"Ah! a convent--yes," I cried, my mind reverting back to the conversation I had heard between Richard Tresidder and his son. "Well, she went; tha's oal I do knaw 'bout she." "You are sure?" I asked, eagerly. Eli hung his head. "Tell me is that all?" I gasped. "Tell me all you know--everything." "Poor Jasper, deear Jasper!" crooned Eli, patting my hands. "Eli loves Jasper." "But tell me everything, Eli." "You wa'ant go maazed?" "No." "Then I heerd she was dead; but I dunnaw. There, do'ant 'ee give way, Maaster Jasper." For a few seconds I was stunned, but I called to mind Nick's words, and I was comforted; at any rate, there was hope. "And the rest, Eli?" I asked. "How did you find out where I was?" "It took me a long time. I went to Kynance, and I 'arkened round Pennington, but I cudden 'eer nothin'. Then wawn day I seed Israel Barnicoat talkin' with Maaster Trezidder, then I beginned to wonder." "Yes; what then?" "I tried to pump un, but I cudden." "Well?" "Then wawn day I got'n home to mawther's, and we maade un nearly drunk, and then I vound out. He'd bin 'ired by Maaster Trezidder to taake 'ee to Trevawse 'Ouse. Little by little I vound out where it was, then I comed to 'ee." I did not ask him any more questions. I knew nearly all he could tell me now; besides, the presence of the stranger kept me from entering into further details. My imagination filled up what was not related. "Eli got summin to tell Maaster Jasper when we git aloane," grunted Eli presently. The man with whom I had been speaking walked out of the cave, and I could not but think he had been brought up as a gentleman in spite of his wild, unkempt appearance. "What is it?" I asked. "Where is the convent to which Miss Penryn was taken? Can you tell me that?" "No, I ca'ant; ted'n 'bout that." "What then?" "You reckleck thicky night when you comed 'ome from say--that night when mawther brought out the crock and brandis, and tould yer fortin?" "Yes." "And you do mind to that Cap'n Jack and Cap'n Billy Coad comed to 'ee?" "I remember." "Well, you eerd 'em axin mawther 'bout the saicret paaper that tould 'em 'bout a treasure?" "Yes." "Well"--and Eli put his mouth close to my ear--"I do knaw where thicky paaper es. I've vound un out, an' saved un for Maaster Jasper." "What do you mean?" "Eli do love Maaster Jasper"--and again the poor gnome began fondling and caressing my hands--"so Eli have wormed around and around, and ev vound out where et es. Aw, aw, when Cap'n Jack an' Cap'n Billy cudden vind et they ded swear they ded, but Eli do knaw, an' Eli'll give ut to Maaster Jasper, 'ee will, then Maaster Jasper c'n pay 'em oal out. Turn out Maaster Trezidder, my deear, and live at Pennington." "Tell me more about it, Eli?" I cried. "Hush, we mus'n tell nobody. Aw, aw!" and again the dwarf laughed gleefully. "There's no witchcraft, no wizard's charms about the treasure, is there? It wasn't made in hell, was it?"