"It was," said Barraclough and swivelled round to face Cassis. "I've said frankly that until I get the concession no one but myself will be told the map reference. That's absolute."
Cassis sniffed.
"It was a pity you didn't get the concession when you made the discovery."
"You know quite well that I wasn't sure. A false move might have brought every prospector in the world to the place—would have done. Besides with all this post-war territorial shuffle it was pretty nearly impossible to say which government actually owned the land. Been jolly if we'd got a title too soon and from the wrong people."
"But the territorial point has been cleared up now, hasn't it?" Cassis put the question shrewdly.
Barraclough shut up like a clam and made no answer.
Lord Almont butted in.
"Still you're pretty confident of getting the concession if you manage to get clear."
Barraclough nodded.
"If I can slip through and they don't stop me I'll be back with the whole thing settled in three weeks from the hour of starting."