"Then I'd advise you to get rid of your interest as soon as possible; that is, so long as you don't sell out to Crestwick, who's a friend of mine." Batley's face began to redden, and Lisle, looking around at the sound of a footstep, saw Marple standing a pace or two away. He was a fussy, bustling man, and he raised his hand in expostulation. "Was that last called for, or quite the thing, Lisle?" he asked. Batley turned to Gladwyne, as if for support, and the latter assumed his finest air. "I think there can be only one opinion on that point," he declared. Lisle's eyes gleamed with an amusement that was stronger than his indignation. That Gladwyne should expect this gravely delivered decision to have any marked effect tickled him. "Well," he replied, "I'm ready to stand by what I said, and I'll add that if I had any shares I'd give them away to anybody who would register as their owner before the next call is made." "I understood there wouldn't be a call for a long while," Crestwick broke in. "Then whoever told you so must have been misinformed," Lisle rejoined. "Are you casting any doubt upon my honor?" Batley demanded in a bellicose voice. "I don't think so; anyway, so long as you don't rule out my suggestion. Still, I'm willing to leave Gladwyne to decide the point. He seems to understand these delicate matters." Marple, looking distressed and irresolute, broke in before Gladwyne had a chance to reply. "Do you know much about mining, Lisle?" Lisle laughed. "I've had opportunities for learning something, as prospector, locator of alluvial claims and holder of an interest in one or two comparatively prosperous companies." He leaned forward and touched Crestwick's shoulder. "Come along, Jim, and I'll give you one or two particulars that should decide you." Somewhat to his astonishment, the lad rose and rather sheepishly followed him. There was an awkward silence for a few moments after they left the room; then Marple turned to his guests. "I can't undertake to say whether Lisle was justified or not," he began. "I'm sorry, however, that anything of this nature should have happened in my house." "So am I," said Gladwyne with gracious condescension. "There is, of course, one obvious remedy." Marple raised his hands in expostulation. He liked Lisle, and Gladwyne was a distinguished guest. Batley seemed to find his confusion amusing. "I think the only thing we can do is to let the matter drop," he suggested. "These fellows from the wilds are primitive--one can't expect too much. The correct feeling or delicacy of expression we'd look for among ourselves is hardly in their line." Marple was mollified, and he fell in with Batley's suggestion that they should try a game. In the meanwhile, Crestwick looked around at his companion as they went down the corridor.