'It seems to me you are actually defending her. My remembrance is that you didn't make much allowance for her point of view when your own point was that coil of rope in the front of the ship--those days when you wouldn't speak even to me.' 'I admit it, John. No, I'm not defending her. I have succeeded in putting her entirely out of my mind--with an effort. How about your own case, John?' 'My own case! What do you mean?' 'You know very well what I mean.' 'I suppose I do forgive the little bit of affectation, will you? but a man gets somewhat nervous when such a question is sprung upon him. My own case is just where we left it at Queenstown.' 'Haven't you seen her since?' 'No.' 'Aren't you going to?' 'I really do not know what I am going to do.' 'John, that young woman has a decided personal interest in you.' 'I wish I were sure of that, or, rather, I wish I were sure of it and in a position to--But what is the use of talking? I haven't a penny to my name.' 'No; but if our mine goes through, you soon will have.' 'Yes, but what will it amount to? I never can forget the lofty disdain with which a certain person spoke of fifty thousand pounds. It sends a cold chill over me whenever I think of it. Fifty thousand pounds to her seemed so trivial; to me it was something that might be obtained after the struggle of a lifetime.' 'Well, I wouldn't let that discourage me too much if I were you; besides, you see--Oh! here we are. We'll talk about this some other time.' Having paid the cabman, the two young men went upstairs into Wentworth's room, where they closed the door, and John drew up a seat by the side of his friend. 'Now, then,' said Wentworth, 'what have you done about the mine?' 'I have done absolutely nothing. I have been waiting for this conference with you.' 'Well, my boy, time is the great factor in anything of this sort.' 'Yes, I suppose it is.' 'You see, our option is running along; every day we lose is so much taken off our chances of success. Have you anything to propose?' 'I'll tell you what I thought of doing. You know young Longworth spoke to me a good deal about the mine at one time. His cousin introduced me to him, and she seemed to think he might take some interest in forming the company. I was to have a talk with you, because Longworth gave it as his opinion that the amount should be put at two hundred thousand pounds rather than at fifty thousand pounds.' Wentworth gave a long whistle. 'Yes, it seems a very large amount; but he claims that if it would pay ten per cent. on that sum--if we could show that there was a reasonable chance of its paying so much--we could put it at two hundred thousand.' 'Well, that looks reasonable. What else did he say?' 'He did not say very much more about it, because I told him I should have to consult you.'