"Stay a moment, Mr. Fox," said Paul. "I have made you a serious offer. Do you accept it or not?"
"No!" shouted Fox, angrily.
"Then all I can say is, you have refused a good offer."
"A good offer!" shouted Fox. "Why, the mine is worth——"
Then he stopped short in confusion, for he was about to commit himself badly.
Paul finished out his sentence for him.
"The mine is worth a good deal more than I have offered. That is quite true, Mr. Fox."
"I didn't say anything of the kind," snarled Fox.
"No, but you were going to. And now, Mr. Fox, as I see I can't do any business with you, I may as well tell you that I have sold out Mr. Bradford's share of the mine for a satisfactory price, and shall not have any further occasion to take up your time with business."
"You have sold Mr. Bradford's share?" ejaculated Fox, in dismay.