Toby reached carefully for the document in Childers’s hand. He half expected to see the sheet of paper vanish or burst into flames before his eyes. Here it was, finally, after scratching about in the dirt of Ballarat to find their fortune, after enduring such tragedy and loss that no one should be expected to endure. Toby’s fingers clasped the paper. He felt the coarse weave. He could smell the ink. It was real. Here, in his hands, was the means of their going home. He offered the document to Paddy, but his brother just sat silent and motionless. Childers interrupted the quiet.

‘I have another document here,’ the aide said.

Reluctantly, Toby lifted his eyes.

‘This document,’ Childers said flatly, ‘overturns the ruling of a certain magistrate with regards to the surrender of land in the district of Bunyong Creek to one Henry Pelham.’

The words drifted past Toby as if they meant nothing. He blinked at the aide several times. ‘You mean—’

‘Your land has been returned to you, Toby. You and your brother. The governor has overturned the magistrate’s ruling.’

‘So all we have to do is pay what’s owing to Pelham? We don’t have to convince him to sell it—?’ Toby’s voice trailed away as Childers shook his head.

‘You don’t understand, Toby. I paid Henry Pelham a visit myself. He was most accommodating when he realised his little ruse had been dragged into the light. You don’t owe him anything. Pelham was most anxious to avoid prosecution over the incident. In exchange for the return of the land – debt free and with all improvements intact – he will avoid a costly prosecution and possibly a lengthy gaol term. Once he knew that rogue Scotchy had given him up, he relented quite quickly. It was most improper of me to offer him immunity, but you boys don’t want to be tied down in lengthy legal proceedings. You want to take your family home.’

‘We can go home? We don’t owe Pelham a thing?’ Paddy asked.

‘Not a brass razoo. The reward money is yours to do with whatever you like.’

The brothers locked eyes on each other and Paddy let out a whoop of triumph. Not to be outdone, Toby gave a whoop of his own, louder than Paddy’s. His voice was in practice. They were still whooping and cheering as they crossed the lawn towards the gates by the road.