'Certainly, my dear fellow; go at once and never mind me. Can I be of any assistance to you? It requires a special genius, you know, to pack a portmanteau properly. But what I wanted to say was this: Why didn't you turn round, when you had got the mine, and offer me the managership of it? Then you would have had your revenge. The more I think of that episode in Von Brent's office, the more I think you utterly failed to realize the dramatic possibilities of the situation.'
Kenyon was silent.
'Now, all this time you are wondering why I came here. Doubtless you wish to know what I want.'
'I have not the slightest interest in the matter,' said Kenyon.
'That is ungracious, but, nevertheless, I will continue. It is better, I see, to be honest with you, if a man wants to get anything from you. Now, I want to get a bit of information from you. I want to know where you got the money with which you bought the mine?'
'I got it from the bank.'
'Ah, yes, but I want to know who sent it over to you?'
'It was sent to me by George Wentworth.'
'Quite so; but now I want to know who gave Wentworth the money?'
'You will have a chance of finding that out when you go to England, by asking him.'