Selden gave her a look of tender reproach, and a savage one at Bob, as he bowed, leaving the room.
By nine o'clock Monday morning Clarence had received the certificates of assay he had ordered on Saturday afternoon. It seemed to him that there must be a mistake somewhere about the rock, for these assays gave even a higher percentage than those shown him by the miners. He went to Hubert's office and found Fred already there waiting for him.
“Look here, Hubert, are you sure that these men did not bring us this rich rock from some other mine? The assays are very high. One goes as high as $2000 per ton.”
“They might have selected the specimens, but I can vouch for their being from the same ledge, for I know the rock. I can also vouch for the honesty of the men, for I know them well; besides, what would be the good of telling a falsehood that would be found out the minute the expert got there? Their reputation is worth more to them than the five hundred dollars that you will pay now,” was Hubert's reply.
“They are good men. I have known them for years, and have had them working with me,” Fred added.
“Then let us finish this business now, for I go out of town to-morrow morning,” Clarence said, and in half an hour he had explained his views and wishes and made his contract with Fred Haverly, the terms of which had been already mentioned on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The miners now came and the contract with them, also, was made and acknowledged in due form.
By twelve o'clock that day Clarence had dispatched his business with the miners and with Fred Haverly, reserving until he returned instructions regarding his Alameda farm.
In the afternoon all drove to the Cliff House. The ugly sea lions did not seem so clumsy to Mr. Selden, as Mercedes laughed, amused to see their ungainly efforts at locomotion, and as she pronounced the Pacific Ocean to be grand and the wild surf dashing madly against the impassive rocks very impressive, Mr. Selden was of the same way of thinking, and found the sea lions rather graceful and dignified, the black rocks more interesting than they had been the day before.
The gayeties of San Francisco made time slip away magically, and a week passed in receptions, drives and yacht sailing, in honor of Elvira, seemed very short indeed. But now another week had begun, and the journey eastward must be resumed.
Our travelers took an early breakfast on Tuesday morning, and by seven o'clock they left the hotel. Half an hour later, they were on the Oakland boat, crossing San Francisco Bay on their way to New York.