But I found something else." He held out a piece of broken stone and Thirlwell as he took it moved abruptly.

He knew something about ore and saw that the stone had come from the same vein as the specimen Agatha had given him.
"I think Strange found the silver," Father Lucien said quietly.
Thirlwell knitted his brows.

He had dark suspicions, but after all they had no solid foundation, and he thought it best to copy the missionary's reserve.
"We know Driscoll's character, and may have been mistaken about one thing.

Is it logical to imagine that such a man would feel afraid ?" "Fear sometimes comes without remorse," said Father Lucien.
"Superstitious fear, working on a brain disordered by liquor and illness ?" "We will not argue about the proper name.

It may be superstition, or something greater.