"--Gentle Annie's ample bust rose and fell with
agitation--"the police will catch you."

"They'd think of looking for me in the moon before they came here, my
dear; besides I have no intention of stopping. I only want rest and
food."

"I'll do what I can for you, but you must go almost directly."

"Why, certainly." Tresco sat down, and drew a deep breath. "It's good to
look at a wholesome woman again--it seems years since I saw one."

A smile passed over Gentle Annie's face, and her eyes twinkled with
merriment. "I see you're not cured of your old weakness," she said.

"No, my dear; and I hope I never shall be." Benjamin had rallied from
his depression. "On the contrary, it increases."

They were a strange couple--the wild-looking man on one side of the
table, and the fine figure of a woman who emitted a faint odour of
patchouli, on the other.

"I suppose you know I'm my own mistress now."

"It looks like it. I understood something of the kind from Jake."

"I objected to be pulled about indiscriminately, so I left The Lucky
Digger. A rough brute cut my arm with a broken glass." She rolled up her
sleeve, and showed the scar of the newly-healed wound.

Benjamin took the soft, white arm in his hand, and gave it just the
suspicion of a squeeze.

"I wish I'd bin there, my dear: I'd ha' chucked him through the window."

"Mr. Scarlett--who has been so lucky on the diggings--kicked him out of
the house on to the pavement."

"Ah! but did he do the thing properly, scientifically?"

"I think so. And when he found the boss blaming me for the row, he
turned on him like a tiger. But afterwards old Townson gave me the
office, so I've retired into private life. Do you like my rooms?"

"A trifle small, don't you think?" said Benjamin.

"Cozy."

"My dear, where you are it can't help being cozy."

"After that I'll get you something to eat. What do you say to grilled
steak and onions?"

"Delicious! Couldn't be better."

Gentle Annie bustled out to the safe, at the back of the house, and
returned with a dish of red and juicy meat.

"And to follow, you shall have stewed plums and cream."

"Better than ever," said Benjamin; his mouth watering behind his ragged
beard.

"I believe I understand mankind," said Gentle Annie, going to a
cupboard, whence she took a big bottle, which she placed on the table.

"If all the women in the world understood men as you do, my dear, we
should have Arcadia here, instead of Gehennu