"I'm a director of the Company, and a good deal of the family money has gone into it."
Carnally looked grave at this, and sat silent a few moments studying his companion.
"Did you have anything to do with fixing up things on this side?" he asked.
"No. My brother-in-law, Hathersage, came over and made all arrangements. I'm rather ignorant about them."
"Then he didn't take you much into his confidence about this mining proposition?"
"No; I can't say that he did."
"And you expect a fair return on your money and mean to see that your friends who have invested don't get left? That's all?"
"Of course; I've no claim to anything else."
"That," said the Canadian dryly, "is a point on which there might be some difference of opinion. You want the shareholders to make a good thing?"
"Yes. The firm has backed this mine; I believe the name helped to float the scheme. That makes me responsible to the people who found the money."