the pocket of the world?"

Carnac shook his head. "I don't care much about the pocket of the world,
but they like my work in London and New York. I don't get Royal Academy
prices, but I do pretty well."

"Got some pride, eh?"

"I'm always proud when anybody outside Montreal mentions your name! It
makes me feel I have a place in the world."

"Guess you've made your own place," said the other, pleasure coming to
his cheek. "You've got your own shovel and pick to make wealth."

"I care little about wealth. All I want is enough to clothe and feed me,
and give me a little home."

"A little home! Yes, it's time," remarked the other, as he seated
himself in his big chair by the table. "Why don't you marry?"

The old man's eyes narrowed until there could only be seen a slit of
fire between the lids, and a bitter smile came to his lips. He had
told his wife a year ago that he had cut Carnac out of all business
consideration. So now, he added:

"Tarboe's taken your place in the business, Carnac. Look out he doesn't
take your little home too."

"He's had near a year, and he hasn't done it yet."

"Is that through any virtue of yours?"

"Probably not," answered Carnac ironically. "But I've been away; he's
been here. He's had everything with him. Why hasn't he pulled it off
then?"

"He pulls off everything he plans. He's never fallen over his own feet
since he's been with me, and, if I can help it, he won't have a fall
when I'm gone."

Suddenly he got to his feet; a fit of passion seized him. "What's Junia
to me--nothing! I've every reason to dislike her, but she comes and goes
as if the place belonged to her. She comes to my office; she comes to
this house; she visits Fabian; she tries to boss everybody. Why don't
you regularize it? Why don't you marry her, and then we'll know where
we are? She's got more brains than anybody else in our circle. She's
got tact and humour. Her sister's a fool; she's done harm. Junia's got
sense. What are you waiting for? I wouldn't leave her for Tarboe! Look
here, Carnac, I wanted you to do what Tarboe's doing, and you wouldn't.
You cheeked me--so I took him in. He's made good every foot of the way.
He's a wonder. I'm a millionaire. I'm two times a millionaire, and I got
the money honestly. I gave one-third of it to Fabian, and he left us. I
paid him in cash, and now he's fighting me."

Carnac bristled up: "What else could he do? He might have lived on the
interest of the money, and