"Mr Wrigley, New Inn, Strand."
"Wrigley?" cried Clive excitedly.
"Yes, sir; and he said he must see you at once."
"All right; I'll come. Wait for me yonder at the corner, Robson; and I
beg your pardon for speaking so roughly just now."
"That's nothing, sir. You were cross," said the clerk, smiling; and he
walked back down the garden to go and stand watching the trout in the
river.
"Don't look so scared, dearest," said Clive tenderly; "there is nothing
wrong. I'll tell you briefly what it is. You know there was a scare
about the mine--a panic."
"Yes, dear."
"Well, a lot of foolish old friends were frightened--oh, dear me! I'm
accusing the Major. Well, there, I can't help it. He did act
foolishly. A lot of them, I say, instead of coming to me went and sold
their shares, and these were bought up by speculators who have since
then been interfering at our board meetings, and wanting to meddle over
the management of things. In fact, I was so wroth that I would not go
to yesterday's meeting, but determined to come down here and see how
things were, and--you know why I came. Now I must go on. I suppose
they had their meeting yesterday, and passed some resolution or another;
but I'm too big a shareholder to be trifled with, and I'm going to meet
these people now and have a row. For they shall have their big
dividends, but I'm not going to have any meddlesome fools down here."
"But you will keep your temper, dear, and be calm."
"I'll take your sweet face with me, love, and--why, here's the Major.
Ah, my dear old dad, how are you? Good-bye, Dinah. Come over to the
mine with me, sir, and help me to keep my temper; well talk as we go."
"Of course," cried the Major. "But look here, my boy--so glad to see
you down--I saw a party going to the mine, and I hurried back trusting
that one of them might be you."
"Come along," cried Clive; and after a quick, tender farewell, he
hurried away along the path to the mine, explaining matters to the Major
as he went.
On reaching the gate in the hill side, and entering the busy little hive
of industry, it was plain that something important was on the way; for
the men were all up from the workings, and were evidently listening to
one of a party of well-dressed men, who was addressing them, and a buzz
of voices arose as Clive, looking very stern now, walked up to the front
of the office with his two companions.
"Oh, good morning, Mr Reed," said the speaker, getting down from a pile
of lead pigs.
"Good morning, Mr Wrigley. Well, Jessop, you here?"
The latter gentleman nodded, and Sturgess, who had his arm in a sling,
stood close behind him.
"I have been telling the men, Mr Reed, that in consonance with the
resolution passed at the board yesterday--"
"In my absence, Mr Wrigley."
"You had the proper notices, sir," said the lawyer coldly. "I say in
accordance with the resolution passed yesterday, it was determined, in
the interests of the `White Virgin Mine,' to have a complete change of
management."
"Indeed!" said Clive. "But I, as the greatest shareholder, object."
"You cannot, sir. I and my friends are greater shareholders, and have
the majority with us. Out of respect to your late father's memory we
have made a concession to your brother."
"Jessop!" cried Clive.
"Yes, sir. You will give up everything into his hands, for he will
reside here and take the management, helped and counselled by Mr
Sturgess, who now becomes co-manager of the property."
"And I?" said Clive, who was perfectly aghast at the petard sprung
beneath his feet.
"Will clear out at once."
It was Jessop Reed who said these words brutally; and, as the brother's
eyes met in a long piercing gaze, Clive Reed knew that his enemies had
him firmly by the hip, and that the next minute he must fall.