This was the expression which recalled--oh, so clearly--the dread time when Anthony Fry had become obsessed with the idea that crime is a matter of diet and external impression, when he had secured the two yeggmen and established them where he could watch and feed them; when, eventually, he had been forced to pay for their crowning crime or go to jail as an accomplice! This was the expression that brought back the period in which Anthony had cherished the theory that music's true germ lay in the negro race, properly guided and separated from all outside influences and--well, this was the expression, fast enough, and Boller's throat tightened. He had not even found words of protest when Anthony pursued: "And upon my soul! See how the thing has been prearranged for us!" "What?" "Look here, Johnson," the owner of Fry's Liniment hurried on, quite excitedly. "Have you noticed how packed the house is to-night?" "What? Yes, and----" "Every seat in the place is sold--_except this one seat in our box_!" "What of it?" "It's fate!" chuckled Mr. Fry. "It is fate and nothing else, Johnson. Out of all the millions in New York, one man--absolutely unknown to, unsuspected by, either you or me--is coming to take this seat, doubtless for the star bout." "But----" "To that man," said Anthony, "I shall offer opportunity!" "What d'ye mean? Money?" Johnson Boller asked incredulously. "It will involve money, doubtless; I can afford a little." "Well, you go and poke a handful of bills into a man's face and all you're going to prove is that----" "I have no idea of doing anything of the sort," Anthony said impatiently. "What I purpose doing is simply this: I shall----" Johnson Boller had recovered from the first shock. He drew a long, deep breath, and, leaning over to his old friend, placed a firm, strong hand on his knee and looked soothingly into his kindled eye. "Listen, Anthony!" said he. "_Don't!_" "Eh? You've no notion of what I mean to do," Anthony said briefly. "No, but I can guess enough to dope it out pretty well, and--don't do it!" Johnson Boller said earnestly. "This theory stuff is all right, Anthony; I like to sit and chatter about it as much as you do. On the level, I do! I like to talk with you about these things, and wonder what would happen if this was thus and the other thing was otherwise. But when you come to pulling it on a perfect stranger at a prize fight, Anthony, try to remember that everybody may not understand you as well as I do." "My dear chap!" Anthony laughed.