ntleman you want to be
careful with. . . ."

Vane raised his eyebrows. "You are more than kind," he murmured. "But
I think. . . ."

Mr. Baxter waved his hand. "I mean no offence," he said. "But that
man Ramage is one of the men who are going to ruin this country. . . ."

"Funnily enough, Mr. Baxter, he seems to be of the opinion that you are
one of the men who have already done so."

The millionaire, in no wise offended, roared with laughter. Then he
became serious again. "The old catchwords," he grated. "Bloated
capitalist--sweated labour, growing fat on the bodies and souls of
those we employ. . . . Rot, sir; twaddle, sir. There's no business
such as mine would last for one moment if I didn't look after my
workpeople. Pure selfishness on my part, I admit. If I had my way I'd
sack the lot and instal machines. But I can't. . . . And if I could,
do you suppose I'd neglect my machine. . . . Save a shilling for
lubricating oil and do a hundred pounds' worth of damage? Don't you
believe it, Captain Vane. . . . But, I'll be damned if I'll be
dictated to by the man I pay. . . . I pay them a fair wage and they
know it. And if I have any of this rot of sympathetic strikes after
the war, I'll shut everything down for good and let 'em starve. . . ."
He looked at Joan. . . . "I wouldn't be sorry to have a long rest," he
continued thoughtfully.

"Captain Vane is a seeker after truth," she remarked. "It must be most
valuable," she turned to Vane, "to hear two such opinions as his and
Mr. Ramage's so close together." Her eyes were dancing merrily.

"Most valuable," returned Vane. "And one is so struck with the
pugilistic attitude adopted by both parties. . . . It seems so
extraordinarily helpful to the smooth running of the country
afterwards." He had no occasion to like Baxter from any point of
view--but apart altogether from Joan, he felt that if there was any
justification in his late luncheon companion's views, men such as
Baxter supplied it.

With a movement almost of distaste he turned to Joan. "I was sorry
that we didn't have another game before I left Rumfold," he said
lightly.

"It was so very even that last one," she returned, and Vane's knuckles
showed white on the table.

"My recollection is that you won fairly easily," he murmured.

"Excuse me a moment, will you?" said Mr. Baxter to Joan. "There's a
man over there I must speak to. . . ." He rose and crossed the
restaurant. Joan w