There were no marks lying on the ground as those two elderly men stood face to face alone on the short turf of the Downs; but it seemed as if they must have dropped a tear. Neither spoke for some minutes, and then it was the Master of the Ceremonies. "My lord," he said firmly, "you have given me this commission for my son as a bribe." "No, no, Denville, I swear I have not." "Take it back, my lord, for what you ask is impossible." "Impossible?" "Fate has been very hard to me, my lord, and the burden has been too heavy at times to bear; but I cannot do this thing. I love my child too well." They stood gazing out to sea for some minutes, and only the rushing of the wind was heard, or the wailing cry of the gulls, but at last Lord Carboro' spoke. "Denville, I did not know you," he said gravely. "I thought I had to deal with a different man; but don't let us be hasty. As to the commission, it is your boy's, and may he deserve it. As to what we have said, let us wait. Don't refuse me absolutely, and don't say a word to Miss Denville. Give me leave to visit at your house, and let matters slide for a few months. Things may shape themselves so that you may change your mind; do you consent to this?" "It would be like buoying your lordship up with false hopes." "That is my look-out, sir; do you consent?" "I am your lordship's obedient, humble servant." "You are the man I offer to make my father-in-law? Answer me, sir, like a man." "I consent." "That's better. Denville, your hand. In future I shall know you as the man I have seen to-day. I never respected you one half so much before." Volume Two, Chapter XI. JAMES BELL'S DECISION. It was in honour of Morton Denville's reception into the regiment that the Master of the Ceremonies received. There had been some difficulty in the matter, but on the very first night that the young man dined at the mess, when, urged by Major Rockley, his brother-officers had decided to send him to Coventry, it so happened that "a certain gentleman" was at Saltinville and had expressed his intention to Colonel Lascelles of looking in. Consequently, it was decided not to transport the young subaltern to the Midlands that night; and as it happened His Royal Highness asked the Colonel who the tall youth was, ordered him to be introduced, and shook hands with the young man. "Devilish gentlemanly fellow, your father, my lad. Always looks a gentleman, and carries a devilish good pinch of snuff. My compliments to him, and tell him I was glad to oblige Carboro'." "They were all as civil to me as could be, after that, Clairy," said Morton, relating the meeting at home. "Even Rockley shook hands after dinner, when we'd had a lot of claret, and he apologised about being carried away, he called it, and said we were brother-officers now, and must be good friends. I don't like him, though." Claire turned pale.