rpent spoke with slow emphasis, "that to leave her where
she now is, is to leave her in safe and honourable keeping?"

The old mocking smile gleamed in Saltash's eyes. "Yes, I mean that," he
said. "Do you believe me, Larpent?"

"Believe you, my lord?" Larpent seemed to hesitate.

The hand that held him moved with a hint of impatience. "I am asking,"
said Saltash royally, "if you consider that my protection is adequate
for--my wife."

"Your--wife!" Larpent started in sharp surprise. "Your wife, did you
say?"

Saltash broke into a chuckle and dropped his hand from his captain's
shoulder. "Yes, just that," he said. "You are behind the times, my
friend. Are you going to congratulate me? We were married four days ago."

Larpent's hand came out to him abruptly. "It's the best thing you've ever
done, my lord," he said. "And you will never regret it."

"What makes you say that?" said Saltash curiously.

Their hands gripped and fell apart. Larpent answered him in the brief
fashion of the man whose words are few. "Mainly because you loved her
enough to marry her when you could have had her without."

Saltash's laugh had the old derisive ring but there was no corresponding
gleam of mockery in his eyes as he turned carelessly aside. "What is this
thing called love?" he said.

CHAPTER VII

THE REFUGEE

It was by no means characteristic of Jake to linger on a quest which had
already proved fruitless but he was a man who possessed acquaintances in
almost all parts of the world, and Paris was no exception. For the rest
of the day after leaving Saltash he was philosophically occupied in
seeking out old friends. Eventually he dined at a restaurant and betook
himself to the station to catch the night train to Calais. It was all one
to Jake whether he travelled by night or by day, so wholly accustomed was
he to adapt himself to circumstances. Maud was wont to say with a smile
that the luxuries of decent living were utterly thrown away upon him. He
was a man who scarcely noticed physical discomfort. He could sleep under
practically any conditions.

Walking solidly down the platform, carrying his own baggage, his thoughts
were completely astray from his surroundings. They had reverted to the
memory of the girlish figure he had seen that morning seated on a table,
swinging one leg in studied nonchalance while every line was instinct
with defiance. Yes, she had defied him, but deep in her heart she had
feared--how she h