The company broke up. The fishers went their way; Doubledick closed the door behind them, and raked out the fire. Before he ascended to his bedroom he locked his bundle of banknotes in a strong box which he kept under the stairs, and might have been heard chuckling gleefully. Next morning the inn was early besieged by a crowd of fishers who had heard of Doubledick’s return, and were agog to learn all the circumstances from his own lips. A little later the newly-imported miners arrived, and, later still, as the news travelled farther, farmers, millers, and dairymen flocked into the village. Doubledick rubbed his hands with glee at the trade he was doing. Except to his intimates, he explained very little. To the questions of the others he replied only by nods and winks, and they at last ceased to interrogate him, remarking one to another that he was a real knowing one; nobody could get round him; "a wonderful feller, truly, for see how soon he hev slipped away from France, wheer many a good man hev rotted in prison since these ’nation wars began." There were many who expected that before the day was out Doubledick would be arrested and carried before Sir Bevil, and a throng of idlers hung about the inn in anticipation of this exciting event. But no constable, soldier, or sheriff’s officer appeared, and at nightfall the innkeeper’s reputation was higher than ever. Two men believed that they knew the reason of the authorities’ forbearance. John Trevanion fondly supposed that the banknotes with which he had parted had found their way into the pockets of Mr. Mildmay, Mr. Polwhele, and Joe Penwarden. In those days the bribery of revenue officers was not infrequent. Tonkin, on the other hand, suspected that the Squire had persuaded Penwarden not to prosecute, in order to consolidate the better feeling between the village and the Towers to which Dick’s rescue of Jake had given birth. The actual reason was known to four men alone: the revenue officers, Penwarden, and Doubledick himself. About midday Sam Pollex came rushing up to the Towers from the village with the news of Doubledick’s return. "Nonsense," said Dick; "he wouldn’t dare show his face again." "Name it all, Maister, didn’ I see un with my own eyes?" cried Sam. "There he be, down-along at his kiddly-wink, more bustious nor ever, or may I never speak again." Dick hastened instantly to the little white cottage on the cliff, where Penwarden had again taken up his abode. "Joe," he cried, bursting in like a whirlwind, "Doubledick is back! Come with me to the Parsonage; we’ll get a warrant for his arrest." Penwarden was eating his dinner. He conveyed a piece of fish to his mouth without showing any sign of surprise. "Back, is he?" he said. "Ah, well! Rusco warn’t good for his health, seemingly." "It would suit him better than Truro jail. Come along; there’s just time to get to the Parsonage and back before my dinner." "Not for a old ancient feller like me."