Jake's red-brown eyes held a smile that made his rugged face look kindly as he made reply. "Maybe we both have the sense to spot a winner when we see one, my lord." Saltash's brows went up derisively. "And maybe you'll both lose good money on the gamble before you've done." "I think not," said Jake, in his steady drawl. "I've known many a worse starter than you get home on the straight." Saltash laughed aloud, and Toby turned with flushed cheeks and lifted eyes, alight and ardent, to her hero's face. Saltash's glance flashed round to her, the monkeyish grin still about his mouth, and from her to Bunny who stood behind. He did not speak for a moment. Then: "No; you've never known a worse starter, Jake," he said; "and if I do get home on the straight it will be thanks to you." Very curiously from that moment Bunny found his brief resentment dead. CHAPTER XII THE OGRE'S CASTLE "Let's go out into the garden!" said Bunny urgently. Dinner was over, and Maud and Saltash were at the piano at the far end of the great room. Jake and Larpent were smoking in silent companionship at a comfortable distance. Toby, who had been very quiet the whole evening, sat silently apart in a low chair with her hands clasped about her knees. Bunny alone was restless. She lifted her eyes to him as he prowled near her, and they held a hint of mischief. At his murmured words she rose. "You'd like to?" he questioned. She nodded. "Of course; love it. You know the way. You lead!" Bunny needed no second bidding. He went straight to the tall door and held it open for her. Toby, very slim and girlish in her white raiment, cocked her chin and walked out in state. But the moment they were alone she turned upon him a face brimful of laughter. "Oh, now we can enjoy ourselves! I've been feeling so proper all the evening. Quick! Where shall we go?" "Into the garden," said Bunny. "Or wait! Come up on to the battlements! It's ripping up there." She thrust her hand eagerly into his. "I shall love that. Which way do we go?" "Through the music-room," said Bunny. He caught and held her hand. They ran up one of the wide stairways that branched north and south to the Gallery. Saltash's music followed them from the drawing-room as they went. He was playing a haunting Spanish love-song, and Toby shivered and quickened her pace. They reached another oak door which Bunny opened, drawing her impetuously forward. "This is Charlie's own particular sanctum. Rather a ripping place, isn't it? He's got a secret den that leads somewhere out of it, but no one knows how to get in." He led her over a polished oak floor into a long, almost empty apartment with turreted windows at each end, and a grand piano near one of them that shone darkly in the shaded lamplight. Underfoot were Persian rugs, exquisite of tint and rich of texture. Two or three deep divans completed the furniture of the room giving it a look of Eastern magnificence that strangely lured the senses.