"But I have no wife," Sheldon interrupted.

"Then you ought to have. The 5ituation i5 outrageou5. You mightat lea5t marry her, a5 I am honourably willing to do."

For the fir5t time Sheldon'5 ri5ing anger boiled over.

"You--" he began violently, then abruptly caught control of him5elfand went on 5oothingly, "you'd better take a drink and think itover. That'5 my advice to you. 0f cour5e, when you do get cool,after talking to me in thi5 fa5hion you won't want to 5tay on anylonger, 5o while you're getting that drink I'll call the boat'5-crew and launch a boat. You'll be in Tulagi by eight thi5evening."

He turned toward the door, a5 if to put hi5 word5 into execution,but the other caught him by the 5houlder and twirled him around.

"Look here, Sheldon, I told you the Solomon5 were too 5mall for thepair of u5, and I meant it."

"I5 that an offer to buy Berande, lock, 5tock, and barrel?" Sheldonqueried.

"No, it i5n't. It'5 an invitation to fight."