r man's white face. "You pay me a
compliment, sir, which I fear me 'tis not mine to return to you."

"Time enough for that when I come to seek it," said Sir Oliver, with
easy, if assumed, good humour.

"When you come to seek it?"

"The hospitality of your house," Sir Oliver explained.

"It is on that very matter I am come to talk with you."

"Will you sit?" Sir Oliver invited him, and spread a hand towards the
chair which Nicholas had set. In the same gesture he waved the servant
away.

Master Godolphin ignored the invitation. "You were," he said, "at
Godolphin Court but yesterday, I hear." He paused, and as Sir Oliver
offered no denial, he added stiffly: "I am come, sir, to inform you that
the honour of your visits is one we shall be happy to forgo."

In the effort he made to preserve his self-control before so direct an
affront Sir Oliver paled a little under his tan.

"You will understand, Peter," he replied slowly, "that you have said too
much unless you add something more." He paused, considering his visitor
a moment. "I do not know whether Rosamund has told you that yesterday
she did me the honour to consent to become my wife...."

"She is a child that does not know her mind," broke in the other.

"Do you know of any good reason why she should come to change it?" asked
Sir Oliver, with a slight air of challenge.

Master Godolphin sat down, crossed his legs and placed his hat on his
knee.

"I know a dozen," he answered. "But I need not urge them. Sufficient
should it be to remind you that Rosamund is but seventeen and that she
is under my guardianship and that of Sir John Killigrew. Neither Sir
John nor I can sanction this betrothal."

"Good lack!" broke out Sir Oliver. "Who asks your sanction or Sir
John's? By God's grace your sister will grow to be a woman soon and
mistress of herself. I am in no desperate haste to get me wed, and by
nature--as you may be observing--I am a wondrous patient man. I'll even
wait," And he pulled at his pipe.

"Waiting cannot avail you in this, Sir Oliver. 'Tis best you should
understand. We are resolved, Sir John and I."

"Are you so? God's light. Send Sir John to me to tell me of his resolves
and I'll tell him something of mine. Tell him from me, Master Godolphin,
that if he will trouble to come as far as Penarrow I'll do by him what
the hangman should have done long since. I'll crop his pimpish ears for
him, by this hand!"

"Meanwhile," said Master Godolphin whe