’By no means. Anywhere that suits my convenience and pleasure. At John Herring’s lead mine, if I choose. Then, if I find gold, you shall have my name on your list of directors, and I will go heartily with you in the concern.’ ’I do not care to have you as a director.’ ’That is not true. You have several times urged me to be one. You want some respectable names on your list, which is sadly deficient in them. Will you oblige me with some particulars about Arundell Golitho, Esq. of Trevorgan? By some strange omission he has not been made a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Cornwall.’ ’I will answer no questions. You want to force a quarrel on me.’ ’On the contrary, I want to dispel my doubts. I am, what I think you call in your chapel, an earnest inquirer. I can tell you one thing for certain, father-in-law that may, might, would, could, and should be, I am not going to be married to your Orange without the fulfilment of one of two conditions.’ ’What are they?’ asked Tramplara, sulkily. ’One is, that I may make the proposed investigation into the qualities of Ophir.’ ’I refuse it,’ said Trampleasure, hastily. ’You refuse to allow me fairly to test its value as a mine?’ ’I do not say that. I refuse the proposed test, because it is unfair and insulting. You may come and extract as much quartz as you like from the rock, and crush and wash it on my floors, but you shall not carry it elsewhere.’ ’What is your objection?’ ’I say the proposal is insulting. Look at my white hairs. Do you suppose——’ ’Leave the white hairs out of the matter. What is unfair in my proposal?’ ’I will not consent. I will die before I permit it.’ The old man sprang from his seat. ’Good heavens! I shall have every visitor and applicant for shares pestering me to carry off specimens.’ ’Why should they not?’ ’Because it is against regulations. I have laid down a strict rule, to be relaxed to none, that every specimen raised is to be tested on the spot, and not elsewhere. I will have the trial take place where I can see that it is fairly conducted. How do I know but that behind my back the trial may be incorrectly, imperfectly, or dishonestly carried on?’ ’I do not ask to do anything behind your back. You shall select half a dozen specimens. We will bring them here. I will smash them up in the backyard with a paviour’s hammer under your eye, and I will wash them in the water-trough there, with you looking on. Will that suffice?’ ’What is your other alternative?’ asked Trampleasure, sullenly. ’Mv second proposal is this. You have promised me five thousand pounds along with Orange.’ ’I know I have, and I shall be ready to pay it when you are married.’