"I'll try. To begin with, when I speak as the Company's representative, I must have what I want done."
"That's right. I'm agreeable, so long as I hold my job."
"That depends. I haven't made up my mind yet."
"Then I want a man that I can rely on to help me through any trouble I meet," Andrew went on. "One that I can consult, when it's needful, with confidence."
"It's quite likely that we might look at things from a different point of view."
Andrew was frankly puzzled by his companion's manner. His reserve and lack of response were not in accordance with what he knew of Carnally.
"Well," he asked, "what are you going to do?"
"We might give the thing a trial. Do you know much about mining?"
"Nothing," said Andrew. "I'll admit that to you. I don't think you'll take advantage of it."
"But how did you come to be sent over in charge of the mine if you don't know your work?"
"I'm a director of the Company, and a good deal of the family money has gone into it."
Carnally looked grave at this, and sat silent a few moments studying his companion.
"Did you have anything to do with fixing up things on this side?" he asked.
"No. My brother-in-law, Hathersage, came over and made all arrangements. I'm rather ignorant about them."
"Then he didn't take you much into his confidence about this mining proposition?"
"And you expect a fair return on your money and mean to see that your friends who have invested don't get left? That's all?"
"Of course; I've no claim to anything else."
"That," said the Canadian dryly, "is a point on which there might be some difference of opinion. You want the shareholders to make a good thing?"
"Yes. The firm has backed this mine; I believe the name helped to float the scheme. That makes me responsible to the people who found the money."
Carnally gave him a long searching glance, and his expression changed.
"Well," he said with an air of quiet resolve, "I guess I'll have to see you through."
When Carnally left a half-hour later he met a storekeeper of the town outside the hotel.
"You're looking serious, Jake," the man remarked. "Been with your new boss, I heard. What do you think of him?"
"Well," Carnally answered gravely, "it's my idea he's white."
"Then you're not going to quit, as you talked of doing?"