air play, and let me tell you that
your experience has been of a remarkably mild order."

"You can choose another agent," said Antony shortly.

"I can," said Nicholas, with emphasis on the first word. "But I fancy
William Gateley will find a twin to Curtis on my demise if you refuse the
inheritance."

Once more Antony hesitated.

"Find another heir, then," he announced after a moment.

Nicholas shook his head. "You hardly encourage me to do so. My present
failure appears so palpable, I am not very likely to make a second
attempt in that direction."

Again there was a silence. Antony moved further back into the room.

"You rather force my hand," he said coldly.

"You mean you accept the inheritance?" asked Nicholas eagerly. His
eagerness was almost too blatant.

"I will accept it," replied Antony dispassionately, "and will see justice
done to your tenants. It will not be incumbent on me to make personal use
of your money."

Nicholas let that pass.

"And for the present?" he asked.

"Concerning the matter of the contract," said Antony stiffly, "I would
point out to you that I undertook to work for you for a year as Michael
Field, gardener. Well, I will abide by that contract, and prolong it if
necessary." He did not say till the day of Nicholas's death. But Nicholas
understood his meaning.

"I trust you consider that I am now treating you fairly," said Antony
still stiffly, and after a slight pause.

Nicholas bowed his head.

"Fairly, yes," he said in an odd, almost pathetic voice, "but
hardly--shall we call it--as a friend."

Antony looked suddenly amazed.

"What do you mean?" he demanded.

"I wanted you to help me to get even with Curtis," he replied
regretfully. His tone was somewhat reminiscent of a rueful schoolboy.

Despite himself Antony smiled.

"I ordered him to come here at three o'clock," went on Nicholas, glancing
at the clock which wanted only five minutes of the hour. "I wanted to
give him his _conge_, and introduce him to the new agent at the same
moment. He believes firmly in my demise, by the way, which would
certainly have added zest to the business. And now--well, it will be a
pretty flat sort of compromise, that's all."

Antony laughed aloud. For the life of him he could not help it. And then,
as he laughed, he realized in a sudden flash, almost as Trix had
realized, the odd pathos, the utter loneliness which could find interest
in the mad business he--Nicholas--had invented