But she did not try to, you know.

There was no letter from her among the hundreds which were waiting for me at Hong Kong--or here when I got back.

She could have sent me a cable, and I would have returned like a shot from anywhere.

But she did not want me then; she wanted to be free--and now, when she does, her hands are already tied.

The whole cursed thing is her own fault, and that is what is the biggest pain, old dog." Then his thoughts wandered back to their scene in Rose Forster's sitting-room--that was pleasure indeed! And he leaned back in his big chair and let himself dream.