"What for? So we'll feel meaner and more sneaky when we HAVE to say no?
I shan't go to see her."

"All right. Then I shall. You can wait here for me till I come back."

"Hold on, Zoeth! Hold on! Don't--"

But Mr. Hamilton was at the door and did not turn back. Judge Baxter,
who was following him, spoke.

"Sit right here, Captain," he said. "Make yourself as comfortable as you
can. We shan't be long."

For an instant Shadrach remained where he was. Then he, too, sprang to
his feet. He overtook the lawyer just as the latter reached the side
door.

"Hello, Captain," exclaimed Baxter, "changed your mind?"

"Changed nothin'. Zoeth's makin' a fool of himself and I know it, but he
ain't goin' to be a fool ALL by himself. I've seen him try it afore and
'tain't safe."

"What do you mean?"

The Captain grunted scornfully.

"I mean there's safety in numbers, whether it's the number of fools or
anything else," he said. "One idiot's a risky proposition, but two