LEVER. Of course, if this level [pointing with his cigarette] peters out to the West we shall be in a tightish place; you know what a mine is at this stage, Colonel Hope. COLONEL. [Absently.] Yes, yes. [Tracing a line.] What is there to prevent its running out here to the East? LEVER. Well, nothing, except that as a matter of fact it doesn't. COLONEL. [With some excitement.] I'm very glad you showed me these papers, very glad! I say that it's a most astonishing thing if the ore suddenly stops there. [A gleam of humour visits LEVER'S face.] I'm not an expert, but you ought to prove that ground to the East more thoroughly. LEVER. [Quizzically.] Of course, sir, if you advise that---- COLONEL. If it were mine, I'd no more sit down under the belief that the ore stopped there than I 'd---There's a harmony in these things. NEVER. I can only tell you what our experts say. COLONEL. Ah! Experts! No faith in them--never had! Miners, lawyers, theologians, cowardly lot--pays them to be cowardly. When they have n't their own axes to grind, they've got their theories; a theory's a dangerous thing. [He loses himself in contemplation of the papers.] Now my theory is, you 're in strata here of what we call the Triassic Age. LEVER. [Smiling faintly.] Ah! COLONEL. You've struck a fault, that's what's happened. The ore may be as much as thirty or forty yards out; but it 's there, depend on it. LEVER. Would you back that opinion, sir? COLONEL. [With dignity.] I never give an opinion that I'm not prepared to back. I want to get to the bottom of this. What's to prevent the gold going down indefinitely? LEVER. Nothing, so far as I know. COLONEL. [With suspicion.] Eh! LEVER. All I can tell you is: This is as far as we've got, and we want more money before we can get any farther. COLONEL. [Absently.] Yes, yes; that's very usual. LEVER. If you ask my personal opinion I think it's very doubtful that the gold does go down. COLONEL. [Smiling.] Oh! a personal opinion a matter of this sort! LEVER. [As though about to take the papers.] Perhaps we'd better close the sitting, sir; sorry to have bored you. COLONEL. Now, now! Don't be so touchy! If I'm to put money in, I'm bound to look at it all round. LEVER. [With lifted brows.] Please don't imagine that I want you to put money in. COLONEL. Confound it, sir! D 'you suppose I take you for a Company promoter? LEVER. Thank you! COLONEL. [Looking at him doubtfully.] You've got Irish blood in you--um? You're so hasty! LEVER. If you 're really thinking of taking shares--my advice to you is, don't! COLONEL. [Regretfully.] If this were an ordinary gold mine, I wouldn't dream of looking at it, I want you to understand that. Nobody has a greater objection to gold mines than I. LEVER. [Looks down at his host with half-closed eyes.] But it is a gold mine, Colonel Hope.