le."

Spence pressed this particular point no further. He had found out what
he wanted to know, namely, that his host's desire to see the last of
him was stronger even than his desire for money. His own desire to see
more of his host strengthened in proportion.

"Supposing we leave it to Miss Farr herself," he suggested smoothly.
"Since you have personally no objection. If she is unwilling to oblige
me, of course--"

"I will speak to her," promised the doctor.

Spence smiled.

"What surprises me, doctor," he went on, pushing a little further, "is
how you have managed to keep so very intelligent a secretary in so
restricted an environment. The stronger one's wings, the stronger the
temptation to use them."

He had expected to strike fire with this, but the pale eyes looked
placidly past him.

"Desire has left me, at times, but--she has always come back." The old
man's voice was very gentle, almost caressing, and should certainly
have provided no reason for the chill that crept up his hearer's spine.

"She has never found work suited to her, perhaps," suggested Spence.
"If you will allow me,--"

"You are very kind," the velvet was off the doctor's voice now. He rose
with a certain travesty of dignity. "But I may say that I desire--that
I will tolerate--no interference. My daughter's future shall be her
father's care."

Spence laughed. It was an insulting laugh, and he knew it. But the
contrast between the grandiloquent words and the ridiculous figure
which uttered them was too much for him. Besides, though the most
courteous of men, he deliberately wished to be insulting. He couldn't
help it. There rose up in him, suddenly, a wild and unreasoning anger
that mere paternity could place anyone (and especially a young girl
with cool, grey eyes) in the power of such a caricature of manhood.

"Really?" said Spence. There was everything in the word that tone could
utter of challenge and derision. He raised himself upon his elbow. The
doctor, who had been closely contemplating his umbrella, looked up
slowly. The eyes of the two men met.... Spence had never seen eyes
like that ... they dazzled him like sudden sunlight on a blade of
steel ... they clung to his mind and bewildered it ... he forgot
the question at issue ... he forgot--

Just then Li Ho opened the kitchen door.

"Get 'um lunch now," said Li Ho, in his toneless drawl. "Like 'um egg
flied? Like 'um boiled?"

Spence sank back upon his pillow.

"Like