afterwards. I saw only part of your fine behavior. You were quick and
fearless. Those are the qualities I seek, but I demand obedience, too,
and a still tongue, yes?"

"I would not betray a man who trusted me," said Dick. "If I disagreed
with you I would leave you. I fell out with the son of my last
employer, so I left him, a fortnight ago. Yet I have kept my reasons to
myself."

The memory of that falling out was yet vivid. He had filled the
position of foreign correspondence clerk to an export firm in the city.
One evening, returning late to the office, he surprised the typist, a
rather pretty girl, in tears. She blurted out some broken words which
led him to interview the young gentleman who represented the budding
talent of the house; and the result was lamentable. The senior partner
dismissed him next day, telling him he was lucky he had escaped arrest
for a murderous assault, and, as for the girl, she was like the rest of
her class, anxious only to inveigle a rich young fool into marriage.
The point of view of both father and son was novel to Royson, and their
ethics were vile, but he gave the girl, who was sent away at the same
time, half of the six pounds he had in his pocket, and wished he had
used his fist instead of his open hand on the junior partner's face.

This, of course, had singularly little bearing on his declaration to
von Kerber, who metaphorically stuck his talons into that portion of
Royson's utterance which interested him. He bent across the table,
leaning on his curved fingers, spread apart, like claws.

"Ah," he said slowly. "That is good. You would not betray a man who
trusted you. You mean that?"