Mr. Wickersham’s real interest, however, lay in the mountains to the westward.  And General Keith gave him some valuable hints as to the deposits lying in the Ridge and the mountains beyond the Ridge.

“I will give you letters to the leading men in that region,” he said.  “The two most influential men up there are Dr. Balsam and Squire Rawson.  They have, like Abraham and Lot, about divided up the country.”

Mr. Wickersham’s eyes glistened.  He thanked him, and said that he might call on him.

Once there came near being a clash between Mr. Wickersham and General Keith.  When Mr. Wickersham mentioned that he had invited a number of members of the legislature—­“gentlemen interested in the development of the resources of the State”—­to meet him, the General’s face changed.  There was a little tilting of the nose and a slight quivering of the nostrils.  A moment later he spoke.

“I will have everything in readiness for your—­f—­for your guests; but I must ask you to excuse me from meeting them.”

Mr. Wickersham turned to him in blank amazement.

“Why, General?”

The expression on the old gentleman’s face answered him.  He knew that at a word he should lose his agent, and he had use for him.  He had plans that were far-reaching, and the General could be of great service to him.

When the statesmen arrived, everything on the place was in order; they were duly met at the station, and were welcomed at the house by the owner.  Everything for their entertainment was prepared.  Even the fresh mint was in the tankard on the old sideboard.  Only the one who had made these preparations was absent.

Just before the vehicles were to return from the railway, General Keith walked into the room where Mr. Wickersham was lounging.  He was booted and spurred for riding.

“Everything is in order for your guests, sir.  Richard will see that they are looked after.  These are the keys.  Richard knows them all, and is entirely reliable.  I will ask you to excuse me till—­for a day or two.”

Mr. Wickersham had been revolving in his mind what he should say to the old gentleman.  He had about decided to speak very plainly to him on the folly of such narrowness.  Something, however, in the General’s air again deterred him:  a thinning of the nostril; an unwonted firmness of the mouth.  A sudden increase in the resemblance to the man-in-armor over the mantel struck him—­a mingled pride and gravity.  It removed him a hundred years from the present.

The keen-eyed capitalist liked the General, and in a way honored him greatly.  His old-fashioned ideas entertained him.  So what he said was said kindly.  He regretted that the General could not stay; he “would have liked him to know his friends.”

“They are not such bad fellows, after all.  Why, one of them is a preacher,” he said jocularly as he walked to the door, “and a very bright fellow.  J. Quincy Plume is regarded as a man of great ability.”