over the market price to get the best, send the vessels out, maybe go with one of 'em; make a handsome profit that way.'
Paul was listening with his head on one side as if to hear something more behind the words.
'Are you serious?'
'No one's forcing ye to believe me.'
'And what have you done about it so far?'
'Nothing. Yet.'
'And when shall you start? ’
'I shall be at St Ives on Tuesday week bidding for the Chasse Maree.'
'What's that in Heaven's name?'
'A French prize. She's not big, but big enough - about 80 ton. Fir built. Equipped in every way. She's called a fishing boat - and been used as one, ye can see - but her lines are clean. No doubt she's been used for deep sea work - with the speed to bring her catch in while tis still fresh. But I can see marks on her decks where guns have been fitted. I reckon she's been used for a little privateering now and then. She'll suit for the work I want.'
'What will she take?' "
'What, carry?'
'Yes.'
'Well, it will need a little more careful working out than I have yet been able to do; but I would suspect two hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty hogsheads. In that neighbourhood.'
'Um .' Paul nodded his head. 'If you make a gross profit of £8 a hogshead ... You've your crews topay and feed - but still ... It looks handsome enough. What do you think, Jeremy?'
‘I think it is likely to take more than three months to sail, say, to Genoa and back. And shall you expect to come home in ballast?'
'I had thought to bring back salt and wine.'
'Both contraband,' said Paul. 'You said you were turning over a new leaf.'
'So I am, so I am. No one in Cornwall even pretends to disapprove of contraband, as you call it. Even Captain Poldark, even Dr Enys, they were both engaged in it once upon a time .'
Paul laughed. "Well, yes, I suppose it is "turning over a new leaf for a man wanted for two hanging offences.'
Stephen said harshly: 'Never forget, Paul, that you're wanted for one of 'em, and maybe the first one as well. Accessory's the word they use!'
'Now,, now,' Jeremy said quietly. 'Remember: "when thieves fall out..."'
After a moment Paul said: 'Oh, we're not falling out that bad. A little jesting, eh? I'm grateful to Stephen for what he did in Plymouth Dock. Else I might be a pressed man in the navy.'
Jeremy took a candle and went to put his sack back under the tarpaulin at the distant end of the shaft. He returned with a small metal cup. It had been in one of the bags they had taken from the strong boxes and was of silver, but tiny, little more than three inches b road, with its two handles, by two and a half inches high. Engraved round the rim were the words: Amor gignit amor em.
'And what shall we do with this?'
There was a pause.
'Melt it down,' said Paul.
‘I t is so light,' Jeremy said, 'it would hardly pay for the firing.'
'Throw it in the sea,'said Stephen.
‘I t would seem a pity. But I expect you're right.'
Stephen said. 'You're not touching your share, Jeremy. I can see that.'
'Have no fear. I will in due course.'
'Come in as my partner. I'm having a fishing vessel built too. A small drifter type of about sixty ton. I put the order in last week. This war cannot last for ever; nor can the conditions we can make use of this year. I say, make the most of 'em. Then when it's over, trading by sea won't end. It will expand. Folk who've two or three vessels in commission can use those conditions too. And legitimate if need be. If I buy the Chasse Marie . I shall be stretched right for money. Yours would come in very handy. We could start an exporting line: Carrington and Poldark. Carrington & Co. if you don't fancy it being publicly known. Why not sail to Italy with me this autumn? It will be an adventure, more surely than just going to the Scillies.' 'I'll think on it,' said Jeremy.
II
Later the same day Geoffrey Charles was walking beside the old pond of Trenwith when he saw a small procession wending its way up the weed-grown
Paul was listening with his head on one side as if to hear something more behind the words.
'Are you serious?'
'No one's forcing ye to believe me.'
'And what have you done about it so far?'
'Nothing. Yet.'
'And when shall you start? ’
'I shall be at St Ives on Tuesday week bidding for the Chasse Maree.'
'What's that in Heaven's name?'
'A French prize. She's not big, but big enough - about 80 ton. Fir built. Equipped in every way. She's called a fishing boat - and been used as one, ye can see - but her lines are clean. No doubt she's been used for deep sea work - with the speed to bring her catch in while tis still fresh. But I can see marks on her decks where guns have been fitted. I reckon she's been used for a little privateering now and then. She'll suit for the work I want.'
'What will she take?' "
'What, carry?'
'Yes.'
'Well, it will need a little more careful working out than I have yet been able to do; but I would suspect two hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty hogsheads. In that neighbourhood.'
'Um .' Paul nodded his head. 'If you make a gross profit of £8 a hogshead ... You've your crews topay and feed - but still ... It looks handsome enough. What do you think, Jeremy?'
‘I think it is likely to take more than three months to sail, say, to Genoa and back. And shall you expect to come home in ballast?'
'I had thought to bring back salt and wine.'
'Both contraband,' said Paul. 'You said you were turning over a new leaf.'
'So I am, so I am. No one in Cornwall even pretends to disapprove of contraband, as you call it. Even Captain Poldark, even Dr Enys, they were both engaged in it once upon a time .'
Paul laughed. "Well, yes, I suppose it is "turning over a new leaf for a man wanted for two hanging offences.'
Stephen said harshly: 'Never forget, Paul, that you're wanted for one of 'em, and maybe the first one as well. Accessory's the word they use!'
'Now,, now,' Jeremy said quietly. 'Remember: "when thieves fall out..."'
After a moment Paul said: 'Oh, we're not falling out that bad. A little jesting, eh? I'm grateful to Stephen for what he did in Plymouth Dock. Else I might be a pressed man in the navy.'
Jeremy took a candle and went to put his sack back under the tarpaulin at the distant end of the shaft. He returned with a small metal cup. It had been in one of the bags they had taken from the strong boxes and was of silver, but tiny, little more than three inches b road, with its two handles, by two and a half inches high. Engraved round the rim were the words: Amor gignit amor em.
'And what shall we do with this?'
There was a pause.
'Melt it down,' said Paul.
‘I t is so light,' Jeremy said, 'it would hardly pay for the firing.'
'Throw it in the sea,'said Stephen.
‘I t would seem a pity. But I expect you're right.'
Stephen said. 'You're not touching your share, Jeremy. I can see that.'
'Have no fear. I will in due course.'
'Come in as my partner. I'm having a fishing vessel built too. A small drifter type of about sixty ton. I put the order in last week. This war cannot last for ever; nor can the conditions we can make use of this year. I say, make the most of 'em. Then when it's over, trading by sea won't end. It will expand. Folk who've two or three vessels in commission can use those conditions too. And legitimate if need be. If I buy the Chasse Marie . I shall be stretched right for money. Yours would come in very handy. We could start an exporting line: Carrington and Poldark. Carrington & Co. if you don't fancy it being publicly known. Why not sail to Italy with me this autumn? It will be an adventure, more surely than just going to the Scillies.' 'I'll think on it,' said Jeremy.
II
Later the same day Geoffrey Charles was walking beside the old pond of Trenwith when he saw a small procession wending its way up the weed-grown
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