The next letter was addressed to George Micrommati, Secretary of the King of the Mountains Co., Ltd., the Courts of Justice, Athens.

“I am sorry to say,” Hadgi Stavros dictated, “that the company’s operations have been much restricted owing to the bad harvest and to the occupation of a part of our beloved land by foreign troops.

“Our gross receipts from May 1, 1855, to April 30, 1856, amount only to: 

fr.
261,482
“While our expenses come to 135,482
----------
“Leaving fr. 126,000
Which I propose to divide as follows: 
One-third of the profits payable to me as managing
director 40,000
Amount added to reserve fund at Bank of Athens 6,000
Amount available for dividend 80,000
----------
“Total fr. 126,000

“This comes to about 70 per cent, on our present capital of 120,000 francs.  It is, I know, the lowest dividend we have paid since the company was formed fourteen years ago.  But the shareholders must consider the difficulties we have had to struggle against.  Our business is so closely connected with the interests of the country that it can only flourish in times of general prosperity.  From those who have nothing we can take nothing, or very little.  The tourist season, however, has opened very favourably, and the affairs of the company will, I think, soon improve.  I will send you a detailed statement in the course of a few days.  I am too busy now.”

The king read over the letters, and affixed his seal to them.  Then, with royal courtesy, instead of having us brought before him on the carpet, he came and sat down by our side.  Mrs. Simons at once began to talk at him in English.  I offered to act as interpreter with a view to protecting her from herself.  The king, however, thanked me coldly, and called to one of his brigands who knew English.

As I had foreseen, Mrs. Simons spoke very largely about her great wealth and her high position.  The result was that the king fixed her ransom and that of Mary Ann at L4,000.  I was determined that he should not over-estimate my resources.

“It’s no good putting a ransom on me,” I exclaimed.  “My father is a poor German innkeeper who has been ruined by the railway.  I’ve been forced to leave home and come to Greece, where I earn a beggarly L10 a month.”

“If that is so,” said the king, very kindly, “you can return to Athens at once, or stay here for a few days.”

“I shall be happy to stay,” I replied, “if you will return the collecting-case your men took from me.  I want to go botanising.”

“What!  You are a man of science!” cried the king joyfully.  “Ah, how I admire knowledge!  Who sent you here to collect our plants?  Some famous university, I’ll be bound.”

“I’m collecting on behalf of the Hamburg Botanical Gardens,” I answered.