Warleggan (7 page)

Ross got up to leave, `I'll call and speak to Nanfan. Does he always go?'

'No. Leave arranging to me. Oh, Captain Poldark, as, a favour -
just one,
for another,
as you might say. I thought of calling to see yo
u
. But it's a long way, and after dark these summer days. Not in my first bloom.'

`Yes?,
’

'One dr
awback to your cove. Frequently
thought of it. Must be done in a single night. You've always insisted, haven't you, everything must be carried away. Don't blame you. But 'tis awkward. If we could store some of the stuff
-
two, three days. As we used to do in Sawle and places. Ten men do in three nights what thirty do in one. Less chance for the informer. Get the stuff ashore and hide it. The main thing.' Mr. Trencrom tried to push himself out of his chair. `See what I mean?'

`You're suggesting we should hide it for you in our own house?'

`Didn't say house. Not necessarily. Though even there
-
if a cache were carefully
dug '

'I'm..
. That's putting my neck in a noose. At pr
esent I always have the defence that the run
is being made without my knowledge. 'But if one item of your g
oods is found in my cellar
'

Mr. Trencrom clasped and unclasped his fat hands. `You ask a favour of me, sir. What's the difference? Oh, in degree,
I suppose, something. But, the obligation, the benefit. ,
'

Ross had known Mr. Trencrom for some years; it was not the first time he had found him less easygoing than he looked. `If you prefer it, I can go to Falmouth and take ship to Cherbourg myself,'

`Have reason to believe Mark Daniel has left Cherbourg.? 'Where is he, then?'

Mr. Trencrom nearly asphyxiated himself with a cough. Corning up purple and panting, h
e said: 'Captain Poldark, now. I have no idea. But my
men would have a better chance. Your mine is not paying yet. I understand?'

Ross stared at him grimly. `D'you wish me to confirm that or to acknowledge the blackmail?'

''Oh, please: Between friends. We work together, do we not? Profit of both. Have no wish to offend. But we can't do without each other
-
just at present. I suggested this
-
thought you might not object. Would be willing to make some small extra payment for the convenience, small of course; my profits negligible, just as a good-will token. Twenty-five guineas, say.

'For each cargo?'

`Well
yes, I suppose.',

Ross reflectively flapped his gloves. His struggle to remain solvent had distorted his views on money, but not to this extent. He was going to refuse again, but Mr. Trencrom said: '

`Don't decide now, sir. Take a little time.
If you think more of it, let
me know. In the meanwhile I will see after your friend Daniel.'

'Thank you. Are you any further forward in tracing how the leakage in your arrangements arises?'

'Nothing substantial. So far we have been able to avoid serious trouble this year. But. am not happy about it. As you'll understand. When it began I thought 'twas someone outside
our circle. Hard
you know, bringing in goods, using forty or more men
-
not to let it get about. The village knows. The countryside. But last September, as you'll remember, we began to run a cargo in at Strand Cove. Most unusual to be able to. Usually the heavy swell. I issued instructions to our riders where to
go only
six hours before the run was due to begin. But we'd floated no more than a...dozen ankers ashore when Vercoe
and his
men sprang out of ambush. Six of our best men arrested. Only thanks to his shortage of men the rest escaped. It can't happen
again.
It mustn't, Captain Poldark. And the One and All has been gravely imperilled.'

`Well, only Vercoe knows who is at the bottom of it,' said
Ross grimly. 'And Vercoe won't tell.'

Mr. Trencrom asphyxiated himself again, 'Perhaps even Vercoe
-
does not know. I sometimes
w
onder, Perhaps he gets messages
under the door. 'Tis a dangerous game
for the informer. There is very
bad feeling about.'

At the moment Mr. Trencrom said this the informer was in the Hoblyns' cottage in Sawle,

Chapter Fiv
e,

Dwight had had a busy week. As well as riding with Caroline, he had had a crop of sudden ailments to face; and it was from the last of these, a case of bilious fever in Sawle, that he was returning when he decided on the impulse of the moment to call in at the Hoblyns' cottage.

The evening was well on, and he found all the Hoblyns indoors and with them Charlie Kempthorne,, who had got Rosina in a corner and was making, up to her under the lowering gaze of Jacka her father. Not that Jacka particularly disapproved of Charlie, except for his age; it was rather that courting in any shape or form was one of the great number of things he didn't hold with. He couldn't complain that it was happening under his own nose, because he had refused Charlie permission to, take Rosina for a walk.

Dwight apologised for
the intrusion, said he had come to see Rosina; Rosina said hastily her knee was quite better thank you; Dwight ignored this and said would she and Mrs. Hoblyn come into the next room. This left the two men alone, for Parthesia was in bed.

Charlie hadn't liked the interruption. He fancied he had been
making some progress, and now it was all set back. But perhaps this could be turned to account. After a minute he scratched his short-cropped head and said:. `Rec
kon Rosina's coming round t'ou
r way of thinking, Jacka. "Twill soon
be a question of naming the day
like.'

It isn't to my way of thinking,' Jacka said, 'I'm thinkin' nothin' yet awhile.'

'But you're not saying me nay,' said Charlie. 'An'
Rosina’ll
see that for herself. She's always been a good obeying kind of girl-'

'She better be,' said J
acka.

'An' 'tis plain to she that with 'er crooked pinbone she'll be l
ucky to get
a good steady man who's maybe a bit olderer than she but all the better for that. An' got a tidy nest egg, what's more. And adding on every day. You should mind that,
Jacka Hoblyn.'

'I'll, mind what I've the wish to mind.'

'Let 'er go get forced put by some farmer's boy, an' what's the end to it? A 'ovel no betterer than a
pigsty. I
can give 'er a home, with cloam cups to drink out' of like she was a lady. And I'll tell ee
another
thing. That field that's to rent from Surgeon Choake's house. Corner of it runs' down nigh to the top of the lane, back o' my yard. Next year I thought to take it. 'Tis just what I d' need to-'

'I can't conceit where you get all your money,' said Jacka.

Charlie looked at him keenly for a moment. `Ah, but that's just it. Money d'add to money all the while. Start with just a little and treat it right, an' it'll go on growing while you're asleep. Mind, it
need a steady 'and.
But that's what I got.

And sail-making's different from bal work. There's more profit to it. Reckon my consumptives was a blessed dressed up, else I'd
still
have been down mine and no better off at forty than thirty !'

Jacka knitted his black brows. `Wonder what surgeon's about, coming this time of night. 'Tis no concern of his to visit when he's not asked.'

`D'you pay 'im for every time?'

`Nay, give him his due, he's no great one for that'

Kempthorne spat on the sanded floor. 'Well, I shouldn't like it of 'twas my house. It don't seem right, 'im coming round any hour of the day, fingering a girl's knee. That's 'ow bad things d'start'

Jacka stared at Charlie. 'I "thought you was a friend of his. I
thought 'twas he cured you of the miner's cough.'

`So 'twas. I've nought against him. I'm only saying as it
'pears, to me. When all's said, he's only a youngster-and you
know -what happened with Daniel's wife.'

There was a moment's silence, Jacka's eyebrows were like a
scar. He stared at Charlie without pleasure and then strode into the next room.

He found Rosina sitting o n. the end of the
bed, and, Dwight was putting a
bandage roun
d her knee. Mrs. Hoblyn glanced
up nervously.

Dwight was cheerful, having, at last discovered the cause of their reluctance to let shim treat Rosina. 'Oh Hoblyn, glad you came in. Mrs. Hoblyn has been explaining
about Mr. Nye
'

'Ah?' said Jacka,

'Mr. Nye said it might be better to amputate the leg. Of course there's no fear of that A ridiculous suggestion. I want you to keep your knee bound, for a week until `I come again.' He finished his work-and stood up.

`Yes, sur,' said Rosina.

`I don't see as 'tis necessary
for you to be calling, surgeon,' said Jacka, not quite confident of himself. `Rosina d'get along well and fine as she is. She been like it too long now for a cure. When she's sick, that's' different like.'

`Rosina gets along,' said Dwi
ght, `But it isn't a happy or a
healthy way to live. I can, promise no improvement, but I intend to try.'

'Sometimes more 'arm than good comes of probing at things.

Dwight flushed. `Have no fear: she'll not die of
it’

'Well, I believe in leaving well alone.'

'But you have hardly the right to deny your daughter the chance of proper treatment.'

This was treading on Jacka's corns. `Who's no right?' he shouted.' `I've a right to do what I will with my own.' Don't forget that, surgeon.'

`Jacka, please!' said Mrs. Hoblyn.

`Hold
your clack, woman!'

`I'll not!' said Polly, standing up to him for once. 'Dr. Enys is doing his best, and takin' pains, and that's more'n have ever been done for my girl
before. You ought to be shamed,
turning on him like this!'

Dwight caught sight of Charlie at the door, and some expression on his face made Dwight
feel that the little sailmaker
was enjoying the scene. For soave reason he didn't want' Rosina cured. Was it because his own suit would then be less hopeful?

Dwight was in time to step in front of Jacka as he made
a movement towards his wife. It looked as if there might be a scuffle, but jacka gave way. As usual his anger was shortlived, and suddenly it changed its
direction,
towards the man who had primed it.

`Get out of the room,' he bawled at Charlie. "Twill be time enough to come in 'ere when you're wed to my daughter and
not before!'

Nevertheless, as Dwight took his leave he knew
that his next
visit would be very much, on sufferance, and he would have to produce some result soon or admit failure.

The next
Tuesday
was the first warm day of
the delayed summer. The toe of
England, eddying along through cold and cheerless days, had suddenly and at last reached warmer water. Even at seven, which was the hour he had agreed to meet Caroline, the air was gentle and mild.

She always: kept
him waiting, but this time less long than usual. They cantered away from the gates of Killewarren in the early sun, and she suggested they
should turn south, among trees
long held in bud but now a sudden full brilliant gree
n. She seemed to know her way.

When they had gone about four miles, she turned up a lane which petered out into a clearing azure with bluebells and she said : `Let's get down, shall we, Dwigh
t. I want to talk, and it's not
easy on a nag.'

He dismounted at once and tried to help her, but
she slid off as nimbly as a boy and
laughed at him.

`Let's sit over here. It's' good to be idle sometimes. Or I think
so. Perhaps you feel always you should be tending someone.! 'Not always. Not now.'

They sat on a green mound punctured with rabbit holes, and Caroline picked a bluebell and swung it idly to make the bells quiver.

`I'm returning to, Oxfordshire, Dwight.'

Something lurched inside him
- `When?'

'On Friday's coach. I shall be in Uncle William's bosom by
Monday.'

What has made you decide to go?'

`Oh, I didn't decide. Uncle Ray is very angry with me about my treatment
of Unwin, and he thinks I shall
be better banished from this place altogether.'

Dwight looked at her. Her wide eyes were contemplative,
narrowed with the sunshine;
the bright light brought extra
colours to them, greys and flecks of hazel and deeper greens. `I don't know what to say. ' I thought
-
I hoped you'd bestaying.!

'I hoped Id be staying too'

Overhead
a blackbird was chattering. `When d'you expect
to come again?' ,

`At Uncle Ray's invitation? Oh,, that's very doubtful. He
no longer approves of me or of my doings. And I suspect
that someone has told him of my morning rides with his
physician.'

`It's understandable then that he wants to send you away.' `Why?' she asked, provokingly.

'If you lower yourself by being seen about with Dr. Enys,
and not even a groom in attendance, it will be Mr. Penvenen's
first duty to come between you and your indiscretion.'

Caroline threw away her bluebells. `So you agree with Uncle
Ray. You think I should better be kept out of harm's way until
I am safely marrie
d
!
’

'If I were your uncle’

`But since
you're not my uncle?'

Dwight
got up. `What do you expect me to say?'

She leaned back on her elbows. `I should have expected you
to say no.'

`And so should I like to. You know, Caroline, without the -
need of words to colour it o
r make, it more explicit, that I –
that
..’

After a minute Caroline said: `Sit down, Dwight. We can't talk if you stride about'

He stopped and sat again, his knees in his hands, a little away from her, frowning, ill at ease, deliberately not looking at
her.

She said: `Tell me, Dwight, I never know; there are two men in you: the strong, confident, imp
atient one, that so often goes
with
you in a
sickroo
m; and the oh-so-much younger, nervous, susceptible
one that often rides with me.
Which of them is it, do you suppose, that cares for Caroline Penvenen and grieves she goes and thinks of her in her absence?'

A rabbit scampered
across the greensward and ducked qu
ickly into
a hole. Dwight said
: `Questions are alway
s directed at me. Perhaps I'll
face yours if you face mine. How much are
you concerned for the answer?'