"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?"
"No; though I know the sale was made through them."
Solon Talbot paused long enough to pull himself together. It would never do to surrender at discretion. He would brazen it out to the last.
"Your information is partly true," he said. "I did sell some shares of mining stock, but they belonged to me. You have nothing to do with them."
"Uncle Solon," said Mark composedly, "it is useless to try to deceive me. The four hundred shares were bought by my grandfather, and belonged to his estate. Half of the proceeds rightfully belongs to my mother."