This vagueness was misleading, for her brother had given her a good deal of definite information about the mine.
"Yes," replied Vane, willing to take up any subject she suggested; "it's copper ore, but there's some silver combined with it. Of course, the value of any ore depends upon two things—the percentage of the metal, and the cost of extracting it."
Her interest was flattering, and he added:
"In both respects, the Clermont product is promising."
After that he did not remember what they talked about; but the time passed rapidly and he was surprised when Mrs. Nairn rose and the company drifted away by twos and threes toward the veranda. Left by himself a moment, he came upon Carroll sauntering down a corridor.
"I've had a chat with Horsfield," Carroll remarked.
"Well?"
"He may merely have meant to make himself agreeable, and he may have wished to extract information about you: If the latter was his object, he was not successful."
"Ah! Nairn's straight, anyway, and to be relied on. I like him and his wife."
"So do I, though they differ from some of the others. There's not much gilding on either of them."