"How did I know?" said the man, chuckling. "You know I arn't a fool, Mas'r Tregenna, or you wouldn't have set me to get work in that there mine, and report every thing to you." For answer Tregenna unlocked a drawer in his table, and took out a packet of papers, neatly endorsed, and tied up with red tape. "Look here, Lannoe," he said, shaking the papers at the man, "your tongue runs too fast, and you forget your position. You are a man of bad character whom I got off at the assize for a crime that would have given you penal servitude. You can be a useful man; and when you came to me begging I gave you money and I got you work. Suppose, on further consideration of your case, I should find out that there was a little evidence left out that would convict you, and feel it my duty to make it known, so that the prosecution could have a new trial?" "You wouldn't do that, Mas'r Tregenna, sir," growled the man. "I'm too useful to you. There, I'll hold my tongue." "You had better," said Tregenna, who had now somewhat recovered himself. "And so this mine's going to be enormously rich?" "Not a doubt of it, sir, unless the water breaks in." "Water breaks in? What, is the vein near the sea?" "Goes right under it, sir," said the man, watching intently where the packet of papers was placed, Tregenna seeing it, and resolving to place them elsewhere. "You see, the people who failed seem to have driven right in there, till, finding nothing, they were afraid to go farther for fear of the sea breaking through." "And might it not break through now?" "Well, it might, sir; but Master Trethick's one of your clever, careful sort, and he'll take care that nothing goes wrong. He had the men busy with props, and struts, and planking all day long. There'll be no water break in there." "Curse it, it's most unfortunate!" cried Tregenna, biting his nails. "I'd have given any thing sooner than it should have turned out as it has." "Hundred pound, p'r'aps," said Lannoe, looking at him sidewise. "Yes, I'd have given a hundred pounds if the mine had turned out a failure." "Hand it over," said the miner, abruptly. "What do you mean?" "You said you'd give a hundred pounds if that there mine turned out a complete failure, and I say hand it over." "Look here, Lannoe," cried Tregenna, unable to contain his excitement, "can you--do you know--curse it, man, speak out!" "What for? What's the good?" said the man, hoarsely. "Hundred pounds-- hundred pounds. Give me the hundred pounds and you'll see." Tregenna looked at him strangely. "I don't pay for work until it's done," he said. "And I don't work unless I'm paid," said the man, roughly. "And suppose you break faith?"