Saltash

“ Billings spoke with his head nearly touching the logs of wood he was seeking to kindle. "I quite understand, my lord."
Saltash got to his feet. "I'll give you a gold watch if you succeed, Billings," he said.
"You're very good, my lord," said Billings.
Saltash wandered down the hall. He had a cigarette between his lips, but he was not smoking. He reached the marble statue near the grand staircase and pressed a switch that flooded it with light. Then he stood before it, silent and intent. White and wonderful the anguished figure shone, but it was rather a figure of death than life. ”

“ Saltash straightened himself with a lightning movement. They looked into each other's eyes for several tense seconds. Then, though no word has passed between them, Dick's hand fell.
"That's better," said Saltash. "You're getting quite civil. Look here, my bully boy! I'll tell you something—and you'd better listen carefully, for there's a hidden meaning to it. You're the biggest ass that ever trod this earth. There!" ”

“ Ever reflected on that truism?"
"I reckon it couldn't apply to me in any case," drawled Jake, turning up his collar and settling into it with square deliberation.
"Because you're one of the favoured few?" questioned Saltash.
There was an unmistakably jeering note in his voice this time. A faint smile came into Jake's face. His eyes stared straight before him.
"Maybe so," he said. "But my opinion is, if a man can't hold his own,--well, he deserves to lose it."
Saltash laughed aloud. "It isn't always brute force that counts, most worthy cow-puncher. There is such a thing as brains." ”

“ Does Jake think I am not to be trusted?"
She smiled at that. "Oh no. Jake never interferes. But--somehow--I haven't wanted to make music lately."
"You are not happy," said Saltash, with conviction.
She coloured a little. "It has been an anxious time, Charlie, and, I am afraid, yet will be."
"You take things too hard," he said.
She clasped her hands tightly together. "How can I help it? Everything is hard. Life is hard."
"Only if you choose to have it so," said Saltash. ”

“ If Saltash had smiled then he would have been upon him in an instant. But Saltash did not smile. He knew the exact value of the situation, and he handled it with a sure touch. With absolute gravity he took his hand from his pocket.
Fielding took a swift step forward, but with an odd twist of the brows Saltash reassured him. He held out a revolver to Dick on the palm of his hand.
"Here you are!" he said. "It's fully loaded. If you want to shoot a friend, you'll never have a better chance. Mr. Fielding, will you kindly look the other way?" ”

“ Saltash's hand closed softly upon the pointed chin, softly lifted it. "I think Mignonette would suit you better," he said, in his quick, caressing way. "It's time I chose a name for you, ma chère. I shall call you that."
"Or just Nonette of Nowhere," breathed the red lips, piteously smiling.
"That would suit me—best of all."
"No—no!" said Saltash, and gently relinquished his hold. "Don't forget that you are a favourite of the gods! That counts for something, my Toby. They don't take up with everybody." ”

“ Saltash flung himself forward again, his free hand outstretched, slipped and nearly fell on his face, then was caught by a vice-like grip that drew him upward with grim strength. In a moment he was braced against the frame of the door, almost standing on it, the saloon gaping below him—a black pit of destruction. Larpent's torch showed the companion stairs practically perpendicular above them.
"Go on!" said Larpent. "Better give me the child. It's you that matters."
"Get out, damn you!" said Saltash, and actually grinned as he began to climb with his burden still hanging upon his shoulder. ”

“ Saltash gave him a keen look and uttered a laugh that was also not without its edge. "I like you, Larpent," he said. "You always tell the truth. Well, let's go! We shan't make Jamaica this trip, but it doesn't matter. In any case, it's a shame to miss the spring in England."
"Or the Spring Meetings?" suggested Larpent, as he chose his cigar.
"Quite so," said Saltash, almost with relief. "My old trainer—the man who bought my racing-stud—always looks for me about now. You ought to meet him by the way. He is another speaker of cruel truths." ”

“ Bunny smiled a little. "You would probably have been wishing you'd done the other thing by this time."
"Much you know about it!" returned Saltash with a whimsical frown. "Now look here! What I've really come back for is to see you married. All this preliminary messing about is nothing but a weariness to the flesh. Get it over, man! There's nothing on earth to wait for. Larpent's willing enough. In fact, he agrees with me—the sooner the better."
"He would!" said Bunny with a touch of bitterness.
"Well, you can't ask for anything better," maintained Saltash. ”

“ Fate had ordained that she should be the victim of this man's caprice, the slave of impulses which might or might not be her destruction. It was as if he watched her trying to walk on a quicksand. And he was powerless to help her. Saltash had defeated him, and he had no insight into his motives. Unstable, baffling, irresponsible as a monkey that swings from tree to tree, he had snatched his prize, and even Jake, who knew him better than most, could only speculate as to whether he would carry it high above disaster or tire and idly fling it away. ”

“ I always tell Jake so."
"No, it's not my doing," said Saltash lightly. "That's the rest of the world, mon ami. They like their pictures highly coloured. So—pourquoi pas?"
He snapped his fingers and laughed, and they passed on together with careless jesting and friendly chaff. Saltash had always been kind to young Bernard Brian. The boy had been a helpless cripple in his childhood, and he had developed a keen appreciation for all kindness during those days which nothing could now efface. Whatever Saltash's morals, he was a friend, and as such Bunny never failed to treat him. ”

“ The man withdrew, and Saltash chose a cigar. An odd grimace drew his features as he lighted it. He had the look of a man who surveys his last card and knows himself a loser. Though he went out of the room and up the great staircase to the music-room with his head up and complete indifference in his carriage, his eyelids were slightly drawn. He did not look as if he had enjoyed the game. ”

“ Larpent said, through a cloud of smoke. "Life isn't what it was."
"It's an infernal fraud, most of it," said Saltash. "Always promising and seldom fulfilling!"
"No good expecting too much," said Larpent.
"True!" said Saltash. "On the other hand it isn't always wise to be too easily satisfied." His look became suddenly speculative. "Have you ever been in love, Larpent?"
The big man in the deck-chair made a sharp movement and spilt some cigar-ash on his coat. He sat up deliberately and brushed it off. Saltash watched him with mischievous eyes. ”

“ Saltash paced jerkily on, his hands behind him. "I want you to have her because you're straight, and she'll come to no harm with you. You never even parley with the devil, do you, Jake? Remember that time—it's ten years ago, more—when a man tried to tempt you to tamper with one of your horses and you horsewhipped him for his baseness." ”

“ Bunny made instant and enthusiastic reply. "It's just the sort of thing I was made for. Old Bishop's a brick. We're getting quite fond of one another."
"Sort of life you enjoy?" questioned Saltash.
"Oh, rather! I've always thought I'd like to manage a big estate. Wish
I'd got one of my own."
"All right. I'll adopt you," laughed Saltash. "You shall be the son of my old age."
"Oh, don't be an ass!" protested Bunny. "Why on earth don't you get married?"
Saltash's brows twisted wryly. "Afraid I've lived too long, mon cher. ”

“ Lord Saltash got up and strolled to the window. "Yes, he must be rather a brick," he said, after a moment. "Doesn't Maud think so?"
"No, Maud's furious because Jake won't let her lift me any more. I expect she is jealous," said Bunny, with some complacence. "And she doesn't like being bossed."
"You don't object apparently?" Lord Saltash sounded indifferent, even slightly bored.
"Oh, I'd sooner be bossed by a man than a woman any day," said Bunny. "Besides, Jake's a sport. I like him."
"He's a gentleman," said Saltash unexpectedly. ”

“ In 1832 Saltash was deprived of its two members. The count of Mortain’s Sunday market had given place in 1337 to one on Saturday and this is still held. Queen Elizabeth’s charter provided for one on Tuesday also, but this has disappeared. A fair on the feast of St Faith yielded 6s. 8d. in 1337. This is no longer held, but fairs at Candlemas and St James, of ancient but uncertain origin, remain. Saltash was sufficiently considerable as a port in the 16th century to furnish a frigate at the town’s expense against the Armada. This probably represents the zenith of its prosperity. ”

“ Saltash said, "that's all I have done. You now know the truth, simple and unadorned, as Sheila Melrose in her simplicity does not know it and probably would not comprehend it if she did."
"Leave her out of it!" said Bunny, in a strangled voice. "It was—the obvious conclusion."
"Oh, the obvious!" Cynicism undisguised caught up the word. "Only the young and innocent can ever really say with any conviction what is the obvious way of blackguards. You don't know it—neither do I. A single decent impulse on the part of a blackguard can upset all the calculations of the virtuous. ”

“ For a moment Saltash's look was haughty; then he began to smile again. "I see you're burning to give your advice," he said tolerantly. "Fire away, if it does you any good!"
Larpent's eyes, very steady under their fair, bushy brows, were still unwaveringly upon him. "No, I don't presume to give you advice," he said. "But I'll tell you something which you may or may not know. That young woman you have so kindly bestowed upon me as a daughter worships the ground you tread on, and—that being the case—she isn't very likely to make a dazzling success of it if she marries young Bernard Brian." ”

“ Saltash laughed carelessly, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "I'll tell you that when I can show you the finished article. I'm keeping him below for the present. He's got a prize-fighter's eye which is not exactly an ornament. Like to have a look at him? You're ship's doctor."
Larpent shrugged his shoulders. "P'raps I'd better. I'm not over-keen on sudden importations. You never know what they may bring aboard with them."
Saltash's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Better inoculate the whole crew at once! He's more like a stray spaniel than anything else." ”

“ Like Jonah's whale I've managed to throw her up on to dry land, and if she gets swamped again, it won't be my fault."
He began to laugh again suddenly and cynically—the bitter laugh of a man who hides his soul; and Larpent leaned back in his chair again, as if he recognized that the discussion was over.
"I don't suppose anyone will blame you for it," he said.
"No one will have the chance," said Saltash. ”

“ Jake said, after a moment.
"The devil you would!" Again the hot gleam shone in the odd eyes. Saltash stood for a second in the attitude of a man on the verge of violence. Then, contemptuously, he relaxed.
He lounged back against the mantel-piece and smoked his cigarette. "The devil you would, Jake!" he said again, in a tone so different that the words might have been uttered in another language. "And why—if one be permitted to ask?"
"I think you know why," Jake said.
"Oh, do I? You virtuous people are always the first to suspect evil." Saltash spoke with deliberate cynicism. ”

“ Saltash laughed and turned away, to be instantly seized upon by Bunny.
"I say you are a good chap! The boss has been telling me. You're going to put me up to a job."
"If you'll take it," said Saltash.
Bunny thrust a hand through his arm and squeezed it impulsively. "I'll take anything from you, Charlie. Hope I shall be man enough for you, that's all."
"Oh, you're man enough," said Saltash kindly. "Just the sort I want. Look here, I can't stop now. But I'll come over on Sunday and talk things over—if Jake permits."
"Any day," said Jake.
Saltash nodded. "Good. I'll ring you up tomorrow, Maud. ”

“ Think of it! Life isn't fair to me. Why am I condemned always to ride the desert alone?"
"Mainly because you ride too hard," said Juliet. "None but you can keep up the pace. Ah!" She turned her head quickly, and the swift colour flooded her face.
"Ah!" mocked Saltash softly, watching her. "Is it Romeo's step that I hear?"
Columbus wagged his tail in welcome as Dick Green came round the corner of the Ricketts' cottage and walked down under the apple-trees to join them. He greeted Saltash with the quiet self-assurance of a man who treads his own ground. ”

“ A boat of Saltash women still appears at regattas, but it is now difficult to--can we say man it? The present generation of women do not take to the water as did their mothers.
Saltash has for long been an unrivalled nursery for the navy, and a place to which old salts love to retire.
In 1643 the Cornish forces, about 7000 strong, lay at Saltash under Slanning, at Liskeard under Lord Mohun, at Launceston under Trevanion, and at Stratton under Sir Bevil Grenville. ”

“ He raised his agile brows. "But, of course I am. Who ever went to a meeting without putting something on? And you don't suppose I would lay a wager against one of my own beasts, do you?"
"You always back your own before anyone else's?" she said.
"Of course," he made prompt reply. "We've pulled off a good many events since Jake took command."
"Yes," she said slowly. "He is a genius with horses."
"Oh, quite useful," said Saltash carelessly. "Well, good night to you both! Many thanks for your kind hospitality! Don't forget the piano at the Castle! Come and go exactly as you like! ”