"But the Skandinavia's no—sickly kid."
The girl's eyes were challenging. There was warmth, too, in her retort. His words had stirred her as he intended them to stir her.
"You think that?" he said. "You think that they have the right to demand my—child? You approve? That was your desire when you came to me—that they should buy me up?"
Bull's smile still remained. There was no shadow of change in it. But his questions came in headlong succession.
Just for an instant a feeling of helplessness surged through the girl's heart. Then it passed, leaving her quite firm and decided. She looked squarely into the smiling eyes, and hers were unsmiling but earnestly honest.
"My approval isn't of any concern. I knew that was the Skandinavia's purpose when I came to you."
"And you called it a business arrangement?"
"No. You did."
The man broke into a laugh. It was a laugh of sheer amusement.
"That's so," he said. "You were going to hand me the story of your mission, and I—and I butted in and told it to you—myself."