I still remembered my promise to my father,
and vowed that I, Jasper Pennington, would possess my own, if only for
my dear love's sake. Then as I remembered my past impotence, my heart
grew heavy again in spite of my joy.

I saw, too, that I must begin to act at once, and I determined to go to
my old friend. Lawyer Trefry, when I got to Truro, and to consult him as
to my future plans.

Then I remembered that Eli had not told his story, neither had Naomi
told me hers; so as soon as we got two miles past Summercourt, and were
on the turnpike road, where we could ride three abreast, I asked them to
tell me all there was to tell, so that I might be able to fight my
enemies fairly.

CHAPTER XXI

HOW I TOOK NAOMI TO MULLION PORTH AND THEN STARTED WITH ELI TO FIND THE
TREASURE

Eli told his story first. With many strange ejaculations and
gesticulations he related how he had sought out Jonathan Cowling, the
old man who had so often visited me while I had been a prisoner at
Trevose, and how, after much difficulty, he had persuaded him to be
communicative. Then Jonathan told him that a messenger had brought a
letter in Naomi's writing asking him to protect her from me by taking me
prisoner, and that he would serve her greatly by guarding me. He told
Eli, too, how his suspicions had been aroused, especially when, after
the news came of Naomi's death, the Tresidders came and seemed anxious
to say as little as possible. Richard Tresidder told him that Naomi had
died of a disease that necessitated her immediate burial, and that no
doctor had been able to visit her. This set the old man a-wondering
greatly, and thus it came about that when Eli told his story he was
anxious to render him what assistance lay in his power. Especially was
Jonathan delighted at the news of my safety, for he did not see how I
could have escaped from Trevose alive, even although Nick Tresidder had
failed to overcome me in the smugglers' cave. He assured him, moreover,
that Richard Tresidder had taken up his abode at Trevose, and claimed
to be the owner of the estate according to the conditions of Mrs.
Penryn's will.

All this Eli told me with many other things which need not be mentioned
here, and after this Naomi related her experiences. Her story confirmed
in almost every detail what I had surmised. Her life at Pennington had
been one long series of persecutions after the time she had borne
witness before my judges that I was innocent of c