ith the
glow of self-approval (and rapid motion) warming my system. Take my
advice, don't attempt to tackle Master Dick yourself. Leave him to me."

"If I could only make up my mind to trust you!" muttered Paul.

"The old distrust!" cried Marmaduke; "you can't forget. You won't
believe a poor devil like me can have any gratitude, any
disinterestedness left in him. Never mind, I'll go. I'll leave it to
you. I'll send Dick in here, and we shall see whether he's such a fool
as you think him."

"No," said Paul, "no; I feel you're right; that would never do."

"It would be for my advantage, I think," said the other, "but you had
better take me while I am in a magnanimous mood, the opportunity may
never occur again. Come, am I to help you or not? Yes or no?"

"I must accept," said Paul reluctantly; "I can't find Boaler now, and it
might take hours to make him see what I wanted. I'll trust to your
honour. What shall I do?"

"Do? Get away from this, he'll be coming in here very soon to see me.
Run away and play with the children or hide in the china
closet--anything but stay here."

"I--I must be here while you are managing him," objected Paul.

"Nonsense!" said Paradine angrily. "I tell you it will spoil all, unless
you--who's that? it's his step--too late now--dash it all! Behind that
screen, quick--don't move for your life till I tell you you may come
out!"

Mr. Bultitude had no choice; there was just time to set up an old
folding screen which stood in a corner of the room and slip behind it
before the door opened.

It might not be the highest wisdom to trust everything to his new ally
in this manner; but what else could he do, except stand by in forced
inactivity while the momentous duel was being fought out? Just then, at
all events, he saw no other course.

18. _Run to Earth_

"The is noon in this hous schuld bynde me this night."
--_The Coke's Tale of Gamelyn._

Dick burst open the door of the billiard-room rather suddenly, and then
stood holding on to the handle and smiling down upon his relative in a
happy and affectionate but rather weak manner.

"So here you are!" he said. "Been lookin' for you everywhere. What's
good of shutting 'self in here? Come up and play gamesh. No? Come in and
have shupper. I've had shupper."

"So I perceive," observed Uncle Marmaduke; and the fact was certainly
obvious enough.

"Tell y'what I did," giggled the wretched Dick.