Meanwhile, Villiers having heard the name of Pierre Lemaire, and
knowing he was engaged in the Pactolus claim, came round to see him
and try to find out all about the nugget. Pierre was sulky at first,
and sat drinking his beer sullenly, with his old black hat drawn
down so far over his eyes that only his bushy black beard was
visible, but Mr Villiers' suavity, together with the present of
half-a-crown, had a marked effect on him. As he was dumb, Mr
Villiers was somewhat perplexed how to carry on a conversation with
him, but he ultimately drew forth a piece of paper, and sketched a
rough presentation of a nugget thereon, which he showed to Pierre.
The Frenchman, however, did not comprehend until Villiers produced a
sovereign from his pocket, and pointed first to the gold, and then
to the drawing, upon which Pierre nodded his head several times in
order to show that he understood. Villiers then drew a picture of
the Pactolus claim, and asked Pierre in French if the nugget was
still there, as he showed him the sketch. Pierre shook his head,
and, taking the pencil in his hand, drew a rough representation of a
horse and cart, and put a square box in the latter to show the
nugget was on a journey.
'Hullo!' said Villiers to himself, 'it's not at her own house, and
she's driving somewhere with it, I wonder where to?'
Pierre--who not being able to write, was in the habit of drawing
pictures to express his thoughts--nudged his elbow and showed him a
sketch of a man in a box waving his arms.
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