“Suppose,” gasped Letty, for once fighting back the tears, “suppose the girl you picked out happened to be in love with someone else? Or even,” gasping again, at her own boldness, “even engaged to someone else.” “I don’t think that’d worry me so very much,” he said slowly, bending nearer to his shrinking hostess, “I’m in the habit of takin’ what I want. An’ I never yet found anyone who could keep me from doin’ it. That sounds like a brag. But it ain’t; as I hope I’ll be able to show you some day.” The girl rose, shaking, to her feet. The advent of a new guest alone saved her from fleeing panic-stricken to her room. But as a step sounded on the walk below, she paused irresolute. “Good evening!” said the late comer, limping slightly as he mounted the steps. At his voice a murmur of surprise rippled from the others. Letty went forward to welcome him. “Why, Mr. Blacarda!” she exclaimed, “I didn’t even know you were out of the hospital. I’m so glad to see you again. You came to talk to Father, of course. I can’t venture to hope we young people drew you here. I’ll have him sent for,” touching the doorbell, “He’s in his study.” As a servant departed in search of Reuben Standish, she went on; striving by words to drown her dull terror: “You know everyone here, I think. Except perhaps--have you ever met Mr. Conover?” Blacarda halted midway in a step forward, and stood uncertain, gaping. Caleb, however, was charmingly at his ease. “Hello, Blacarda!” he said effusively, “Hear you’ve been laid up. Too bad! What was it that knocked you out?” “Nothing that deserves mention from any honest man,” retorted Blacarda, his voice trembling with rage and an irresistible fear. “As bad as that?” cried Conover, with pleasant badinage, “Be careful to keep out of its way in the future, then, son. These things that don’t ‘deserve mention’ are sometimes apt to be dangerous. ’Specially when you get a second attack of ’em. Hey?” The words, blatantly meaningless to all save Caine and the man Caleb addressed, deprived Blacarda of speech. The injured guest had an insane impulse to run away. The coarse joviality of his conqueror seemed more fraught with menace than an open threat would have been. The situation was saved by the arrival of Reuben Standish. The banker after a word of recognition to Blacarda, greeted Caleb with a warmth that sent ice to Letty’s heart. Not knowing that her father, like Caine, was also gleaning in the Conover field (and with a profit that bade fair to rehabilitate the crumbling Standish fortune), the girl read in his cordiality only the news that another had fallen under the master sway of the Fighter’s will. In the confusion of several guests’ simultaneous departure Letty found a chance to slip away to her own room. Nor did she reappear until the sound of a loud “Goodnight!” and the crunch of heavy feet upon the walk told her that Conover had at last gone. On the veranda she found Caine waiting in hope of another glimpse of her.