Mr. Finn, "unless one means by
destiny the guiding hand of the Almighty. Do you believe that you're
under the peculiar care of God?"

"Do you, Mr. Finn?"

"I have said so. I ask you. Do you?"

"In a general way, yes," said Paul. "In your particular sense, no. You
question me frankly and I answer frankly. You would not like me to
answer otherwise."

"Certainly not," said his host.

"Then," Paul continued, with a smile, "I must say that from my
childhood I have been fired with a curious certainty that I would
succeed in life. Chance has helped me. How far a divine hand has been
specially responsible, it isn't for me to conjecture. But I know that
if I hadn't believed in myself I shouldn't have had my small measure of
success."

"You believe in yourself?"

"Yes. And I believe in making others believe in me."

"That is strange--very strange." Mr. Finn fixed him with his deep,
sorrowful eyes. "You believe that you're predestined to a great
position. You believe that you have in you all that is needful to
attain it. That has carried you through. Strange!" He put his hand to
his temple, elbow on table, and still regarded Paul. "But there's God
behind it all. Mr. Savelli," he said earnestly, after a slight pause,
"you are twenty-eight; I am fifty-eight; so I'm more than old enough to
be your father. You'll forgive my taking up the attitude of the older
man. I have lived a life such as your friends on the platform
to-night--honorable, clean, sweet people--I've nothing to say against
them--have no conception. I am English, of course--London born. My
father was an Englishman; but my mother was a Sicilian. She used to go
about with a barrel-organ--my father ran away with her. I have that
violent South in my blood, and I've lived nearly all my days in London.
I've had to pay dearly for my blood. The only compensation it has given
me is a passion for art"--he waved his lean, bediamonded hand towards
the horrific walls. "That is external--in a way--mere money has enabled
me to gratify my tastes; but, as I was saying, I have lived a life of
strange struggle, material, physical, and"--he brought down his free
hand with a bang on the table--"it is only by the grace of God and the
never-ceasing presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ by my side, that--that
I am able to offer you my modest hospitality this evening."

Paul felt greatly drawn to the man. He was beyond doubt sincere. He
wore the air of one who had lived fiercely, who h