French's gray brows drew together for an instant.
"If it is in my interest not to buy isn't it in my niece's interest to sell?"
"It looks like it," Angus admitted, "but still I don't understand—"
"What?" Godfrey French demanded as Angus paused. "I have explained as well as I can. Do you mean that my explanations are not satisfactory?"
"Perhaps."
"In what particular?"
"They don't seem to explain."
"What do you mean by that?" Godfrey French rasped. "Do you mean that you question the truth of my words?" He frowned at Angus angrily.
"You are putting words into my mouth," Angus replied. "But I mean just this: The land was worth only about a quarter of what was paid for it. You and Braden both knew it. If you had told Winton that, he wouldn't have paid what he did unless he was crazy. I wonder why you let him pay it. Now you want to buy back worthless land, and I wonder why."
Their eyes met and held each other. In those of each was suspicion, hostility. French moistened dry lips.