"Oh, I see! I beg pardon! Was I singing?" said The Duke. Then after a
pause he added, "You're quite right. I say, Bruce, let's quit. Something
has got on to your nerves." And coolly sweeping his pile into his
pocket, he gave up the game. With an oath Bruce left the table, took
another drink, and went unsteadily out to his horse, and soon we heard
him ride away into the darkness, singing snatches of the hymn and
swearing the most awful oaths.

The missionary's face was white with horror. It was all new and horrible
to him.

"Will he get safely home?" he asked of The Duke.

"Don't you worry, youngster," said The Duke, in his loftiest manner,
"he'll get along."

The luminous, dreamy eyes grew hard and bright as they looked The Duke
in the face.

"Yes, I shall worry; but you ought to worry more."

"Ah!" said The Duke, raising his brows and smiling gently upon the
bright, stern young face lifted up to his. "I didn't notice that I had
asked your opinion."

"If anything should happen to him," replied the missionary, quickly, "I
should consider you largely responsible."

"That would be kind," said The Duke, still smiling with his lips. But
after a moment's steady look into the missionary's eyes he nodded his