n out to be, of course; but mining is a terribly speculative, risky
business, and the probabilities are that this mine--let me see, Ydoll, I
think, is the old name, and eh, young gentleman, not badly named? Been
lying idle for a very long time, I suppose? Eh? You'll excuse the
joke. We may lose very heavily in this one, while we gain on others.
But, of course, Colonel Pendarve, that is not my affair. My
instructions, to be brief, are to ascertain whether you will sell, and,
if you will take a reasonable price, to close with you at once."

"I wish father would ask him how he knows about the mine," thought Gwyn.

"May I ask how you became aware of the existence of this place, sir?"
asked the Colonel.

"Maps and plans, sir. I have pretty well every property marked out all
through the country; picturesque and geological features all set down.
Quite a study, young gentleman. You have a nice place here Colonel
Pendarve, but you must find it bleak, and I think I may venture to say
this is an opportunity for parting with it most profitably."

"I suppose so, sir," said the Colonel, "for your clients would not be, I
presume, particular about a few hundreds to obtain possession?"

"Well," replied the lawyer, smiling, "without committing myself, I think
I may say that your wishes within reason would be met, sir, upon
pecuniary points."

"Well that sounds satisfactory," said the Colonel, "but I have grown
attached to the place, and so has my son."

"Oh, yes, father," said Gwyn, eagerly. "I don't want to go."

"Plenty of more beautiful places to be had, my dear sir," said the
lawyer, "by the man who has money."

"I have improved the house, too, a great deal lately."

"So I should suppose, sir," said the lawyer; "but we should consider all
that in the purchase money."

"And I have made my little garden one of the most productive in the
county."

"All of which we will take into consideration, my dear sir. Now, not to
take up your time, what do you say? I have a plan in my pocket of the
estate, and I am quite prepared to come to terms at once."

"But is not this very sudden?" said the Colonel, smiling.

"Well, perhaps so, my dear sir; but I always advise the companies who
intrust me with their affairs to be business-like and prompt. Let us
have none of the law's delays, my dear sir, I say. It means waste of
time; and as time is money, it is a waste of hard cash. Now, sir, you,
as a military man, know the val