On that they parted. Lionel mounted and rode away, whilst Master Leigh
made a trumpet of his hands and hallooed to the ship.

As he stood waiting for the boat that came off to fetch him, a smile
slowly overspread the adventurer's rugged face. Had Master Lionel
seen it he might have asked himself how far it was safe to drive
such bargains with a rogue who kept faith only in so far as it was
profitable. And in this matter Master Leigh saw a way to break faith
with profit. He had no conscience, but he loved as all rogues love to
turn the tables upon a superior rogue. He would play Master Lionel most
finely, most poetically false; and he found a deal to chuckle over in
the contemplation of it.

CHAPTER VII. TREPANNED

Master Lionel was absent most of the following day from Penarrow, upon
a pretext of making certain purchases in Truro. It would be half-past
seven when he returned; and as he entered he met Sir Oliver in the hall.

"I have a message for you from Godolphin Court," he announced, and saw
his brother stiffen and his face change colour. "A boy met me at the
gates and bade me tell you that Mistress Rosamund desires a word with
you forthwith."

Sir Oliver's heart almost stopped, then went off at a gallop. She asked
for him! She had softened perhaps from her yesterday's relentlessness.
She would consent at last to see him!

"Be thou blessed for these good tidings!" he answered on a note of high
excitement. "I go at once." And on the instant he departed. Such was his
eagerness, indeed, that under the hot spur of it he did not even stay
to fetch that parchment which was to be his unanswerable advocate. The
omission was momentous.

Master Lionel said no word as his brother swept out. He shrank back a
little into the shadows. He was white to the lips and felt as he would
stifle. As the door closed he moved suddenly. He sprang to follow Sir
Oliver. Conscience cried out to him that he could not do this thing.
But Fear was swift to answer that outcry. Unless he permitted what was
planned to take its course, his life might pay the penalty.

He turned, and lurched into the dining-room upon legs that trembled.

He found the table set for supper as on that other night when he had
staggered in with a wound in his side to be cared for and sheltered by
Sir Oliver. He did not approach the table; he crossed to the fire, and
sat down there holding out his hands to the blaze. He was very cold and
could not still his t