Slade laughed. "Nice filial sort of statement, that; but don't mind me. If you suit Laura's taste, I'll swallow you, too. I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that I'm making a goodish thing of it myself just now. Kate--I beg your pardon--Miss O'Neill pays me my regular screw, and in addition gives me a nice sum down on every property I've bought for her, and a tidy block of shares when there's a company floated. I shall be able to give you and Laura a decent wedding present--in script. By the way, is she at Smooth River?" "No, Grand Canary." Slade stiffened. "How's that?" "Africa wasn't safe for her. You ought to be dam' well ashamed of yourself for leaving her here. You knew the danger from old Kallee a big sight better than she did. And you left her without a cent to get away with and not an ounce of credit." "Then," said Slade stiffly, "do I understand that she's gone to the islands at your expense?" "You can understand what you please," said Carter truculently. "Are you married to her?" "I am not at present. I shall be as soon as it suits Laura's convenience and my own." "You will kindly understand that I resent your interference with my finances and my daughter's." "You may resent," said the prospective son-in-law, "till you're black in the face, and I shan't lose sleep over it." Bang went something outside, and Slade started. "Good Lord," he said, "there's somebody firing at us. Sit down, man, on the floor." "Nothing of the kind," said Carter testily. "My boy Trouble has got the engines going to try to work us off this bank, and with his usual cleverness he has contrived a back fire, that's all. There--you can smell it. Now, I don't think you are a quarrelsome man as a general thing?" "Not I. Too much trouble to quarrel with people." "Well, I'll just ask you to give Laura and myself your benediction, and leave the rest to us." Slade let off his limp laugh. "If a wedding present of such dubious value will please you, I'm most pleased to give it. Especially as I see you're inclined to stick to my little girl. To tell the truth, I'd heard you were after somebody else and it made me rather mad. You know how rumors float about in the bush." Carter's lips tightened. "Who's the other person, please?" "Oh, just my present employer--and your late one. But I've no doubt it's all a mistake." "If you'll apply to her, I've no doubt she'll endorse that sentiment most thoroughly. I don't think Miss O'Neill's a person to throw herself away on one of her own ex-servants." Slade chuckled. "If you put it that way, I'm sure she isn't. By the way, do you know who she is?" "What do you mean?"