se terms--but you'll pay a 'undred per cent
interest on the month, I've lent yer--an' _then_ some I give yer _my_
word!"

The door shut quietly as the man sank into a chair.

"Batty!" he said as he mopped his bald head, "absolutely balmy. But
it's worth while--it's worth while--let her have 'er month--let 'er--I
shall have a whole lifetime to break 'er in."

CHAPTER XVIII

"Why fret about them if to-day be sweet!"--_Omar Khayyam_.

The great grey breakers heaved themselves skywards, paused for half a
second, split and crashed down upon the rocks the next morning as
Leonie and Jan Cuxson sat on the sands under the lowering sky.

They had argued, analysed, plotted, and planned, only to find that each
road they launched out upon full of hope, terminated in the blind alley
of the old man's power over the girl.

"I've just got to go through with it," said Leonie, "there is simply no
way out."

The man caught both hands in his.

"Dear heaven, how I love you, child! How I long to pick you up, as I
did all those years ago, and carry you out of all this to happiness.
Leonie! Leonie! You must marry me, I love you so."

And she had sat quite still, not daring to move for fear of the mighty
passion which surged about her.

Yes! Quite true! They had only met twice; but there is a certain kind
of love, exceeding rare it's true in Europe, which from an
infinitesimal seed is capable in one second of blossoming into a tree,
fruit and all, in the shade of which you can sit content until your
life's end.

It simply sprouts all over the East.

Wishing to prevent a conflagration Leonie spoke quite calmly as she
withdrew her hands.

"And I couldn't marry you, even if I were free, because--at times--as I
have just told you--they say that I--I--am not responsible for my
actions? I'm--I'm supposed to be----"

"Be quiet!"

Cuxson pulled her fiercely into his arms, crushing her cheek against
his.

"Tell me all, every detail."

They sat there as the tide went out, and the man registered the facts
of the tragic tale in his mind, eager to be out on the trail of the
mystery overshadowing the girl he loved.

"Mad!" he laughed when she had finished, "_mad_!--no more than I am,
and I'm sane enough in all conscience except in my love for you. I
shall go to India, and wring or bribe the truth out of that ayah. But
we needn't worry about the date of starting yet a while, and between
then and now we shall have f