By the bye, Nicholson, that's your destination, isn't
it? We might travel together."
"I think not," was the quiet answer. "I have orders to start next
week."
"Well, there's no great hurry for us, I expect. Our friend, Nehal, is
of an excitable disposition. I hope you haven't had to wait long for
me, Nicholson. You said you had some business you wanted to talk over
with me."
"Yes, it was about those shares. But if you are busy--"
"Oh, that's all right. It won't take more than a few minutes to
settle. How much do you want to invest? I tell you, my dear fellow,
it's a splendid thing, and--"
He was unexpectedly interrupted. He had taken out a heavy pocket-book
and was busily looking through some papers, when Lois laid her hand on
his.
"I think Captain Nicholson is under a misapprehension, Archibald," she
said, in a low voice. "He said you had some shares to sell him, but I
remembered what you said about the mine, and I told him that there
must be some mistake. I was quite right, wasn't I?"
Every word she had spoken sounded emphasized as though she were
striving to convey a double meaning, and the second in which husband
and wife looked at each other was to the puzzled witness a painful
eternity. With a strong perceptible effort, Travers turned away.
"So my wife has broken the news to you?" he said, smiling. "Yes, I'm
awfully sorry. Everything good gets snapped up so confoundedly
quickly.
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