y years before you were born, and I think that gives me some
privilege. On one point I have quite made up my mind. I shall not play
cards again while I am in your house."

As he spoke, Clodagh paused in her ascent of the boulders and looked at
him. In the softly deepening twilight her eyes again held the
mysterious promise of great beauty; and in their depths a shade of
respect, of surprised admiration had suddenly become visible. As she
gazed at him, her lips parted involuntarily.

"I didn't think you were so plucky," she said; then abruptly she
stopped, glancing over her shoulder.

From the road behind them came the clicking thud of a horse's hoofs,
and a moment later the voice of Asshlin hailed them out of the dusk.

CHAPTER VIII

It would be futile to deny that the unexpected sound of Asshlin's voice
brought a tremor to the mind of his guest. It is disconcerting to the
most valiant to be confronted with his antagonist in the very moment
that he has laid down his challenge; and at best Milbanke was no hero.
Nevertheless he recovered his equanimity with creditable speed, and
exchanging a quick glance with Clodagh, scrambled hastily over the
remaining stones and reached the road.

As he gained it, Asshlin pulled up sharply and dismounted from his big,
bony horse with all the dexterity of a young man. With a loud laugh of
greeting, he slipped the bridle over one hand and linked the other in
Milbanke's arm.

"Hullo!" he cried. "Now who'd have dreamt that I'd meet you like this?
I'm ashamed of you, James. 'Pon my word I am. Philandering across the
strand in the fall of the evening as if you were still in the twenties.
It's with me you should have been. We had the deuce of a fine run!"

He paused to push his hat from his hot forehead and to rearrange the
bridle.

Clodagh, who had followed Milbanke slowly, stepped eagerly forward as
she caught the last words.

"Oh, father," she cried, "tell us about it! Who was there? Was the
sport good? Did the bay carry you well?"

In her suddenly awakened interest it was clear to Milbanke that the
vital question she had been discussing with him--the opinions he had
expressed upon it--his very existence even, were obliterated from her
mind, her natural, youthful exuberance responding to the idea of any
physical action as unfailingly as the needle answers to the magnet. And
again the faintly poignant sense of aloofness and age fell upon him as
he listened uncomprehend