The Carnmore smelting company is a success and Ross makes moreof an enemy of George by outbidding him for copper at auction.Meanwhile, Francis is increasingly volatile now that he haslost his mine and is reduced to working the land, so Verityavoids speaking to him about her plans to marry CaptainBlamey.When Ross and Zacky discover there is fever at BodminJail just weeks before Jim is to be released, Ross asks Dwightto accompany him to the prison. Ross forces his way into thejail and discovers that Jim is near death. They break Jim outfrom the jail in a desperate attempt to save him.Returninghome, Ross is expected to attend George's grand ball. He issickened at the thought of going amongst the people responsiblefor Jim's incarceration, but Verity persuades him that he mustdo it for Demelza and Julia's sake; to remind everyone that heis one of their class so they won't arrest him for the prisonbreak. However, at the ball Ross is fighting drunk and Demelzais aghast that she has been left to fend for herself at herfirst ever high society social event.
