judged that Colonel John's triumph
did not go very deep. He was looking graver, sadder, older;
finally--this he saw as they saluted one another--sterner.

Asgill stepped aside courteously, meaning to go by him. But the Colonel
stepped aside also, and so barred his way. "Mr. Asgill," he said--and
there was something of the martinet in his tone--"I will trouble you to
give me a word apart."

"A word apart?" Asgill answered. He was taken aback, and do what he
could the Colonel's grave eyes discomposed him. "With all the pleasure
in life, Colonel. But a little later, by your leave."

"I think now were more convenient, sir," the Colonel answered, "by your
leave."

"I will lay my cloak in the house, and then----"

"It will be more convenient to keep your cloak, I'm thinking," the
Colonel rejoined with dryness. And either because of the meaning in his
voice or the command in his eyes, Asgill gave way and turned with him,
and the two walked gravely and step for step through the gateway.

Outside the Colonel beckoned to a ragged urchin who was playing ducks
and drakes with his naked toes. "Go after Mr. Asgill's horses," he
said, and bid the man bring them back."

"Colonel Sullivan!"

The Colonel did not heed his remonstrance. "And follow us!" he
continued. "Are you hearing, boy? Go then."

"Colonel Sullivan," Asgill repeated, his face both darker and
paler--for there could be no doubt about the other's meaning--"I'm
thinking this is a strange liberty you're taking. And I beg to say I
don't understand the meaning of it."

"You wish to know the meaning of it?"

"I do."

"It means, sir," Colonel John replied, "that the sooner you start on
your return journey the better!"

Asgill stared. "The better you will be pleased, you mean!" he said. And
he laughed harshly.

"The better it will be for you, I mean," Colonel John answered.

Asgill flushed darkly, but he commanded himself--having those
injunctions to prudence fresh in his mind. "This is an odd tone," he
said. "And I must ask you to explain yourself further, or I can tell
you that what you have said will go for little. I am here upon the
invitation of my friend, The McMurrough----"

"This is not his house."

Asgill stared. "Do you mean----"

"I mean what I say," the Colonel answered. "This is not his house, as
you well know."

"But----"

"It is mine, and I do not propose to entertain you, Mr. Asgill,"
Colonel John continued. "Is that sufficiently plain