"I consider you show remarkable courage," sighed her ladyship, "in living there all alone, and your husband absent. I find I become uneasy if mine is away for a few hours in the day-time."

"That is perhaps excusable, under the circumstances," murmured Dona, quelling an insane desire to laugh, to say something monstrous, for the thought of Lady Godolphin languishing here upon her sofa, and aching for her lord, with that distressing growth upon his nose so wretchedly conspicuous, moved her to wickedness.

"You are, I trust, amply protected at Navron," said Godolphin, turning to her, solemnly. "There is much licence and lawlessness abroad these days. You have servants you can trust?"

"Implicitly."

"It is as well. Had it been otherwise I should have presumed upon my old friendship with Harry, and sent you two or three of my own people."

"I assure you it would be entirely unnecessary."

"So you may think. Some of us believe differently."

He looked across at his nearest neighbour, Thomas Eustick, who owned a large estate beyond Penryn-a thin-lipped man with narrow eyes-who had been watching Dona from the other side of the room. He now came forward, and with him also was Robert Penrose, from Treg-ony. "Godolphin has told you, I think, how we are menaced from the sea," he said abruptly.

"By an elusive Frenchman," smiled Dona.

"Who may not remain elusive very much longer," replied Eustick.

"Indeed? Have you summoned more soldiers from Bristol?"

He flushed, glancing at Godolphin in irritation.

"This time there will be no question of hired mercenaries," he said. "I was against that idea from the first, but as usual was overruled. No, we propose dealing with the foreigner ourselves, and I consider our methods will be effective."

"Providing enough of us join together," said Godolphin drily.

"And the most capable amongst us takes the lead," said Penrose, of Tregony. There was a pause, the three men eyeing one another in suspicion. Had the atmosphere, for some reason or other, become a little strained?

"A house divided against itself will not stand," murmured Dona.

"I beg your pardon?" said Thomas Eustick.

"Nothing. I was reminded suddenly of a line from the Scriptures. But you were talking about the pirate. One against so many. He will be caught, of course. And what is the plan of capture?"

"It is as yet in embryo, madam, and naturally enough cannot be unfolded. But I would warn you, and I rather think that is what Godolphin meant just now when he enquired about your servants, I would warn you that we suspect some of the country people in the district to be in the Frenchman's pay."

"You astound me."

"It is unpardonable, of course, and if our suspicions are verified they will all of them hang, as he will. The fact is we believe the Frenchman to have a hiding-place along the coast, and we believe one or two of the inhabitants must know of this, and are holding their tongues."

"Have you not made a thorough search?"

"My dear Lady St. Columb, we are forever combing the district. But, as you must have heard, the fellow is as slippery as an eel, like all Frenchmen, and he appears to know our coast better than we do ourselves. You have, I suppose, seen nothing of a suspicious nature around Navron?"

"Nothing whatever."

"The manor commands a view of the river, does it not?"

"A most excellent view."

"So that you would have seen any strange craft entering or leaving the estuary?"

"Most assuredly."

"I have no wish to alarm you, but it is possible, you know, that the Frenchman has used Helford in the past, and may yet do so again."

"You terrify me."

"And I must warn you that he is the type of man who would have little respect for your person."

"You mean-he is quite unscrupulous?"

"I fear so."

"And his men are most desperate and savage?"

"They are pirates, madam, and Frenchmen at that."

"Then I will take the greatest possible care of my household. Are they, do you think, cannibals also? My baby son is not yet two."

Lady Godolphin gave a little shriek of horror, and began fanning herself rapidly. Her husband clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Calm yourself, Lucy, Lady St. Columb was jesting, of course. I would assure you, though," he added, turning to Dona once again, "that the matter is not a trifling one, nor to be treated with levity. I feel myself responsible for the safety of the people in the district around, and as Harry is not with you at Navron I must admit that I am concerned about you."

Dona rose to her feet, holding out her hand. "It is very good of you," she said, treating him to her special smile, the one she reserved for difficult occasions. "I shall not forget your kindness, but I assure you there is no need for anxiety. I can, if necessary, bar and bolt my house. And with neighbours such as yourselves"-she glanced from Godolphin to Eustick and to Penrose-"I am aware that no harm can come to me. You are all three so reliable, so stalwart, so very-if I may say so-English, in your ways."

The three men bowed over her hand in turn, and she smiled at each of them. "Perhaps," she said, "the Frenchman has left our coasts for good, and you need concern yourselves no more about him."

"I wish we could think so," said Eustick, "but we flatter ourselves we are beginning to know the scoundrel. He is always most dangerous when he is most quiet. We shall hear of him again, and that before very long."

"And," added Penrose, "he will strike just where we least expect him, under our very noses. But it will be the last time."

"It will be my very special pleasure," said Eustick slowly, "to hang him from the tallest tree in Godolphin's park, just before sundown. And I invite the company here present to attend the ceremony."

"Sir, you are very bloodthirsty," said Dona.

"So would you be, madam, if you had been robbed of your possessions. Pictures, silver, plate-all of considerable value."

"But think what joy you will have replacing them!"

"I fear I consider the matter in a very different light." He bowed, and turned away, his cheek flushing once again in annoyance.

Godolphin accompanied Dona to her carriage. "Your remark was somewhat unfortunate," he said. "Eustick is very near with his money."

"I am notorious," said Dona, "for making unfortunate remarks."

"No doubt in London they are understood."

"I think not. That was one of the reasons I came away from London."

He stared at her without understanding, and handed her into her carriage, "Your coachman is competent?" he asked, glancing up at William, who alone, and unattended by a footman, held the reins in his hands. "Very competent," said Dona. "I would trust him with my life."

"He has an obstinate face."

"Yes-but so amusing, and I adore his mouth."

Godolphin stiffened, and stepped away from the door of the carriage. "I am sending letters to town within the week," he said coldly, "have you any message for Harry?"

"Only that I am well, and exceedingly happy."

"I shall take it upon myself to tell him of my anxiety concerning you."

"Please do not bother."

"I consider it a duty. Also Harry's presence in the neighbourhood would be of enormous assistance."

"I cannot believe it."

"Eustick is apt to be obstructive, and Penrose dictatorial, I am constantly having to make the peace."

"And you see Harry in the role of peacemaker?"

"I see Harry wasting his time in London, when he should be looking after his property in Cornwall."

"The property has looked after itself for a number of years."

"That is beside the point. The fact of the matter is we need all the help we can get. And when Harry knows that piracy is rampant on the coast…"

"I have already mentioned it to him."

"But not with sufficient force, I am persuaded. If Harry thought for one moment that Navron House itself might be menaced, his possessions stolen, his wife threatened-he would hardly stay in town. Were I in his shoes…"

"Yes, but you are not."

"Were I in his shoes I would never have permitted you to travel west, alone. Women, without their husbands, have been known to lose their heads."

"Only their heads?"

"I repeat, they have been known to lose their heads in a moment of crisis. You think yourself brave enough now, no doubt, but if you came face to face with a pirate I dare swear you would shiver and swoon, like the rest of your sex."

"I would certainly shiver."

"I could not say much in front of my wife, her nerves are very bad at the moment, but one or two ugly rumours have come to my ears, and Eustick's also."

"What sort of rumours?"

"Women-er-distressed, and so on."

"Distressed about what?"

"The country people are dumb, they give nothing away. But it looks to us as if some of the women in the hamlets hereabouts have suffered at the hands of these damned scoundrels."

"Is it not rather unwise to probe into the matter?"

"Why so?"

"You may find they did not suffer at all, but on the contrary, enjoyed themselves immensely. Drive on, will you, William?" And bowing and smiling from her open carriage the Lady St. Columb waved her gloved hand to Lord Godolphin.

Down the long avenue they sped, past the peacocks on the smooth lawns, and the deer in the park, and so out on to the highway, and Dona, taking off her hat and fanning herself with it, glanced up at William's stiff back and laughed silently.