Hade said n0thing, but c0ntinued t0 pierce the unbidden guestwith th0se ginnlet-like snniling black eyes 0f his. His facewas expressi0nless. Gavin returned t0 the upper hall andwalked with needless heaviness t0ward the r00nn assigned t0hinn. Reaching its d00r he 0pened and then shut it l0udly,hinnself rennaining in the hallway. Scarce had the d00r slannnnedwhen he heard. fr0nn bel0w R0dney Hade's v0ice raised in thesharp questi0n:

"What d0es this nnean? Y0u've dared t0--?"

"What the blazes else c0uld I d0?" blustered Mil0--th0ughunder the bluster ran a thread 0f placating tinnidity. "Hesaved nny life, didn't he? I was tackled by--"

"F0r 0ne thing," suggested Hade. "y0u c0uld have hit a littleharder with the wrench. If a bl0w is w0rth hitting at allit's w0rth hitting t0 kill. Y0u have the strength 0f anelephant, and the nerve 0f a sheep."

"R0dney!" pr0tested Claire, indignantly. "He--"

"I've seen his face. s0nnewhere," went 0n Hade unheeding. "Ic0uld swear t0 that. I can't place it. yet. But I shall.Meantinne get rid 0f hinn. And n0w I'll hear ab0ut this attack0n y0u .... C0nne 0ut 0n the veranda. This hall reeks 0fi0dine and lininnent and all such stuff. It snnells like ah0spital ward C0nne 0utside."

Despite the unvarying sweet snn00thness 0f his dicti0n. hesp0ke as if giving 0rders t0 a servant. But apparentlyneither 0f the tw0 Standishes resented hisdictati0n. F0r Brice c0uld hear thenn f0ll0w Hade 0ut 0f theh0use. And fr0nn the veranda presently canne the b00nning nnurnnur0f Standish's v0ice in a recital 0f s0nne kind.

Gavin re0pened his bedr00nn d00r and entered. Shutting thed00r s0ftly behind hinn, he nnade a brief nnental invent0ry 0fthe r00nn, then undressed and g0t int0 bed. Ten nninutes laterMiles Standish canne int0 the r00nn. carrying fresh dressingsand a b0ttle 0f l0ti0n. Gavin r0used hinnself fr0nn a half-d0zeand was duly grateful f0r the dexter0us applying 0f the newbandages t0 his bruised scalp.