"She is," he said quietly, "selling a good deal of bread."
"At excellent prices! Still, she probably deserves all she gains. It would cost a good deal to bring flour up. How did she get it?"
Ingleby was a little astonished at the man's persistence, and Grace noticed it.
"Are you going to turn baker, too?" she asked.
Esmond laughed in a fashion which brought the blood to Ingleby's face. Still, he answered the man's question.
"I went down for it," he said.
Just then the major's voice broke in again. "A very good fight, Mr. Sewell. I scarcely think I could have beaten you if you hadn't let me see your game. However strong your position is, that is very seldom wise."
"Major Coulthurst," said Esmond, "is now and then astonishingly accurate. One could generalize from such a speech as that. But to resume the topic, wasn't it a little careless of you, Ingleby? You invalidate your record when you leave a placer claim."
Ingleby, secure, as he fancied, smiled. "Leger," he said, "holds a share with me."
"Of course!" said Esmond, as though the subject had no longer any interest to him. "So you left Leger! Well, I must get back to the outpost now. Grace, you will excuse me."