CHAPTER TWELVE.
TINKER BORROWS A MOTOR-CAR A few days later, early in the afternoon, Sir Tancred was leaning on the wall of the gardens of the Temple of Fortune, smoking a cigarette, and looking down on the Mediterranean in a very thoughtful mood.
Tinker was by his side, also looking down on the Mediterranean, also silent, out of respect to his father's mood.
Suddenly Sir Tancred turned towards him, and said abruptly, "What did you say you paid your governess ?" "Thirty pounds a year," said Tinker.
"She dresses well," said Sir Tancred.
Tinker turned his head and eyed his father with a trifle of distrust.
"She does dress well," he said gravely, "and I can't quite make it out.
Sometimes I think that her people must have lost their money, and she bought her gowns before that happened.

Sometimes I really think she's only being a governess for fun." "For fun ?" said Sir Tancred.

"But I thought her references were all right.

Yes; you told me she carried them about with her." "Well, she has the nicest kind of face," said Tinker; and his own was out of the common guileless.
"Oh! her face was her reference, was it ?" said Sir Tancred quickly.
"You can forge references, but you can't forge a face," said Tinker with the air of a philosopher.
Sir Tancred laughed gently.

"My good Tinker," he said, "I look forward to the day when you enter the diplomatic service.