Saltash chuckled. "You must let me hear you, Sam. All right. I'll go round. Ah! Here is Sir Bernard! Hullo, Bunny, my boy! You, is it? Where's the boss?" A black-haired, black-eyed lad of about three-and-twenty, handsome, spare, and very upright, had come suddenly round the corner of a building. He greeted Saltash with enthusiasm. "Why, Charlie! I'm awfully pleased to see you! We all thought you were done for. How are you, I say? It was rotten luck for you to lose the poor old _Night Moth_ like that. Hope she was decently insured. And you're none the worse?" "Not a mite!" laughed Saltash. "How are you? As skimpy a bag of bones as ever?" "Oh, dash it! I've grown!" protested Bunny. "I'm as tall as you are anyway." "Oh, you're long enough," chaffed Saltash. "But you're too damn slim! I should think Maud could get you through her wedding-ring if she tried." "Shut up!" growled Bunny who was somewhat sensitive on the point of physical shortcomings. "I'm well enough, so what does it matter? Are you coming round to see Maud when this show is over?" "Depends," grinned Saltash. "What's it depend on?" Bunny linked an arm in his and drew him forward; they were friends of many years' standing. Saltash looked at him with his odd eyes that always seemed to be speculating like a monkey's, as to how far his next jump would carry him. "Depends upon Jake of course. Your good brother-in-law doesn't always invite the wolf into the fold, _mon cher_." "As if you needed an invitation!" ejaculated Bunny impatiently. "Well, I invite you anyway. I know Maud will be awfully disappointed if you don't come and tell her all about your adventure. We were talking about you only this morning." "Really!" said Saltash. "Would it be rude to ask what you were saying?" Bunny's thin face flushed. "You're welcome to know so far as I'm concerned," he said bluntly. "I always stick up for you, Charlie." "Do you? _Mais vraiment!_" protested Saltash. "I am touched beyond words. And what says Brother Jake to that?" "Oh, Jake says I'm an ass, but he's quite decent about you, Charlie,--rather fond of you in fact. Don't run away with that idea!" begged Bunny, turning still redder. "Only people jaw a lot about you, you know. No one ever can be content to mind their own business." "He'd be a fool who was," said Saltash. "There's no such thing as independent action in this world. We all hang to each other like swarming bees. So you've been sticking up for me, have you? And what says Sister Maud?" Bunny broke into a sudden laugh. "Oh, she's decided to reserve judgment. You'll have to come and see her. You really must. And the kids too--four of 'em now. The eldest is a darling." "Eileen! Oh, I know Eileen," said Saltash. "I was actually allowed to have her to tea once at the Castle. I am not supposed to have such a venomous effect upon quite small girls as upon young men of two or three and twenty." "Oh, shut up!" Bunny growled again. "There's Jake, look! Come and speak to him!"