"Well, Nick, you've got your chance. A rich wife and three years to win her in, my boy. I'm her guardian till she's twenty-one, and I'll take care no one else gets her. A pretty girl is Naomi, too; rather awkward to manage, and a bit fiery, but all the better to suit you." "And she doesn't like me," replied Nick. "Make her like you, my boy. Be a bit diplomatic, and play to win. Besides, you must win!" "Did you notice how funny she was last night? I asked her where she had been, and she seemed to regard my question as a liberty. And did you see how eager she was when we were talking about Jasper afterward?" "But she knows nothing about him. She never saw him." "Yes, she saw him pilloried in Falmouth. She thinks him treated badly. She has all sorts of funny ideas about justice." "Of course, all silly girls have; that's nothing. At the same time, Nick, this shows you must play carefully. I don't want any complications in getting her money, and mind you, that money I must have, or we are all in deep water." "What do you mean?" "This. We can't raise sixpence, that is legally, on Pennington. There are simply the rents. Well, this split up into several parts is very little. So--" he hesitated. "So what?" asked Nick, eagerly. "I've speculated." "On what?" "On mines. So far, they've turned out badly. I'm involved in a heavy outlay. At first the affair seemed certain. It may turn out all right now, I don't know, but I tell you I'm neck deep--neck deep. I can hold on for a year or so, and you must get Naomi's money, or I'm done for." "But you've got her money?" "Yes, and, as her guardian, I'll have to give an account of it." "Look here, father, tell me all about it. I don't like acting in the dark. How and why did Naomi come to Pennington, and what is the true condition of affairs? I want to know." "Another time, Nick." "No, now." "Very well, I may as well tell you now." CHAPTER VII I HEAR RICHARD TRESIDDER TELL NAOMI PENRYN'S HISTORY, AND AM IN DANGER OF BEING KILLED BY SMUGGLERS Richard Tressider slowly filled his pipe again, and seemed to be collecting his thoughts before telling his son what was in his mind. "Her home, as you know, is at Trevose, not far from Trevose Head," he said, presently. "The house is a funny old place--as lonely as a churchyard and as bleak as a mountain peak. It seems a strange idea to build a big house like that on a rocky eminence, but the Penryns have always been a strange people. However, it is said that the Penryn who built the house back in Oliver Cromwell's days kept ships for strange purposes, and that he had curious dealings with 'gentlemen of fortune.'" "Pirates do you mean?" "Better let them be unnamed. Anyhow, from the tower of the house you can see many miles up and down the coast--as far as Bude Harbour on the one hand, and Gurnard's Head on the other. There is some very good land belonging to the estate, too." "Much?" asked Nick.