'I really do not know what I am going to do.'
'John, that young woman has a decided personal interest in you.'
'I wish I were sure of that, or, rather, I wish I were sure of it and in a position to—But what is the use of talking? I haven't a penny to my name.'
'No; but if our mine goes through, you soon will have.'
'Yes, but what will it amount to? I never can forget the lofty disdain with which a certain person spoke of fifty thousand pounds. It sends a cold chill over me whenever I think of it. Fifty thousand pounds to her seemed so trivial; to me it was something that might be obtained after the struggle of a lifetime.'
'Well, I wouldn't let that discourage me too much if I were you; besides, you see—Oh! here we are. We'll talk about this some other time.'
Having paid the cabman, the two young men went upstairs into Wentworth's room, where they closed the door, and John drew up a seat by the side of his friend.
'Now, then,' said Wentworth, 'what have you done about the mine?'
'I have done absolutely nothing. I have been waiting for this conference with you.'
'Well, my boy, time is the great factor in anything of this sort.'