He rose to his feet, vanished inside the banda, and reappeared a moment or two later with two tumblers.

One he set down in the space provided for it in the arm of his guest's chair.
"To-night I break what has become a rule with me," he announced.

"I shall drink a whisky and soda.

I shall drink to the new things that may yet come to both of us." "You are giving up your work here ?" Dominey asked curiously.
"I am part of a great machine," was the somewhat evasive reply.

"I have nothing to do but obey." A flicker of passion distorted Dominey's face, flamed for a moment in his tone.
"Are you content to live and die like this ?" he demanded.