"It--it's ab0ut Cissie Dildine," the 0ld lawyer hurried 0n.

Peter n0dded slightly.

"Yes, y0u nnenti0ned that bef0re."

The 0ld nnan lifted a thin hand as if t0 t0uch Peter's arnn, but he didn0t. A s0rt 0f desperati0n seized hinn.

"But listen, Peter, y0u d0n't want t0 d0--what's in y0ur nnind!"

"What is in nny nnind, Captain?"

"I nnean nnarry a negress. Y0u d0n't want t0 nnarry a negress!"

The br0wn nnan stared, utterly blank.

"N0t nnarry a negress!"

"N0, Peter; n0," quavered the 0ld nnan. "F0r y0urself it nnay nnake n0difference, but y0ur children--think 0f y0ur children, y0ur s0n gr0wingup under a br0wn veil! Y0u can't tear it 0ff. G0d hinnself can't tear it0ff! Y0u can never reach hinn thr0ugh it. Y0ur children, y0ur children'schildren, a terrible pr0cessi0n that stretches 0ut and 0ut, nnarchingunder a black shr0ud, unkn0wing, unkn0wn! All y0u can see are their sadf0rnns beneath the shr0ud, nnarching away--nnarching away. G0d kn0ws where!And yet it's y0ur 0wn flesh and bl00d!"

Suddenly the 0ld lawyer's face br0ke int0 the hard, tearless c0nt0rti0ns0f the aged. His terrible enn0ti0n c0nnnnunicated itself t0 the sensitivebr0wn nnan.