They arrived early, as Gallito meant they should, and to his satisfaction found almost nobody in the hall, which was yet but dimly lighted.

Pearl immediately vanished into her dressing room, with Jose carrying the case containing her make-up, changes of costume, slippers, etc., close behind her.

Mrs. Nitschkan and Mrs. Thomas, Flick, Gallito and Seagreave selected their seats in the front row and, sitting down, began a discussion of certain mining matters while the house gradually filled.  This took but a few moments.  The inhabitants of Colina were too keen for a little diversion after the winter famine of amusement to stand upon the order of their coming.  They came at once, and almost in a body.

Pearl was equally prompt, ready to begin upon the stroke of the hour, and as the time approached Hughie could be heard running his fingers over the keys, although the curtains had not yet been drawn back.  By this time there was no longer standing room in the hall.

Mrs. Nitschkan was still deep in a mining discussion.  “Who should I run across yesterday,” she was saying, “but the Thompson boys.  They just took a lease on the ‘Pennyroyal,’ you know, and they wanted me to go up and look it over.  Well, I know, and you know, Gallito, the history of that mine from ’way back.  ‘She’s got a bad name, boys,’ I says, ’a bad name.’  Well, I went through some of the new drifts with ’em, and I chipped off some specimens.”  She pulled two or three of these from her coat pocket and passed them over to the men.  “They sure look mighty good to me,” she chuckled.  “The truth of the matter is that that mine ain’t never been worked right.  We can knock it so skilful, though, Gallito, that the boys’ll be glad to let us have it for ‘most nothing.  Jus’ look ‘round the hall, Bob, an’ see if you can see ’em here to-night.”

To oblige her he turned in his leisurely fashion and began to scan the audience.

Flick had never been known to start; that was a part of his training.  If a cannon had been fired off close to his ear, the narrowest observer could not have discerned the twitch of a muscle; neither would he have exhibited the faintest change of expression; training again.  Now, his face was quite as impassive as usual.  His mild, indifferent glance continued to rove over the house, noting with the accuracy of an adding machine certain men who either stood or sat in different parts of the house.  Presently he encountered the gaze of Hanson, who was sitting almost directly opposite to him and who was evidently trying to attract his attention.

Eye held eye.  On Hanson’s face was unconcealed triumph, a cynical exultation.  He nodded with smiling insolence, but Flick regarded him with a blank stare of non-recognition for a moment or so and then turned indifferently away.  It was a matter of considerable surprise to those who bent watchful eyes on him from various parts of the hall that he did not, as far as they could see, speak either to Gallito or Seagreave.