He took off twenty years, and reached the Dun Cow as an old acquaintance.

He hired the one vehicle the establishment possessed, and was off like a shot to Derby; thence he dispatched a note to his lodgings to say he was suddenly called to town, but should be back in a week.

Not that he ever intended to show his face in that neighborhood again.
Nevertheless events occasioned that stopped both his flight and Bartley's, and yet broke up their unholy alliance.
It was Hope's final inspection of the Bartley mine, and he took things in order.

Months ago a second shaft had been sunk by his wise instructions, and but for Bartley's parsimony would have been now completed.

Hope now ascertained how many feet it was short, and noted this down for Bartley.
Then, still inspecting, he went to the other extremity of the mine, and reached a sort of hall or amphitheatre much higher than the passages.
This was a centre with diverging passages on one side, but closed on the other.