"I have rarely been more afraid than I was then." "Or when you played head-nurse in the spotted-fever mess at Sunnyside?" "I was nearly sick--scared sick--myself." Holt's patent-leather boots flashed in and out of the shadow cast by the table-edge. "Hum," he said. "It don't seem to show a healthy state of mind, does it?" Stainton had disappeared into his bedroom. From there his answer came, partly muffled by the half-closed door. "I don't care to talk any more about it. I made my explanation to you last night, because I had promised to make one. That's all." "I'm afraid I was a bit illuminated last night," said Holt. "You were." "Still, you know, I knew what I was saying." Stainton did not reply. "And what I said," Holt supplemented, "is what I think now and what I always will think." "Very well. Let it go at that, George." Holt made a mighty effort. "The plain truth is," said he, "that people will call you an old fool to buy a piece of undressed kid." Stainton's bulky figure filled the doorway. He was in his shirt-sleeves, his hands busy with the collar-button at the back of his neck. "That will do," he said. "I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings----" said Holt. "Then keep quiet." "But you ought to know what people will say. Someone's got to tell you." "I don't care what people will say." "They'll say----" Stainton advanced. His hands were now at his side, idle, but his face was completely calm. "Never mind," he said. "They'll say," concluded Holt, "that you're buying the little girl, and that you've been cheated in the transaction----" Stainton's hands were raised. They descended heavily upon Holt's shoulders. They plucked Holt from his perch and shook him until his teeth chattered. Then they dropped him, rather gently, into a chair. "Now," said Stainton. His face was firm, and there was a cold blue flame playing from under his brows, but he was not even breathing hard. "Now, let this end it. If you want to be my friend, let this end your comments on my personal affairs. If you do not want to be my friend, go on talking as you have been, and I will throw you out of the window." This incident partially accounts for Holt's resolute refusal thereafter to advise Stainton. Advise him further George certainly did not, although among his club-fellows he expressed himself as extremely anxious to have it remembered that, should anything go wrong with Stainton, George Holt had predicted as much. There remained, however, one person of importance to Stainton's project that still remained unconsulted and might have some opinion of more or less weight in regard to it. This was Muriel Stannard.