“No.”
“Then stood by calmly and seen me ruined.”
“No.”
“What, sir?”
“My dear Major, life among the Derby Dales has made you extremely unbusiness-like.”
“Yes, sir, an easy victim,” cried the Major angrily. “To panic: yes. There, let us end this painful business.”
“Yes, sir, I understand,” cried the Major, springing up; “let us end this painful business. I understand, and I am going. God forgive you, Clive Reed, for I never can.”
“You have nothing to forgive,” said Clive gravely, as he met the Major’s angry gaze with his clear, penetrating eyes. “Once for all, believe me; this is a rumour set about by schemers. The ‘White Virgin’ is immaculate and growing richer day by day.”
“But my brokers assured me that the case was hopeless.”
“Your brokers, sir, derived their information on ’Change. I, who speak to you from my own experience, and from that of my dear dead father, give you my opinion based upon something tangible—the mine itself. Does poor Dinah know of all this?”