"Your answer, then, is--No," said Clearemout, with deep pathos in his tone.
Now, it chanced that at this critical point in the conversation, Oliver Trembath, having left the cottage, walked over the gra.s.s towards a small gate, near which the bower stood. He unavoidably heard the question, and also the quick, earnest reply,--"My answer, Mr Clearemout, is--Yes.
I will meet you this evening on the cliff."
She frankly gave him her hand as she spoke, and he gallantly pressed it to his lips, an act which took Rose by surprise, and caused her to pull it away suddenly. She then turned and ran out at the side of the bower to seek the solitude of her own apartment, while Clearemout left it by the other side, and stood face to face with the spellbound Oliver.
To say that both gentlemen turned pale as their eyes met would not give an adequate idea of their appearance. Oliver"s heart, as well as his body, when he heard the question and reply, stood still as if he had been paralysed. This, then, he thought, was the end of all his hopes-- hopes hardly admitted to himself, and never revealed to Rose, except in unstudied looks and tones. For a few moments his face grew absolutely livid, while he glared at his rival.
On the other hand, Mr Clearemout, believing that the whole of his conversation had been overheard, supposed that he had discovered all his villainy to one who was thoroughly able, as well as willing, to thwart him. For a moment he felt an almost irresistible impulse to spring on and slay his enemy; his face became dark with suppressed emotion; and it is quite possible that in the fury of his disappointed malice he might have attempted violence,--had not Oliver spoken. His voice was husky as he said,--"Chance, sir--unfortunate, miserable chance--led me to overhear the last few words that pa.s.sed between you and--"
He paused, unable to say more. Instantly the truth flashed across Clearemout"s quick mind. He drew himself up boldly, and the blood returned to his face as he replied,--"If so, sir, you cannot but be aware that the lady"s choice is free, and that your aspect and att.i.tude towards me are unworthy of a gentleman."
A wonderful influence for weal or woe oft-times results from the selection of a phrase or a word. Had Clearemout charged Oliver with insolence or presumption, he would certainly have struck him to the ground; but the words "unworthy of a gentleman" created a revulsion in his feelings. Thought is swifter than light. He saw himself in the position of a disappointed man scowling on a successful rival who had done him no injury.
"Thank you, Clearemout. Your rebuke is merited," he said bitterly; and, turning on his heel, he bounded over the low stone wall of the garden, and hastened away.
Whither he went he knew not. A fierce fire seemed to rage in his breast and burn in his brain. At first he walked at full speed, but as he cleared the town he ran--ran as he had never run before. For the time being he was absolutely mad. Over marsh and moor he sped, clearing all obstacles with a bound, and making straight for the Land"s End, with no definite purpose in view, for, after a time, he appeared to change his intention, if he had any. He turned sharp to the left, and ran straight to Penzance, never pausing in his mad career until he neared the town.
The few labourers he chanced to pa.s.s on the way gazed after him in surprise, but he heeded not. At the cottage on the moor where he had bandaged the shoulder of the little boy a woman"s voice called loudly, anxiously after him, but he paid no attention. At last he came to a full stop, and, pressing both hands tightly over his forehead, made a terrible effort to collect his thoughts. He was partially successful, and, with somewhat of his wonted composure, walked rapidly into the town.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
DESCRIBES A MARRED PLOT, AND TELLS OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.
Meanwhile the gossiping woman of the cottage on the moor, whose grateful heart had never forgotten the little kindness done to her boy by the young doctor, and who knew that the doctor loved Rose Ellis, more surely, perhaps, than Rose did herself, went off in a state of deep anxiety to St. Just, and, by dint of diligent inquiries and piecing of things together, coupled with her knowledge of Clearemout"s intentions, came to a pretty correct conclusion as to the state of affairs.
She then went to the abode of young Charles Tregarthen, whom she knew to be Oliver"s friend, and unbosomed herself. Charlie repaid her with more than thanks, and almost hugged her in his grat.i.tude for her prompt activity.
"And now, Mrs Hicks," said he, "you shall see how we will thwart this scoundrel. As for Oliver Trembath, I cannot imagine what could take him into Penzance in the wild state that you describe. Of course this affair has to do with it, and he evidently has learned something of this, and must have misunderstood the matter, else a.s.suredly he had not been absent at such a time. But why go to Penzance? However, he will clear up the mystery ere long, no doubt. Meanwhile we shall proceed to thwart your schemes, good Mr Clearemout!"
So saying, Charlie Tregarthen set about laying his counter-plans. He also, as the managing director had done, visited several men, some of whom were miners and some smugglers, and arranged a meeting that evening near Cape Cornwall.
When evening drew on apace, four separate parties converged towards Priest"s Cove. First, a boat crept along sh.o.r.e propelled by four men and steered by Jim Cuttance. Secondly, six stout men crept stealthily down to the cove, led by Charlie Tregarthen, with Maggot as his second in command. Thirdly, Rose Ellis wended her way to the rendezvous with trembling step and beating heart; and, fourthly, George Augustus Clearemout moved in the same direction.
But the managing director moved faster than the others, having a longer way to travel, for, having had to pay a last visit to Wheal Dooem, he rode thence to St. Just. On the way he was particularly interested in a water-wheel which worked a pump, beside which a man in mining costume was seated smoking his pipe.
"Good-evening," said Clearemout, reining up.
"Good-hevenin", sur."
"What does that pump?" asked the managing director, pointing to the wheel.
"That, sur?" said the miner, drawing a few whiffs from his pipe; "why, that do pump gold out o" the Londoners, that do."
The managing director chuckled very much, and said, "Indeed!"
"Iss, sur," continued the miner, pointing to Wheal Dooem, "an" that wan theere, up over hill, do the same thing."
The managing director chuckled much more at this, and displayed his teeth largely as he nodded to the man and rode on.
Before his arrival at the rendezvous, the boat was run ash.o.r.e not far from the spot where Tregarthen and his men were concealed. As soon as the men had landed, Charlie walked down to them alone and accosted their leader.
"Well, Cuttance, you"re a pretty fellow to put your finger in such a dirty pie as this."
Cuttance had seen the approach of Tregarthen with surprise and some alarm.
"Well, sur," said he, without any of the bold expression that usually characterised him, "what can a man do when he"s to be well paid for the job? I do confess that I don"t half like it, but, after all, what have we got to do weth the opinions of owld aunts or uncles? If a gurl do choose to go off wi" the man she likes, that"s no matter to we, an" if I be well paid for lendin" a hand, why shouldn"t I? But it do puzzle me, Mr Tregarthen, to guess how yow did come to knaw of it."
"That don"t signify," said Tregarthen sternly. "Do you know who the girl is?"
"I don"t knaw, an" I don"t care," said Jim doggedly.
"What would you say if I told you it was Miss Rose Ellis?" said Charlie.
"I"d say thee was a liard," replied Cuttance.
"Then I do tell you so."
"Thee don"t mean that!" exclaimed the smuggler, with a blaze of amazement and wrath in his face.
"Indeed I do."
"Whew!" whistled Jim, "then that do explain the reason why that smooth-tongued feller said he would car" her to the boat close veiled up for fear the men should see her."
A rapid consultation was now held by the two as to the proper mode of proceeding. Cuttance counselled an immediate capture of the culprit, and pitching him off the end of Cape Cornwall; but Tregarthen advised that they should wait until Clearemout seized his victim, otherwise they could not convict him, because he would deny any intention of evil against Rose, and pretend that some other girl, who had been scared away by their impetuosity, was concerned, for they might depend on it he"d get up a plausible story and defeat them.
Tregarthen"s plan was finally agreed to, and he returned to his men and explained matters.
Soon afterwards the managing director appeared coming down the road.
"Is all right?" he inquired of Cuttance, who went forward to meet him.
"All right, sur."
"Go down to the boat then and wait," he said, turning away.
Ere long he was joined by Rose, with whom he entered into conversation, leading her over the cape so as to get out of sight of the men, but young Tregarthen crept among the rocks and never for a moment lost sight of them. He saw Clearemout suddenly place a kerchief on Rose"s mouth, and, despite the poor girl"s struggles, tie it firmly so as to prevent her screaming, then he threw a large shawl over her, and catching her in his arms bore her swiftly towards the boat.
Tregarthen sprang up and confronted him.
Clearemout, astonished and maddened by this unexpected interference, shouted,--"Stand aside, sir! _You_ have no interest in this matter, or right to interfere."
Charlie made no reply, but sprang on him like a tiger. Clearemout dropped his burden and grappled with the youth, who threw him in an instant, big though he was, for Tregarthen was a practised wrestler, and the managing director was not. His great strength, however, enabled him to get on his knees, and there is no saying how the struggle might have terminated had not Cuttance come forward, and, putting his hard hands round Clearemout"s throat, caused that gentleman"s face to grow black, and his tongue and eyes to protrude. Having thus induced him to submit, he eased off the necklace, and a.s.sisted him to rise, while the men of both parties crowded round.
"Now, then, boys," cried Jim Cuttance, "bear a hand, one and all, and into the say with him."
The managing director was at once knocked off his legs, and borne shoulder-high down to the beach by as many hands as could lay hold of him. Here they paused:--