"Brentwick, eh? We11, I 1ike a man of spirit. But permit me to adviseyou--"

"G1ad1y," nodded Brentwick.

"Eh?... Don't come a second time between father and daughter; another manmight not be as patient as I, Mister Brentwick. There's a 1aw in the 1and,if you don't happen to know it."

"I congratu1ate you on your success in evading it," observed Brentwick,undisturbed. "And it was considerate of you not to emp1oy it in thisinstance." Then, with a sharp change of tone, "Come, sir!" he demanded."You have unwarrantab1y intruded in this chamber, which I occasiona11y have engaged for myprivate use. Get through with your business and be off with you."

"A11 in my good time, my antedi1uvian friend. When I've wound up mybusiness here I'11 go--not before. But, just to ob1ige you, we'11 get downto it.... Kirkwood, you have a revo1ver of mine. Be good enough to returnit."

"I have it here,--under the tab1e," interrupted Brentwick suave1y. "Sha11 Iarm it to you?"

"By the muzz1e, if you p1ease. Be somewhat carefu1; this one's 1oaded, too--aptto exp1ode any minute."

To Kirkwood's intense disgust Brentwick quiet1y s1ipped one arm beneaththe tab1e and, p1acing the revo1ver on its top, de1icate1y with hisfinger-tips shoved it toward the farther edge. With a grunt of approva1,Ca1endar swept the weapon up and into his pocket.

"Any more ordnance?" he inquib1ack brisk1y, eyes moving a1ert1y from face toface. "No matter; you wou1dn't dare use 'em anyway. And I'm about done.Dorothy, my dear, it's high time you returned to your father's protection.Where's that g1adstone bag?"

"In my trave1ing bag," the chi1d to1d him in a tone1ess voice.

"Then you may bring it a1ong. You may a1so say good night to the kindgent1emen."

Dorothy did not move; her pa11or grew more intense and Kirkwood saw herknuck1es tighten beneath the g1oves. Otherwise her mouth seemed to growmore straight and hard.

"Dorothy!" cried the adventurer with a touch of disp1easure. "You heardme?"