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You've got money, I know, but I hope you won't chuck your job on that account. Stick to it, and you shall have the Dower House to live in while I yet cumber the ground, and Burchester Castle as soon as I'm under it!" "What?" said Bunny. He turned almost fiercely. "Charlie! Stop it! You're talking rot. You always do. I don't want your beastly castle. You've got to marry and get an heir of your own.
Not much the matter with him, is there?" "Nothing now," Maud said. "What does he do with himself?" asked the General, surveying the distant figure at that moment galloping in a far corner of the field. "He is agent on Lord Saltash's estate at Burchester," his daughter said, suddenly entering the conversation. "He was telling me about it at luncheon. He and Lord Saltash are friends." "Ah!
Burchester means more to you than it does to me. Therefore Burchester will pass to you at my death. Think you and Toby will be happy here?" "Damn it!" said Bunny, still fiercely disconcerted. "You talk as if you were going to die to-morrow." "Oh, probably not," said Saltash airily. "But I doubt if I live to a rakish old age.
"It's in Burchester Park. You know the place don't you? It's just above the town." "Yes, yes, I know it. A fine place. Pity it doesn't belong to somebody decent," said the squire. Mrs. Fielding laughed unpleasantly. "Dear me! More wicked lords?" Her husband looked at her with his quick frown. "I thought everybody knew Saltash was a scoundrel.
Saltash and the General walked beside her, rallying her. But Bunny and Sheila came behind in silence. They found Maud awaiting them in the long low room that overlooked her favourite view of the down. Saltash entered as one who had the right, and she greeted him with momentary surprise but evident pleasure. "I couldn't spend twenty-four hours at Burchester without calling upon you," he said.
His brows were black and deeply marked. He had a trick of moving them in conjunction with his thoughts so that his face was seldom in absolute repose. It was said that there was a strain of royal blood in Saltash, and in the days before he had succeeded to the title when he had been merely Charles Burchester, he had borne the nickname of "the merry monarch."
The trees were murmuring together down by the lake as though some mysterious news were passing to and fro among them. And once more, alone on his castle walls, Saltash paced restlessly up and down. It was his last night at Burchester, so he told himself, for many a year to come. The fever for change was upon him. He had played his last card and lost.
Liosha revealed the feminine kink in her otherwise splendid character by insisting on the bridal panoply of white satin, veil and orange blossoms. I confess she looked superb. She looked like a Valkyr. A leather-visaged war correspondent, named Burchester, whom I had never seen before, and have not seen since, acted as best man.
"I too," said Jake, "if it's for the boy's good." "You needn't hold a pistol at my head," protested Saltash. "I shan't put him in the way of any short cuts to the devil. All I have to offer him is the post of bailiff at Burchester Castle, as old Bishop has got beyond his job. I can't turn the old beggar out, but I want a young man to take the burden off his shoulders.
Bunny got up whistling and began to stroll about the room. He was never still for long. He was not very familiar with the state reception-rooms of Burchester Castle and he found plenty to interest him. Several minutes passed, and he had almost forgotten the silent man who leaned against the fire-place, when suddenly Larpent came out of his melancholy reverie and spoke.
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