yway. We'll send you to bed before dinner if you
aren't mighty careful."

Bunny laughed at the threat, but his sallow boyish face coloured
sensitively notwithstanding.

Saltash laughed also. "Oh, you needn't do that, Jake. I'm as harmless as
any sucking dove, I assure you. You'll have to put up with me now. When
shall I come?"

"Come tonight!" said Jake with quiet decision. "Eight o'clock if that
suits you. Afraid I must go now. Bunny, take his lordship to see Prince
Charlie!"

He lifted a hand in salute and turned away--a man of no pretensions
either social or intellectual, yet who knew how to hold his own with high
and low alike.

"Keeps you in order still, does he?" gibed Saltash, as he watched him go.
"You're getting too old to be on a leading-string, _mon cher_."

Bunny frowned at the careless words. "You don't know him. He's not that
sort of ass. We're pals, Jake and I, and I'm proud of it."

"Of course you are!" said Saltash comfortably. "Didn't I tell you long
ago that he was a gentleman? It's the way he's made. Hewn out of raw
material, but the real thing and no mistake. You must never quarrel with
him on my account, Bunny, my lad. It would be very poor economy on your
part."

"I shan't do that," said Bunny. "But he's got to do you justice. Maud
says the same."

Saltash laughed aloud. "But, my dear chap, nobody ever does that! I don't
myself!"

Bunny looked at him with affection. "You always have tried to make
yourself out a worse rotter than you really are, haven't you, Charlie?
I always tell Jake so."

"No, it's not my doing," said Saltash lightly. "That's the rest of the
world, _mon ami_. They like their pictures highly coloured. So--_pourquoi
pas_?"

He snapped his fingers and laughed, and they passed on together with
careless jesting and friendly chaff. Saltash had always been kind to
young Bernard Brian. The boy had been a helpless cripple in his
childhood, and he had developed a keen appreciation for all kindness
during those days which nothing could now efface. Whatever Saltash's
morals, he was a friend, and as such Bunny never failed to treat him.
They spent the rest of the afternoon together in and out of the
enclosure, and when amidst wild enthusiasm Prince Charlie won his
maiden race, the two were waiting side by side to congratulate Jake
as he led the victor in. Saltash departed soon afterwards and motored
back to Burchester Castle to dress. And then Bunny, half-laughing,
half-apo