"No; I have made arrangements to board with a Miss Pavey, at a very pleasant cottage--Dinas Vale. Good-night!" "I'll walk as far as your rooms with you, Mr Trethick," said Tregenna, as they stepped out into the road. "Have a cigar?" They lit up, and strolled along the up-and-down ill-paved way, Tregenna evidently laying himself out to make friends with the new arrival, who made himself frank and pleasant, but, somehow, not cordial. "Drop in and have a chat with me, Mr Trethick," said Tregenna, at parting. "I may be able to further your views. Any one will show you my place." "Know it," said Geoffrey. "Saw the brass plate on the gate." "Yes," laughed Tregenna, "one has to put out a sign. But come and see me; perhaps I can help you." "I don't like after-dinner promises," laughed Geoffrey. "They are rash. I may put you to the test." "Rash? Oh, no! We are not like that in the west. I shall be only too glad to help you to the best of my power. Good-night!" "Good-night!" Geoffrey remained at the garden gate thinking that his companion had spoken a great deal more loudly than was necessary. Then, as he had not finished his cigar, he resolved to smoke it out, and enjoy for a few minutes the cool night air. "I don't like to be hasty," he thought, "but I scarcely think that I shall trust you, Mr Tregenna, beyond the reach of my hand. If I am not very much mistaken your civility has a meaning, and you are a confounded scoundrel. If not, I beg your pardon." "Yes," he said, half aloud, after smoking on for a few minutes and thinking deeply, "it was your voice that I heard down in that old building. Now I wonder who was the girl?" As the thought crossed his mind, the faint sound of a closing casement smote his ear, when, like a flash, the light came. "By George! of course," he said. "The other voice was familiar, too. It was our pretty little maiden here. Hang it all! I've tumbled into the thick of a mystery, and if I don't take care I shall be in the middle of the mess." "Hah?" he exclaimed, as he tapped at the door, "As I said before, it's no business of mine, and her father knows best; but this love-making is the greatest nuisance under the sun, or I ought to say the moon." CHAPTER TWELVE. COLD WATER. Mr John Tregenna had lost no time upon leaving the dining-room, but joined Rhoda, who sat looking rather pale, but prepared for the attack. She knew that it must come, and, in spite of a feeling of dread, she felt almost glad, when, seating himself beside her, he began, with plenty of calm, quiet assurance, to plead his cause, she listening patiently the while to all he had to say. Every word he uttered was to Rhoda as so much trouble over, and she would not look nor speak until he had finished, being determined to hear all he had to say, and to let him say it without hinderance, so that the matter should be ended once and for all.