"Call her down!" he ordered in a tone which betrayed the influence of his last draught.

"Do you hear!" And he looked fiercely at Louis Gentilis, the young man who sat opposite Claude.
But Louis only looked at Basterga and grinned.
And Basterga it was plain was not in the mood to amuse himself.

Whatever the reason, the big man was no longer at his ease in Mercier's company.
Some unpleasant thought, some suspicion, born of the incident at the "Bible and Hand," seemed to rankle in his mind, and, strive as he would, betrayed its presence in the tone of his voice and the glance of his eye.

He was uneasy, nor could he hide his uneasiness.

To the look which Gentilis shot at him he replied by one which imperatively bade the young man keep his seat.