He bore himself, to-day, like a lazy cock of the walk.

The rest of the council, Nesbit, Teppich, Sturgeon, Kempner, and the great snow-headed padre, surrounded the table with heat-worn, thoughtful faces.

When they looked up, their eyes went straight to Heywood at the head; so that, though deferring to his elders, the youngest man plainly presided.
Chantel turned suddenly, merrily, his teeth flashing in a laugh.
"If we are then afraid, let us all take a jonc down the river," he scoffed, "or the next vessel for Hongkong!" Gilly's tired, honest eyes saw only the plain statement.
"Impossible." He shook his bullet head.

"We can't run away from a rumor, you know.

Can we, now?
The women, perhaps.