And now do you mind putting me ashore ?" A few raindrops were falling when they reached the landing-stage; they hurried to the house, to find that Langholm's bicycle had been removed from the place where he had left it by the front entrance.
"Don't let anybody trouble," he said, ungraciously enough, for he was still smarting from the other's sneer.

"I can soon find it for myself." Steel stood on the steps, his midnight eyes upon Langholm, the glint of a smile in those eyes, but not the vestige of one upon his lips.
"Oh, very well," said he.

"You know the side-door near the billiard-room?
They have probably put it in the first room on the left; that is where we keep ours--for we have gone in for them at last.
Good-by, Langholm; remember my advice." And, that no ceremony should be lost between them, the host turned on his heel and disappeared through his own front door, leaving Langholm very angry in the rain.
But anger was the last emotion for such an hour; the judge might as well feel exasperated with the prisoner at the bar, the common hangman with the felon on the drop.

Langholm only wished that, on even one moment's reflection, he could rest content in so primitive and so single a state of mind.

He knew well that he could not, and that every subtle sort of contest lay before him, his own soul the arena.