"Law'! honey," interposed old Joy, "what you want to do fine things faw? You's done got religion. You on'y ain't got peace. Come to de bishop. Gawd won't let a religious enquireh kitch noth'n'. I 'uz tellin' de bishop 'bout missy an' you, bofe gitt'n' religion 'istiddy, an' he say, s'e: 'Go, fetch yo' young missy; fetch bofe.'" "We'll go!" said Ramsey before the willing boy could reply, though from every side came protests. For once Hugh and the twins were in accord. "You must not!" called Hugh. "You shall not!" said Julian. She glanced from one to the other, tinkling her prettiest, and suddenly flushed. "We will!" The twins sent Hugh a hot look which he paid back with a cold one, while Mrs. Gilmore said: "I'll have to go with you, Ramsey." For one breath the girl was taken aback, but then: "Yes," she said, "to the door, that's all." As they turned after Basile and Joy she added: "'Twas I, you know, that got the bishop sick in the first place." At the corner of the texas they glanced back but were reassured to see the cub-pilot disappearing on the nearest boiler-deck stair at the outer, depopulated side of the boat, the actor and Hugh moving toward it, and the twins holding the field and scowling after their opponents. Nevertheless, the moment the sister and wife passed from view Julian sturdily, Lucian feebly, pressed after Hugh and the player. The last witness was gone; now was their time. "Mr. Courteney," said Julian. The other two looked back and paused. Lucian spoke: "Mr. Gilmore, you have my cane, sir." The player smiled. "Is this really your cane?" With a ripping oath Julian put in: "What's that to you, you damned Gypsy? Give him the stick!" The player let go a stage laugh. Hugh took a step forward with a grave show of self-command hardly justified. "Mr. Hayle," he said, "you don't want to be another 'hopeless ass,' do you?" "Gawd!" Julian rose to his toes and lifted and brought down his cane. But it never reached its mark. One stride of the actor, one outflash of arm and staff, foiled the blow, and when a second was turned on him the cane flew from Julian's hand he knew not how and dropped ten feet away. He dared not leap after it but faced the skilled fencer, blazing defiance though fully expectant of the unsheathed dirk. But no dirk was unsheathed. Lucian, forgetting his feebleness, sprang for the cane and had dropped to one knee to snatch it up when Hugh set foot on it. "No!" said Hugh. The convalescent straightened up, his brow dark with an anguish of chagrin, and before he could find speech Hugh was adding: "Wait. I'll give it to you." "Don't!" cried Gilmore. "Keep it!" "No," wearily said Hugh, glaring on the glaring twins, "we're all belittled enough now." He caught up the cane, drew its dagger, snapped it in half on the deck, and resheathed the stump. Then tossing the point into the river he said: "Here, Mr. Gilmore, swap."