'Ah, yes, I see; yes, yes, I have—some interest in the mine.'
'Well, it is about that I came to talk with you. Where is the mine situated?'
'It is near the Ottawa River, I believe, some distance above Montreal. I am not certain about its exact position, but it is somewhere in that neighbourhood.'
'I thought by the way Wentworth talked it was in the United States. He mentioned another person as being his partner in the affair; I forget his name.'
'John Kenyon, probably.'
'Kenyon! Yes, I think that was the name. Yes, I am sure it was. Now, may I ask what is your connection with that mine? Are you a partner of Wentworth's and Kenyon's? Are you the chief owner of the mine, or is the mine owned by them?'
'In the first place, Mr. Melville, I should like to know why you ask me these questions?'
Melville laughed.
'Well, I will tell you. We should like to know what chance there is of our getting a controlling interest in the mine. That is very frankly put, isn't it?'
'Yes, it is. But whom do you mean by "we"? Who else besides yourself?'