Then Oliver had sold some little property near Helston, inherited from his mother; he had sunk the money into a venture upon the Spanish Main.

He had fitted out and manned a ship, and had sailed with Hawkins upon one of those ventures, which Sir John Killigrew was perfectly entitled to account pirate raids.

He had returned with enough plunder in specie and gems to disencumber the Tressilian patrimony.

He had sailed again and returned still wealthier.

And meanwhile, Lionel had remained at home taking his ease.