on that."

Toby's hand still gripped the back of his chair. He stood up very
straight, facing him. "That is for you to decide, sir," he said.

"Is it?" said Saltash, and again his eyes gleamed a little. "Is it for me
to decide?"

"Yes, sir. For you alone." There was no flinching in Toby's look now. His
eyes were wide and very steady.

Saltash's mouth twitched as if he repressed some passing emotion. "You
mean--just that?" he asked, after a moment.

"Just that, sir," said Toby, with a slight quickening of the breath. "I
mean I am--at your disposal alone."

Saltash took him suddenly by the shoulder and looked at him closely.
"Toby!" he said. "Aren't you making--rather a fool of yourself?"

"No, sir!" Swiftly, with unexpected vehemence, Toby made answer. "I'm
doing--the only thing possible. But if you--if you--if you--"

"Well?" Saltash said. "If I what?"

"If you want to get rid of me--at any time," Toby said, commanding
himself with fierce effort, "I'll go, sir--I'll go!"

"And where to?" Saltash's eyes were no longer derisive; they held
something that very few had ever seen there.