Tess smiled.  She was used to the remark.  He always made it, but always kept away on Sundays.

“There was a party at my house last night, and every one agreed what an acquisition you and your husband are to Sialpore.  You’re so refreshing—­ quite different to what we’re all used to.”

“We’re enjoying the novelty too—­at least, Dick doesn’t have much time for enjoyment, but—­”

“I suppose he has had vast experience of mining?”

“Oh, he knows his profession, and works hard.  He’ll find gold where there is any,” said Tess.

“You never told me how he came to choose Sialpore as prospecting ground.”

Tess recognized the prevarication instantly.  Almost the first thing Dick had done after they arrived was to make a full statement of all the circumstances in the commissioner’s office.  However, she was not her husband.  There was no harm in repetition.

“The maharajah’s secretary wrote to a mining college in the States for the name of some one qualified to explore the old workings in these hills.  They gave my husband’s name among others, and he got in correspondence.  Finally, being free at the time, we came out here for the trip, and the maharajah offered terms on the spot that we accepted.  That is all.”

Samson laughed.

“I’m afraid not all.  A contract with the British Government would be kept.  I won’t say a written agreement with Gungadhura is worthless, but—­”

“Oh, he has to pay week by week in advance to cover expenses.”

“Very wise.  But how about if you find gold?”

“We get a percentage.”

Every word of that, as Tess knew, the commissioner could have ascertained in a minute from his office files.  So she was quite as much on guard as he—­quite as alert to discover hidden drifts.

“I’m afraid there’ll be complications,” he went on with an air of friendly frankness.  “Perhaps I’d better wait until I can see your husband?”

“If you like, of course.  But he and I speak the same language.  What you tell me will reach him—­anything you say, just as you say it.”

“I’d better be careful then!” he answered, smiling.  “Wise wives don’t always tell their husbands everything.”

“I’ve no secrets from mine.”

“Unusual!” he smiled.  “I might say obsolete!  But you Americans with your reputation for divorce and originality are very old-fashioned in some things, aren’t you?”

“What did you want me to tell my husband?” countered Tess.

“I wonder if he understands how complicated conditions are here.  For instance, does your contract stipulate where the gold is to be found?”

“On the maharajah’s territory.”

“Anywhere within those limits?”

“So I understand.”

“Is the kind of gold mentioned?”

“How many kinds are there?”

He gained thirty seconds for reflection by lighting a cigar, and decided to change his ground.