He had, in fact, been rather silent for the last few days.

Now they were near the end of their journey he did not know if he wanted Agatha to find the lode or not.

When they started he had imagined that the search would lead to nothing, and had gone because her society had a charm and he wanted to free her mind of a dangerous illusion.

But he could no longer think the lode an illusion.

The silver was there, and if one searched long enough, could, no doubt, be found.
This was somehow disturbing, but with a half-conscious wish to shirk the truth he would not inquire bluntly why it disturbed him.