Tonkin was an honest fellow, save in so far as the King's revenue was concerned, and had that simplicity of soul which is incredulous of trickery in others. He was not proof against the cunning suggestions of Trevanion. Naturally short-tempered and violent, he smote the flank of Trevanion's horse a blow that set it prancing, and cried with a savage oath:—
"Then I'll make 'em pay for 't, as sure as my name be Zack Tonkin. I will so."
"Hee! hee! That 'a will," said Doubledick, rubbing his hands. "They golden guineas 'll be a bad egg, to be sure."
Trevanion smiled. He had laid the train; he could trust his minions to fire it.
"Well, we'll speak no more of that," he said. "I'm riding to Truro: can you tell what for?"
"Not for more furnichy?" said Tonkin.
"Goin' a-courtin', hee! hee!" smirked Doubledick.
"No, no; I shan't trouble the parson yet awhile. I'm going to open the mines again, my men."
"Then I'm sorry for 'ee," said Tonkin bluntly. "Mines were worked out long ago."
"Maybe, maybe not. I'm going to try. I shall begin in quite a small way. I shan't fling my money into the earth as my cousin did. But I mean to try my luck, and within a week or two I shall have a few men at work."