He made very careful
examinations at a great number of points. In several places he found
it cropping out freely; and the quality, as far as he was able to
judge, is remarkably good."
"Will he keep our secret?" said Jasper.
"It is his interest to do so."
"We must make it his interest, in any event. No time is now to be
lost."
"I agree with you there. A single week's delay may ruin every thing.
The coal is our discovery, and we are, in all equity, entitled to the
benefit."
"Of course we are. It's a matter of speculation, at best; the lucky
win. If we can get an order for the sale, we shall win handsomely.
But, without producing the child, it will be next to impossible to get
the order. So we must have her, by fair means or by foul."
"We must," said the lawyer, compressing his lips firmly.
"And have her now."
"Now," responded Grind.
Jasper rose to his feet.
"It's easy enough to say what we must have," remarked Grind, "but the
means of gaining our ends are not always at hand. What do you propose
doing?"
"I shall get the child."
"Don't act too precipitately. Violence will excite suspicion, and
suspicion is a wonderful questioner."
"We must play a desperate game, as things now are, or not play at
all," said Jasper.
"True; but the more desperate the game, the more need of coolness,
forethought, and circumspection.
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