Carmel was young. She was dainty, lovely. Always she had been shielded and protected and petted--which, fortunately, had not impaired the fiber of her character.... Now, for the first time, she found herself staring into the white, night eyes of one of life’s grim realities; knew herself to be touched by it--and the knowledge frightened her.... Evan Bartholomew Pell stayed her unpleasant thoughts, and she was grateful to him. “Miss Lee--I have--ah--been engaged upon a computation of some interest--academically. It is, of course, based upon an arbitrary hypothesis--nevertheless it is instructive.” “Yes,” said Carmel, wearily. “We take for our hypothesis,” said Evan, “the existence of a number of men willing to evade or break the law for profit. Having assumed the existence of such an association, we arrive upon more certain ground.... Our known facts are these. Intoxicating liquor is prohibited in the United States. Second, intoxicants may be bought freely over the Canadian line. Third, the national boundary is some twenty miles distant. Fourth, whisky, gin, et cetera, command exceedingly high prices in the United States. I am informed liquor of excellent quality commands as much as a hundred dollars per dozen bottles, and less desirable stock up to fifty and seventy-five dollars. Fifth, these same liquors may be bought for a fraction of that cost across the line. Now, we arrive at one of our conclusions. The hypothetical association of lawless men, provided they could smuggle liquor into this country, would realize a remarkable percentage of profit. Deducting various costs, I estimate the average profit per dozen bottles would approximate thirty-five dollars. I fancy this is low rather than excessive. One thousand cases would fetch a profit of thirty-five thousand dollars.... Let us suppose an efficient company engaged in the traffic. They would smuggle into the country a thousand cases a month.... In that case their earnings would total three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.... Ahem!... Interesting, is it not?” “Yes,” said Carmel, “but what set you thinking about it?” Evan peered at her gravely through his spectacles, as he might peer at some minute zoological specimen through a microscope, and was long in replying. “I--er--was merely wondering,” he said, “if a life of lawlessness could not offer greater rewards than--ah--respectable journalism.” “Are you proposing that I become a--rum runner?” “Not exactly,” said Evan Bartholomew, “not precisely. I was, so to speak, offering you an opportunity to exercise your reason.... If exercise is salubrious for the body, why not for the mind?” He cleared his throat and turned his back upon her abruptly. “The various sciences you have studied,” she said, sharply, “did not include good manners.” “As I understand it,” said Evan, “our relations are not social, but purely of a business nature. If I am in error, I beg you to correct me.”