"Curse Geoffrey Trethick for a smooth-tongued, heartless, brazen scoundrel!" cried the doctor, rising from his general calm state to a furious burst of passion. "The money's bad enough. He swore to me, on his word of honour, that the mine would be a success, and I let myself be deceived, for I thought him honest. Now he has come out in his true colours." "That report about him then is true?" "True," cried the doctor, bitterly, "as true as truth; and a more heartless scoundrel I never met." "He denies it, I suppose?" "Denies it? Of course: as plausibly as if he were as innocent as the little babe itself. That poor woman, Mrs Mullion, is broken-hearted, and old Paul will hardly get over it. He has had a fit since." "Is--is there any doubt, Rumsey?" said Mr Penwynn, sadly. "Not an atom," replied the doctor. "He has been my friend, and I've trusted and believed in him. I'd forgive him the affair over the shares, but his heartless cruelty here is disgusting--hush!--Miss Penwynn!" Rhoda had opened the door to join her father, when, seeing the doctor there, she drew back, but she heard his last words. "I won't keep you, Rumsey. That will do," said Mr Penwynn, and, as the doctor rose to go, he turned to the banker,-- "Is--is there any hope about those shares, Mr Penwynn? Will the mine finally pay?" he said, piteously. "If it takes every penny I've got to make it pay, Rumsey.--Yes," said the banker, sternly. "I am not a scoundrel." "No, no, of course not," cried the doctor, excitedly, as he snatched a grain of hope from the other's words. "But would you sell if you were me?" "If you can find any one to buy--at any price--yes," said the banker, quietly; and the grain of hope seemed to be snatched away. As the doctor was leaving, Rhoda lay in wait to go to her father's room, but the vicar came up, and she hastily retired. "Mr Lee? What does he want?" said the banker, peevishly. "Where is he?" "In the drawing-room, sir." Mr Penwynn rose, and followed the man to where the vicar was standing by the drawing-room table. "You'll excuse me, Mr Penwynn," he said, anxiously; "but is Mr Trethick here?" "No. I have been expecting him all the morning, Mr Lee. May I ask why?" The vicar hesitated, and the colour came into his pale cheeks. "I want to see him particularly, Mr Penwynn." "May I ask why?" "I think you know why, Mr Penwynn. There's a terrible report about the mine. Is it true?" "Too true," said the banker, coldly. "And you have come to try and rise upon his fall," he added to himself. "Poor Trethick!" exclaimed the vicar; "and he was so elate and proud of his success. He is a brave fellow, Mr Penwynn." "Indeed," said the banker, sarcastically. "Come, Mr Lee, suppose you are frank with me. What of that other report?" "It is a scandal--a cruel invention," exclaimed the vicar. "I cannot, I will not believe it. For heaven's sake keep it from Miss Penwynn's ears." The banker turned upon him sharply.