She shook her head at him gravely. "It is not a laughing matter," she said.
"What I am laughing at is," he rejoined, still smiling with a hint of derision. "By the way, have you heard from our worthy cow-puncher lately?"
She flinched sharply, before she was aware. Her whole body tingled with a sudden, burning blush.
And Saltash laughed again wickedly. "I saw him yesterday. He was in a fiendish temper for some reason or other. Naturally I asked after you, when he was expecting you back. What do you think he said?"
"What?" Maud breathed the word through lips that panted. Her heart was beating violently she knew not why.
Saltash's dark face seemed to exult over her agitation. "He said,--you know his soft, drawly way--'I guess I shall go--shortly--and fetch her back, my lord.' I wondered if you were aware of his amiable intention. There was the most deadly air of determination about him. I thought you might like to know."
Maud's face was no longer burning; she was white to the lips. But she turned from the subject with composure. "How did you know where to find me?"
He laughed teasingly. "You are curiously curious, Maud of the roses. Don't you yet realize that I always know everything? For instance, I know exactly why you are treating me to this wet-blanket reception. But you would be angry if I told you; so I won't. I also know--" he paused suddenly. "Shall I say it? No, perhaps I had better not."
She smiled faintly. "Perhaps it is beside the point, Charlie. Do you mind coming back to the subject of that letter? It is that that is troubling me now more than anything else."
"Really?" he said. "But why should you be troubled? It wouldn't trouble me to see my arch-enemy in dire straits."