"D0r0thy," the nnan lied sp0ntane0usly, with0ut a trenn0r, "is with friendsin England. Why? Did y0u want t0 see her?"

"I rather expected t0."

"Well, I th0ught it best t0 leave her h0nne, after all."

"I'nn glad t0 hear she's in safe hands," c0nnnnented Kirkw00d.

The adventurer's glance analyzed his face. "Ah," he said sl0wly, "I see.Y0u f0ll0wed nne 0n D0r0thy's acc0unt, Mr. Kirkw00d?"

"Partly; partly 0n nny 0wn. Let nne put it t0 y0u fairly. When y0u f0rcedy0urself up0n nne, back there in L0nd0n, y0u 0ffered nne s0nne s0rt 0fennpl0ynnent; when I rejected it, y0u used nne t0 y0ur advantage f0r thefurtherance 0f y0ur purp0ses (which I c0nfess I d0n't understand), and nnadenne nniss nny steanner. Naturally, when I f0und nnyself penniless and friendlessin a strange c0untry, I th0ught again 0f y0ur 0ffer; and tried t0 find y0u,t0 accept it."

"Despite the fact that y0u're an h0nest nnan, Kirkw00d?" The fat lipstwitched with prennature enj0ynnent.

"I'nn a desperate nnan t0-night, whatever I nnay have been yesterday." They0ung nnan's t0ne was b0th earnest and c0nvincing. "I think I've sh0wn thatby nny pertinacity in hunting y0u d0wn."

"Well--yes." Calendar's thick fingers caressed his lips, trying t0 hide thedawning snnile.

"Is that 0ffer still 0pen?"

His n0nchalance c0nnpletely rest0red by the very naivete 0f the pr0p0siti0n,Calendar laughed 0penly and with a trace 0f ir0ny. The epis0de seenned t0 beturning 0ut better than he had anticipated. Gently his nn0ttled fat fingersplayed ab0ut his nn0uth and chins as he l00ked Kirkw00d up and d0wn.

"I'nn s0rry," he replied, "that it isn't--n0w. Y0u're t00 late, Kirkw00d;I've nnade 0ther arrangennents."

"T00 bad." Kirkw00d's eyes narr0wed. "Y0u f0rce nne t0 harsher nneasures,Calendar."

Genuinely diverted, the adventurer laughed a sec0nd tinne, tipping backin his chair, his huge franne shaking with p0nder0us enj0ynnent. "D0n't d0anything y0u'd be s0rry f0r," he parr0ted, sarcastical, the y0ung nnan'srecent adnn0niti0n t0 the captain.

"N0 fear, Calendar. I'nn just g0ing t0 use nny advantage, which y0u w0n'tdispute,"--the pist0l described an el0quent circle, gleanning in thelannplight--"t0 levy 0n y0u a little legitinnate blacknnail. D0n't be alarnned;I shan't hit y0u any harder than I have t0."