Then the storm broke. Questions, reproaches and insulting epithets were hurled at the directors, some of whom tried to smile forbearingly, while others grew red, and Leonard sat grim and silent with his hand clenched. Andrew waited unmoved, and seized on a pause to continue: "There is every reason to believe that your directors acted, as they thought, in your interests, but they have been misled." "So have we!" exclaimed a furious investor. "I'm afraid that's true," Andrew agreed. "It's an important point, but I must ask you to consider the remedies. In the first place, I will, if necessary, redeem every Rain Bluff share which has been allotted; that is, my brokers will buy up all that are brought to them." He was heard with astonishment. Some of those present knew a good deal about commercial companies, but that a director of one should make such an offer was unprecedented in their experience. On the surface, it was surprisingly fair, but they suspected a trick. "At what price?" cried one. "The shares will fall to a few shillings as soon as the truth about the mine is known." "At par," said Andrew. "You will be returned every penny you have paid in." It was obvious that the greater part of his audience did not know what to make of this. That he should be in earnest scarcely seemed possible, as his offer seemed the extremity of rashness. No one spoke for a moment or two; and then Robert Allinson rose. "If any guarantee is needed, I shall be glad to supply it, so far as my means allow. My name is Allinson, a member of the family controlling the firm which promoted this Company. I may perhaps remark without undue pride that it is a point of honor with Allinson's to keep its promises." "Bravo, Bob!" cried a loud, hearty voice. "I think," said Robert, in a tone of grave rebuke, "that is not altogether seemly at a public meeting." Wannop got up with a laugh in which a number of the listeners joined. "And I am prepared to back my relative, Andrew Allinson, to my last shilling--in which Mrs. Wannop joins me. Between us we hold a good deal of stock." There was applause mixed with expressions of relief, but some still suspected knavery. "What is Mr. Allinson's object?" a man blurted out. "What does he expect to gain?" Andrew flushed, but answered quietly. "If you close with my offer, I shall undoubtedly benefit; but I do not urge you to do so. Listen to the alternative, and then decide. But I must ask for patience while I tell you the story of another mine." "As chairman, I must raise a point of order," Leonard objected; but they silenced him with shouts, and he sat down, baffled, knowing that the game was up. "Go on!" they ordered Andrew, and with a steady voice he began to tell them of Graham's discovery of the lode.