“Yes; you haven’t lost. Poor old Praed now, he has something to shout about.”
“But scandal, libel, defamation of the property.”
“Let those who have lost risk a prosecution if they like. So long as I am your legal adviser, my dear boy, I shall devote myself to keeping you out of litigation.”
“But surely you would advise something.”
“Yes. Go back to your mine and make all you can, and be careful not to get into trouble over any underground trespassing.”
“Well, if I go to the west, here is my neighbour. You’ll forgive me, sir?”
“Of course, of course, my boy,” said the Major hurriedly.
Mr Belton looked at him searchingly as he went on.
“The shares will recover their position in time, and the sellers will be pretty angry then, of course. There’s no doubt about the conspiracy, my boy, but don’t you meddle in the matter. We have done all that was necessary to restore confidence. You saw, I suppose, that the letters and advertisements were in the evening papers?”
“Oh yes.”