“And you say Vance will be sorry if he accepts the offer?”
“I do; most decidedly.”
Carfax leaned forward and held up an accusing finger.
“Then you know, of your own knowledge, that there is a workable vein of coal on the property, Mr. Hartridge,” he snapped.
“That, my dear sir, is an assumption which I must decline to confirm.”
“Nevertheless, it is true. And here is another to go with it: you know where that vein can be found!”
Hartridge smiled again.
“You are, constructively at least, my guest, Mr. Carfax; I should be unpardonably rude if I were to contradict you.”
Carfax glanced aside at Tregarvon, and Tregarvon returned the glance as one who sees the shore from the crest of a tossing wave, but has no hope of reaching it. After a little pause Carfax renewed the attack.
“This is a most extraordinary situation, don’t you think, Mr. Hartridge?” he began mildly. “Would a definite quantity of the thing known commercially as money tend to relieve it in any way?”