'I do not know about freezing out; but, of course, with the other two there is so much less profit to be divided. We should like to deal with just as few as if possible.' 'Exactly. I see what you mean. I think it can be done. Are you in any great hurry to secure the mine?' 'Not particularly. Why?' 'Well, if things are worked rightly, I don't know but what we could get it for the original option. That would mean, of course, to wait until this first option had run out.' 'Wouldn't there be a little danger in that? They may form their company in the meantime, and then we should lose everything. Our interest in the matter is as much to prevent anyone else getting hold of the mine as to get it ourselves.' 'I see. I will think it over. I believe it can be done without great risk; but, of course, we shall have to be reasonably quiet about the matter.' 'I see the necessity of that.' 'Very good. I will see you again after I have thought over the affair, and we can come to some arrangement.' 'I may say that our manager has written a note to Wentworth, saying that this mineral is of no particular use to us.' 'Exactly,' said young Longworth, with a look of intelligence. 'So, of course, in speaking with Wentworth about the mine, it is just as well not to mention us in any way.' 'I shall not.' 'Very well. I will leave the matter in your hands for the present.' 'Yes, do so. I will think over it this afternoon, and probably see Wentworth and Kenyon to-morrow. There is no immediate hurry, for I happen to know they have not done anything yet.' With that Mr. Melville took his leave, and young Longworth paced up and down the room, evolving a plan that would at once bring him money and give him the satisfaction of making it lively for John Kenyon. When he reached home, Longworth waited for his cousin to say something about Kenyon; but he soon saw that she did not intend to speak of him at all. So he said to her: 'Edith, do you remember Kenyon and Wentworth--who were on board our steamer?' 'I remember them very well.' 'Did you know they had a mining property for sale?' 'Yes.' 'I have been thinking about it--in fact, Kenyon called at my office a day or two ago, and at that time, not having given the subject much thought, I could not give him any encouragement; but I have been pondering over it since, and have almost decided to help them. What do you think about it?' 'Oh, I think it would be an excellent plan. I am sure the property is a good one, or Mr. Kenyon would have nothing to do with it. I shall write a note to them, if you think it advisable, inviting them here to talk with you about it.' 'That will not be necessary at all. I do not want people to come here to talk business. My office is the proper place.' 'Still, we met them in a friendly way on board the steamer, and I think it would be nice if they came here some evening and talked over the matter with you.'