Lobo Reef; one hundred and sixty thousand in all. Thank you. Here he tucked the paper in his pocket and rose from his seat.
gpt
You will hear from me in a month, perhaps earlier. Good-day.
human
Bunch of Dried Garlic months before, together with a document stamped, restamped and stamped again, containing an order in due form, signed
gpt
Carlos Onativia, for a lighthouse to be erected on the
human
Garra de Lobo