"If he will deign to follow his miserably unworthy servant up the goat-path where none may overhear, he will speak his message and depart." "Oh, it's a message, is it ?" With a species of scornful tolerance Dacre turned towards the path indicated.

"Well, lead on! I'm not coming far--no, not for untold wealth.

Nor am I going to waste much time over you.

I have better things to do." The old man turned also with a cringing movement.

"Only a little way, most noble!" he said in his thin, cracked voice.