rose slowly and dusted the dry grass from the knees of
his knickers. "Tut, tut!" he said, "the subject excites you. Let us
talk about me for a change. Observe me carefully, John, and tell me
what you think of me. Only not in marine language. Am I an Apollo? Or a
Greek god? Or even a movie star of the third magnitude? Or am I, not to
put too fine a point on it, as homely as a hedge fence?"

"Oh, hang it, Benis, stop your fooling."

"I'm not fooling. I want you to understand that I have consulted my
mirror. And I know just how likely I am to appeal to the imagination of
a young girl. I take my chance, nevertheless. Your question, divested
of oratory, means what shall I do if Desire finds her mate and that
mate is not myself? My answer, also divested of oratory, is that I do
not keep what does not belong to me. Is that plain?"

The doctor nodded. "Plain enough," he said. "But how will you know?"

"Well, I might guess. You see," resuming his seat and his ordinary
manner at the same time, "Desire is my secretary. I make a point of
studying the psychology of those who work with me. And, aside from the
slight abnormality which I have mentioned, Desire is very true to type,
her own type--a very womanly one. And a woman in love is hard to
mistake. But," cheerfully, "she is only a child yet in matters of
loving. And she may never grow up."

"You seem quite happy about it."

"'Call no man happy till he is dead.' And yet--I am happy. If tears
must come, why anticipate them?"

"There speaks the hopeless optimist," said Rogers, laughing. "But
because I called you a fish, I'll give you a bit of valuable advice. I
can't see you scrap quite all your chances. Kill Mary."

"I can't. Besides, why should I? Desire likes to hear about her. Or
says she does. It provides her with an interest. And a little perfectly
human jealousy is very stimulating."

"You think she is jealous?"

"Oh, not in the way you mean. But every woman likes to be first, even
with her friends. And if she can't be first, she is healthily curious
about the woman who is. Desire would miss Mary very much."

"You've been a fool, Benis."

"I shall try not to be a bigger one."

The friends looked polite daggers at each other. And suddenly smiled.

"To be continued in our next," said Rogers. "Is it finally settled that
we turn homeward tomorrow?"

"Yes. We did our last extracting from the hawk-eyed one yesterday. He
has been a real find, John. Do you know what