“Why did you promise that child to stay here?” Carroll asked.
“Because I felt like doing so.”
“I needn’t remind you that you’ve an appointment with Horsfield about the smelter, and there’s a meeting of the board next day. If we started now and caught the first steamer across, you wouldn’t have much time to spare.”
“That’s correct. I shall have to wire from Victoria that I’ve been detained.”
Carroll laughed expressively. “Do you mean to keep your directors waiting to please a child?”
“I suppose that’s one reason. Anyway, I don’t propose to hustle the little girl and her mother on board the steamer helpless with sea sickness,” He paused and a gleam of humour crept into his eyes. “As I told you, I’ve no objection to letting the directors wait my pleasure.”
“But they set the concern on its feet.”
“Just so,” said Vane coolly. “On the other hand, they got excellent value for their services—and I found the mine. What’s more, during the preliminary negotiations most of them treated me very casually.”
“Well?” said Carroll.
“There’s going to be a difference now, I’ve a board of directors; one way or another, I’ve had to pay for the privilege pretty dearly; but I don’t intend that they should run the Clermont mine.”