"Then you must be blank indeed," said Trevanion with an easy laugh. "’Tis my belief there’s a great deal too much fuss made about old Joe’s disappearance. Surely nobody in Polkerran would wish to injure so ancient an institution. ’Tis a prank, depend upon it, and when the prankers have achieved their object—you and I can guess what that is—they’ll let him loose as sound as a bell." Trevanion’s debonair frankness disarmed Mr. Mildmay, to whom he was a comparative stranger. It seemed ridiculous that the Squire should harbour such unworthy suspicions of his cousin. "By the way," continued Trevanion, "I am glad I met you. I am having a few friends in on Saturday night—a bit of a randy; that’s our name for it here—and I shall be delighted if you will join us. I haven’t seen so much of you as I should like; this mine I’m starting has kept me busy." "I’m much obliged to you," said Mr. Mildmay, "but I fear——" "Oh, I know what you would say. But your cutter can spare you for an hour or two. Not for the world would I hinder your duties; to catch that villain Delarousse in particular would be worth a good deal to you; but ’tis dark early; the hour fixed is six; and I won’t say a word if you must leave us before we are ripe." "Well, I will come. Thank you." "And you too, Mr. Polwhele? The service of your country can spare you for a little while?" "To be sure. I’ll come too, Mr. Trevanion; ’twill be like old times, indeed." The riding-officer’s assent was much more hearty than Mr. Mildmay’s, which was perhaps a little surprising in view of the suspicions he had confessed to on the previous day in speaking to Dick. "That’s right," said Trevanion. "I shall be glad to welcome you. The hour is six—did I name it? I hope Penwarden will be found by that time; you’ll feel easier, I dare say. Good-bye, then." When he had ridden away, Mr. Mildmay dismissed the underlings and went off to have a meal with the riding-officer. "That fellow’s too free-and-easy to be the villain the Squire thinks him," said Mr. Mildmay, as they walked southward out of the village. Mr. Polwhele smiled. "I’m beginning to think he’s the cleverest free-trader the duchy ever bred," he remarked. "My dear fellow!" expostulated the lieutenant. "I had my suspicions; this invitation has convinced me," replied Mr. Polwhele. "Bless my life, to think you are so simple, Mildmay! Don’t you see the game? They’ve put Penwarden out of the way. What does that mean? A big run, as sure as I’m alive. But we two are obstacles; they blink at kidnapping us, but they do better. They invite us to a randy, and while we are making merry they slip inshore, run their cargo, liberate Penwarden, and laugh at us for a pair of jackasses." "That’s nonsense, Polwhele. The cutter will be out, though I’m not on it. Besides, didn’t he say we can leave when we like?"