Explore "The Ingenious Blackmailer" by Ambrose Bierce on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
An Inventor went to a King and was granted an audience, when the following conversation ensued:
"Inventor". -- "May it please your Majesty, 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 outlay 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 patriot, I am poor; if my own country will not patronise me, I must seek a market elsewhere."
"King" (to Prime Minister). -- "Take this blackmailer and cut off his head."