“Get this girl out of your life at once and marry Maisie Morrison as soon as you can procure a license.”

“I think that’s very sound advice, Mel.”

“I think so, too.”

Mellenger drifted over to the piano and commenced playing very softly; the words of the song he played rang in Dan Pritchard’s mind with something of the sad poignancy of the distant tolling of church bells:

Tow-see mon-ga-lay, my dear,

You’ll leave me some day, I fear,

Sailing home across the sea

To blue-eyed girl in Melikee.

If you stay, I love you true,

If you leave me—no can do!