if it can be avoided.'
Mr. Trencrom lived in an unpretentious six-roomed house tucked away as if not to be seen behind a sharp cleft in the hillside half a mile from the village of St. Ann's. Although it was known that he was a very rich man, no e vidence of wealth were allowed to appear in his house or in the clothes he wore, and there was plenty of speculation as to where he kept his money and what he did with it. Nothing suggested the miser in the size of his body or the warmth of his welcome when Ross called the next evening and Ross came straight to the point, explaining the inquir ies he would like put in hand.
`Mark Daniel,' said Mr. Trencrom, squeezing his small voice out of his large chest. `Let's see, that was the one that killed his wife, wasn't it? On account of her going with that Dr. Enys, Remember well. Quite a fuss. 'Twould be dangerous still, I conceive for him to come back t o England. Have your asked any of my men?''
'No. I came first to you! ’
Mr. Trencrom acknowledged the courtesy, 'Might deliver a letter. But Daniel can't read, eh? I'll, ask Nanfan or Paynter to inquire. Nanfan's best because he's a relative. I'll do that, Captain; Poldark. Nights are too light just at present. Can have too much of a full moon, eh?' He coughed, a weak consumptive paroxysm, as if someone had sat on a rusty spring in his sofa. 'There's trouble about. That man, Vercoe. And that military fellow up at the Place. Shall be glad to see the back of him. There's more in it - than meets. the, eye. And look at France. Chaos, I should not fancy to b e Mark Daniel. Living there these days.'
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
Mr. Trencrom lived in an unpretentious six-roomed house tucked away as if not to be seen behind a sharp cleft in the hillside half a mile from the village of St. Ann's. Although it was known that he was a very rich man, no e vidence of wealth were allowed to appear in his house or in the clothes he wore, and there was plenty of speculation as to where he kept his money and what he did with it. Nothing suggested the miser in the size of his body or the warmth of his welcome when Ross called the next evening and Ross came straight to the point, explaining the inquir ies he would like put in hand.
`Mark Daniel,' said Mr. Trencrom, squeezing his small voice out of his large chest. `Let's see, that was the one that killed his wife, wasn't it? On account of her going with that Dr. Enys, Remember well. Quite a fuss. 'Twould be dangerous still, I conceive for him to come back t o England. Have your asked any of my men?''
'No. I came first to you! ’
Mr. Trencrom acknowledged the courtesy, 'Might deliver a letter. But Daniel can't read, eh? I'll, ask Nanfan or Paynter to inquire. Nanfan's best because he's a relative. I'll do that, Captain; Poldark. Nights are too light just at present. Can have too much of a full moon, eh?' He coughed, a weak consumptive paroxysm, as if someone had sat on a rusty spring in his sofa. 'There's trouble about. That man, Vercoe. And that military fellow up at the Place. Shall be glad to see the back of him. There's more in it - than meets. the, eye. And look at France. Chaos, I should not fancy to b e Mark Daniel. Living there these days.'
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
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