He asked the girl to delay somewhat the preparations for their evening meal, as he wished to take a bath, so it was quite dark when they sat down to eat.
Iris had long recovered her usual state of high spirits.
"Why were you burrowing in the cavern again ?" she inquired.

"Are you in a hurry to get rich ?" "I was following an air-shaft, not a lode," he replied.

"I am occasionally troubled with after wit, and this is an instance.

Do you remember how the flame of the lamp flickered whilst we were opening up our mine ?" "Yes." "I was so absorbed in contemplating our prospective wealth that I failed to pay heed to the true significance of that incident.

It meant the existence of an upward current of air.