The Obstacle Race Part 43

d.i.c.k shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.

Again Saltash's eyes dwelt upon him with curiosity. "I want to know you,"

he said suddenly. "I hope you don't object?"

"I am vastly honoured by your notice," said d.i.c.k.

Saltash nodded. "Well, don't be an a.s.s about it! I am a most inoffensive person, I a.s.sure you. And it isn't my fault that I was on friendly terms with _Mademoiselle Juliette_ before she forsook the world, etc., etc., and turned to you to fill the void. Do you flatter yourself you are going to marry her by any chance?"

A swift gleam shot up in d.i.c.k's eyes. He stiffened involuntarily. "That is a subject I cannot discuss--even with you," he said.

Saltash smiled good-humouredly. "Well, I expected that. But your courtship on the lake this afternoon was so delightfully ingenuous that I couldn't help wondering what your intentions were."

d.i.c.k's mouth became a simple hard line. He looked the other man up and down with lightning rapidity ere he replied with significance. "My intentions, my lord, are--honourable."

Saltash bowed with his hand on his heart and open mockery in his eyes.

"_La pauvre Juliette_! And have you told her yet? No, look here! Don't knock me down! There's no sense in taking offence at a joke you can't understand. And it would be bad manners to have a row, with that poor soul in there at death's door. Moreover, if you really want to marry the princess _Juliette_, it'll pay you to be friends with me."

"I doubt if anything would induce me to be that," said d.i.c.k curtly.

"Oh, really? What have I done? No, don't tell me! It would take too long.

I am aware I'm a by-word for wickedness in these parts, heaven alone knows why. But at least I've never injured you." Saltash's smile was suddenly disarming again.

"Never had much opportunity, have you?" said d.i.c.k.

"No, but I've got one now--quite a good one. I could put an end to this little idyll of yours for instance without the smallest difficulty--if I felt that way."

"I don't believe you!" flashed d.i.c.k.

"No? Well, wait till I do it then!" There was amused tolerance in Saltash's rejoinder. "You'll pipe another tune then, I fancy."

"Shall I?" d.i.c.k said. He paused a moment, his eyes, extremely bright, fixed unwaveringly upon the swarthy face in front of him. "If I do--you'll dance to it!" he said with grim a.s.surance.

Saltash smothered a laugh. "Well done, I say! You've scored a point at last! I was waiting for that. You'll like me better now, most worthy cavalier. I daren't suggest a drink under the circ.u.mstances, but I'll owe you one." He extended his hand with a royal air. "Will you shake?"

d.i.c.k held back. "Will you play the game?" he said.

Saltash grinned. "My own game? Certainly! I always do."

d.i.c.k's hand came out to him. Somehow he was hard to refuse. "A straight game?" he said.

Saltash's brows expressed amused surprise. "I always play straight--till I begin to lose,--chevalier," he said.

"And then--you cheat?" questioned d.i.c.k.

"Like the devil," laughed Saltash. "We all do that. Don't you?"

"No," d.i.c.k said briefly.

"You don't? You always put all your cards on the table? Come now! Do you?"

d.i.c.k hesitated, and Saltash's grin became more p.r.o.nounced. "All right!

You needn't answer," he said lightly. "Do you know I thought you weren't quite as simple as you appeared at first sight. Just as well perhaps.

_Juliette's_ cavalier mustn't be too rustic." He stopped to look at d.i.c.k appraisingly. "Yes, I'm glad on the whole that your intentions are honourable," he ended with a smile. "I rather doubt if you pull 'em off.

But you may--you may."

He turned sharply with the words as if a hand had touched him and faced round upon Juliet as she came out on to the step.

Her face had an exhausted look, but she smiled faintly at the two men as she joined them.

"She is still living," she said. "The doctor gives just a shade of hope.

But--" She looked at Saltash--"he absolutely forbids her being moved--at all. I hope it won't be a terrible inconvenience to you."

"It will be a privilege to serve you--or your friends--in any way,"

said Saltash.

"Thank you," she said. "I am sure Mr. Fielding will be very grateful to you. The doctor is going to send in a nurse. Of course I shall not leave her. She has come to depend upon me a good deal. And we thought of telephoning to her maid to bring everything necessary from Shale Court."

"Of course!" said Saltash kindly. "Look here, my dear! Don't for heaven's sake feel you've got to ask my permission for everything you do! Treat the place and everyone in it as your own!"

"Thank you," she said again. "Then, Charles, if you're sure you don't mind, I'll send for my dog as well."

"What! Christopher Columbus? You've got him with you, have you?"

Saltash's smile lighted his dark face. "Lucky animal! Have him over by all means! I shall be delighted to see him."

"You are very kind," she said, and turned with a hint of embarra.s.sment to d.i.c.k. "Mr. Fielding says that you will want to be getting back and there is no need to wait. Will you take the little car back to the Court?"

"Certainly," d.i.c.k said. "Would you care to give me a list of the things you want the maid to bring?"

"How kind of you!" she said, and hesitated a moment, looking at him. "But I think I needn't trouble you. c.o.x is very sensible. I can make her understand on the telephone."

He looked back at her, standing very straight. "In that case--I will go,"

he said. "Good-bye!"

She held out her hand to him. "I--shall see you again," she said, and there was almost a touch of pleading in her voice.

His fingers closed and held. "Yes," he said, and smiled into her eyes with the words--a smile in which determination and tenderness strangely mingled. "You will certainly see me again."

And with that he was gone, striding between the ma.s.sed flowers without looking back.

"Exit Romeo!" murmured Saltash. "Enter--Kismet!"

But Juliet had already turned away.

CHAPTER V

THE DRIVING FORCE