"After all, the jumpers may have been acting on their own account." "You believe they were ?" Stirling smiled.

"I naturally don't know enough about the matter to decide; but, in a general way, when I come across anything that seems to the discredit of any gentleman of importance, or big combine with which I may happen to be at variance, I keep it judiciously quiet until I have the proofs in hand.

I find it an excellent rule." Then he added in a suggestive manner: "You probably have had another rather more favorable offer since those jumpers failed ?" Weston admitted that this was the case and said that he had ignored the offer.

He further stated that, as he had found the mine, he meant to keep it until he could dispose of it on satisfactory terms.
"That," said Stirling, dryly, "is a very natural wish, but one now and then has some trouble in carrying out views of that kind.

I've seen your prospectus.