"The gentleman was so positive you would see him, I was afraid he might have reason for what he said."
"Who is it?--Rouget--Hm--Who wants to be bothered with Rouget in business hours? Say I shall be pleased to see him at half-past three. I am occupied till then. Let no one in, now, but Mattock the builder, and Calcimine the architect, and bring over that roll of plans, and the maps marked 'proposed St. Hypolite suburb,' and spread them out upon the table. Ha! Bank bell? What do they want in there? Who can it be? Bid those men wait, Stinson, if they arrive before I get back from the bank. Tell them you expect me every moment. At the same time, if any cheques have to be signed, send them into the bank; I do not know how long I may be detained. Any one in the outer office besides Rouget? You go first; send him away and then tell me. I like going into the bank by the front door."
"The Bishop of Anticosti is waiting, and two sisters of charity with a subscription list, waiting till you are disengaged."
"They can wait, then. I shall go the other way," and so saying he disappeared by way of the dressing-room.
It was half-past four instead of half-past three when Rouget was at last admitted to the presence. His consequence was a good deal ruffled at being kept waiting, and he gave Stinson to understand that he did not like it; whereupon the clerk suggested that he should call another day, and was altogether so callous and unimpressed, that, after failing to get him to carry in another card with messages scrawled across, Mr. Rouget desisted, submitted, and sat down in a chair like any humble person awaiting an audience.
"Ha! Mr. Rouget!" was his reception when at last the moment of admission arrived. "So sorry that you should have had to wait; but business--you know. How do things go on at St. Euphrase? I have been meaning to drive over there, some day, now the ice and the sleighing are so good; but have been so busy."
"We have been making discoveries at St. Euphrase, Misterre Herkimaire--discoveries of mines and metals. Wat do you tink of dat, for instance, Misterre Herkimaire?" and he laid some lumps of nearly pure copper, each about the size of an egg, and a piece of rock, green with exposure to the weather, and veined with metallic bands upon the table. The window, as it happened, faced the west, catching the last of the daylight from the radiant sky. A gleam, grown ruddy, and struggling with the gathering shadows, seemed drawn to the polished faces of the ore, and made them shine with enhancing lustre.
"What?" cried Ralph, thrown off his guard at the unexpected sight, which made him forget the cool and critical attitude of a business mind. "Copper! Virgin copper, or I'm a Dutchman! Specimens sent in by his explorers to the Minister of Irrigation? Kind of you to bring them to me, Mr. Rouget, and give me a chance to bid for the lands. Many thanks. I have been turning my attention to minerals lately, I doubt not but with the minister's goodwill we may arrange something to our mutual advantage--yours and mine. Where do they come from? Up the Ottawa? Or, perhaps the Gattineau? Yes! that must be it, the Gattineau. I am interested in Gattineau lands already, and we have indications of copper; but I am free to confess I did not dream of anything so fine as this. If the government wants a company formed to develop minerals on the Gattineau, I'm their man. It will help us to build our railway at once. I did not calculate on extending so far out for a year or two, but the mines will require an outlet, and they will bring the road into notice, and enable us to make an increased issue of stock. The government will have to increase our land-grant, however."
Rouget stood regarding the "promoter" with a smile. How he did run on, to be sure!
"W'ere you say dey come from?"