"Strong has none," said Dent brutally. "If he moves in this matter, he reckons with me." Strong fidgeted, and looked uneasily at the lady. "I'm rich, sirs," said her ladyship desperately. "Captain Strong, if you will aid me--" "He daren't take a bribe," Dent interrupted. "And you, sir?" she asked. "For what will you sell me the life of this child?" "There is one bribe I will take--only one,--you may offer it," Dent replied slowly, looking at her. Very hurriedly she left the room. CHAPTER XV DICK MEETS DEATH The first thing Dick saw, when the sun rose, was the new suit of rose-coloured silk which her Ladyship had given him to wear on her birthday. Old Philip had laid it out on the oak chest when it came from Arncastor the afternoon before. This was her birthday, to which they had so looked forward. He sat up in the bed and looked at the sun. "I'm going to die," he said aloud. It was quite unbelievable. There was the world outside, and here was his room and the birthday suit, and himself well and strong, and as much in need of breakfast as usual. He had not meant to go to sleep last night, but without undressing had lain down to think. Sleep had come, however, and here was the sun, and at sunrise they had said he should die. He started up. In a mirror opposite he saw a tumbled suit, an untidy head, and a pair of large frightened eyes. "This won't do," he thought miserably. "I look like a traitor. I die game, like the men in the tale-books." He stripped, plunged into a basin of cold water, got out a clean shirt, paused; cried a little, and dried the tears with his wrist-bands; then drew on the new silken hose, and put on the shoes with rosettes. Then came the rose-coloured suit, and with trembling hands he fastened the collar of rich lace her Ladyship had given him, and tied the embroidered sash. "'Tis her birthday," he thought. "God bless her and give her many, many happy years, dear Cousin Dorothy! I wish I'd died at the inn before I knew what happiness felt like." He buried his face in the pillows and cried bitterly. But he heard steps outside, and pulled himself up. The corporal came in. "Are you ready?" he asked. "I haven't said my prayers yet," said Dick. "Say them then, in good season." Dick said the Lord's Prayer, and then, putting on his hat, said: "I'm ready." "I'm not afraid to die," he observed as they went downstairs, "but I'm sorry past bearing to leave Cousin Dorothy." The corporal said: "Umph!" In the hall Captain Strong bade them halt. The door was open, and Dick saw two troopers under a tree on the grass, and hanging from a branch of the tree was a rope. He started. He had thought they would shoot him at least. A rope! A halter! Die on a gallows! He flushed. And for what? A lie would have saved him, and his death was of no importance. He was not saving anyone, or serving anyone, by his death.