me long enough to give me your decision."

"Oh, Stevuns--you funny old brutish dear!"

"If it were a direct loan of money from your father it would be a
different matter--but it is one of those intricate, involved deals
that mean more than you or I choose to admit. It means that I have
learned the hollow satisfaction in being a rich man and husband of a
Gorgeous Girl. I want to be a plain American with a wife who is
content with something else save a Villa Rosa and pound-and-a-half lap
dogs. I am going to be a mediocre failure in the eyes of your set,
since it is the only way in which I can start to be a true success in
other than dollar standards. The two elements that collect a crowd and
breed newspaper headlines are mystery and struggle; remove them and
you find yourself serene and secure. That is what I propose to do. I
ask if it is too late for you to come with me or are you going to
linger in the Villa Rosa? Answer me--I want something real, common,
definite--can't you understand?"

"If you ever dare treat me like this again----" she began, whimpering.

Steve brushed by her and up the stairs. He went into Constantine's
room, where the old man lay in helpless discontent, his dulling eyes
looking at the sunken gardens and the chattering peacocks and his
heart longing for Hannah and the early days together.

"Why, Steve," he said in a pleased tone, "you look as if they were
after you. Thought you'd forgotten me. That nurse Bea engaged has a
voice like a scissors grinder in action."

Briefly Steve told him what had taken place, not mentioning Beatrice's
name. It had an astonishing effect; as a mental tonic it was not to be
surpassed, for the fallen oak of a man throbbed anew with life, as
much as was possible, his hands twitching with rage, his teeth
grinding, and the dulled eyes bright with interest.

"The dogs! I knew it! Why didn't you tell me long before? Blocked 'em
off--snuffed 'em out. Meddling with wildcat stocks--asinine any way
you figure it! Well, I don't know that I blame you. The first success
was too sweet to leave untried again, eh?" He chuckled as if something
amused him. "We'll close out to 'em. We'll start again----"

"I don't want another fortune handed me," Steve interrupted. "I want
to earn it, if you please. I'm not a pauper in the true sense of the
word; I am merely trained down to the proper financial weight for a
man of my age and experience to carry, and I can now enter the ring
with