"We'll come to business," Wannop went on. "While the Rain Bluff shares were well taken up by outside investors, a good many are held by the family; these count as a compact block, a strong voting power—though it's remarkable that Leonard holds less than any of the rest of us. So if there's to be a fight between you and him, it will begin among your relatives; their opinion is more important than that of the general shareholders."
"Yes," assented Andrew, "Leonard would be powerful if backed by the solid family vote."
"The point is that he may not get it. Anyhow, Gertrude and I will support you, and we hold a good deal of stock between us."
"Thanks!" said Andrew. "Still, it may not come to a struggle of that kind, after all. It must be avoided if possible."
Then Frobisher came in and interrupted them.
Leonard spent a week with Frobisher, driving across to the Landing each morning on business. He and Andrew now and then discussed the Company's affairs without open disagreement. His attitude toward Andrew was friendly, but marked by a tone of good-humored forbearance, and when he spoke of him to Frobisher it was with a trace of amusement, as if Andrew were erratic and needed judicious guidance. It was done cleverly, for Leonard carefully avoided detraction, but his remarks conveyed the impression that Andrew was something of a simpleton.
"If Allinson hasn't much judgment, why did you send him over to look after the mine?" Frobisher once asked him bluntly.
Leonard smiled at this.
"We didn't give him much responsibility; to tell the truth, we wanted to get him away for a while. There was a young grass-widow that it seemed possible he might make a fool of himself about. Rather a dangerous woman, I believe, and Andrew's confiding."
When his guests had returned to the Landing, Frobisher remarked to his daughter: