Toby made a quick gesture of the hands, and dropped them flat at his
sides. "I'll get rid of myself--then, sir," he said, with sudden chill
pride. "That won't be very difficult. And I'll do it--so that you won't
even know."

Saltash stood up abruptly. "Toby, you are quite unique!" he said. "Superb
too in your funny little way. Your only excuse is that you're young. Does
it never occur to you that you've attached yourself to the wrong person?"

"No, sir," breathed Toby.

"You're not afraid to stake all you've got on a bad card?" pursued
Saltash, still curiously watching him.

"No, sir," he said again; and added with his faint, unboyish smile, "I
haven't much to lose anyway."

Saltash's hand tightened upon him. He was smiling also, but the gleam in
his eyes had turned to leaping, fitful flame. "Well," he said slowly, "I
have never yet refused--a gift from the gods."

And there he stopped, for suddenly, drowning all speech, there arose a
din that seemed to set the whole world rocking; and in a moment there
came a frightful shock that pitched them both headlong to the floor.

Saltash fell as a monkey falls, catching at one thing after another to
save himself, landing eventually on his knees in pitch darkness with one
hand still gripped upon Toby's thin young arm. But Toby had struck his
head against a locker and had gone down stunned and helpless.