"Not much big stuff about, Michael," he remarked, conversationally.
"George Woods had some good stones," Michael said.
Armitage was not enthusiastic. "Pretty fair. But the old man will be better pleased with the stuff I got from Jun Johnson than anything else this trip.... I'd give a good deal to get the almond-shaped stone in that other parcel."
Michael realised Mr. Armitage had said the same thing to him before. He wondered why he had said it to him—what he was driving at.
"There were several good stones in Paul's parcel," he said.
His clear, quiet eyes met John Armitage's curious, inquiring gaze. He was vaguely discomfited by Armitage's gaze, although he did not flinch from it. He wondered what Mr. Armitage knew, that he should look like that.
"It's been hard on Rouminof," Armitage murmured again.
Michael agreed.
"After the boys making Jun shell out, too! It doesn't seem to have been much use, does it?"
"No," Michael said.