He had found himself talked into agreeing with any project which Mr Fisker might have in hand.

It was altogether against the grain with him, and yet by his own consent, that the flour-mill had been opened at Fiskerville.

He trembled for his money and never wished to see Fisker again; but still, when Fisker came to England, he was proud to remember that Fisker was his partner, and he obeyed the order and went down to Liverpool.
If the flour-mill had frightened him, what must the present project have done! Fisker explained that he had come with two objects,--first to ask the consent of the English partner to the proposed change in their business, and secondly to obtain the cooperation of English capitalists.

The proposed change in the business meant simply the entire sale of the establishment at Fiskerville, and the absorption of the whole capital in the work of getting up the railway.

'If you could realise all the money it wouldn't make a mile of the railway,' said Paul.