“Yes.”
The man's voice was cold, and his manner reserved.
“Perhaps you were engaged in the building of it?”
“Yes, I had a hand in it.”
“They say that it is a wonderful place inside. It has been quite the talk of the district. Is it as rich as they say?”
“I am sure I don't know. I have not heard what they say.”
His attitude was certainly not encouraging, and it seemed to Robert that he gave little sidelong suspicious glances at him out of his keen grey eyes. Yet, if he were so careful and discreet there was the more reason to think that there was information to be extracted, if he could but find a way to it.
“Ah, there it lies!” he remarked, as they topped the brow of the hill, and looked down once more at the great building. “Well, no doubt it is very gorgeous and splendid, but really for my own part I would rather live in my own little box down yonder in the village.”
The workman puffed gravely at his pipe.
“You are no great admirer of wealth, then?” he said.