The Admiral's Daughter

mind to create an occasion for going to Lostwithiel, and, acting on his credit as an old servant, to

saw going down the lane.

as not

d the groom's shou

icks learned in London? Thinkst t

to cast upon it. And not knowing that the end of Charity's letter was sticking out of his pocket, the old groom allowed himself to be poked by the Admiral again, and questioned adroitly as t

bling in places, and the Admiral was minded to arrange with Roger to see to the matter on his behalf. The early sunlight lay slantingly across the tree-to

the West Country, had learned that if there was one man in Cornwall whose loyalty to the Crown was to be relied upon, that man was Admiral Penrock of Garth. Consequently, when the spies of Jeffreys, still lurking in the county after their lord had returned to London, revealed one or two tracts in Cornwall which the h

have reason for remembering his beetling brows, his thundering tones. The Admiral was in a fair way to become a dreaded person. In a magistrate 'twas all very well. But the old sailor carried a warm heart

th many days at a time without a master. He found himself in the position of a gen

ought hard and watched shrewdly-when he was at liberty to watch. Had he possessed in his service a man of education and trustworthiness, untinged by the prejudice that coloured the judgment of the country folk, Garth would not have been left thus at the mercy of fortune. But no such man, Roger Trevannion e

He had certainly done his utmost to train the girl to standards of thought which were native to the comrade of his fighting days. The fact that in some way Elise's nature had been warped to begin with, was beyond his control, and there he left the problem, vaguely attributing the crookedness to some strain on the mother's side. The Admiral had never seen Madame de Delauret. To conte

s brown eyes, 'and all the more for being paid so early. Will you come indo

heir forelocks and chanting 'Marnin', Admur'l!' 'I have but just br

t of earshot of

t now, but he said not you w

ught to you of a letter to my daughter, writ by Charity Borlase, that was

er a young cart-horse, the latest addition to the Mano

towards the headland that overlay Haunted Cove. In the revelation of the later after

e had honestly tried to discount, putting away the versions that had reached his ears as gossiping women's tales. But he was too young, too human, not to be affected in his judgment by his personal attitude to Victoire and her young mistress. The only b

nough, clear as the flaming signs on the wall at Belshazzar's feast. 'Thou art tried in the balances and found wanting,' flickered the gleaming letters, as of old, and then died away. And Roger was left pondering as to the nature of the final word which must

k and Latin texts. And now his first thought had been as to his own share in the matter. What was his duty towards the Admiral and Marion? Marion. His heart had stirred at the passing thought of

h men? Hardly so; rumours in the village had been years old before ever Monmouth landed at Lyme. And yet, these were days of distru

ghts, slowly resolving that he must trace the troubl

oe. On seeing the Admiral, his first thought had been to take advantage of his visit and unburden himself at once of the story. Now, in secret relief, he put the idea aside, determining first to learn what was Charity's part in the affair

y of the Garth lands. Leaning on the gate set in the hedge, they lingered some time. The conversation had fallen on the near prospect of a letter from Marion, o

se through the intervening pastures. The Admiral, about to light his second pi

couriers. What fresh business is toward now? C

k in that direction

man. I declare, I thought when my lord's last letter came, that I would go to

ear you, sir,'

the less the old man struck his flint, and contented

outh full. Roger stored up the incident to take a place in the pantomime rehearsal of her father's stray doings and sayings which Marion

smounted, saluted the Admiral, and proceeded to fumble for his letter, explaining that he had been sent on from the house, Roger stepped to the animal's side. 'Poor b

Admiral in surly tones. 'Why sh

'He can never abide the idea of wasting

ord require

d not,

to the house and rest yo

and across his face, seared with the sweat and dust of

on this brute

essenger. As he spoke, he took the bridle. 'C

yards with the man, he pointed out, through a break i

r pay you?' aske

r, well

to see a brute wasted so. Here's a shilling. Promise you will give him a fa

ned. 'I promise. You

my heart to see that horse

dering were it best to leave him. Whatever might be the new business to hand, he could see the Admiral's wrath was gathering. His face purpled, the eyes growing round as a parrot's. For a se

e roared. 'By the Lor

elf in the hedge and passed a hand over his

rew together, his mouth tighten

id you s

ange for the arrest of the person of Richard

written sheet, his face

ed out. 'Dick's a loy

impossible i

has he

pity at the creaking bones of a wretch hang

ar below showed the north front of Garth, the chimneys cutting the shining bar of the sea into irregular shapes. Only one window was visible through the trees of the garden-the window of the Admiral's study which, in an upper storey, ran the width of one wing, looking out on one hand on the Channel, and on the other to the rising land of the pastures. In the middle of th

ad bent over the gate. He sighed, and r

osed eyes: Dick's deep-notched oaken bench at Blundell's, which had been next his own; their twin

t length. Then recollecting: 'Nay, he is read

pities he ha

Roger's rather husky tones: '

mus

will

ully into the brown eyes facing h

I cannot forget, after all, that my duty is not to serve Jeffreys, but Jeffreys' king. I shall drive out af

oo well how unavailing, in

father

r no

mother? I

le Dick was a

at!' said the Adm

r and report?' came Roger's husky tones.

make his inquiries

opped abruptly, then a minute later, with a brief 'Good morning,' he swu

uneven ground. 'I could pray for an ague to seize me,' ran his thoughts, 'an asp to sting me, a draught to

d his commands upon him he had failed in his duty, betrayed his trust, spoken to another of business of sworn secrecy. Comp

ecrecy. What would Roger do? A gleam ran across the old face. He turned and scanned the pastures. Roger was nowhere to be seen. A look of uncertainty was in the man's eyes as he stood, idly digging into a young gorse bush with his staff.

' came the one voice, 'and any

e to keep the matter secret,' came the

rst. ''Tis not for you to dictate

y!' cried

he is guiltless. 'Tis but a foul whi

has no ties.

ed taking any step, and time would be wasted on the errand. His magisterial self the old seaman soothed by a promise of utmost haste. Instead of ordering the coach for after dinner, he would drive out at once, an

n was out on an errand and he must fasten his own cloak and see to his pistols himself, Elise proceeded to the Admiral's room to offer such services as might be at her command. She found the door of the room ajar, and knew from neighbouring sounds that the Admiral was in the study. In his haste the sailor had thrown th

he door, and pleased at such thoughtfulness, the Admiral bad

owards the Manor Farm. A workman on the south fields was busy ditching, and from him, by dint of casual

selle was bored by the inaction of life so lonely at Garth, and she was wishful to ride out to Bodmin and make a trifling purchase. She did not deem it necessary