"Why?" I asked, half in anger, half in terror, for I could but realise what such an apparition meant to us. "Because the thing is accursed!" he cried--"because it is red with the blood of innocence, black with sin, heavy with the cries of orphans' tears and widows' moans. It is the price of crime, red crime, black crime! Come away." I jumped from the rock and caught the strange thing in my hands. It was flesh and blood, and all fear departed. I turned his face to the light, then I burst into a loud laugh. "Ho! ho!" I cried, "the madman of Bedruthan Steps. Well, well, you saved my life, you fed me when I was hungry, you clothed me when I was naked. I forgive you. But let me be now. I must take this away." "No, no, Jasper Pennington," he cried again, "your hands are yet unstained with blood. The moment you were to use such gains the curse of a hundred Cains would be upon you. I know, I have felt." "Why?" I said; "I do no harm in getting it; I hurt no man. It is mine as much as any other man's--nay, it is more. Eli Fraddam really owns it, and he has given it to me." "Look you, Jasper Pennington," he cried, "you would get back your birthright. If you got it back in such a way you would lose the better birthright, the birthright of God. I know of this treasure, I have heard its history. It is red with blood, I tell you, and black with crime." In spite of myself the man's vehemence affected me. "But," I said, "I love. I cannot go to her empty-handed. A Pennington does not do that. Besides, I am afraid that my love is also penniless, afraid that she has been robbed." "Look, Jasper Pennington," he said, "I have heard strange things. I have been afraid to ask questions, because--because--but tell me, who is the maiden you love?" "Naomi Penryn," I replied. "Yes, yes; I know that, but who is Naomi Penryn? whose child is she? Does she come from Penryn? Who is her mother? who her father? where was she born? Tell me." "He is mad, stark, staring mad," I said to myself, yet I humoured him. True, the treasure lay at my feet, and I wanted to take it away, while Eli kept grumbling at my delay, but the man seemed to drag an answer from me. "She was born at Trevose House, close by Trevose Head," I replied. "Indeed, she should be the owner of the estate." "And her mother?" he cried. "Was some relative of the Tresidders." "And her father? Tell me, man, tell me quickly." "Her father was called Penryn--John Penryn, I think his name was." "But how can that be? Did he not kill his wife before--that is, did she not die?" "No," I said, "he did not. He thought he killed her, and because of it committed suicide, but his wife was not dead. She got better soon after--indeed, she died only a year or two ago." "And Penryn committed suicide, you say?" "Yes." "And the girl you love is his child?" "Yes. But what is all this to you? Why have you followed me? What are my affairs to you?" "Everything, Jasper Pennington. Stop, let me think."