'But you are holding back from Mr. Battishill the most important discovery of all,' said Tramplara, who saw that the old gentleman was not much impressed by the biblical and antiquarian theories of his visitor.
'At my request, and against his own convictions,' continued Mr. Flamank, 'my good friend Trampleasure searched Ophir for gold. A more qualified person could not have been found, for he is thoroughly conversant with the metals and their ores. He brought me one day some sand, granite washings, with grains in it that certainly looked like gold. We tested them with nitric acid, and, sure enough, they proved to be gold. I had no rest in my mind till I had persuaded Mr. Trampleasure to accompany me to Ophir, and to assist me in the examination of the place. He conducted me to the spot where he had found the gravel, and there we searched and I found this.'
He held out some shining yellow cubes.
'That is mundic,' said Mr. Battishill; 'it looks like gold, but is worthless.'
'So Mr. Trampleasure said. He laughed at me for my mundic find, but I could hardly be convinced that it was not gold. However, later, I found these grains. Here they are in my kerchief, with the quartz and mica as I took them up. I did not find much, but still, enough to show that the metal is present.'
He spread out his handkerchief on the table. In the midst of the coarse white gravel were certain yellow granules that looked like gold.
'You found this in Upaver valley?' asked Mr. Battishill, in great surprise.
'Yes, I was more successful than Trampleasure. But then I worked in faith, and he was dubious, so I dare say looked with less eagerness.'
'This is very extraordinary,' said the old gentleman. 'I never suspected the existence of gold on my property.'
'Why not?' asked Trampleasure. 'Gold is always found in connection with granite.'