“It is, isn’t it?” gibed Saltash, unexpectedly entering from the further door.  “Large enough for fifty wives, eh, Bunny?  Well, as I said before, you get married and I’ll adopt you.  It’ll save me a lot of trouble.  You’re so keen on recommending the marriage medicine to other people.  Try it yourself, and see how you like it!”

He walked straight down the long room with the words, passing both Larpent and Bunny on his way, pausing by neither.  “I like to hear you two discussing my case,” he jested.  “You, Bunny, who have never had the great disease, and Larpent who has never got over it!”

He approached the open door that led out upon the great staircase, the jest still on his lips and the laughter in his eyes.  He reached it and stretched out both hands with a fine gesture of greeting.

“Welcome to my poor hovel!” he said.  “Madam, I kneel at your feet.”

A clear high laugh answered him from below, and both of his companions turned sharply at the sound.

A figure in white, girlish, fresh as the morning, sprang suddenly into view.  Her eager face had the delicate flush of a wild rose.  The hair clustered about her temples in tender ringlets of gold.  Her eyes, blue and shining, gave her the look of a child just awakened from happy sleep—­a child that expects to be lifted up and kissed.

“By—­Jove!” murmured Bunny under his breath, staring openly.  “By—­Jove!”

And these words failed him.  He had never been so astounded in his life.  This girl—­this funny little Toby with the sharp features and pointed chin, the girl-urchin with whom he had chaffed and played—­was actually a beauty, and till that amazing moment he had not realized the fact.

As he went forward to greet her, he saw that Larpent was staring also, and he chuckled inwardly at the sight.  Decidedly it must be a worse shock for Larpent than it was for himself, he reflected.  For at least he had seen her in the chrysalis stage, though most certainly he had never expected this wonderful butterfly to emerge.

Maud, of course, was the witch who had worked the marvellous transformation, Maud with her tender mother-wisdom that divined so much.  He looked at her now, and wondered as he met her smile if she fully realized what she had done.

Across the wonder came Saltash’s quizzing voice—­“Mais, Nonette, Nonette, you are a vision for the gods!”

And a curious hot pang that was like a physical stab went through Bunny.  How dared Charlie use that caressing tone to her—­as though she were a mere ordinary woman to be trifled with and cajoled?  He had never disapproved of Saltash before, but for that moment he almost hated him.  She was too young, too sweet, too—­different—­to be treated thus.

And then he was standing close to her, and Saltash, laughing, pushed him forward.  “Do you know this fellow, ma chere?”

The wide blue eyes came up to his with a pleased smile of comradeship.  “Why, it’s Bunny!” the clear voice said.  “I’m so glad you’re here too—­in this ogre’s castle.”