"I thought I'd better send you notice that we may terminate our arrangements in three months, as we have the option of doing," he replied. "But why do you want to terminate them?" "We may shut down the Rain Bluff. It's not paying." Mapping gave a snorting laugh. "What has that to do with it?" "It ought to be obvious," Andrew said curtly. "If the mine won't pay, it must be closed. Allinson's is not in the habit of carrying on a business for its private benefit at the investors' expense." "I shouldn't have thought it," Mappin sneered, and looked hard at Andrew. "You seem to be taking a pretty decided line. May I ask whom you are speaking for?" "For myself, in the first place, but I believe the shareholders would support me. Though I haven't interfered much so far, I'm the head of the firm." Mappin was impressed by Andrew's manner, and his tone became more conciliatory. "I'm afraid you have kept out of business so long that you don't quite understand matters. Your brother-in-law has arranged things here much better than you, in your inexperience, could do. This proposition's too big and complicated for a beginner to meddle with; you'd only involve yourself and everybody concerned in a deplorable mess. Be warned and let up. Make any small improvements and economies you can, but leave the main points of Hathersage's scheme alone." There was some ground for Mappin's opinion, and his air of conviction had weight; but Andrew had no thought of yielding. "So far, I can't tell what changes may be necessary, but I expect to make them, whatever they are, as occasion arises." "Then hadn't you better wait until you know?" Mappin took a letter from his pocket. "Suppose you tear this thing up?" "No," Andrew said firmly; "the notice stands." There was a moment's silence while their glances met, and each recognized that there should be no compromise: henceforward they must be enemies. "Oh, well," said Mappin, with an air of ironic resignation, "I'll continue to look after your transport until the time expires. Now that we understand things, let's talk of something else. Have you seen Frobisher lately? I'm going across to his place after supper." A sudden anger seized Andrew, though he scarcely realized that it sprang from jealousy. This coarse fellow with his low cunning and sensual nature had no right to enter the house that sheltered Geraldine Frobisher. It was repugnant to think of his meeting her on friendly terms and, having heard that he had been a frequent visitor, he wondered what had induced Frobisher to tolerate him. An unpleasant suspicion crept into his mind--perhaps the man had a friend in Mrs. Denton, who differed from her brother in many ways. However, Andrew concealed his annoyance. "It will be a fine night, though the snow's rather deep," he said. "Now what about the provisions I ordered?"