He nodded. He seemed mesmerised. Those pale, unblinking eyes were fixed upon me as though — yes, as though they saw some horror.
'Did my mother have any holdings in Wheal Garth?' I asked him.
His eyes flickered. I don't think he was capable of answering my question. He was dumb with fear.
'James Nearne, my mother's father, owned this place,' I said. 'He was landlord here when it was a pub. When the mine was still working. Now you own Cripples' Ease. My mother made it over to you, didn't she? She must have done.' I went towards him then. 'Did James Nearne also own shares in Wheal Garth?' I asked him.
And when he didn't answer, I said, 'So my mother made those over to you, too, eh? And your first wife left you her holdings in Wheal Garth. Three women — and they all owned shares in Wheal Garth. And they all died,' I added.
Still he was silent.
'I understand now,' I said. 'You killed them. You and your love of that cursed mine. You got their holdings and you killed them.'
'I didn't,' he shrieked, suddenly finding his tongue. His lower lip was trembling visibly. Stark madness stared out of those pale eyes. He leaned forward then. 'They would not work the mine, you see. A mine has a soul. A derelict mine is a devilish thing. It kills people, unless they take notice of it. It kills them, I tell you,' he cried. 'That's why Harriet died. It was the mine. And your mother. And you,' he screamed. 'Wheal Garth'll not let you destroy its riches by letting in the sea. It'll kill 'ee. You see if it don't.' There was a froth of spittle on his lips and his eyes glittered as he stood there screaming at me like a monkey. And I faced him, dumb with horror, appalled at his admission.
Then the door was flung open. 'What the hell's going on here?' It was Captain Manack.
'You keep out of this,' I said.