Chickens must lie nearer his heart than men."

Knowles scowled at him; he had no fancy for Pike's scurrilous
gossip.

The quiet face was unmoved. When he heard the manager's foot on
the ladder without, he tested it again. He had a vague suspicion
which he was determined to verify.

"Holmes," he said, carelessly, "has an affinity for animals. No
wonder. Adam must have been some such man as he, when the Lord
gave him `dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air.' "

The hand paused courteously a moment, then resumed its quick,
cool movement over the page. He was not baffled.

"If there were such a reality as mastership, that man was born to
rule. Pike will find him harder to cheat than me, when he takes
possession here."

She looked up now.

"He came here to take my place in the mills,--buy me
out,--articles will be signed in a day or two. I know what you
think,--no,--not worth a dollar. Only brains and a soul, and he
's sold them at a high figure,--threw his heart in,--the
purchaser being a lady. It was light, I fancy,--starved out,
long ago."