’How about the family——’ began the lawyer. ’Thank God, I don’t marry the family,’ interrupted Trecarrel. ’When I have the money and the girl—she is not bad-looking, and will pass muster when clipped and curry-combed—I kick the rest over.’ ’Well, I wish you joy.’ Captain Trecarrel next consulted his banker, and found that the money world was shy of Ophir, and held Tramplara in much the same esteem as did the legal world. ’Who are the directors of the company?’ asked the banker. ’There is a provisional list,’ answered Trecarrel. ’Old Tramplara tried hard to get me on to it, but vainly is the trap set in the sight of the bird. Here is the prospectus. You see the names: Sampson Trampleasure, of Dolbeare, Launceston, Esq., Arundell Golitho of Trevorgan, Esq., the Rev. Israel Flamank, and some others of no greater importance. I have Tramplara’s own copy, that is to say, one he favoured me with, and, as you see, he has pencilled in a few more names. Here is Mr. Battishill of West Wyke, the owner of the estate, but whether he is already a director, or only a possible director, I do not know.’ ’Who is Arundell Golitho, Esq., and where is Trevorgan?’ ’Never heard of the man, nor of the place.’ When Captain Trecarrel got off the coach, he saw Herring waiting for the coach, to intrust the diamond pendant to the coachman for transmission to Mirelle. ’Halloo! you here?’ exclaimed the Captain; ’I thought you lived at the extremity of the known world, at Boscastle.’ ’So I do; but I am here starting a mine.’ ’Not a director of Ophir, eh?’ asked Trecarrel, eagerly, his blue eyes lighting up. ’No, I am not so ambitious as to embark in gold, I content myself with lead; but if my lead mine promises less than Ophir, its performance, I trust, will be more sure.’ ’Ah,’ responded Trecarrel, dismally, ’you are bitten with the prevailing distrust. I presume you have not taken shares in Ophir.’ ’No; have you?’ ’I am going to take a big share in the concern. I marry the Queen of Sheba. Herring, I say, is there a public house near where I can get a chop? I am hungry and wretched. Come with me for charity’s sake and let us have a talk together about this same Ophir. I want your opinion; and look here, I have old Tramplara’s list of directors, and on it in pencil is the name of Squire Battishill of West Wyke. He is a respectable man, is he not? You know him.’ ’Yes; I am staying with him.’ ’What sort of a man is he?’ ’A gentleman every inch,—honourable and true.’ ’Oh yes, I don’t mean that. They be all honourable men, especially the Hon. Lawless Lascar, who figures on the list. Is he a man of fortune? If Ophir goes "scatt," as they say here, is there property on which the shareholders can come down?’ ’Mr. Battishill is certainly not a director.’ ’He is pencilled down as one, at all events, and pencilled by Tramplara himself. Tell me, is there a decent inn hereabouts?’