At this the colonel raised his head suddenly and glared into the eyes of his guest, and yet so perfect was his muscular and nerve control that he did not interrupt the thin stream of amber which trickled into one of the glasses. Looking down again, he finished pouring the drinks. They pledged each other with a motion, and drank. It was very old, very oily. And Donnegan smiled as he put down the empty glass.
"Sit down," said the colonel in a new voice.
Donnegan obeyed.
"Fate," went on the colonel, "rules our lives. We give our honest endeavors, but the deciding touch is the hand of Fate."
He garnished this absurd truism with a wave of his hand so solemn that Donnegan was chilled; as though the fat man were actually conversant with the Three Sisters.
"Fate has brought you to me; therefore, I intend to keep you."
"Here?"
"In my service. I am about to place a great mission and a great trust in your hands."
"In the hands of a man you know nothing about?"
"I know you as if I had raised you."