"Where have I seen you before?" asked Val.

"Hard to say," returned Pike. "I have knocked about in many parts in my
time."

"Are you from this neighbourhood?"

"Never was in these parts at all till a year or so ago. It's not two
years yet."

"What are you doing here?"

"What I can. A bit of work when I can get it given to me. I went tramping
the country after I left the regiment--"

"Then you have been a soldier?" interrupted Mr. Elster.

"Yes, sir. In tramping the country I came upon this place: I crept into
a shed, and was there for some days; rheumatism took hold of me, and I
couldn't move. It was something to find I had a roof of any sort over my
head, and was let lie in it unmolested: and when I got better I stayed
on."

"And have adopted it as your own, putting a window and a chimney into it!
But do you know that Lord Hartledon may not choose to retain you as a
tenant?"

"If Lord Hartledon should think of ousting me, I would ask Mr. Elster to
intercede, in requital for the good turn I've done him this day," was the
bold answer.