notice. It would be part of my preparation for keeping my
self-control--to which I am pledged."

"If it were not amatory, was it threatening? Where was the offence?"

Adam smiled kindly at the old man.

"It was not amatory. Even if it was, such was to be expected. I should
be the last man in the world to object, since I am myself an offender in
that respect. Moreover, not only have I been taught to fight fair, but
by nature I believe I am just. I would be as tolerant of and as liberal
to a rival as I should expect him to be to me. No, the look I mean was
nothing of that kind. And so long as it did not lack proper respect, I
should not of my own part condescend to notice it. Did you ever study
the eyes of a hound?"

"At rest?"

"No, when he is following his instincts! Or, better still," Adam went
on, "the eyes of a bird of prey when he is following his instincts. Not
when he is swooping, but merely when he is watching his quarry?"

"No," said Sir Nathaniel, "I don't know that I ever did. Why, may I
ask?"

"That was the look. Certainly not amatory or anything of that kind--yet
it was, it struck me, more dangerous, if not so deadly as an actual
threatening."

Again there was a silence, which Sir Nathaniel broke as he stood up: