"My horse?" she said quickly. "What became of him?" "He was swept away by the tide!" Into the proud eyes came a softer light--of regret, pain. "Your Ladyship should remember it might have been worse," he added, in tones intended to reassure her. "After all, it was only a horse--" "Only a horse!" she exclaimed indignantly. "But, I suppose you can't understand--caring for a horse!" "I can understand caring for a ship!" he answered quickly, a flash of amusement, hardly concealed, in his bold, dark eyes. "A ship!" scornfully; "dead wood and iron." "Live wood and iron! Beautiful as--" The simile failed him; he looked at my lady. "Something to be depended on, with a hand to the wheel, and an eye keen for mad dancings and curvetings." "I might appreciate them better," she interrupted dryly, with delicate brows uplifted, "an they brought me nearer to the Mount. That, and not idle opinions," in accents that conveyed surprise at the temerity of one in his position to express them, "is of most moment!" He accepted the reproof with a readiness that further surprised her. "Your Ladyship is right," he said. "I will see what may be done. The storm has passed. There is yet daylight, and"--an expression, almost preoccupied, came to his features--"a boat may be sighted." "To be sure!" At the prospect, all other considerations passed from my lady's mind. "A boat may be sighted! Why did you not think of it before? Come! Too much time has already been lost." And she rose. "One moment!" His voice was quiet; respectful; although, she fancied, constrained. "I had better go alone. The way to the cliff is rough, and--" "I shall not mind that!" "Besides, your clothes--" "Are dry!" "No!" She flushed at the abrupt contradiction. "I mean, I don't see how they could be!" he went on hurriedly, "and," his tone assumed a certain obduracy, "I assure your Ladyship, it will be best." "Best?" She looked at him more sharply. "Is that your only reason?" "Why?" A trace of embarrassment, for an instant, crossed his dark features. "What other reason, my Lady?" "That I know not!" quickly, assured her words had struck home. "Only I am certain there is one!" "Then, if your Ladyship must know," he spoke slowly. "I did not wish to alarm you. But this is a rough coast, with--many rough people about--smugglers, privateersmen--" "Whom you, perhaps, are expecting?" she cried suddenly. "I!" with a careless laugh. "A fisherman! Your Ladyship is imaginative--" he began, when a sudden, hasty footstep clinked on the stones without; a hand caught at the fastenings of the door; flung it open. "I thought I should find you here, Seigneur!" exclaimed a voice. "Since--"