The load had halted, not in front of the house,
but at the door of the out-building with the chimney. A staff of
stablemen and footmen were in readiness, who proceeded to swiftly unload
and to carry the packages through the door. It was the first time that
Robert had ever seen any one save the master of the house enter the
laboratory. No sign was seen of him now, however, and in half an hour
the contents had all been safely stored and the waggon had driven
briskly away.
"I cannot understand it, father," said Robert thoughtfully, as they
resumed their walk. "Supposing that your supposition is correct, who
would send him such quantities of gold, and where could it come from?"
"Ha, you have to come to the old man after all!" chuckled his companion.
"I can see the little game. It is clear enough to me. There are two of
them in it, you understand. The other one gets the gold. Never mind
how, but we will hope that there is no harm. Let us suppose, for
example, that they have found a marvellous mine, where you can just
shovel it out like clay from a pit. Well, then, he sends it on to this
one, and he has his furnaces and his chemicals, and he refines and
purifies it and makes it fit to sell. That's my explanation of it,
Robert.
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