“You are punctual, but I’m sorry I must ask you to wait,” he said.  “Miss Strange will not be long and wishes to be present when we begin.  She holds the largest block of shares.”

“Then I suppose Miss Strange must be indulged; but I don’t know that her holding is larger than these gentlemen’s and mine,” Stormont replied with a meaning smile.

George saw he had been given a hint, but he and the others began to talk good-humoredly.  All knew that a struggle was coming, but polite amenities were dignified and marked one’s confidence.  By and by the door opened and Stormont frowned as Thirlwell came in with Agatha.

“We are glad to see Miss Strange, but Mr. Thirlwell owns none of the company’s stock,” he said.

Thirlwell smiled, in a rather curious way, but said nothing and Agatha replied:  “Mr. Thirlwell is the manager; I asked him to come.”

“Then I take back my objection,” Stormont said with a bow.  “I asked you and Mr. Strange to meet us so that we could talk informally about some business.  Although we must call a shareholders’ meeting if my suggestions are approved, we hold enough stock between us to force through any decision at which we arrive.”

“To begin with, you had better state whose votes you command,” said George.

When Stormont gave the names the secretary opened the register and then nodded.  “If all who are present and the others Mr. Stormont mentions agree, it would give a larger majority than our constitution requires.”

“We’ll take it for granted that the gentlemen would vote as Mr. Stormont directs,” said George, who looked disturbed.  “We wait his proposition.”

“My friends and I are dissatisfied with the way things are going.  No ore has been smelted; and, so far as we can learn, the quantity in the dump is small.  We are working on an unprofitable scale, and need more labor and better and more expensive machines.  In short, we need more money.  I have no doubt Mr. Thirlwell will admit this.”

“A larger capital would be an advantage,” Thirlwell assented dryly.

“We can’t extend our capital,” George objected.  “It was hard work to get the stock we have issued taken up.”

“I can show you how the difficulty can be got over,” Stormont resumed.  “You know I floated the Adventurers Company to work the back blocks, and as the claims haven’t come up to our expectations, we have more money than we can use, while the Agatha Company has not enough.  Well, I propose that you combine with us on the terms I’ve drafted.  If you don’t approve them all, we’ll meet you where we can.”

He gave George a paper, but Agatha interposed:  “You can take it for granted that we will not make the combine.”

Stormont smiled, deprecatingly.  “I’m afraid you cannot help yourselves, Miss Strange.”

Agatha looked at George, whose face got red.

“I can understand the Adventurers being anxious to take us in.  Your property is worthless, Mr. Stormont, and ours is rich.”