'I am not quite so clear on that point, Mr. Tudor,' he would say.
Alaric, till experience made him wise, would attempt to argue it.
'That is all very well, but I am not quite so sure of it. We will reserve the point, if you please,' and so affairs went on darkly, no ray of light being permitted to shine in on the matter in dispute.
It was settled, however, before dinner, that they should both go down the Wheal Mary Jane on the following day. Neverbend had done what he could to keep this crowning honour of the inquiry altogether in his own hands, but he had found that in this respect Tudor was much too much for him.
Immediately after dinner Alaric announced that he was going to spend the evening with a friend.
'A friend!' said Neverbend, somewhat startled; 'I did not know that you had any friends in Tavistock.'
'Not a great many; but it so happened that I did meet a man I know, this morning, and promised to go to him in the evening. I hope you'll excuse my leaving you?'
'Oh! I don't mind for myself,' said Neverbend, 'though, when men are together, it's as well for them to keep together. But, Mr. Tudor——'
'Well?' said Alaric, who felt growing within him a determination to put down at once anything like interference with his private hours.
'Perhaps I ought not to mention it,' said Neverbend, 'but I do hope you'll not get among mining people. Only think what our position here is.'