Good night." Hade said nothing, but continued to pierce the unbidden guest with those gimlet-like smiling black eyes of his.

His face was expressionless.

Gavin returned to the upper hall and walked with needless heaviness toward the room assigned to him.

Reaching its door he opened and then shut it loudly, himself remaining in the hallway.

Scarce had the door slammed when he heard from below Rodney Hade's voice raised in the sharp question: "What does this mean?
You've dared to-- ?" "What the blazes else could I do ?" blustered Milo--though under the bluster ran a thread of placating timidity.