Directly afterwards Mark Mason entered the room.
"Mark!" exclaimed Talbot. "What brings you here!"
"A matter of business, Uncle Solon."
"Then you will have to wait, for I am just going out."
"The business is important," said Mark significantly.
"Well, what is it?"
"I understand you sold yesterday the shares in the Golden Hope Mine belonging to grandfather's estate."
"What!" exclaimed Solon Talbot, his face showing his surprise and dismay.
"There were four hundred shares, and they were sold to Luther Rockwell, the banker."
"Who told you this? Have you had any communication from Crane & Lawton?"