Hade checked his excuses and dismissed the subject.

In the same moment his snakelike black eyes fixed themselves on Brice whom he seemed to notice for the first time.

The eyes were smiling.

But he granted the guest no further form of salutation, as he asked abruptly: "Where have I seen you before ?" "You saw me last night," returned Gavin, still wondering at this man's dictatorial attitude toward the aggressive Milo Standish and at Milo's almost cringing acceptance of it.

"I was at the Standishes.