im to go back to you."

"Is he still here?"

"I haven't an idea."

"You might send him to Newport."

"You want to be rid of him, eh?"

"The Place does not need three gardeners."

The old man, who seemed to be feeling about for something, scowled.
"What it does not need is the atmosphere that you are giving it. You may
go to the devil your own way. I sha'n't stop you. But it puts a bad
taste in my mouth to have you turn it into a road-house. Damn it, sir,
you were born there."

Through the window of the sedan-chair, the young man was watching. He
saw it coming and masked himself.

"How funny of Benny to give you such an idea."

Then, straight at him, went the bomb.

"It was not a gift. What I got, I extracted. Why don't you marry? Eh?
Why don't you? In order that you might, I made over to you a thing or
two. I wish to God, I hadn't. But perhaps you are satisfied. If you are,
well and good. As it is, unless you marry, I'll leave the property to
Sally's brat and have him change his name. By Gad, sir, if I don't have
some assurance from you and have it now, I'll send for Jeroloman. I will
make a new will and I'll make it to-night. If you came here to dine, you
can stop on and listen to it."

The bomb was full of fumes. In the still air they floated. But in
throwing it, the old man's scowl had deepened. It had become a grimace
that creased every wrinkle into prominence. His hand had gone to his
chest. Gasping, he held it there. Then presently it fell. His features
relaxed and dryly, in an even tone, he resumed: "It is remarkable how
well I feel, if I don't talk. Any excitement suffocates me."

In the trench, that the sedan-chair had become, Monty Paliser tightened
the mask. "There is no need for any excitement. I will marry. You have
my word."

On the great blasoned throne, the old man shifted. The easy victory
mollified him. "Ah! You dine here?"

"Thank you, no. I am dining at the Austens'."

"Where?" the elder Paliser asked. He had heard but he wanted it
repeated. It seemed vaguely promising.

"At the Austens'. You may remember that the pearl of the household was
engaged. It's off."

Slowly the old man twisted. "What is? The engagement?"

"So her mother told me."

"And you are dining there."

"In a few minutes."

The old man took it in, turned it over. It seemed not only victory but
peace, and peace with annexation.

"Very good then. I draw the veil over your road-house. Put the young
woman i