They had written to each other frequently, but neither had made mention of the great shaft.

Even when he was ready to go down he said nothing to any one of any immediate intention of descending.

There was a massive door which covered the mouth of the pit; this he ordered locked and went away.
The next morning he walked into the building a little earlier than was his custom, called for the engineers, and for Mr.Bryce, who was to take charge of everything connected with the descent, and announced that he was going down as soon as preparations could be made.
Mr.Bryce and the men who were to assist him were very serious.

They said nothing that was not necessary.

If their employer had been any other man than Roland Clewe it is possible they might have remonstrated with him.