He laughed at the action.  “I am only saluting motherhood,” he explained.

But she shook her head and passed on.  There were moments when even she who knew him so well was not wholly sure of him.

They descended again and Saltash turned towards the drawing-room.

“Let’s have some music!” he said, and dropped down before Maud’s piano.  “You are tired, ma chere.  You shall listen.”

He began to play an old French chanson that once they had sung together, and Maud leaned back on a deep settee near him and dreamily surrendered herself to its charm.

Charlie’s touch had always been a sheer delight to her.  It held her now with the old sweet spell.  His spirit spoke to hers with an intimacy which ordinary converse had never attained.  It was by his music that he first had spoken to her soul.  In music they were always in complete accord.

She was half-asleep in her corner with the old dog lying at her feet when Jake and Bunny came in, and Saltash very swiftly, with muffled chords, brought his performance to an end.

He sprang to his feet.  “I’ve been making love to your wife, Jake,” he said, “and she has been heroically but quite ineffectually trying to keep me at a distance.  I’d better go before I’m kicked out, eh?”

“Don’t go on my account!” said Jake.

Saltash’s brows twitched comically.  “Generous as ever!  But I’m a rotten villain, Jake.  I never could keep it up, and your virtuous presence is the last straw.  Good-bye—­and many thanks!”

He held Maud’s hand in his right and stretched his left to Jake with a smile half whimsical and half derisive.

“There’s nothing like banking on the hundredth chance,” he said.  “I shall try it myself one of these days.”

“Say!” said Jake in his soft drawl.  “I wish you luck!”

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.  You’re sure you mean tomorrow?”

“Quite sure,” she said with a smile.

He swept her a bow and went out with Bunny.

Maud turned instantly to her husband.  “Jake, I’ve got something to tell you—­to consult you about.”

He stopped her with that smile of his that was so good to see.  “Oh, I guess not.  You’ve fixed it all up without my help.  But his lordship for once had the diplomacy to ask me first.”