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 But she had; and he, with his hand upon her, discerned her opposition to the idea of him in control of the Alban company.

"Of course I congratulate you," she added, hastily.

"Thank you," he twitted her and laughed, enjoying her.

What bothered her was, he knew, not the thought of his new position in his father's firm but her realization of his increased power over the Rountrees. It was precisely what he wished to impress upon her.

He squeezed her shoulder and she ignored it, not to offend him. He was not the sort to have people at his mercy, she was thinking; and at the present moment, with two big accounts lost and the Metten business doubtful, he had the Rountrees more or less at his mercy. Suppose he stopped his order, how could they replace it? The Alban business had been fundamental, never questioned, like the sun rising to-morrow.

Suddenly she saw that he might take away his business, not for any cause but solely to flourish his self-importance and to impress his power upon the Rountrees. He did not really like Mr. Rountree she knew, and he liked Jay less. He was jealous of Jay for being naturally a sort which Lew Alban wished to be. He betrayed that Jay was now in his mind.

"By the way, when's Jay Rountree returning?"

"I don't know."

"What did he leave in the East that he had to go back for?"

So Mr. Rountree had not told him! Ellen shook her head. Lew laughed again and returned to his chair. So