quick man with
a gun. There may be some quicker, but not in the East, and it wasn't in
the East I got my training. You will always keep in front of me where I
can see you plainly, and you will never, under any circumstances come
nearer than six feet to me. If you should ever come nearer than that or
take a sudden step in my direction, I'd shoot you just as sure as I
stand here."

McVay looked distinctly crestfallen. "Oh, come, Holland," he said,
"isn't that the least little bit exaggerated? You would not shoot me
before my own sister?"

"I would not like to, but there are things I should dislike even more,
and having you escape is one of them."

The other thought it over. "The trouble is," he explained, "that I am
impulsive. You must have noticed it. I get carried away. You know how I
am. I'm not at all sure that I shall remember."

"I advise you to try, for this is the only warning you will get."

"I cannot believe, Holland, that you would really shoot me in cold blood
in the presence of my own sister."

"You had better behave as if you believed it."

"I don't like this arrangement," McVay broke out peevishly. "Suppose,
for the sake of argument, that I did forget,--that I put my hand on your
shoulder--a very natural gesture."

"I should shoot instantly."

"But fancy the shock to Cecilia."

"Not more of a shock, perhaps, than discovering that you are a thief.
And another thing, it may be very gay and amusing to be forever fooling
about the subject, but I advise you against it. It does not amuse me."

"Oh, be honest, Holland, it does, it must amuse you. It is essentially
amusing."

"It won't amuse her, or you either when she finds out that you are not
only a thief but that you have been able to find amusement in deceiving
her."

Again McVay's gaiety seemed momentarily dashed. "Very true," he said, "I
had not thought of that. But then," he added more brightly, "who can
tell if it will actually fall to my lot to tell her. Things happen so
strangely. It may turn out that that is _your_ part."

"It may," said Geoffrey, "but only because I have had to shoot after
all." With which he opened the door and they returned to the library.

V

Cecilia was not in the library, and McVay, without comment on her
absence, turned at once to his book.

"If you won't think me impolite, Holland, I'll go on with my Sterne.
Conversation is always a great temptation to me, but I have so little
opportunity to read