f."

Her laugh suddenly had a mocking sound. "Oh, no! I shall never kill
myself on Lord Saltash's premises," she said.

"Why do you say that?" questioned Bunny.

"Because--_que voulez-vous_?--he would want me neither dead nor alive,"
she made reckless answer.

"A good thing too!" declared Bunny stoutly.

The echoes of Toby's laughter as she went down the chill, dark stairway
had an eerie quality that sent an odd shiver through his heart. Somehow
it made him think of the unquiet spirit that was said to haunt the
place--a spirit that wandered alone--always alone--in the utter
desolation.

PART III

CHAPTER I

THE VIRTUOUS HERO

"How long is this absurd farce to go on?" said Larpent.

"Aren't you enjoying yourself?" grinned Saltash.

Larpent looked sardonic.

Saltash took up the whisky decanter. "My worthy buccaneer, you don't know
when you're lucky. If I had a reputation like yours--" He broke off,
still grinning. "Well, it's no use crying over spilt milk, is it? Let's
spill some whisky instead! Say when!"

Larpent watched him, frowning. "Thanks! That's enough. I should like an
answer to my question if you've no objection. How long is this practical
joke going to last?"

Saltash turned and looked upon him with a calculating eye. "I really
don't know what's troubling you," he remarked. "You've got everything in
your favour. I'd change places with you with all the pleasure in the
world if circumstances permitted."

"That isn't the point, is it?" said Larpent.

"No? What is the point?" Saltash turned again to the whisky decanter.

"Well, you've got me into a damn' hole, and I want to know how you're
going to get me out again." Larpent's voice was gruff and surly; he
stared into his tumbler without drinking.

Saltash chuckled to himself with mischievous amusement. "My dear chap, I
can't get you out. That's just it. I want you to stay there."

Larpent muttered deeply and inarticulately, and began to drink.

Saltash turned round, glass in hand, and sat down on the edge of the
high, cushioned fender. "I really don't think you are greatly to be
pitied," he remarked lightly. "The child will soon be married and off
your hands."

"Oh, that's the idea, is it?" said Larpent. "Who's going to marry her?
Young Brian?"

"Don't you approve?" said Saltash.

"I don't think it'll come off," said Larpent with decision.

"Why not?" An odd light flickered in the younger man's eyes for an
instant. "A