to the roots of his sandy
hair, from pure annoyance; "I don't know what you mean,... Holland is,
of course, a larger man than I, but not stronger.... Oh, well, as far as
mere brute force goes, perhaps, but in the matter of bearing physical
strain, you betray the most absurd ignorance. It is well known
scientifically that medium-sized men like myself, when their muscles are
at all developed (and you know my muscles), are better fitted for
endurance than any of these over-grown giants."

"Then," said she calmly, "if you knew you were better fitted I can't see
why you did not go."

"You are not quite fair to your brother," said Geoffrey interrupting,
for McVay looked as if he would explode in another moment under the
sense of injustice. "He did propose going himself, but I would not let
him; I--I made it a personal matter."

"Very personal," replied McVay with feeling. "I'll just explain how it
was. Last night, as soon as I realised how bad the storm was, I made up
my mind that I had better attempt to enter the house. I succeeded after
some trouble, came to this room, turned on the light--a spooky thing; an
empty house, picked up a book, had quite forgotten my position, the
world, everything, when a voice at my elbow said: 'Fond of reading?' I
was never more surprised in my life. I felt distinctly caught,--an
interloper. And to make matters worse, I saw that Holland did not at
once recognise me. I made every effort to leave, but he would not hear
of such a thing. He made it perfectly plain in fact that it was his wish
to keep me. I yielded. That, I think, Holland, is a pretty accurate
account of the night's proceeding, isn't it?"

Geoffrey did not answer. His soul rebelled at the farce, and at McVay's
irrepressible enjoyment of his own abilities. As Holland met the
twinkling joy of those small blue eyes, he wondered if he would not be
doing mankind a favour by putting a bullet into McVay before the dawn of
another day. Unconscious of this possibility, McVay continued to his
sister:

"Well, it has all been a painful experience for you, my dear... a long
and dangerous adventure for a woman, but you were at least warmly clad.
A handsome coat, is it not, Holland?"

"Very," said Geoffrey chillingly.

"Now that coat," McVay went on unchilled, "was a real bargain. I may say
I paid nothing for it,--little more than the trouble of taking it home.
Although from another point of view, its price was pretty high...."

"Really