nothing. Even
those whom we call dead remember."

"Ah, you are beyond me," laughed Sprague uneasily. "I am no philosopher.
Still, I shall remember what you say about 'willing.' When next we play
I shall will to win."

"So shall I."

"What will happen then?"

"Victory for the strongest will."

The two men separated, Sprague with an uneasy feeling in his heart, and
Ricordo with a strange smile upon his face.

That evening the concert was held in the village hall, during which
Signor Ricordo manifested but little enthusiasm. Indeed, during most of
the time he sat with his eyes closed, and once or twice he seemed to
suppress a yawn with difficulty, as though he were bored. When Olive
sang, however, all was different. He watched her face closely, and
listened with almost painful attention. He seemed pleased when the
audience applauded, and more than once he uttered a low "bravo"; but
there was no marked enthusiasm in his appreciation. Indeed, it was
difficult to tell what he thought of her performance as a whole.

When the concert was over, he was introduced to John Castlemaine. This
was the first time he had met him. Mr. Castlemaine had been away to
London for several days, and had only returned the day before. Olive
had spoken to him concerning Ricordo on her return from the golf links,
and he was prepared to be interested in the man from the East.

"This must be a great change from your Eastern life, Signor Ricordo," he
said.

"Yes, and no," replied Ricordo; "but it has been very interesting."

"Are you staying long?"

"In Vale Linden? Only a few days, I expect. In England? Yes, for some
months, I think. Probably until your summer is over. It would be hard to
spend another winter in England. I came just after your Christmas, and I
spent three months in London. I had affairs there."

"Ah, you are a man of business, then?"

"We all have business, haven't we? I am a partner in the Tripoli,
Fezzan, Mourzouck Company."

John Castlemaine's eyes flashed with satisfaction. The stranger was no
wandering, nameless adventurer. The Tripoli, Fezzan, Mourzouck Company
was the great trading power of the East, doing not only great business
in England, but throughout the world.

"I am not here as a representative of my firm, Signor Castlemaine," said
Ricordo, "but I know the English customs." He took a small case from his
pocket, and presented a card to him, and also papers which revealed the
imprimatur of the compan