Robinson had confidence in Cliffe's integrity and judgment.
"An hour, if you like," he said; "then we'll have to pull out, whatever you decide."
For a long while Cliffe sat silent with knitted brows. His wife made claims upon his means that he sometimes found it hard to satisfy; and it was his ambition that his daughter should be rich. After carefully pondering the letters, he saw that he might be involved in a conflict with forces whose strength he could not estimate, and defeat would cost him the fruit of several years' labor. Yet the prize to be won was tempting, and he could take a risk. Besides, they already had put a good deal of money into it.
"Well," he said at last, "I've made up my mind."
"To hold on, I guess," Robinson suggested with a smile.
"That's so," Cliffe answered in a quiet voice. "What's more, I'm going out to look into things myself. We can talk it over on the way to town. I'll be ready as soon as I've told my wife."
Robinson took out his watch.
"Give you half an hour if we're to catch the train," he said.
Cliffe met Evelyn in the broad hall, and told her that he would have to go south at once.
"Take me with you, won't you?" she begged. "I want to get away from Banner's Post."