Well, my opinion of him is that he is merely a
guinea-pig--you know what that is? I have made up my mind to have nothing
more to do with the venture, at any rate. And so they were pleased with
your report, were they?'
'They appeared to be. They passed us a vote of thanks, and one or two
of the gentlemen spoke in rather a complimentary manner of what we had
done.'
'I am glad of that. By the way, William, you know Mr. Kenyon, do you
not?'
The young man looked round with an abstracted air, and gazed past, rather
than at, John Kenyon.
'Kenyon, Kenyon,' he said to himself, as if trying to recollect a name
that he had once heard somewhere. 'I really don't----'
'Tut, tut!' said the old man, 'you remember Mr. Kenyon on board the
_Caloric_?'
'Oh, ah, yes; certainly--oh, certainly. How do you do, Mr. Kenyon? I had
forgotten for the moment. I thought I had met you in the City somewhere.
Feeling first-rate after your trip, I hope.' And young Mr. Longworth
fixed his one eyeglass in its place and flashed its glitter on Kenyon.
'I am very well, thanks.'
'That's right. Let me see, your business with the London Syndicate is
concluded now, is it not?'
'Yes, it is done with.'
'Ah, and what are you doing? Have you anything else on hand?'
'Well, that is what I wish to see you about.'
'Really?'
'Yes; I--you remember, perhaps, we had some talk about a mica-mine near
the Ottawa River?'
'On my soul, I don't. You see, the voyage rather--that was on board ship,
I suppose?'
'Yes,' said John, crossing over to the young man's desk and taking a
chair beside him.
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