A philtre is a magical love potion, again reinforcing Mrs Gould's association with the emotional side of life. The image of her discreetly trying to feed love to the statesman and the industrialist is simply wonderful.

So far in the novel Mrs Gould has put silver to use twice: as Bible glasses and as the dispenser of love potions. This hints at her broader idealism to which the San Tomé mine is her means.