That afternoon Wentworth got the letters off by the American mail, and he felt that they were doing business as rapidly as could be expected. Next morning there was a letter for John Kenyon addressed to the care of Wentworth, and by a later mail there came a letter to Wentworth himself from John, who had reached his first district and had had an interview already with the manager of the works. He found the mineral was all he had expected, and they would be glad to take a certain quantity each year at a specified rate. This letter Wentworth filed away with a smile of satisfaction, and then he began again to wonder why Adam Brand, representing such a well-known manufactory, should have written a deliberate falsehood. Before he had time to fathom this mystery, the office-boy announced that a gentleman wished to see him, and handed Wentworth a card which bore the name of William Longworth. Wentworth arched his eyebrows as he looked at it. 'Ask the gentleman to step in, please,' he said; and the gentleman stepped in. 'How are you, Mr. Wentworth? I suppose you remember me, although I did not see much of you on board the steamer.' 'I remember you perfectly,' replied Wentworth. 'Won't you sit down?' 'Thank you. I did not know where to find Mr. Kenyon, and so, being aware that both of you were interested in this mica-mine, I called to see you with reference to it.' 'Indeed! I understood Mr. Kenyon to say that he had called upon you, and that you had decided to have nothing to do with it.' 'I hardly think he was justified in saying anything quite so definite. I got from him such particulars as he cared to give. He is not a very communicative man at the best, but he told me something about it, and I have been thinking over his proposal. I have now concluded to help you in this matter, if you care to have my aid. Perhaps, however, things have got to such a stage that you do not wish any assistance?' 'On the contrary, we have done very little. Mr. Kenyon is just now among the china manufactories in the North, finding out what demand there will be in England for this mineral.' 'Ah, I see. Have you had reports from him yet?' 'Nothing further than a letter this morning, which is very satisfactory.' 'There is no question, then, about the mineral being useful in the china trade?' 'No question whatever.' 'Well, I am glad of that. Now, Mr. Kenyon spoke to me on the steamer of going in share and share alike; that is, you taking a third, he taking a third, and I taking a third. We did not go very minutely into particulars, but I suppose we each share the expense in the same way--the preliminary expenses, I mean?' 'Yes,' said Wentworth; 'that would be the arrangement, I imagine.' 'Well, have you the authority to deal with me in the matter, or would it be better for me to wait until Kenyon comes back?' 'We can settle everything here and now.'