"Not to begin with. I want some information about yours first. No doubt Mappin cabled you news of our discovery?"
"He did. I might retort that you have seen my colleagues and tried to gain them over, in my absence, instead of waiting for my return; but that is not an important matter. What is it you wish to know?"
Andrew's voice was quietly steady as he asked the test question upon which their future relations turned:
"Do you mean to submit the report to the Rain Bluff shareholders as it stands?"
"Yes," Leonard answered curtly, and Andrew knew that there could be no compromise. It was now a trial of strength; one of them must be driven off the field.
"Knowing it to be misleading?" he said. "Very well; I can't prevent its issue. I suppose you have heard that your confederate has been beaten in what must be his last attempt to thwart me?"
"I heard that an attempt had been made to jump the Company's claims."
"My claims," said Andrew.
"The Company's, I think. You were our representative when you found them."
"We'll let that go; it's not a point that's likely to be raised."