" Then
Courtenay paused in his turn. "By the way," he continued, with the
frowning dubiety of one whose thoughts outstrip his words, "does any
one here know a man named Ventana?"
"It is a name common enough in Chile," said Christobal.
"If you mean Senor Pedro Ventana, who is associated with Mr. Baring in
mining matters, I am acquainted with him," said Elsie. The men seemed
to have forgotten her presence. They were wrapped up in the remarkable
discovery which Courtenay himself had made by diligent search among the
coal ready for use in the furnaces when the explosion took place.
For no reason in particular, save the unexpectedness of it, Elsie's
statement was received with surprise. They all looked at her, and some
of them wondered, perhaps, why her smiling eyes had lost their mirth.
Yet there was nothing unreasonable in the mere fact that a certain
Chilean named Ventana, who had business relations with Mr. Baring,
should make the acquaintance of Isobel Baring's friend. As quickly as
it had arisen, the feeling of strangeness passed.
Courtenay even laughed. Elsie as the Jonah of the ship was a quaint
conceit.
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