The Ingenious Blackmailer

An Inventor went to a King and was granted an audience, when the following conversation ensued:

Inventor. —“May it please your Majesty¹, I have invented a rifle that discharges lightning.”

King. —“Ah, you wish to sell me the secret.”

Inventor. —“Yes; it will enable your army to overrun any nation that is accessible.”

King. —“In order to get any good of my outlay² for your invention, I must make a war, and do so as soon as I can arm my troops — before your secret is discovered by foreign nations. How much do you want?”

Inventor. —“One million dollars.”

King. —“And how much will it cost to make the change of arms?”

Inventor. —“Fifty millions.”

King. —“And the war will Cost —?”

Inventor. —“But consider the glory and the spoils!”

King. —“Exactly. But if I am not seeking these advantages? What if I decline to purchase?”

Inventor. —“There is no economy in that. Though a patriot³, I am poor; if my own country will not patronise me, I must seek a market elsewhere.”

King (to Prime Minister). —“Take this blackmailer⁴ and cut off his head.”

1 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

2 outlay   

n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费

参考例句：

• There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。
• The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。

3 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

4 blackmailer   

敲诈者，勒索者

参考例句：

• The blackmailer had a hold over him. 勒索他的人控制着他。
• The blackmailer will have to be bought off,or he'll ruin your good name. 得花些钱疏通那个敲诈者，否则他会毁坏你的声誉。