"Master Paynter?" " That depends, sir." " On what?" "On whether I be or not, sir." "Don't be a fool, man." "We want to talk to you." "And it's to your advantage." "Ross..." "Ross!" "Ross!" " But how?" " Mr Pearce agreed to stand my surety." " Surety?" " A guarantee of my good behaviour." "As long as I don't run away, his money will be given back to him." "Will you have to go back there?" "Not until my trial." "Oh, Ross!" "Oh!" "Tell me how you've been." "Lonely." "And frightened." "Aah!" "You were on the beach that night, Master Paynter." " What night would that be, sir?" " The night there was a vessel wrecked." "Ah." "Aye, I remember." "Two year back." "But that were three mile down the coast." "Try remembering only two weeks back, Master Paynter." "The Queen Charlotte, driven ashore in Nampara Cove." "Ah!" "That wreck, sir." "Now you gentlemen do remind me." "I do remember I was, as you might say... round and about, sir." "Yes." "Master Paynter, Mr Tankard here is an attorney of the Crown." "We have a weight of evidence against a Captain Poldark concerning his activities that night." "And it's Mr Tankard's job to get any more that he can." "For which, as you might put it, trouble, the office of the Crown is willing to pay the expenses of your...statement." "That's rare kind of the Crown, God bless 'em." "How much is the Crown willing to pay?" "That depends on how much you're willing to say." "I be willing to say anything you like, sir." " Provided the price be right." " Ten guineas." " For what?" " To give evidence against Poldark." "Ten now." "Ten after." "Which by my reckoning makes... 20 'tis." "You gentlemen put me in a mortal difficult position." "Would ee by chance be Bible-read men, sir?" "Bible-read?" "Are you saying you have a conscience, Master Paynter?" "I'm saying I was always taught to believe in the Holy Scripture, sir." "And as far as silver be concerned, 30 be the going price, God help us all." "15 now, 15 after." "Ah. I can see you're a man of God, sir." "Pay him." "Ross, you can't just sit here and do nothing." "I'm enjoying my first civilised meal in a week." "You know I didn't mean that so don't make fun of me." "What would you have me do?" "Try to help yourself." "I'm not guilty." "I'll have a fair trial and I'll state my case." " Fair?" " Gathering evidence is Pearce's job." "While someone else is out buying evidence against you?" "What?" " 'Tis what I've heard." " Buying?" "Nonsense." "Who told you?" "Jinny." "She said..." "Well, tell me!" "Three men in the village, asking who'd been on the beach that night, asking questions about you, offering money." " To do what?" " To say you'd helped steal the cargo and start the fight with the soldiers." "Did she know who these men were?" "But 'tis a fact, Ross." "Someone be out spending money to buy witnesses against you." "In God's name, who?" "Who can hate me so much?" " Well?" " Three so far, sir." "Two for ten and one for 15." "15 now, 15 after." "You're spending my money like water, Mr Tankard." "I'd almost forgotten what pleasure there is in kissing you." "Well, you've had little enough reason to, not si..." "Not since Julia died." "It will do no good dwelling on the past, Ross." "'Tis now and the future we must think of." "Yes." "Perhaps it's as well she died." "No child wants a gallows bird for a father." "Ross!" "I don't understand you." "What don't you understand?" "You've got friends." "Why don't you get them to speak for you?" "It's not my job to do so." "What does it matter whose job it is when they hang you?" " Demelza!" " That's what will happen!" "No!" "It will be a fair trial." "They've bought witnesses to damn you." "Ross, don't you see?" "Money is buying the verdict." "Then what do you suggest?" " That I should buy witnesses too?" " No." "Demelza, I'm innocent." "Ross, you be as stubborn as a mule." " If you don't do something, I will." " No!" "I'll have no repetition of that." "I've not forgotten the way you asked Bodrugan for money." "We've got to do something, Ross." "I love you, don't you understand?" "I want to help, cos l love you so much." "And I love you." "God knows, I'm luckier than I deserve." "I couldn't bear to be long parted from you now." "But the law will not be interfered with." "It has its own way of doing things, which we must accept." " l don't understand." " It's the nature of justice." "Any interference is as like to harm my case as help." "So let's have no more talk of it." "Father?" "I must have mistook the time." "Dinner already?" "I thought it but 11 ." " Where've you been?" " Oh, here and there." " Do we have a case against him?" " We have a few good witnesses." " Who'll swear against him?" " If they don't they won't be paid." "One's a discharged servant, nursing his grudge as you nurse your guineas." " Speaking of that..." " Only a guinea or two, Father." "I want to see Poldark hang but I don't want to be bankrupted by it." "You have great faith in hope." "Put more faith in cash and you won't be disappointed." "Thank you kindly." "Sir John Trevaunance?" "Your servant, ma'am." "I don't believe I've had the pleasure." "You know my husband." "You were in business" " Ross Poldark." "Ah, yes. I'm very pleased to meet you, ma'am." "I was wondering if I might have a word with you." "They told me I'd find you here." "My honour, ma'am, if you'll wait a while." "I have a sick cow." " It will take but a minute." " Me mind's on me cow, ma'am." "She's a valuable beast and you'd not have the attention you deserve." "'Tis about my husband." "He needs your help." "I'm flattered, ma'am, but me cow needs me more." "Wait at the house and I'll attend you when I can." " What's wrong with the cow?" " What?" " What's wrong with her?" " Her hindquarters are paralysed." " It might be whiptail." " Your pardon, ma'am?" " It's often called tail shot." " Well, I confess, I've never heard of it." " l saw a cure for it once." " Did you, now?" " How?" " Well..." "You split open the tail, where the joint's slipped." "You get a well-salted onion and put it in." "You bind up the tail hard with coarse tape, leave the tape on for a week, and feed her nothing 'cepting a cordial made of equal parts of rosemary, juniper and cardamon seed." "That's an unlikely-sounding remedy, ma'am." "It worked well the last time I saw it." " Now, can we talk, Sir John?" " Can you remember all that?" "Then try it, man." "It can't make her worse than she is now." "Your servant, ma'am." " You'll take a glass of canary?" " l'd rather have port, thank ee." "As you wish." "My husband was proud of his association with you, Sir John." "He was unhappy when it ended." "Nobody's fault, ma'am." "I had - still have a high regard for your husband." "But it happens in business." "Circumstances prove too much." "You must have lost a deal of money." "Well, I lost some, as did your husband." "We're reforming the company with the Warleggans behind us, which makes a difference." "I, er..." "I'm only sorry your husband isn't able to take part." "Thank you." "Oh, I'm sure he'd like to, if it weren't for other things." "Yes." "You, er..." "You want me to speak at his trial, hm?" "Well, of course I would if I was called but I could only be a witness to his character." "I wasn't on the beach." "How do I know what went on?" "Sir John, someone be buying witnesses against him." "You be a magistrate." "Be that fair or proper?" " Certainly not." " If no one speaks for him... lt makes no difference." "I don't doubt your husband's innocence." "But?" "All he can do is put himself in the hands of the court." "Now, I know the judge, Mr Wentworth Lister." "And he's a fair and honest man." "You can do no better than leave the matter to him." "But if you know the judge, why don't you speak to him?" "Tell him the witnesses be false and lying." "He wouldn't listen." "He's an honest judge." "He wouldn't listen to me or anyone." "I beg you, ma'am, leave it at that." "You can do no more, much as I'm sure you'd wish to." "I hoped Ross's friends would stand by him more." "It's a question of what the law allows, ma'am." "What I don't understand is how one side can buy witness whilst the other isn't allowed to defend himself." "Oh, good day, Sir John." "I'll show you the way." "Whoever it is must have money and hate Ross." "Who do you think that might be, Sir John?" " l have no idea." " l have." "Mayhap the Warleggans weren't content to take Carnmore away from Ross, mayhap they want to see him hang as well." "I'll find my own way out, thank you, Sir John." "I'll send word if the cow improves." "A safe journey, ma'am, my regards to your husband." " Hello, brother." " Unwin." " Who was that?" " Ross Poldark's wife." " Pretty young thing." " Mm." " Pretty enough to be dangerous?" " No, not at my age." "Why are you here?" "The elections are next week." "Caroline is travelling down from Bath tomorrow." "You know how she is without someone to keep an eye on her." " You should marry her." " l would." "If only the wench would say yes." "You know these 18-year-olds." "Well, I used to when I was younger." " She's upset me, you know." " Caroline?" "No, no." "Poldark's wife." "Damned unsettling little thing." "Good day, Mr Warleggan." "Mistress Poldark." " Enchanted, ma'am." " l see you be going riding." "Oh!" "A present." "For my godson." "What brings you to Truro?" "Shopping?" "Yes." "To buy widow's weeds." "For when Ross be hanged." " l sincerely hope not, ma'am." " Oh, do you, Mr Warleggan?" "Truth is, I've come to ask what you be doing to my husband." "Why not come to the bank instead of lurking like a beggar?" "Everybody be beggars when dealing with you." "I'm doing nothing against your husband." "Why do you think I am?" "Because you're the only man with reason and money enough to buy the lies that somebody be buying." " What lies?" " As if you didn't know." "Well, it won't work, I tell you." " Pray keep your voice down." " l won't!" "I'll tell the judge and everyone what you be doing." "What do you think about our women?" "Found another one, eh?" "May I join you?" "It's a public place." "You seem low in spirit." "I've had a long meeting with my legal and financial advisors." "With what result?" "Generosity of spirit, an attempt to solve the problems, a certain doubt as to whether they can be solved." " Er, if I can help..." " l think not." "Thank you." "I have a little money put by if things go badly in court." "I'll look after that this morning." "I would be willing to use what little I have to help Demelza." "Ross, I..." "I'm sorry... about my earlier behaviour, especially to her." " She bears you no grudge." " Do you?" "I see no reason to thank you or curse you, Francis." "Truth be told, I've not the energy or time to do either." " l had hoped my apology..." " Apologise to Demelza!" "Yes, of course. I will." "She's a generous woman." "She helped me when I was sorely ill, the result... the result being far from happy for you." " l'd have put it more strongly than that." " l'm sorry." "So are we all." "The dirty rogue!" "But at least allow me to wish you well for the trial." "What happens there depends on God and a good lawyer." "But I thank you." "The bloomer's at it again!" "Did none of your men see what happened?" "My men were about their business, ma'am, trying to prevent a riot." "How is it that one can buy lying witnesses and search everywhere and not find an honest one?" "I would help you if I could, ma'am, I would do a lot to help you." " Would you?" " Indeed." "My husband was not on the beach when you were hit, Cap'n." "I cannot say one way or another." "All I can say is the truth." "Ross was not on the beach when it happened." "Well, that I do not know." "If you don't know, can I not persuade ee just to say he wasn't?" "For me." "You said you'd like to help." "Well, I could, but, er..." " l would be under oath." " But it would be the truth." "And I'd be very grateful for someone to tell the truth." "I will do whatever my duty and conscience permit, ma'am." "I'll be relying on you, Cap'n." "Come on." "I hope the next time we meet it may be under more...pleasurable circumstances." "I hope so." "But if my husband is not acquitted, there'll be precious little pleasure for any of us." "When you've learnt to ride it, I'll give you a real one." " Can I ride it now?" " You must break it in first." "I should take it into the garden." " You've been very kind to us." " 'Tis nothing." "A little toy for the child." "No, I didn't mean that." "Without your help, I don't know how we'd manage." "It grieves me to see you in any distress, Elizabeth." "Whoa!" " Where did you get that?" " Uncle George bought it for me." " Is Uncle George still here?" " Yes." "Giddy-up!" " Hello, Francis." " George." "You're becoming a permanent guest." " Can I get you a drink?" " l have one, thank you." " Have you seen this thing?" " What is it?" "A filthy, scurrilous broadsheet about Ross." "They're all over Truro." "Have you seen them?" "Yes, my groom had one. I destroyed it." "Yes." "By next week, they'll be all over Bodmin." "What does it say?" ""The true and sensational facts in the life of Captain P-D-K," ""bold adventurer, seducer, suspected murderer," ""soon to stand trial at Bodmin assizes," ""written...by an intimate friend."" " Yes, but what does it say?" " Slanderous accusations that Ross only went to serve in the American war to avoid being taken to court on various ludicrous charges!" "That the countryside is littered with his illegitimate children." "That he is a rogue, a murderer, a wrecker!" " But this is untrue!" " Of course it's untrue!" "These things often come out when there's a big case." "Someone wants to make a little profit." "George, these are being given away!" "Not sold." "Given." "That's costing somebody a great deal of money." " This could influence the jury." " What do you think it's for?" "If I were you, I'd burn it." "Uncle George, come and watch me ride Bucephalus." "Yes, of course I will. I must go." "So have you given him a name?" ""lntimate friend"?" "Who would do that?" "Who around here has the money to pay for that much paper?" "And then to say, "Burn it"?" "What's that?" "A copy of the statement I made for my counsel." "Why don't you want me to come to Bodmin with you?" "No man wants his wife to watch him be carried off to prison." "I meant the trial!" "It might upset you." "Would I be less upset sitting here waiting for the verdict?" "It might upset me to have you there." "Going to be reading that all night?" " l'm discussing it tomorrow." " Oh, Ross!" " What is it?" "Demelza?" " Oh, read your document!" " What is it?" " Nothing!" "Don't you realise?" "Realise what?" "If you're found guilty, this'll be the last night we ever sleep together." "No, leave yours alight." "Let me do that." "Ow!" "Take the damn thing out of the ruts!" "Oh, damn it, how I hate travel." "Well, I think we can dispense with that to start with." "That document is of more use to the prosecution than the defence, and I'm here to defend." " Ooh!" " l simply put down the facts." "What you put down is a muddled version of events which you could not have known the ins and outs of." "You'd be well advised to be guided by Mr Clymer." "He is, after all..." "Mr Clymer is engaged to put my case as I knew it to happen." "No, sir. I am engaged to assist you in defence." "A client should not instruct but be guided by his legal advisors, or what the devil's the good of engaging them?" "We must not let our tempers outrun our heads." "To say he attempted to oversee the events of the night then admit he took no action to prevent the cargo from being looted is tantamount to an admission of guilt." "Ooh!" "If you can't keep the damn thing out of the ruts, take it across the fields!" "The people were near to starving." "A romantic excuse." "Henry Bull..." " Who?" " The prosecuting counsel!" "He'll mince this statement into a pie and have us for breakfast." "Captain Poldark, I have my reputation." " So have I." " Ooh!" "I stand by what I said in my statement." "Then heaven help us." "They've taken Poldark to Bodmin Jail." " Yesterday." " Let's hope they keep him there." "If they do, it'll be at public expense." " Cheaper that he were hanged." " Or transported." "Let Australia feed him." "There's a reception tonight for the elections." " Are you going?" " No, tiring rubbish." " The food's free, Father." " The company's expensive." "Someone will want a favour doing." "Excuse me, gentlemen." "I was asked to give you this message." "Thank you, sir." "I'll see you again, in a more private place." "Of course, sir." "You got more, please, my dear?" "Keep your mind on bussiness, father." "What's this?" "A list of witnesses." "How much do they cost?" "You can not hang people for nothing, father." "Sorry I'm late." "The streets are full of drunks and rogues, here for the elections." "Took me half an hour to get through them." "No need to apologise." "I wasn't going anywhere." "Three drunks in my cell already, so we're in here." "We have a deal of work to do before the session tomorrow." "And I have to attend some form of reception later to meet the Parliamentary candidates." "I don't envy you. I shall probably have a more amusing time here." "You may be right." "Now, have you made for me any more reasonable notes, sir?" "Come in." "Oh, excuse me, ma'am." "The hotel being so crowded on account of the elections, might you be prepared to share a room with another lady?" "I care not for the elections, sir, but much for my privacy." "I'm sorry, I couldn't po..." " Verity!" " Demelza!" " But how?" " Oh, it's wonderful to see you." "And you." "You don't mind if I share your room?" "Of course not. I'm only too glad 'tis you." " What are you doing here?" " The same as you, I think." "For Ross." "Oh, 'tis kind of you." "I'm sure things will turn out right, Demelza. I'm sure of it." "I hope so." "What a beautiful dress." "We have so much to talk of." " We'll talk when I get back." " Where are you going?" " A reception at the guildhall." " Are you being escorted?" "No, but I'll be all right." "You can't go out alone." "The streets are packed with all sorts." "I have to." "There's something I've got to do for Ross." " Let me come with you." " No." "Besides, you haven't brought a dress." "They'll turn you away - then you'll have to walk back alone." "Don't fret. I'll be all right." "We'll talk when I get back." "Demelza!" "The honourable Mr Justice Lister!" " Mr Lister." " Mr Trevaunance." "Sir John." "May I introduce my intended, Miss Caroline Penvenen?" " Ma'am, your servant." " Mr Lister." " You'll pardon me?" " Yes." "Unwin, I do wish you wouldn't keep introducing me as your intended." "It may be your intention but it isn't necessarily mine." "Mr Francis Poldark." "Ah, Francis." "We all look forward to the excitement of this evening." "Has Francis Poldark been drinking again?" "As you say, Connie." "The bottled horse droppings will make him ill." "Mr George Warleggan." "Warleggan." "The honourable Mr James Dawson." " Hello, George." " Francis." "Are you here for the elections or to see Ross hanged, drawn and quartered?" "For the elections, as everyone else." "Have you got money invested in the elections as well?" "Dear George, you've got your dirty little fingers in every pie." " Francis, I..." " You know, I doubt... if there's a profitable pie in all Cornwall that you Warleggan blackbirds aren't comfortably... I don't think this is the place..." "Don't tell me where or when I should not do things." "I don't want an argument, not here." " You're a little drunk and..." " Whether I am or am not drunk, I come from a family of gentlemen, George, a condition that you and your father could not understand." "Do you know, I found out tonight who paid for these broadsheets." "How?" "Because I went to the printer... and I paid him four guineas." "You said burn them." "I absolutely agree." "Go on, George." "Have 'em back." "And if you need something to put the fire out..." "What was that?" "I don't know." "It was some private quarrel." "Mistress Ross Poldark." "What the devil's she doing here?" " No, no, no, Captain Poldark!" " What the devil's wrong now?" "Captain Poldark, Iet me try and explain a court of law." "It's not a pitched battle, it's a field of manoeuvre." " You should tell the truth." " l have!" "It depends on how you tell it." "To antagonise the court by making statements of personal opinion with no evidence and then to refuse to - how can I put it?" " Lie?" " No, I don't mean lie." "Everything you've written is the truth as you think you see it." "But we have to make a case." "The truth is not necessarily how you think you saw it, if you saw it at all." " Witnesses are notoriously..." " l've written down..." "Opinions, feelings, attitudes, Captain Poldark." "They have a string of sworn witnesses as long as your arm." "We have three." "I've heard rumours that someone is out for your blood." "That's possible." "Then why won't you sit down with me to make out a case to beat 'em?" "You're a proud man, Captain Poldark, but pride goeth before a fall." "I am trying to avoid a fall, Captain, yours and your family's." "What do you want me to do?" "I want you to go through the events of that night with me, minute by minute." "Excuse me." " Sir John." " Mistress Poldark." "Delightful to see you again." "May I introduce my brother and Miss Caroline Penvenen?" " Good evening" " Mistress Poldark." "If you'd kept your eyes on your hounds instead of on women, you could have been master of the hunt by now." "I was master of the hunt three years ago, Connie." " It is..." " The crowd is shouting for us." "If we don't go now, they'll break the door down." "Let them wait. I'm talking." " The most important question..." " l think you'd better go." "Take your brother's advice, Unwin." "After all, it's his money that's buying your votes." "You haven't any, apart from what you hope to get if you marry me." "Come along, Horace, let's go and watch Unwin wave to the public." "I was glad to hear your cow got better." "Thanks to you, ma'am." "I didn't expect to see you here tonight." "I was told Mr Justice Lister would be here." " Will you introduce me to him?" " Not under any circumstances." "I know what you're trying to do and I admire you for it." "I heard it'll cost your brother f2,OOO to keep his seat." "If you can buy votes, why can't I tell the truth to one of His Majesty's judges?" "Ma'am, it's not the same." "I don't believe in the buying of votes but it's allowed to happen." "Now, as I've already told you, Mr Lister is an honest man." "Anything you and I said to try to influence him he would disregard, and I would lose a friend." "But how can he know the facts when he's come from London?" " All I want to do..." " All you want to do is illegal" " while the case is sub judice." " l don't know what that means." "It means that if you try to do what you want, not only will your husband certainly go to jail but so will you." "Wave, Caroline." "Smile and wave." "Do you know these people?" "They look like a field of turnips." "Don't be absurd, Caroline." "They're the voters." "If you don't know them, why are you waving to them?" "Stop being ridiculous, Caroline." "And wave." "Come along, Horace." "Wave to the turnips." "You might get into Parliament." "Mistress Poldark, ma'am." "A dance?" "Oh, thank you." "The floor's a trifle packed." "Can I press you to a glass of port?" "Thank you." "Do you know Mr Justice Lister, Sir Hugh?" " Yes." "Yes, I do." "Why?" " Would you introduce me to him?" " Now?" " l'd be so grateful./// lf there's any witnesses we might shake, let me know in the morning." "I'll look through it." "Remember, you're in a tight corner, Captain." "If you want to hang, well, that's your affair." "But I recall seeing a man strung up at Tyburn once." "They cut him down for dead but he grimaced and twitched for quite five minutes after." "I saw that when a man's head was shot off by a cannonball." "It's even more peculiar when the head and body are apart." " Yes?" " Yes." "Yes, well, till the morning, Captain." "I might say that Henry Bull, the prosecuting counsel, is a very ambitious man." "He is after a position that I also want...and need." "If you will let me save my career, I will save your neck." "Otherwise, sir, we might both go down." "Does Your Lordship dance?" "No, ma'am. I never learned when I was young and now the spectacle of others in effort is more entertaining than the effort itself." "But...please, don't let me deter you." "Oh, you don't deter me." "I sometimes think 'tis better to keep out of the crush." "Then we see what we look like when we're in it." "You argue with a ready wit." "That's a rare thing in women." "Perhaps Your Lordship has little experience of women." "As little as possible, ma'am." "From choice." "I doubt if she'd be good for your health, Hugh, even if you did get her." " He won't." " l'm far healthier than you think." "One jump and your heart would stop." "Get me another glass of this cow's coddle and stop boasting." " Do you like music, my lord?" " l like music." " Ah, but this ain't music, is it?" " You know about music?" "I say, Hugh, the learned judge is unusually conversational." "Course he is." "Girl as pretty as that." "Damn me, he's had her long enough." "No harmony, even of the most primitive kind existed in church music until the tenth or eleventh centuries." "If Your Lordship would excuse me, time to eat, my dear." "There's a devil of a shindig at the table, we must go now." "I'm not yet hungry, Sir Hugh." "His Lordship's telling me about church music." "Church music?" "What subject is that for election night?" "It's a subject for any night if you can understand it." "There are those plainly who cannot." "Now, as I was saying, Gregorian plainsong, that was..." "Here is the list for tomorrow." "Ah." "You must excuse me, ma'am." "Thank you for my one interesting conversation tonight." "Forgive me. I don't recall your name." "Poldark." "Mrs Ross Poldark." "But I wanted to speak to Your Lordship on another matter." "I fear I am called away." "Your servant, ma'am." "Let me tempt you to a little partridge, my pigeon." "Sir Hugh!" "Who did you say has been taken ill?" "Miss Caroline Penvenen, sir." "I was told it's urgent." "Through here." " Dr Surgeon Enys, ma'am." " Madam, I was told you were ill." "I am not ill." "It's Horace." "He's very ill." " And may I ask where Horace is?" " Here." " Your dog?" " Yes, he's very distressed." " The noise downstairs..." " Your footman made a mistake." "If you wish your dog to be attended to, go to a farrier." "I don't want a horse doctor for Horace." "I'll pay in advance." "Madam, I attend patients who cannot pay at all." "And I'm damned if I'll waste their time on a dog." "Please!" "He isn't well and I'm very fond of him." "I'm sorry if you've been called away from something more important." "But have you never had a dog of your own?" "Yes." "When I was a boy." "Would you have let him die on a point of formality?" " No." " Then will you let mine die?" " How old is he?" " Twelve months." " Why do you think he is not well?" " He's had two fits tonight!" "In this place I'm not surprised." " Is he all right?" " l doubt if he's going to die." "I had an aunt whose spaniel suffered the same trouble." "Never got enough exercise." " What happened to it?" " Nothing disastrous." "It had fits whenever she played the spinet." "We didn't know if it was because it was musical or it wasn't." "That's a nice story." "Erm, have this made up at the druggist." "And, er...keep him off sweetmeats." "Give him some exercise." "Real exercise." "Not just jumping out of your carriage." "It wouldn't do you any harm either if you want to keep your figure." "You're very impertinent." "Part of my profession, madam, is to be accurate." "So you think I have a figure worth preserving?" "Well, I wouldn't throw it away if I were you." "Take the dog for a walk occasionally." "It'll do you both good." "Aren't you being a little above yourself?" "How old are you?" "Forgive me, madam." "From your behaviour I hadn't realised you had reached such an advanced age." "Your servant, ma'am." "I hate men like that, Horace." "They frighten me." "Such a to-do, ma'am!" "Never known a town like it." "'Tisn't safe on the street without an escort." " How far is the guildhall?" " Don't go near there, ma'am!" "I hear the place be surrounded by drunken voters and the like." "I want to see Mrs Poldark." "She be not here, sir." "She be out." " Then I'll wait for her." " You can't come in, sir..." " Oh..." " Francis." "What the hell are you doing here?" "I'm her brother." "Go and wipe your snotty nose." "Humph!" "Gentlemen!" "So what are you doing here, dear sister?" "I came for Ross's trial." "Demelza's gone out." " And is your husband here?" " No." "He's at sea." "How very fortunate for him." "This isn't a reconciliation, dear sister, I'm sharing a room with our doctor friend." "He said I'd find Demelza here." "Is there anything to drink?" "I believe Demelza has some port." " How are you, Francis?" " Drunk." "How are you..." "Mrs Blamey?" "Happily married." "What's the matter?" "Oh, God knows, dear sister." "God knows." "I had a hell of a row tonight with George Warleggan." " That wasn't very wise of you, Francis." " Oh, I know, I know." "I'm a fool." "Or I wouldn't be in the position where George could own me." " Another drink." " Francis!" "Another drink!" " Francis..." " Verity, please." "No sympathy." "It's far too late for sympathy." "Miss Penvenen!" "Oh, Doctor." "Are you following me?" "Yes. I was going back to the hotel." "I saw you leave alone." "That was very foolish of you." "Unwin was becoming unbearably pompous so I decided to leave." " Unwin?" " Yes." "He calls me his intended." " Ah." " Don't concern yourself." " l'm returning to my hotel." " And where are you staying?" " At the Rose and Crown." " Not far from my own." " Come, I will escort you." " Thank you." "And Horace." "Come on, then!" "Oh, Demelza, thank goodness you're safe!" "I was in more danger dancing with Sir Hugh Bodrugan than I ever was in the street." "Oh, but you shouldn't have waited up." "Francis came while you were gone." " Francis?" " To see you." " He wanted to wish you well." " That was kind of him." " Was it amul for you?" " No." "But he was in such a strange mood." " Perhaps he'd been drinking." " Oh, he had." "But it was much more than that." "I've never seen him like it before." "So hopeless."