Esmond laughed, but there was a dryness in his tone which Ingleby afterwards remembered.
"Circumstances have a trick of changing somewhat rapidly in this country," he said. "You have, I believe, bottomed on gold, Mr. Ingleby?"
"Yes," said Ingleby.
"You struck it rich?"
"No," said Ingleby. "Still, the signs are promising. We hope to be more fortunate when we have driven our adit."
"How long do you expect to be over it?"
"It is a little difficult to tell."
Esmond appeared to reflect, and Grace, who watched him, did not quite understand his face.
"Well," he said, "I suppose placer mining is always a trifle uncertain. One would almost fancy that baking was more profitable. Your friend Miss Leger seems to be doing well, or is it your venture?"
Ingleby wondered if this was meant for Miss Coulthurst's enlightenment; but he could not very well permit his dislike of the man, who would seize such an opportunity, to become apparent then, and there was also something in Esmond's tone which suggested that he might, after all, have a different purpose. Unfortunately, he had no notion of what that purpose was.