Nairn in a description of a
function she had lately attended.
CHAPTER XIX
VANE FORESEES TROUBLE
Nairn was sitting at a writing-table when Vane entered his room, and
after a few questions about his journey he handed the younger man one of
the papers that lay in front of him.
"It's a report from the mine. Ye can read and think it over while I
finish this letter."
Vane carefully studied the document, and then waited until Nairn laid
down his pen.
"It only brings us back to our last conversation on the subject," he said
when his host glanced at him inquiringly. "We have the choice of going on
as we are doing, or extending our operations by an increase of capital.
In the latter case, our total earnings might be larger, but I hardly
believe there would be as good a return on the money actually sunk.
Taking it all round, I don't know what to think. Of course, if it
appeared that there was a moral certainty of making a satisfactory profit
on the new stock, I should consent."
Nairn chuckled.
"A moral certainty is no a very common thing in mining."
"Horsfield's in favor of the scheme. How far would you trust that man?"
"About as far as I could fling a bull by the tail. The same thing applies
to both of them."
"He has some influence. No doubt he'd find supporters."
Nairn saw that the meaning of his last remark, which implied that he had
no more confidence in Jessy than he had in her brother, had not been
grasped by his companion, but he did not consider it judicious to make it
plainer.
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