When they were seated, she continued—
“You have been talking with the men?”
“Yes; we had a little chat together.”
“Did they tell you anything of their intentions?”
“No; except in so far as they were determined not to let me examine the mine.”
“Ah; they have distrusted you from the first. Did you insist on visiting it?”
“I have visited it.”
“Without asking one of them to accompany you?”
“I regarded them as hired men. They say they are your father’s partners.”