CHAPTER I

ENNUI


"I shall go to sea to-morrow," said Saltash, with sudden decision. "I'm
tired of this place, Larpent,--fed up on repletion."

"Then by all means let us go, my lord!" said Larpent, with the faint
glimmer of a smile behind his beard, which was the only expression of
humour he ever permitted himself.

"Believe you're fed up too," said Saltash, flashing a critical look upon
him.

Captain Larpent said nothing, deeming speech unnecessary. All time spent
ashore was wasted in his opinion.

Saltash turned and surveyed the sky-line over the yacht's rail with
obvious discontent on his ugly face. His eyes were odd, one black, one
grey, giving a curiously unstable appearance to a countenance which
otherwise might have claimed to possess some strength. His brows were
black and deeply marked. He had a trick of moving them in conjunction
with his thoughts so that his face was seldom in absolute repose. It was
said that there was a strain of royal blood in Saltash, and in the days
before he had succeeded to the title when he had been merely Charles