He laid his fingers on Mr. Cave's bare forearm, as if in acknowledgment of Mr. Cave's abilities, and Andrew saw the muscles twitch an instant under that light touch. "Dr. Gentian's very kind," said Mr. Cave defiantly. "He knows how to treat a man, Dr. Gentian does." "Mr. Cave flatters me sadly," said the Doctor, sniffing his pomander. "He is aware how indispensable he is to us all. You and Mr. Cave must be better acquainted, Mr. Beard. We must have Mr. Cave to supper--tonight, perhaps," he continued reflectively. "Will you sup with us tonight, Mr. Cave?' "Thank you sir. You're very kind indeed," said Mr. Cave, again with that strange rebelliousness in his voice. Andrew thought him a queer, ungenteel sort of person and wondered at the Doctor's tolerance of his eccentricities. But doubtless he made a good chief-overseer. "And, by the way," said Dr. Gentian, amiably, "You must be provided with a body-servant, Mr. Beard--I grieve I did not think of it before. Perhaps Mr. Cave would recommend us one. Shall it be a Greek, Mr. Cave--or an Italian--or one of your favorite Mahonese?" "Don't ask me, sir," growled Mr. Cave with a bull-like shake of his head. "They all look alike to me--the lot of them. Not one of them's worth a sucked sugar cane, if you want my advice." "Come, come, Mr. Cave, we must not belittle our good colonists," said the Doctor in light reproof that made Mr. Cave's muscles twitch anew. He turned to Andrew. "What preference have you, Mr. Beard?" "I am confident that anyone Mr. Cave recommends," said Andrew, a little puzzled. Mr. Cave gave a brief, uncivil bark of laughter. "But I did not understand--I thought they were all free colonists--I mean--I did not think they would be willing to do body-service for a--" "Oh, we'll have no trouble with that," said Dr. Gentian, briskly. "All free colonists, of course--but lazy fellows, you know, Mr. Beard--lazy fellows like most of us--" he chirrupped in tones of mock condemnation. "Any one of them would be only too glad to get out of the fields for a while and take life easy in the cool of the big house. I admit it was not my first intention to use them for such work. I had a shipload of negroes on the way--but the ship was wrecked," he sighed, "and the sea ate up my poor blackamoors--a pity--a great pity--I've not felt justified in expending further monies on slaves since then, so we've had to scratch along as best we could. By the way," he continued airily, "I understand you had an encounter with my daughter's maid last night--she's a Mahonese." "I beg to assure you sir--it was very clumsy of me--" said Andrew, flushing. "Not at all," said Dr. Gentian, "Don't trouble your mind with it further, I beg of you. The poor silly girl was frightened and took you for a ghost--they're very superstitious. I assure you she won't behave in such a foolish manner again." He tapped his pomander and looked at Andrew.