"And face the music," said the Poor Relation, with his most benign
smile. "That is my intention. Don't pity me! I shall enjoy it."

"Is it possible?" Again she looked doubtful.

"Of course it's possible. I enjoy a good row now and then. It keeps me
in condition. I'll come down and see you some day, and tell you all
about it." He glanced at his watch. "I think we ought to be moving. We
will discuss arrangements as we go. I must send a wire to Mrs. Perkiss,
and tell her you will go down by the seven-thirty. I will see you into
the train at this end, and they will meet you at the other with the
cart. It's three miles from the railway."

As they passed out together, he added meditatively, "I think you'll like
the old mill, Chirpy. It's thatched."

"I'm sure I shall," she answered earnestly.

V

THE KNIGHT ERRANT TAKES THE FIELD

Rivington returned to his rooms that night, after dining at a
restaurant, with a pleasing sense of having accomplished something that
had been well worth the doing. He chuckled to himself a little as he
walked. It was a decidedly humorous situation.

He was met at the top of the stairs by his servant, a sharp-faced lad of
fifteen whom he had picked out of the dock of a police-court some months
before, and who was devoted to him in consequence.

"There's a gentleman waitin' for you sir; wouldn't take 'No' for an
answer; been 'ere best part of an hour. Name of Sin, sir. Looks like a
foreigner."

"Eh?" The blue eyes widened for a moment, then smiled approbation. "Very
appropriate," murmured Rivington. "All right, Tommy; I know the
gentleman."

He was still smiling as he entered his room.

A slim, dark man turned swiftly from its farther end to meet him. He had
obviously been prowling up and down.

"Mr. Rivington?" he said interrogatively.

Rivington bowed.

"Mr. Dinghra Singh?" he returned.

"Have you seen me before?"

"At a distance--several times."

"Ah!" The Indian drew himself up with a certain arrogance, but his
narrow black moustache did not hide the fact that his lips were
twitching with excitement. His dark eyes shone like the eyes of a beast,
green and ominous. "But we have never spoken. I thought not. Now, Mr.
Rivington, will you permit me to come at once to business?"

He spoke without a trace of foreign accent. He stood in the middle of
the room, facing Rivington, in a commanding attitude.

Rivington took a seat on the edge of the table. He was still fa