--you couldn't--pretend to--to--to really love anyone
else--after Maud!"

There fell a brief silence, and she thought the beating of her heart
would choke her. Then there came the touch of his hand upon her head, and
its wild throbbing grew calmer.

"No," he said, and in his voice was a new deep note unknown to her. "I am
not pretending, Nonette."

The light touch drew her as it were magnetically. With a swift, impulsive
movement she raised herself, gave herself to him, hiding her face still
more deeply against his breast.

"But you--you--you couldn't really love me!" she whispered like an
incredulous child. "You sure you do?"

His arms went round her, holding her fast. He made no other answer.
Saltash, the glib of tongue and ready of gibe, was for once speechless in
the presence of that which has no words.

She nestled closer to him as a little furry animal that has found its
home. Her incredulity was gone, but she kept her face hidden. "But why
didn't you tell me before?" she said.

He bent his black head till his lips reached and rested against her hair.
"Nonette," he said, "you told me that I had made you believe in God."

"Yes?" she whispered back rather breathlessly. "Yes?"

"That's why," he said. "You got me clean through my armour there. Egad,
it made me a believer too. If I'd failed you after that--well, He'd have
been justified in damning me, body and soul!"

"But you couldn't!" she protested. "You couldn't fail me!"

His dark face twisted with the old wry grimace. "I've failed a good many
in my time, Nonette. But--no one ever trusted me to that extent. You
practically forced me--to prove myself."

A little gasp of relief came from Toby. She spoke with more assurance.
"Oh, was that it? You were just trying--to be good?"

"Just--trying!" said Saltash.

"You still trying?" asked Toby, a little curious note of laughter in her
voice.

"I shan't keep on much longer," he returned, "unless I get what I want."

"There'd be a blue moon if you did!" remarked Toby impudently.

Saltash raised his head abruptly. "By Jupiter! There is one!" he said.
"Let's go to her!"

Toby's face shot upwards in a moment. "Where?"

Her eyes sought the skylight above them and the dim mysterious blue of
the night. His came down to her in a flash, dwelt upon her, caressed her,
drew her.

She turned sharply and looked at him. "Charles Rex!" she said
reproachfully.

He took her pointed chin and laughed down at her. Hi