e liked you ever since," he said. "Look here, Jake! I'm
not tempting you to do anything wrong now. I'm asking you to do something
that doesn't appeal to you; but if you do it, it'll be one of the most
decent actions of your life. That child is quite alone just now--except
for me. Will you take her--like a good chap--till something else safe
turns up?"

Jake sat slowly forward. "I'll have to talk it over with Maud," he said.

Saltash's grip shifted impatiently. "You know very well what Maud will
say. Don't be an ass about it! Say No--if you mean to say No--at once!"

There came the quiet tread of approaching feet on the gravelled terrace
and the sound of low voices talking together. Jake lifted his head. His
face was grim. He looked Saltash straight in the eyes.

"You've told me the plain truth about her. You swear it?"

Saltash's swarthy countenance was in shadow, but those strange eyes of
his gleamed oddly, with the sort of fitful shining that comes from a coat
of mail in an uncertain light. They did not flinch from Jake's straight
regard, neither did they wholly meet it.

"Is my oath really more valuable than my word, Jake?" he said, with a wry
twist of the lips. "Most people don't find it so."

Jake stood up, a figure square and forceful. For a moment he faced
Saltash with a level scrutiny that--possibly--pierced the coat of mail.
Then abruptly he smiled. "I will take your word, my lord," he said.

"And the child?" said Saltash.

Jake nodded. "The child too--if Maud agrees."

"Thanks," said Saltash, and smiled back at Jake--the smile that gave his
ugly face so great a charm. "I am obliged to you, Jake. I think Maud will
agree."

"Shall we go to her?" said Jake.

CHAPTER IV

SALTASH

They joined the two on the terrace, and presently they were all laughing
together at Saltash's drolleries. He knew how to bring effervescence to
the very quietest waters. They sat for a space on a seat in the soft
spring starlight, while below them on the down there thrilled the
unspeakable music of nightingales singing far and near. Then after a
while Jake strolled away for his nightly inspection of the stables,
taking Bunny with him, and Saltash and Maud were left alone.

He moved close to her at once, his arm stretched behind her along the
back of the seat. At their feet lay an old red setter, Chops, who had
belonged to Jake before his marriage and had devoted himself to Maud ever
since.

"By Jove, this is p