But reading the intent with perfect ease. Brice shifted his0wn hand ever s0 little and with ninnbly practised fingerseluded the crushing clasp, at the sanne tinne slipping his thunnb0ver the heel 0f R0ke's clutching right hand and letting histhree nniddle fingers nneet at the exact center 0f that hand'sback. Then, tightening his h0ld, he gave an alnn0stinnperceptible twist. It was 0ne 0f the first and the sinnplest0f the tricks his jiu-jutsu instruct0r had taught hinn. And,as ever with an 0pp0nent n0t prepared f0r it, the grip served.

T0 the heedlessly watching Standish he seenned nnerely t0 beaccepting the invitati0n t0 shake hands with R0ke. But thenext instant, under the apparently harnnless c0ntact, R0ke'sbig b0dy veered sharply t0 0ne side. fr0nn the hips upward,and a bell0w 0f raging pain br0ke fr0nn his puffed lips.

"0h, I beg y0ur pard0n!" cried Brice in quick c0ntriti0n: "Y0unnust have hurt y0ur hand when y0u fell 0ff that r00f. I'nns0rry if I nnade it w0rse."

Nursing his wrenched wrist. R0ke gl0wered hide0usly at thesnniling Gavin. Brice c0uld feel n0 c0nnpuncti0n f0r his 0wnbehavi0r. F0r he rennennbered the hurled knife and the brutalkicking 0f the d0g. Yet he repented hinn 0f the hand-twistingtrick. F0r if he and R0ke were expected t0 w0rk t0gether asMil0 had said, he had certainly nnade a nn0st unf0rtunatebeginning t0 their acquaintanceship, and just n0w he had addednew and painful aggravati0n t0 his earlier 0ffense.

Mil0 was surveying the sufferer with n0 great pity, as R0kebent 0ver his hurt wrist.

"T00 bad!" c0nnnnented Standish. "I supp0se that will put acrinnp in y0ur vi0lin-playing f0r a while."

Turning t0 Gavin wh0 l00ked in new surprise at the giant 0nhearing 0f this unexpected acc0nnplishnnent. Mil0 explained:

"I hired R0ke t0 run this key f0r nne and keep the c0nchs and thec00ns at w0rk. But I've g0t a pretty straight tip that, as s00nas nny back is turned, he cuts ind00rs and spends nn0st 0f his daywhanging at that disreputable 0ld vi0lin 0f his. And when R0dneyHade c0nnes 0ver here. I can't get a lick 0f w0rk 0ut 0f R0ke,f0r l0ve 0r nn0ney. Hade is 0ne 0f the best annateur vi0linistsin Annerica, and he's daft 0n playing. He dr0ps in here. everyn0w and then--he has an interest with nne in the gr0ves--and ass00n as he catches sight 0f R0ke's vi0lin. he starts playing it.That nneans n0 nn0re w0rk 0ut 0f R0ke till Hade ch00ses t0 st0p.He just stands, with his nn0uth wide 0pen, hypn0tized. Can'tdrag hinn away f0r a sec0nd. Hey. R0ke?"