ould be intolerably
malicious and even vindictive when the mood took him, but his moods never
lasted. And as for Bolton, since he had won and still possessed his
heart's desire, he could afford to be generous.

His greeting was generous now, but it was not wholly without reserve. He
gave Saltash a square hand-grip before he uttered a word.

Then: "Glad you're safe and sound, my lord," he said, in a voice that was
curiously soft and deliberate.

"That's uncommon kind of you, Jake," laughed Saltash, with his royal air
of graciousness. "I share the sentiment. I know you would all have been
heart-broken if I hadn't turned up again. How is Maud?"

"Very well--if she doesn't work too hard. I have to keep her in order in
that respect," said Jake Bolton with a sudden smile that swept all the
somewhat dominant lines from his face.

Saltash grinned in sympathy. "You always were a bully, but I'll bet she
gets her own way all the same. So you've got a boy at last! Hope it's a
good one!"

"He'd better be, hadn't he, Jake?" struck in Bunny. "The imp is six
months old now and goes for a canter on The Hundredth Chance every day
when I'm at home. You actually haven't seen him yet, Charlie? What a
rotter you were to be away all the winter!"

"Well, I'm home now anyway," said Saltash, with a comical glance at Jake.
"Am I to be allowed to call and view the latest acquisition?"

Jake was looking straight at him. "Are you--alone at the Castle, my
lord?" he asked after a moment.

Saltash began to laugh. "Of course I'm alone! What did you expect? Ah, I
see!" His glance flashed to Bunny. "Yes, I am quite alone--most
conspicuously and virtuously unaccompanied. Come and see for yourself!
Search the Castle from turret-chamber to dungeon! You will find nothing
but the most monastic emptiness. I've turned into a hermit. Haven't they
made that discovery yet? My recent deliverance from what I must admit was
a decidedly awkward predicament in the Channel has sobered me to such an
extent that on my life I begin to doubt if I shall ever be anything but a
dull dog again. Yes, that's the truth, Jake. You can take it or leave it.
But I'm coming to see Maud in any case. When is my presence least likely
to cause you inconvenience?"

"Oh, damn it, Jake!" broke in Bunny with sudden heat. "You know Maud said
you were to ask him to dine if he turned up."

"You shut up, my son!" commanded Jake with absolute serenity. "It's not
any business of yours an