their curiosity thatgets the better of them. They want to go at their best, with all theirwits about them, as you or I might want to go to Court. If they couldtake a return ticket, they would; they don't really want to go for goodany more than I do. They're doing something they don't really want todo, yet can't help doing, as half of us are, half our time."

"They're weak fools," I blustered. "They're destructive children who'venever grown up, and they ought to be taken care of till they do."

He smiled through his smoke with sinister serenity.

"But we all are children, my dear Gilly, and on the best authority mostof us are fools. As for the destructive faculty, it's part of humannature and three parts of modern policy; but our politicians haven't thechild's excuse of wanting to know how things are made--which I see atthe back of half the brains that get blown out by obvious accident."

"Good-night, Uvo," I said, just grasping him by the arm. "I know you'reonly pulling my leg, but I've heard about enough for one night."

"Another insulting verdict!" he laughed. "Well, so long, if you reallymean it; but do you mind giving me my Webley and Scott before you go?""Your what?"
"My present from over the way. It's one of Webley and Scott's best efforts, you know. I had one like it, only the smaller size, when I was out in Egypt."
I thought he had forgotten about the concrete weapon, or rather that he did not know I had picked it up, but expected to find it in the corner where it had fallen when I knocked it out of his hand. My own hand closed upon it in my side pocket, as I turned to face Uvo Delavoye, who had somehow slipped between me and the door.
"So it's not your first revolver?" I temporised.
"No; you've got to have one out there."
"But you didn't think it worth bringing home?"
I was trying to recall his very first remarks about revolvers, after the burglary the night before. And Delavoye read the attempt with his startling insight, and helped me out with impulsive candour.
"You're quite right! I did say I hated the beastly things, but it was a weakness I always meant to get over, and now I have. Do you mind giving me my Webley?"
"What did you do with the other one, Uvo?"
"Pitched it into the Nile, since you're so beastly inquisitive. But I was full of fever at the time, and broken-hearted at cracking up. It's quite different now."
"Is it?"
"Of course it is. I'm not going to do anything rotten. I was only ragging you. Don't be a silly ass, Gillon!"
He was holding out his hand. His face had darkened, but his eyes 

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