When he came to think of the transaction as he rode leisurely back to Tavistock, he knew how wrong he had been, and yet he felt a kind of triumph at the spoil which he held; for he had heard among the miners that the shares of Mary Jane were already going up to some incredible standard of value.

In this manner, so said he to himself, had all the great minds of the present day made their money, and kept themselves afloat.

'Twas thus he tried to comfort himself; but not as yet successfully.
There were no more squabbles between Mr.Neverbend and Mr.Tudor; each knew that of himself, which made him bear and forbear; and so the two Commissioners returned to town on good terms with each other, and Alaric wrote a report, which delighted the heart of Sir Gregory Hardlines, ruined the opponents of the great tin mine, and sent the Mary Jane shares up, and up, and up, till speculating men thought that they could not give too high a price to secure them.
Alaric returned to town on Friday.

It had been arranged that he, and Charley, and Norman, should all go down to Hampton on the Saturday; and then, on the following week, the competitive examination was to take place.

But Alaric's first anxiety after his return was to procure the L206, which he had to pay for the shares which he held in his pocket-book.