Then it was that he was taken, and in the same week sent to the assizes, and condemned to seven years’ penal labour in the convict establishment at Prince’s Town. Thence he had escaped, assisted by Jasper and Watt, whilst the former was on his way to Morwell with the remnant of the money recovered from Martin. The rest is known to the reader. Whilst Jasper ate the mean meal provided for him, his father watched him. ‘So,’ said the old man, and the twinkle was in his cunning eyes, ‘so you have hired yourself to Mr. Ignatius Jordan at Morwell as his steward?’ ‘Yes, father. I remain there as pledge to him that he shall be repaid, and I am doing there all I can to put the estate into good order. It has been shockingly neglected.’ ‘Who for?’ asked Mr. Babb. ‘I do not understand.’ ‘For whom are you thus working?’ ‘For Mr. Jordan, as you said!’ The manufacturer chuckled. ‘Jasper,’ said he, ‘some men look on a pool and see nothing but water. I put my head in, open my eyes, and see what is at the bottom. That girl did not come here for nothing. I put my head under water and opened my eyes.’ ‘Well?’ said Jasper, with an effort controlling his irritation. ‘Well! I saw it all under the surface. I saw you. She came here because she was curious to see the factory and the house, and to know if all was as good as you had bragged about. I gave her a curt dismissal; I do not want a daughter-in-law thrusting her feet into my shoes till I cast them off for ever.’ Jasper started to his feet and upset his chair. He was very angry. ‘You utterly wrong her,’ he said. ‘You open your eyes in mud, and see only dirt. Miss Jordan came here out of kindness towards me, whom she dislikes and despises in her heart.’ Mr. Babb chuckled. ‘Well, I won’t say that you have not acted wisely. Morwell will go to that girl, and it is a pretty property.’ ‘I beg your pardon, you are wrong. It is left to the second—Eve.’ ‘So, so! It goes to Eve! That is why the elder girl came here, to see if she could fit herself into Owlacombe.’ Jasper’s face burnt, and the muscles of his head and neck quivered, but he said nothing. He dared not trust himself to speak. He had all his life practised self-control, but he never needed it more than at this moment. ‘I see it all,’ pursued the old man, his crafty face contracting with a grin; ‘Mr. Jordan thought to provide for both his daughters. Buckfast mill and Owlacombe for the elder, Morwell for the younger—ha, ha! The elder to take you so as to get this pretty place. And she came to look at it and see if it suited her. Well! It is a pretty place—only,’ he giggled, ‘it ain’t vacant and to be had just yet.’ Jasper took his hat; his face was red as blood, and his dark eyes flashed. ‘Don’t go,’ said the old manufacturer; ‘you did not see their little trap and walked into it, eh? One word of warning I must give you. Don’t run after the younger; Eve is your niece.’ ‘Father!’