Joseph rapidly collected himself while the man was speaking. "I should very much like to see your wells," he said. "Will you be there a day or two from now? My name is Asten,—not that you have ever heard of it before."
"Shall be glad to hear it again, though, and to see you," said the man. "My name is Blenkinsop."
Again it was all that Joseph could do to restrain his astonishment.
"I suppose you are the President of the Chowder?" he ventured to say.
"Yes," Mr. Blenkinsop answered, "since it's a company. It was all mine at the start, but I wanted capital, and I had to work 'em."
"What other important companies are there near you?"
"None of any account, except the Fluke and the Depravity. They flow tolerable now, after torpedoing. To be sure, there are kites and catches with all sorts o' names,—the Penny-royal, the Ruby, the Wallholler (whatever that is), and the Amaranth,—ha, ha!"
"I think I have heard of the Amaranth," Joseph mildly remarked.
"Lord! are you bit already?" Mr. Blenkinsop exclaimed, fixing his small, sharp eyes on Joseph's face.
"I—I really don't know what you mean."