The Reverend felt compassion for the youth’s disappointment and dilemma. ‘I’ll have a quiet word with Lady Pengarron, to see what else we can come up with.’ Privately he held little hope of reviving Jenifer’s spirit.

He showed Bartholomew to the door and then went back to his sermon, writing with enthusiasm on an idea that the interview with the youth had given him.

Bartholomew walked down the steep hill to the village, where Matthew King was waiting for him. To supplement their earnings they were about to go smuggling in their rowing boat. Under cover of fishing for bait they were to meet a French fishing boat out in deeper waters and take from it a quantity of tobacco. This would be sold to the Sarrison brothers who, not having the haughty authority of their class to haggle over the cost, would give a handsome price. It would stave off hunger pangs for a few weeks but it was done at the risk of being apprehended by the Revenue men and under the mutual loathing they held for the Frenchmen. There was also the risk of falling foul of privateering by French boats out in the Channel. It was just these kinds of risk that Bartholomew needed to make him momentarily forget his heavy responsibilities.

In the course of the same morning Oliver was in the stable yard of the manor talking to Nathan O’Flynn, his game keeper and head forester. They were resting idly against a stall door smoking their pipes while Oliver waited for Conomor to be saddled.

‘When I’ve taken leave of the parsonage I shall be spending nine or ten days away on business. Adam Renfree has been informed and I’ve left instructions on my desk.’ Oliver took Nathan’s empty tobacco pouch from his large flat hand and filled it with tobacco from his own.

‘Very well, m’lord. I don’t foresee any problems,’ Nathan said, puffing away contentedly. ‘Thank you for the baccy.’

‘Good, that’s settled.’ With that Oliver shouted across the stable yard. ‘Get a move on, will you, Jack! I want to leave before this time next week, if you please!’

‘I went be long now, sir!’ came a hasty voice from within the stable.

‘What’s the matter with the lad nowadays?’ Nathan mused aloud. ‘He’s as clumsy as a one-footed ox, so he is. You’d think he was in love or something.’

Oliver chuckled knowingly.

The thickset Irishman raised his eyebrows. ‘He’s not, is he? Young Jack, smitten!’

‘Can you think of another reason for him to be slicking back his hair and putting on his best shirt and making his way over to Lancavel Downs? I don’t think Matthias Renfree realises there is an ulterior motive for Jack’s sudden appearance at the Bible classes.’