In half an hour Semple appeared, flustered and a little pale. A visit to the works just now filled him with apprehension. It seemed like smoking in a magazine.
"What's the matter?" said Clark, smiling at his agitation.
Semple drew a long breath and, noting the thickness of the office walls, felt a little safer.
"That's what I was going to ask you."
"Only a slight difficulty that you will help to put right."
Semple stared with astonishment. The bottom had apparently fallen out of the works, but Clark was as cool as ever.
"Help?" he demanded, puzzled. Clark evidently did not stand to lose much in the smash. "You're holding these fellows, aren't you?"
"Yes, for the immediate present, but we'll have to do more. That's where you come in."
The member for Algoma was at sea, and said so.
"You represent the Government here," went on Clark, "and we've spent seventeen million dollars in these works. Do you see the conclusion?"