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Then Mrs. Nairn and Horsfield crossed the room toward them and the conversation became general. On the evening of Vane's departure he walked out of Nairn's room just as dusk was falling. His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room the elder man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessy Horsfield talking to his wife.
He paused and concluded with a sudden trace of humor: "I'll own that I feel more at home with the work that awaits me there." Jessy made a little gesture which, while it might have meant anything, was somehow very expressive. Just then there were footsteps outside and the next moment Horsfield walked into the room. "So you're back!" "Yes," Carroll replied shortly.
"The Clermont finances are now on a sound basis, but it might after all prove advantageous to raise further capital; although in such a case we would, perhaps, lie open to attack. Nairn's inclined to be cryptic in his remarks; but he seems to hint that it would be advisable to make Horsfield some concession in other words, to buy him off." "Which is a course you have objections to?"
"Ye will no have said anything definite to Horsfield yet about the smelter?" "No. So far, I'm not sure that it would pay us to put up the plant; and the other man's terms are lower." "Maybe," Nairn answered, and he made the single word very expressive. "Ye have had the handling of the thing; but henceforward it will be necessary to get the sanction of the board.
She made Horsfield put some pressure on the people who had previously hired the boat." "That's rather strange." For a moment he looked puzzled, but almost immediately his face grew impassive, and Carroll knew that he had some idea of Jessy's treachery. He was, however, sure that any suspicions his comrade entertained would remain locked up in his breast. "I'm grateful to her, anyway," Vane added.
Their action resembles that at Macaluba. There is a mud volcano in Java which is of interest as somewhat resembling the geyser in its mode of operation and apparently due to similar agencies. It is thus described by Dr. Horsfield:
Carroll, who for several reasons had preferred not to press this question upon Evelyn, had a strong suspicion that Jessy Horsfield was at the bottom of the trouble. There was also one clue to follow Vane had paid the rent of Celia Hartley's shack, and he wondered whether Jessy could by any means have heard of it.
"It's the fortunes of war," he returned. "What you say about Vane is more or less correct; but, although it is not a matter of much importance now, it was impossible from the beginning that your views and his ever should agree." Horsfield smiled. "Too great a difference of temperament? I dare say you're right.
Carroll had long suspected him of latent capabilities, which had suddenly sprung to life. "You ought to see Horsfield before you meet the board," he advised him. "I'm not sure," Vane answered. "In fact, I'm uncertain whether I'll give Horsfield the contract, even if we decide about the smelter. He was offensively patronizing once upon a time and tried to bluff me.
Anyhow, I've felt that rather than truckle with that fellow Horsfield I'd like to pitch him down the stairs. But all this is pretty random talk." "It is," Carroll agreed. "You haven't said whether you intend to authorize that extension of capital?" "I suppose it will have to be done. And now it's very late and I'm going to sleep."
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