e, Garry. Do you doubt that?"

Explaining his own mildness, the voice of Lord Nick swelled again and
filled the room, and he frowned on his brother. But Donnegan looked on
him sadly.

"There is a girl--" he began.

"Why didn't I guess it?" exclaimed Lord Nick. "If ever you find a man
unreasonable, stubborn and foolish, you'll always find a woman behind
it! All this trouble because of a piece of calico?"

He leaned back, laughing thunderously in his relief.

"Come, come! I was prepared for a tragedy. Now tell me about this girl.
Who and what is she?"

"The daughter of the colonel."

"You're in love with her? I'm glad to hear it, Garry. As a matter of
fact I've been afraid that you were hunting in my own preserve, but if
it's the colonel's daughter, you're welcome to her. So you love the
girl? She's pretty, lad!"

"I love her?" said Donnegan in an indescribably tender voice. "I love
her? Who am I to love her? A thief, a man-killer, a miserable play
actor, a gambler, a drunkard. I love her? Bah!"

If there was one quality of the mind with which Lord Nick was less
familiar than with all others, it was humbleness of spirit. He now
abased his magnificent head, and resting his chin in the mighty palm of
his hand, he stared with astonishment and commiseration into the face of
Donnegan. He seemed to be learning new things every moment about his
brother.

"Leave me out of the question," said Donnegan.

"Can't be done. If I leave you out, dear boy, there's not one of them
that I care a hang about; I'd ride roughshod over the whole lot. I've
done it before to better men than these!"

"Then you'll change, I know. This is the fact of the matter. She loves
Landis. And if you take Landis away where will you put him?"

"Where he was stolen away. In Lebrun's."

"And what will be in Lebrun's?"

"Joe Rix to guard him and the old negress to nurse him."'

"No, no! Nelly Lebrun will be there!"

"Eh? Are you glancing at her, now?"

"Henry, you yourself know that Landis is mad about that girl."

"Oh, she's flirted a bit with him. Turned the fool's head. He'll come
out of it safe. She won't break his heart. I've seen her work on
others!"

He chuckled at the memory.

"What do I care about Landis?" said Donnegan with unutterable scorn.
"It's the girl. You'll break her heart, Henry; and if you do I'll never
forgive you."

"Steady, lad. This is a good deal like a threat."

"No, no, no! Not a threat, heaven knows!"

"