VIII.


Van Deventer was eying Arthur Chamberlain keenly.

"It isn't a question of your wanting pay in exchange for your
services in putting us back, is it?" he asked coolly.

Arthur turned and faced him. His face began to flush slowly. Van
Deventer put up one hand.

"I beg your pardon. I see."

"We aren't settling the things we came here for," Estelle
interrupted.

She had noted the threat of friction and hastened to put in a
diversion. Arthur relaxed.

"I think that as a beginning," he suggested, "we'd better get
sleeping arrangements completed. We can get everybody together
somewhere, I dare say, and then secure volunteers for the work."

"Right." Van Deventer was anxious to make amends for his blunder
of a moment before. "Shall I send the bank watchmen to go on each
floor in turn and ask everybody to come down-stairs?"

"You might start them," Arthur said. "It will take a long time
for every one to assemble."