"No," said the old man, "but you did me a good one, and I wouldn't have minded now if you'd have had my Bessie; but that's nayther here nor there. If she likes lame Amos Pengelly better o' the two, why she must have him; but you helped her when she was hard put to it, and now look here, I'm going to do you a good turn, and myself too." "How? I tell you that your adit would be good for nothing," cried Geoffrey. "Tchah! Look here," cried the old man, pulling a sale bill out of his pocket. "Here it all is--Wheal Carnac." "Put the thing away; it makes me feel half-mad to see it. I tore one down," cried Geoffrey. "You be quiet," continued the old man, holding the bill against the mossy rock, so that the light from the lantern fell upon the big letters. "Here you are, you see--To be sold by auction, at the M, A, R, T, Mart, Token-house-yard, unless pre--vi--ously disposed of by private contract." "Don't I tell you it half drives me mad to think of the mine being sold?" "With all the pumping and other gear, nearly new engines, and modern machinery," read on old Prawle. "Are you doing this to tantalise me, Prawle?" cried Geoffrey. "The whole affair will go for a song." "To be sure," chuckled the old man. "That's what I've been waiting for, my lad--for a song, a mere song, eh?" "It's horrible!" cried Geoffrey, despairingly, "when there's tin enough there--" "Hang the tin, I tell you! It's grand, boy, grand. Look, Mr Trethick, go up to London and buy it." "Buy it?" said Geoffrey. "Yes; buy it for as little as you can get it for." "What, to sell the machinery out of it? No, that I won't." "Nay, nay, to work it, lad. Buy it, and you and me will make fortunes, eh?" "I tell you that your plan's worse than useless. The ore is far below the level to which we should get the water." "Give's your hand, Trethick," said the old man, sharply. "Will you swear that you'll play fair with me?" "If you like," said Geoffrey. "I'll take your word without a swear," said the old man. "Shake hands, lad." Geoffrey carelessly gave him his hand, which the old man gripped. "Now look here," he said, "I'll trust you, and I'll find you the money to go and buy that mine." "But it will be throwing your money away," said Geoffrey. "Then I'll throw it away," cried old Prawle. "I want Wheal Carnac, and I've always meant to have her. Now then, will you go and buy her for me, and work her for me afterwards on shares?" "Yes, if you like," said Geoffrey, sadly. "We might, perhaps, hit upon something; and anyhow I don't think you will have to pay so much that you would lose." "Go and buy her for me, then. As soon as we get back you shall go up to London and buy her for me as cheap as you can. You can go to the old lawyer I'll tell you of for the money to pay down, as much as is wanted, and then just you come back to me and I'll talk to you about what I mean to do." "Very good," said Geoffrey, "I will; but it means a good bit of money."