eedom by saving the king's
navy. But now that Sheila knew the truth there could be no danger! Dyck
Calhoun would be relegated to his proper place in the scheme of things.
Who was there to stand between him and his desire? What was there to
stay the great event? He himself was a peer and high-placed, for it
was a time when the West Indian Islands were a centre of the world's
fighting, where men like Rodney had made everlasting fame; where the
currents of world-controversy challenged, met and fought for control.

The West Indies was as much a cock-pit of the fighting powers as ever
Belgium was; and in those islands there was wealth and the power which
wealth buys; the clash of white and black and coloured peoples; the
naval contests on the sea; the horrible massacres and enslavement
of free white peoples, as in St. Domingo and Grenada; the dominating
attacks of people fighting for control--peoples of old empires like
France and Spain, and new empires like that of Britain. These were a
centre of colonial life as important as had been the life in Virginia
and New York and the New England States and Canada--indeed, more
important than Canada in one sense, for the West Indies brought wealth
to the British Isles, and had a big export trade. He lost no time in
bringing matters to an issue.

He got to his feet and came near to her. His eyes were inflamed with
passion, his manner was impressive. He had a distinguished face, become
more distinguished since his assumption of governorship, and authority
had increased his personality.

"A man of mark!" he said. "You mean a marked man. Let me tell you I have
an order from the British Government to confine him to his estate; not
to permit him to leave it; and, if he does, to arrest him. That is my
commanded duty. You approve, do you not? Or are you like most women,
soft at heart to bold criminals?"

Sheila did not reply at once. The news was no news to her, for Darius
Boland had told her; but she thought it well to let the governor think
he had made a new, sensational statement.

"No," she said at last, looking him calmly in the eyes. "I have no soft
feelings for criminals as criminals, none at all. And there is every
reason why I should be adamant to this man, Dyck Calhoun. But, Lord
Mallow, I would go carefully about this, if I were you. He is a man who
takes no heed of people, high or low, and has no fear of consequences.
Have you thought of the consequences to yourself? Suppos