"Tellhimtocallatmyhousenexttimeyouseehim。Andforheaven’ssaketellhimtocometotheservants’door。Don’tyoupeopledownherehaveanyservants’doorstoyourhouses？Therehavebeennolessthanfiftypeddlersonmyporchsinceyesterdayandmybutlerwilldieofapoplexyifitkeepson。He’sagoodone，forawonder，andIdon’twanttolosehim。"
　　Imadenoreplytothisobservationandhedidnotseemtoexpectany。HewatchedZebrakeforamomentandthenheturnedbacktome。
　　"Canyoucomeovertomyhousenow？"heasked。
　　IwasnotexpectingthisandagainIdidnothaveananswerready。
　　"Canyou？"hewenton。"I’vegotabusinessdealtomakewithyouandI’drathermakeitthere。I’vegotalotofcarpentersandpaintersatworkandtheyaskmetenquestionsaminute。TheyareunnecessaryquestionsbutifIdon’tanswerthemthefellowsaresuretomakesomefoolmistakeorother。Theyneedagoverness。
　　Ifyou’llcomeoverwithmeI’llbeintouchwiththemandyouandIcantalkjustaswell。Cancome，can’tyou？"
　　Ididnotknowwhattosay。Iwantedtosayno，thatifhehadanybusinesswithmeitcouldbediscussedinthatboathouse。Ididnotlikehismanner，yetIhadafeelingthatitwashisusualoneandthathehadnotmeanttoberude。AndIcouldthinkofnogoodreasonfornotgoingwithhim。
　　"Youcancome，can’tyou？"herepeated。
　　"IsupposeIcan。But——"
　　"Ofcourseifyou’retoobusytoleave——"
　　IrememberedthepositionhehadfoundmeinandIratherthinkI
　　hadturnedred。Hedidnotsmile，buttherewasasortofgrimtwinkleinhiseyes。
　　"I’llcome，"Isaid。
　　"Muchobliged。Iwon’tkeepyoulong。Comeon。"
　　HeledthewayandIfollowed，rebellious，andangry，notsomuchwithhimaswithmyself。IwishednowthatIhadgoneovertotheColtonplacewhenIfirstreceivedthesummonstocourt，insteadofmakingproclamationsofdefiancetomotherandLuteRogers。Thisseemedsuchacompletebackdown。AswepassedthehouseIsawLutepeeringfromthebarn。Idevoutlyhopedhemightnotseeme，buthedid。Hismouthopenedandhestared。Then，catchingmyeye，hewinkedtriumphantly。Iwantedtopunchhishead。
　　TheKingofNewYorkwalkedbrisklyoninsilenceuntilwewerejustattheedgeofthegrovebytheShoreLane。Thenhestoppedandturnedtome。
　　"Youownallthisland，don’tyou？"heasked。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Humph！Getagoodviewfromhere。"
　　Iadmittedthattheviewwasgood。Atthatparticularpointitembracednearlythewholeofthebayinfront，andalargeportionofthevillageattheside。
　　Hewavedhishandtowardtheclusterofhouses。
　　"Thereareeighteenhundredpeopleinthistown，theytellme，"hesaid。"Permanentresidents，Imean。Whatdotheyalldo？"
　　"Do？"
　　"Yes。Howdotheygetaliving？Theymustgetitsomehow。Intheregularsummerresortstheysqueezeitoutofthecitypeople，I
　　knowthat。Buttherearen’tsomanycottagersandboardershere。
　　Whatdoyoualldoforaliving？"
　　ItoldhimthatmostofmasculineDenborofishedorfarmedorkeptstore。
　　"Whichdoyoudo？"heasked。"Yousaidyouweren’taboat—builder。"
　　"I’mnotdoinganythingatpresent，"Ireplied，shortly。
　　"Outofajob？"
　　"Youmightcallitthat。Isthisapartofthebusinessyouwishedtoseemeabout，Mr。Colton？"
　　Iwasboilinginwardlyandalittleoftheheatwasexpressedinmytone。Idon’tknowwhetherhetookthehintormerelylostinterestinthesubject。Atanyratehisreplywasabrief"No，"
　　andwecontinuedourwalk。
　　AswereachedtheShoreLanehepausedagain，andIthoughthewasabouttospeak。Hedidnot，however，andwecrossedtheboundarylineofmypropertyandenteredtheColtongrounds。AswedrewnearertothehouseIwassurprisedtoseehowlargeitwas。WhentheAtwatersowneditIwasanoccasionalcallerthere，foroldMajorAtwaterwasfondofshootingandsometimesborrowedmydecoys。But，sinceitchangedhands，IhadnotbeennearertoitthantheLane。Withthenewwingandtheotheradditionsitwasenormous。Itfairlyreekedofmoney，though，sofarasIwasajudge，thetasteshowninrebuildinganddecoratingwasgood。Weturnedthecorner，whereAsaPeters，theheadcarpenter，camehurryingup。Asalookedsurprisedenoughtoseemeincompanywithhisemployerandregardedmewonderingly。"Mr。Colton，"hesaid，"Iwantedtoaskyouaboutthemskylights。"Isteppedbackoutofhearing，butIinferredfromColton’sactionsthatthequestionwasanotheroneofthe"unnecessary"oneshehadsoscornfullyreferredtointheboathouse。
　　"Jackass！"heexclaimed，asherejoinedme。IjudgedhewasclassifyingAsa，but，ifso，hedidnottroubletolowerhisvoice。
　　"Comeon，Paine，"headded，andwepassedalonglineofwindows，hungwithcostlycurtains，andsteppeduponahandsomeColonialporticobeforetwobigdoors。
　　Thedoorswereopenedbyanimposingpersonageindarkblueandbrassbuttons，whobowedprofoundlybeforeColtonandregardedmewithcondescendingsuperiority。Thispersonage，whomIrecognized，fromAlvin’sdescription，asthe"minister—lookin’"butler，ledusthroughahallaboutaslargeasoursitting—room，dining—roomandkitchencombined，butbearingnootherresemblancetotheseapartments，andopenedanotherdoor，throughwhich，bowingoncemore，heusheredus。Thenheclosedthedoor，leavinghimself，tomyrelief，outside。IthadbeenalongtimesinceIwaswaiteduponbyabutlerandIfoundthisspecimenratheroverpowering。
　　Theroomwewereinwasthelibrary，and，thoughitwasbiggerandfarmoresumptuousthanthelibraryIrememberedsowellasaboy，thesightofthebooksintheircasesalongthewallsgavemeafeelingalmostofhomesickness。Myresentmentagainstmymillionaireneighborincreased。Whyshouldheandhishaveeverything，andtherestofusbedeprivedofthelittleweoncehad？
　　Coltonseatedhimselfinaleatherupholsteredchairandwavedhishandtowardanother。
　　"Sitdown，"hesaid。Hetookacigarfromhispocket。"Smoke？"heasked。
　　Iwasaconfirmedsmoker，butIwasnotgoingtosmokeoneofhiscigars——notthen。
　　"Nothankyou，"saidI。Hedidnotcommentonmyrefusal，butlitthecigarhimself，fromthestumpofhisformerone。Thenhecrossedhislegsandproceeded，withcharacteristicabruptness，tohissubject。
　　"Paine，"hebegan，"youownthislandnexttome，yousay。Yourpropertyendsatthefencethissideofthatroadwejustcrossed，doesn’tit？"
　　"Itendswhereyoursbegins，"Iannounced。
　　"Yes。Justthissideofthatroad。"
　　"OftheShoreLane。Itisn’taroadexactly。"
　　"Idon’tcarewhatyoucallit。Roadorlaneorcow—path。Itendsthere？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"AnditISyourland？Itbelongstoyou，personally，allofit，freeandclear？"
　　"Why——yes；itdoes。"Icouldnotseewhatbusinessofhismyownershipofthatlandmightbe。
　　"Allright。Iaskedthatbecause，ifitwasn’tyours，ifitwastiedupormortgagedinanyway，itmightcomplicatematters。Butitisn’t。"
　　"No。"
　　"Good！Thenwecangetdowntobrasstacksandsavetime。Iwantapieceofthatland。"
　　Ilookedathim。
　　"Youwant——？"Irepeated，slowly。
　　"Iwantastripofyourland。Wanttobuyit，ofcourse。Idon’texpectyoutogiveittome。What’sitworth，bytheacre，say？"
　　Ididnotanswer。AllatonceIwasbeginningtoseealight。
　　CaptainJedDean’smysteriousconversationatthepost—officewasbeginningtolosesomeofitsmystery。
　　"Well？"askedColton，impatiently。Then，withoutwaitinglonger，headded：
　　"Bytheway，beforeyounameafigure，answermeonemorequestion。
　　Thatroad——orlane，orwhateveritis——thatisyours，too？Doesn’tbelongtothetown？"
　　Thelightwasgrowingmorebrilliant。Icouldseebreakersahead。
　　"No，"Ireplied，slowly。"Itisaprivateway。Itbelongstome。"
　　"Good！Well，what’sthatlandofyoursworthbytheacre？"
　　Ishookmyhead。"Iscarcelyknow，"Isaid。"I’veneverfigureditthatway。"
　　"Idon’tcarehowyoufigureit。Here，let’sgetdowntoabusinessproposition。IwanttobuyastripofthatlandfromtheLowerRoad——that’swhatyoucalltheoneabovehere，isn’tit？——tothebeach。ThestripIwantisaboutthreehundredfeetwide，foraguess。Itextendsfrommyfencetotheothersideofthatgrovebythebluff。Whatwillyousellitfor？"
　　Thebreakerswerecloseaboard。However，Idodgedthemmomentarily。
　　"Whydoyouwanttobuy？"Iasked。
　　"Forreasons。"
　　"Ishouldthinkyouhadlandenoughalready。"
　　"IthoughtIhad，butitseemsIhaven’t。Well，what’syourpriceforthatstrip？"
　　"Mr。Colton，I——I’mafraid——"
　　"Nevermindthat。Isupposeyou’reafraidyou’llmakethepricetoolow。Now，seehere，I’mabusyman。Ihaven’ttimetodoanybargaining。Nameyourpriceand，ifit’sanywherewithinreason，wewon’thaggle。Iexpecttopaymorethananyoneelsewould。
　　That’spartofmyfineforbeingacitymanandnotanative。Gad！
　　theprivilegeisworththemoney。I’llpaythefine。What’stheprice？"
　　"Butwhydoyouwanttobuy？"
　　"Forreasonsofmyown，Itellyou。Theyhaven’tanythingtodowithyourselling。"
　　"I’mnotsosure。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"ThatstriptakesintheShoreLane，Mr。Colton。"
　　"Iknowit。"
　　"And，ifyoubuy，IpresumetheLanewillbeclosed。"
　　Helookedatme，surprised，and，Ithought，alittleannoyed。
　　"Well？"hesaid；"supposeitis？"
　　"Butitwillbe，won’tit？"
　　"Youbetyourlifeitwill！Whatofit？"
　　"ThenIdon’tknowthatIcaretosell。"
　　Heleanedbackinhischair。
　　"Youdon’tcaretosell！"herepeated，slowly。"Whatthedevildoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"WhatIsaid。And，besides，Mr。Colton，I——"
　　Heinterruptedme。
　　"Whydon’tyoucaretosell？"hedemanded。"Thelandisnogoodtoyou，isit？"
　　"Notmuch。No。"
　　"Humph！Areyousorichthatyou’vegotallthemoneyyouwant？"
　　Iwasangryallthrough。Irosefrommychair。
　　"Goodday，Mr。Colton，"Isaid。
　　"Here！"heshouted。"Holdon！Whereareyougoing？"
　　"Ican’tseethatthereisanyuseofourtalkingfurther。"
　　"Nouse？Why——There！there！sitdown。It’snoneofmybusinesshowrichyouare，andIbegyourpardon。Sitdown。Sitdown，man，Itellyou！"
　　Isatdown，reluctantly。Hethrewhiscigar，whichhadgoneout，intothefireplaceandlitanother。
　　"Say，"hesaid，"yousurpriseme，Paine。Whatdoyoumeanbysayingyouwon’tsellthatland？Youdon’tknowwhatI’llpayforityet。"
　　"No，Idon’t。"
　　"Thenhowdoyouknowyouwon’tsellit？Ineverhadanythingyet——
　　exceptmywifeandfamily——thatIwouldn’tsellforaprice。Lookhere！Ihaven’tgottimetodoanyDown—Easthorse—jockeying。I’llmakeyouanoffer。I’llgiveyoufivehundreddollarscashforthatstripofland。Whatdoyousay？"
　　Ididn’tsayanything。Fivehundreddollarswasagenerousoffer。
　　Icouldn’thelpthinkingwhatMotherandImightdowiththatfivehundreddollars。
　　"Whatdoyousay？"herepeated。
　　Ianswered，Yankeefashion，withanotherquestion。"Mr。Colton，"I
　　asked，"whydoyouwanttoclosethatShoreLane？"
　　"BecauseIdo。WhatdifferencedoesitmaketoyouwhyIwanttocloseit？"
　　"ThatLanehasbeenusedbyDenboropeopleforyears。Itisalmostapublicnecessity。"
　　Hepuffedtwiceonhiscigarbeforehespokeagain。Whenhediditwasinadifferenttone。
　　"Isee，"hesaid。"Humph！Isee。Paine，doesthetownpayyourentfortheuseofthatroad？"
　　"No。"
　　"Hasitbeenbiddingtobuyit？"
　　"No。"
　　"Isanyoneelseafterit？"
　　"No—o。Ithinknot。But——"
　　"YouTHINKnot。Thatmeansyou’renotsure。You’vehadabitesomewhere。Somebodyhasbeennibblingatyourhook。Well，they’vegottobitequickandswallowsometogetaheadofme。IwantthatroadclosedandI’mgoingtohaveitclosed，soonerorlater。I’dpreferitsooner。"
　　"Butwhydoyouwanttocloseit？"
　　Beforehecouldanswertherecameaknockatthedoor。Thebutlerappeared。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，sir——"hebegan。Hismastercuthimshort。
　　"Tell’emtowait，"heordered。"Ican’tseeanyonenow，Johnson。
　　Ifitisthatdamnedcarpenterhecanwait。"
　　"Itisn’tthecarpenter，sir，"explainedJohnson。"It’sMrs。
　　Colton，sir。Shewishestoknowifyouhaveboughtthatroad。Shesaysthreeofthose’orridfishcartshavegonebyinthelasthour，sir，andtheyaremakingherverynervous。That’sall，sir。"
　　"TellherI’veboughtit，"snappedtheheadofthehouse。"Getout。"
　　Thebutlerobeyedorders。Coltonturnedtome。
　　"Youheardthat，Paine，"hesaid。"That’smyreason，theprincipalone。IboughtthisplaceprincipallyonaccountofMrs。Colton’shealth。Thedoctorssaidsheneededquietandrest。Ithoughtshecouldhavethemhere——Godknowstheplacelookedforsakenenough——
　　butitappearsshecan’t。WheneversheorIsitontheverandaoratawindowwehavetowatchaprocessionofjaysdrivingsmellyfishcartsthroughthatlaneofyours，orbestaredatbyagangofcountrymenhangingoverthefence。It’sanuisance。Itisbadenoughformeormydaughterandourguests，butitwillbetheruinationofmywife’snerves，andIcan’tstandforthat。YouseethepositionI’min。YouheardwhatItoldthatbutler。IsaidI
　　hadboughttheroad。Youwouldn’tmakemealiar，wouldyou？I’llgiveyoufivehundredforthatbunchofsand。Youcouldn’tgetmoreforitifyousolditbythepound，liketea。Sayyes，andclosethedeal。"
　　Ishookmyhead。
　　"Iunderstandyourposition，Mr。Colton，"Isaid，"butIcan’tsayyes。Notnow，atanyrate。"
　　"Whynot？Isn’tfivehundredenough？"
　　"It’sagoodoffer。"
　　"Thenwhynotacceptit？"
　　"Because，ifIwerecertainthatIwantedtosell，Icouldnotacceptanyofferjustnow。"
　　"Whynot？Seehere！areyouafraidthetownwillbesorebecausetheroadisclosed？"
　　"Itwouldbeagreatinconveniencetothem。"
　　"It’sagreateronetomeasitis。Canyouaffordtobeaphilanthropist？Areyouoneofthosepublic—spiritedcitizenswereadabout？"
　　Hewassneeringnow，andmyanger，whichhadlessenedsomewhatwhenhespokeofhiswife’sillhealth，wasrisingagain。
　　"Areyou？"herepeated。
　　"Idon’tknowastothat。But，asIsaidawhileago，Mr。Colton，Icouldn’tsellthatlandtoyounow。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Because，iftherewerenootherreason，Ipromisednottosellitwithouttellinganotherpersonfirst。"
　　Hethrewdownhiscigarandstoodup。Irosealso。
　　"Isee，"hesaid，withsarcasm。"Iknewtherewassomethingbesidepublicspirit。Youthink，byhangingoffandplayingmeagainstthisothersucker，youcangetahigherprice。Well，ifthat’sthegame，I’llkeephimbusy。"
　　Hetookouthiswatch，glancedatit，andthrustitbackintohispocket。
　　"I’vewastedtimeenoughoverthisfoolthing，"hedeclared。"NowthatIknowwhatthegameiswe’lltalktothepoint。It’shighwayrobbery，butImighthaveexpectedtoberobbed。I’llgiveyousixhundredforthatland。"
　　Ididnotanswer。IwasholdingmytemperbymainstrengthandI
　　couldnottrustmyselftospeak。
　　"Well？"hesneered。"Thatshakesyourpublicspiritsome，hey？
　　Whatdoyousay？"
　　"No，"Ianswered，andstartedforthedoor。
　　"What！"hecouldhardlybelievehisears。"BytheLordHarry！thefellowiscrazy。Sixhundredandfiftythen，youinfernalrobber。"
　　"No。"
　　"NO！Say，whatinthunderdoyoumean？"
　　"Imeanthatyoumaygotothedevil，"Iretorted，andreachedforthedoorknob。
　　Butbeforemyfingerstouchedittherewasthesoundoflaughterandvoicesinthehall。Theknobwasturnedfromwithout。I
　　steppedbackandtoonesideinvoluntarily，asthedooropenedandintothelibrarycame，notthebutler，butayounglady，agirlinanautomobilecoatandbonnet。And，followingher，ayoungman。
　　"Father，"saidtheyounglady，"Johnsonsaysyou’veboughtthathorridroad。I’msoglad！Whendidyoudoit？"
　　"Congratulations，Mr。Colton，"saidtheyoungman。"Wejustpassedacartfullofsomething——seaweed，Ibelieveitwas——aswecamealongwiththecar。Oscarhadtoslowdowntosqueezeby，andwecertainlyweresweptbyoceanbreezes。ByJove！Icansmellthemyet。I——"
　　Theyoungladyinterruptedhim。
　　"Hush，Victor，"shesaid。"Ibegyourpardon，Father。Ithoughtyouwerealone。Victor，we’reintruding。"
　　Theopendoorhadpartiallyscreenedmefromthenewcomers。ButColton，redandwrathful，hadnotceasedtoglareinmydirectionandshe，followinghisgaze，sawme。Shedidnotrecognizeme，I
　　think——probablyIhadnotmadesufficientimpressionuponhermindevenforcasualremembrance——butIrecognizedher。Shewasthegirlwiththedarkeyes，whoselookofcontemptuousindifferencehadsowitheredmyself—esteem。Andhercompanionwastheyoungchapwho，fromthetonneauoftheautomobilethatmorning，hadinquiredthewaytoBayport。
　　Theyoungmanturnedlazily。"Arewe？"hesaid。"I——What！Why，Mabel，it’sthehumorist！"
　　Thensherecognizedme。Icouldfeelthebloodclimbingfrommytoestotherootsofmyhair。Iwastooastonishedandchagrinedtospeakorevenmove，thoughIwantedtomoveverymuchindeed。
　　ShelookedatmeandIather。Thensheturnedcoldlyaway。
　　"Come，Victor，"shesaid。
　　ButVictorwashisownblaseself。Ittookmorethanatrifletoshakehiscalm。Helaughed。
　　"It’sthehumorist，"herepeated。"Reuben，howareyou？"
　　Coltonregardedthethreeofuswithamazement。
　　"What？"hebegan。"Mabel，doyou——"
　　ButIhadrecoveredmypowersoflocomotion。Iwasonmywayoutofthatlibrary。
　　"Here！"shoutedColton。"Stop！"
　　Ididnotstop。FeelingasIdidatthatmomentitwouldhavebeendistinctlyunpleasantforthepersonwhotriedtostopme。Thegirlwasinmywayand，asIapproached，shedrewherskirtsaside。
　　Nodoubtitwasmyimaginationwhichmadehermannerofdoingitseemlikeaninsult，but，imaginationorreality，itwastheonethingnecessarytoclenchmyresolution。NowwhenshelookedatmeIreturnedthelookwithinterest。Istrodethroughthedoorwayandacrossthehall。Thebutlerwouldhaveopenedtheouterdoorforme，butIopeneditmyselftotheimminentdangerofhisdignifiednose。AsIsteppedfromtheporticoIheardbehindmearoarfromBigJimColtonandashoutoflaughterfromVictor。
　　Iwalkedhomeattopspeed。OnlyoncedidIlookback。ThatwasjustasIwasabouttoenterthegroveontheothersideoftheShoreLane。ThenIturnedandsaw，atthebigwindowattheendofthe"Newportvilla，"agroupofthreestaringinmydirection：
　　Colton，hisdaughterandthatcubVictor。Thedistancewastoogreattoseetheexpressionoftheirfaces，butIknewthattwoofthem，atleast，werelaughing——laughingatme。
　　Ididnotlaugh。
　　Lutewaswaitingformebythegateandrantomeetme。Hewaswildwithexcitement。
　　"Hecameafteryou，didn’the？"hecried，grabbingatmycoatsleeve。"Youwentovertohishousewithhim，didn’tyou！IseeyouandatfustIcouldn’tscurcelybelieveit。Whatdidhewant？
　　Whatdidhesay？"
　　Ididnotanswer。Heranalongbesideme，stillclingingtomysleeve。
　　"Whatdidhewant？"herepeated。"Whatdidhesaytoyou？Whatdidyousaytohim？Tellafeller，can’tyou？"
　　"Itoldhimtogotothedevil，"Ianswered，savagely。
　　Luteletgoofmysleeve。
　　"You——you——Bytime，you’restarkloony！"hegasped；andcollapsedagainstthegatepost。
　　Iwentintothehouse，upthebackstairstomyroom，andshutthedoor。
　　CHAPTERV
　　Soshewashisdaughter。Imighthaveguessedit；wouldhaveguesseditifIhadpossessedthecommonestofcommon—sense。I
　　mighthaveknownthattheautowasColton’s。NoothermachinewaslikelytobetravelingontheLowerRoadatthatseasonoftheyear。ShewastheprettydaughterofwhomDorindahadspokentoMother。Well，shewasprettyenough；evenIhadtoadmitthat。
　　ButIadmitteditgrudgingly。Ihatedherforherbeautyandfineclothesandhaughtyarrogance。Shewastheincarnationofsnobbishness。
　　Buttobemadetwiceridiculousevenbytheincarnationofsnobbishnesswasgalling。Shewastobemynext—doorneighbor；wewerelikelytomeetalmostanywhereatanytime。WhenIthoughtofthisandofthetwomeetingswhichhadalreadytakenplaceIsworeattheblueandwhitewater—pitcheronmybureaubecauseitdidnotcontainwaterenoughtodrownme。NotthatIwouldcommitsuicideonheraccount。ShewouldnotcareifIdidandcertainlyIdidnotcarewhethershewouldcareornot；butifIweresatisfactorilydeadIprobablyshouldnotrememberwhatafoolIhadmadeofmyself，orFatehadmadeofme。
　　WhyhadInotgotoutofthatlibrarybeforeshecame？Oh，ifnot，whyhadn’tIstayedandtoldherfather，inherhearing，andwithdignity，justwhatIthoughtofhimandhisremarkstome？Butno；
　　Ihadrunaway。She——orthatVictor——wouldtellofthemeetingatthebridge，andallmyindependenceandtherestofitwouldberegardedasofapiecewiththat，justthebig—headed"smartness"
　　ofacountryboor。IntheireyesIwasanuisance，thatwasall。
　　Adisagreeableone，perhaps，liketheShoreLane，butanuisance，onetolaughatandforget——ifitcouldnotbegottenridof。
　　WhyhadIgonewithColtonatall？Whyhadn’tIremainedattheboathouseandtheretoldtheKingofNewYorktogotothemischief？orwordstothateffect。ButIhad，atallevents，toldhimthat。InspiteofmychagrinIcouldnothelpchucklingasI
　　thoughtofit。TotellBigJimColtontogotothedevilwas，initsway，Iimagined，aprivilegeenjoyedbyfew。Itmusthaveshakenhisself—satisfactionatrifle。Well，afterall，whatdidIcare？He，andhiswholefamily——includingVictor——hadmypermissiontomigrateinthatdirectionandIwishedOldNickjoyoftheircompany。