"Weel?" he said, when Vane, after examining two or three of the stones abruptly flung them down. "The ore's running poorer," Vane admitted. "On the other hand, I partly expected this, and there's better stuff in the reef. We're a little too high; I look for more encouraging results when we start the lower heading." He went into details of the new operations and, when he had finished, Nairn, who had been jotting down some figures, looked up. "Yon workings will cost a good deal," he pointed out. "Ye'll no be able to make a start until we're sure of the money." "We ought to get it." "A month or two ago I would have agreed with ye, but general investors are kittle cattle, and the applications for the new stock are no numerous." "The plain English of it is that the mine is not so popular as it was," said Vane impatiently. "I'm thinking something of the kind," Nairn agreed, and then proceeded with a cautious explanation: "The result of the first reduction and the way ye forced the concern on the market secured ye notice. Folks put their money on ye, looking for sensational developments, and when the latter are no forthcoming they feel a bit sore." "There's nothing discouraging in our accounts. Even if the ore all ran as poor as that"--Vane pointed to the specimens on the table--"the mine could be worked on a paying basis. We have issued no statements that could spread alarm." "Just so," said Nairn. "What was looked for was mair than a paying basis--ye have no come up to expectations. Forby, it's my opinion that damaging reports have somehow leaked out from the mine. I see clouds on the horizon." "Bendle pledged himself to take up a big block of the shares," pointed out Vane. "If Howitson does the same, as he said he would, our position would be secure. As soon as it was known that they were largely interested, others would follow them." "Now ye have it in a nutshell--it would put a wet blanket on the project if they both backed down. In the meanwhile we cannot hurry them." Vane rose. "We'll leave it at that. I've promised to take Mrs. Nairn and Miss Chisholm for a sail." He went out and had got rid of the slight uneasiness the interview had occasioned him before he reached the water-front, where he found Mrs. Nairn and Evelyn awaiting him with Carroll in attendance. In another few minutes they were rowing off to the sloop, and as they approached her the elder lady glanced with approval at the craft, which swam, a gleaming ivory shape, upon the shining green brine. "Ye have surely been painting the boat," she said. "Was that for us?" Vane disregarded the last question. "She wanted it, and paint's comparatively cheap."