"Fiddle-de-dee! Don't be a fuss! Only men, you know. That's good
enough."

But Blair selected another tie, and, while he manipulated it, Shelby
fussed around the room. He could say no word in confidence to Blair, for
Thorpe was impatiently tailing them to hurry, and shortly the three
started off, gay of manner on the surface, whatever they might be
thinking about.

They carefully avoided all mention of the Cranes, and also avoided the
coming prize competition as a subject of discussion.

This, itself, proved the rift in the lute was still recognized in the
souls of Blair and Thorpe at least. The two had enough artistic
temperament to feel the inevitable jealousy of each other's designs, and
if Blair suspected Thorpe of appropriating his ideas, whether
consciously or unintentionally, it would have the effect of making him
unusually quiet, even morose, rather than to result in so much as a
spoken hint of his thoughts.

Moreover, habit is strong, and the three walked off to keep their
engagement with much the same gay laughter and chatter as usual.

Shelby, especially, was purposely talkative and jocular, for he wanted
to get the other two in complete good humor before the feast began.

In a general way he succeeded, and though Blair was a bit quiet, Thorpe
regained his ordinary temper, and the men met and mingled with their
fellows, their attitude properly in the key of the occasion.

It was a merry little dinner, and at last the talk drifted to Mr.
Crane's book about Peter. Everybody present had known and loved Peter
Boots, and various were the opinions regarding Benjamin Crane's
extraordinary work.

"All rubbish," declared one man. "Strange, how sensible men can fall for
that stuff! Makes me sick!"

"Oh, come now," another urged, "there must be something in it. Benjamin
Crane never made up all that."

"No, he didn't make it up, but he was fooled, gulled, taken in."

"By the medium?" asked some one.

"Partly," answered somebody else. "But I think there's been underhand
work going on."

"Such as what?"

"Oh, some of Peter's people or friends helping the medium along. I've
read that book with the greatest care, studied it, and I get a lot
between the lines. And I think----"

"Don't say it," put in Blair, quietly. "Unless you know something,
Knight, better keep still."

"But why, Blair? We're all friends of Peter here, why not discuss the
thing freely and frankly?"

"Better let it alone," insisted