a splendid report from Ogilvie can save the mine."

Mrs. Ogilvie drummed with her delicate taper fingers on the nearest
table.

"How you puzzle a poor woman with your business terms," she said.
"What do I know about mines? When my husband left me he said that he
would come back a rich man. He gave me his promise, he must keep his
word."

"He will naturally keep his word if he can, and if the mine is all
that Lord Grayleigh anticipates everything will be right," replied
Acland. "There is no man more respected than Ogilvie in the City. His
report as assayer will save the situation; that is, if it is
first-rate. But if it is a medium report the capital will not be
sufficiently subscribed to, and if the report happens to be bad the
whole thing will fall through. We shall know soon now."

"This is very disturbing," said Mrs. Ogilvie. "I have had a long,
tiring day, and you give me a headache. When is my husband's report
likely to reach England?"

"Not for several weeks, of course. It ought to be here in about two
months' time, but we may have a cablegram almost any day. The public
are just in a waiting attitude, they want to invest their money. If
the mine turns out a good thing shares will be subscribed to any
extent. Everything depends on Ogilvie's report."

"Won't you stay and have some supper?" said Mrs. Ogilvie, carelessly.
"I have said already that I do not understand these things."

"I cannot stay, I came to see you because it is important. I want to
know if you really wish to go on with the purchase of Silverbel. I am
ready to pay a deposit for you of L2,000 on the price of the estate,
which will, of course, clinch the purchase, and this deposit I have
arranged to pay to-morrow, but under the circumstances would it not be
best to delay? If your husband cannot give a good report of the mine
he will not want to buy an expensive place like Silverbel. My advice
to you, Mrs. Ogilvie, is to let Silverbel go. I happen to know at this
moment of another purchaser who is only waiting to close if you
decline. When your husband comes back rich you can easily buy another
place."

"No other place will suit me except Silverbel," she answered.

"I strongly recommend you not to buy it now."

"And I intend to have it. I am going down there to live next week. Of
course, you arranged that I could go in at once after the deposit was
paid?"

"Yes, on sufferance, subject to your completing the purchase in
October."

"Then