Slavin started a little, and then smiled to himself, for there was, at least, no sign in the Recorder's face that he attached any particular significance to the announcement.
"Well," he said, "I have, as I promised, glanced at what you are pleased to term your request, though it bears a somewhat unfortunate resemblance to a demand."
"We're not going to worry 'bout what you call it," said the man who had not spoken yet. "We have come here so you can tell us what you mean to do."
Eshelby smiled a little, though it would have been wiser if he had refrained from it.
"Personally," he said, "I can do nothing whatever."
There was a low murmur with an unpleasant note in it from the rest of the deputation. The curt non possumus is usually the last resource of the diplomatist when argument has failed, and it very seldom makes for peace, as everybody knows. Slavin wondered why the Crown authorities should have inflicted upon him such a man as Eshelby when his burden was already sufficiently heavy.
"Well," said the miner grimly, "something has got to be done. We let you know what we wanted. Haven't you anything to say?"
"Only that I shall send your petition to the proper quarter."
"I wonder," said Sewell drily, "if you would tell us what is likely to be done with it there?"
"It will receive attention when the department is at liberty to consider it."