"Just so. Ye-es. That was, as you might say, my _tour de force_!" said Terence, smirking. "Cost me a lot of fag, that did, to say nothing about coin of the realm. Thought you were fairly caught that time, didn't you? What about `The Thrill' when you heard the sound of the key in the lock? Eh, what?" Lessing gave him a murderous glance. "How would you have felt if I had injured myself for life, climbing down from that window?" "Oh, shucks!" Terence shrugged with easy assurance. "Any juggins could have got down over that ivy, easy as walking downstairs. And you have done a bit of climbing in your day. Did you get very much stung by the nettles lying down by that wall?" Lessing's jaw fell; the blood buzzed in his ears. An intolerable humiliation encompassed him. Had he been _seen_? Terence burst into a great roar of laughter. "Oh, bless you, yes! He saw you right enough. It was Jeffries, you know. G.P. Jeffries, sharpest fellow we have at hospital. He said he had the time of his life, sitting upon that wall, watching you quaking among those nettles. By the way, the bag's all right. I've got it locked away in my cupboard. I suppose you wouldn't be willing, as a slight acknowledgment of my trouble, and in gratitude for an uncommonly useful lesson, to regard the outlay on that day's expedition as a--er, fee?" Lessing stared, glared, opened his lips to pour out heated words, stopped short, and expanded his chest in a long, deep breath. Suddenly, overpoweringly, the consciousness of safety rushed through his being, and swept before it all petty considerations for his own dignity and self-esteem. He was free, he was safe; his life was unthreatened, he was free to plan ahead, to take upon himself new claims, new responsibilities. He felt again the touch of Delia's arms, and knew an irresistible impatience to continue the interrupted scene. He rose from his seat, and addressed a few dignified words to the lad by his side. "Another time, Terence, we'll thrash this matter out. You meant well, no doubt, but--" "Just so. I was sorry to interrupt, but it was all done for the best. She's in the rose garden. She's crying!" volunteered Terence, grinning. "Is it your heart? _Is_ it your heart?" cried Delia clinging to his arm. "Oh, Val, is your heart really affected?" Lessing clasped her to him, laughing a big, glad laugh, full of the joy and wonder of life. "It is, darling!" he cried. "It is! _You_ have affected it. Oh, Delia, Delia, let's be married, let's be married at once, and--keep a chicken farm!" CHAPTER NINE. THE MAN WHO WISHED FOR SUCCESS.