“They will if they get the chance.  I’d string up the whole lot if I had my way, Silver.  Poachers and blackguards every one of them.  I know that Pine is always helping rotters in London, but I didn’t know that he had any cause to interfere with this lot.  How did he come to know about them?”

“Well, Mr. Lambert might have told him,” answered the secretary, not unwilling to draw that young man into the trouble.  “He is at Abbot’s Wood.”

“Yes, I lent him the cottage, and this is my reward.  He meddles with my business along with Pine.  Why can’t he shut his mouth?”

“I don’t say that Mr. Lambert did tell him, but he might have done so.”

“I am quite sure that he did,” said Garvington emphatically, and growing red all over his chubby face.  “Otherwise Pine would never have heard, since he is in Paris.  I shall speak to Lambert.”

“You won’t find him at home.  I looked in at his cottage to pass the time, and his housekeeper said that he had gone to London all of a sudden, this very evening.”

“Oh, he’ll turn up again,” said Garvington carelessly.  “He’s sick of town, Silver, since—­” The little man hesitated.

“Since when?” asked the secretary curiously.

“Never mind,” retorted the other gruffly, for he did not wish to mention the enforced marriage of his sister, to Silver.  Of course, there was no need to, as Garvington, aware that the neat, foxy-faced man was his brother-in-law’s confidential adviser, felt sure that everything was known to him.  “I’ll leave those blamed gypsies alone meanwhile,” finished Garvington, changing and finishing the conversation.  “But I’ll speak to Pine when I see him.”

“He returns from Paris in three weeks,” remarked Silver, at which information the gross little lord simply hunched his fat shoulders.  Much as Pine had done for him, Garvington hated the man with all the power of his mean and narrow mind, and as the millionaire returned this dislike with a feeling of profound contempt, the two met as seldom as possible.  Only Lady Agnes was the link between them, the visible object of sale and barter, which had been sold by one to the other.

It was about this time that the house-party at The Manor began to break up; since it was now the first week in September, and many of the shooters wished to go north for better sport.  Many of the men departed, and some of the women, who were due at other country houses; but Mrs. Belgrove and Miss Greeby still remained.  The first because she found herself extremely comfortable, and appreciated Garvington’s cook; and the second on account of Lambert being in the vicinity.  Miss Greeby had been very disappointed to learn that the young man had gone to London, but heard from Mrs. Tribb that he was expected back in three days.  She therefore lingered so as to have another conversation with him, and meanwhile haunted the gypsy camp for the purpose of keeping an eye on Chaldea, who was much too beautiful for her peace of