Jake spoke, his voice soft as a woman's, yet strangely dominating. "I should like two minutes alone with you--if you can spare them." Saltash was smiling. His glance shot towards Toby, and came back to Jake with a certain royal arrogance that held its own without effort. "In other words, you wish--Lady Saltash--to leave us?" he questioned easily. "I'm not going," said Toby quickly, with nervous decision. Her hands were tightly clasped in front of her. She stood as one strung to the utmost limit of resistance. Jake did not again look at her. His eyes were upon Saltash, and they never wavered. "Alone with you," he repeated, with grim insistence. Saltash regarded him curiously. His mouth twitched mockingly as he put the cigarette between his lips. He held out the case to Jake in mute invitation. Jake's look remained fixed. He ignored the action, and the case snapped shut in Saltash's hand with a sharp sound that seemed to denote a momentary exasperation. But Saltash's face still retained the monkey-like expression of calculated mischief habitual to it. "Bunny with you?" he enquired casually, producing a match-box. "No." Very quietly came Jake's answer. "I have come to see you--alone." Saltash lighted his cigarette, and blew a careless cloud of smoke. "Are you proposing to shoot me?" he asked, after a pause. "No," said Jake grimly. "Shooting's too good for you--men like you." Saltash laughed, and blew another cloud of smoke. "That may be why I have survived so long," he remarked. "I don't see the horsewhip either. Jake, my friend, you are not rising to the occasion with becoming enthusiasm. Any good offering you a drink to stimulate your energies?" "None whatever," said Jake, still very quietly. "I don't go--till I have what I came for--that's all. Neither do you!" "I--see!" said Saltash. An odd little gleam that was almost furtive shone for a second in his eyes and was gone. He turned and crossed the room to Toby. "My dear," he said, "I think this business will be more quickly settled if you leave us." She looked at him piteously. He took her lightly by the arm, and led her to a door leading to an adjoining room. "By the time you have smoked one cigarette," he said, "I shall be with you again." She turned with an impulsive attempt to cling to him. "You'll--keep me?" she said, through trembling lips. He made a royal gesture that frustrated her with perfect courtesy. "Are you not my wife?" he said. He opened the door for her, and she had no choice but to go through. She went swiftly, without another glance, and Saltash closed the door behind her. CHAPTER II THE VILLAIN SCORES "Now, sir!" said Saltash, and turned. His tone was brief; the smile had gone from his face. He came to Jake with a certain haughtiness, and stood before him. Jake squared his shoulders. "So--you've married her!" he said. "I have." There was a note of challenge in the curt rejoinder. Saltash's brows were drawn.