King of the Castle

petting them, and the more there is done for them the worse they work, and the more exacting they grow. I believe they think one's capital is to be sunk solely to benefit them. What the deuce do you want now?"

This to the servant, who had timidly opened the door.

"I beg your pardon, sir."

"If it's some one from the quarry, tell him I'm engaged."

"Mr Glyddyr, sir."

"Why didn't you say so before? Where is he?"

"In the drawing-room, sir."

Norman Gartram sprung at once from his chair, hurriedly crossed the room, stepped out of the window on to the granite paving, which did duty in his garden for a gravel walk, carefully closed the French casement, and locked it with a small pass-key he carried in his pocket, and walked round to the verandah in front of the house, entering by the French window of the drawing-room, where a tall, handsome man of about thirty was leaning against a table, apparently admiring the brown leather shoes which formed part of his yachting cost