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captain of the Laminian wheeled about and strode out of the cabin, swinging the door shut with a slam that loosened flakes of white-lead paint from the ceiling-boards.

"So he's against us, too!" murmured the operator.

There was a moment of unbroken silence before the woman looked up.

"Why did you say that to him?" she demanded, trembling with indignation. Even her voice shook a little as she spoke. "How dare you say a thing like that?"

McKinnon crossed the room until he stood almost at her side.

"I had to say that," he answered. "It was the only way out."

"A lie—a base lie like that—the only way out?"

"Yes, the only way, for now that man must not suspect."