第9章

"AndyouhaveseenMr。Dawson——andyouknowwhyhesentforyou?"

askedtheyounggirl，withnervouseagerness。

"Ah，yes，"saidMr。Mallorythoughtfully，"THATwasreallyimportant。Yousee，mychild，"hecontinued，takingherhandinoneofhisownandpattingthebackofitgentlywiththeother，"wethink，DawsonandI，oftakingoverthemajor\'sranchandincorporatingitwiththeExcelsiorinone，tobeworkedonsharesliketheExcelsior；andasMrs。RandolphisveryanxioustoreturntotheAtlanticStateswithherchildren，itisquitepossible。

Mrs。Randolph，asyouhavepossiblynoticed，"Mr。Mallorywenton，stillpattinghisdaughter\'shand，"doesnotfeelentirelyathomehere，andwillconsequentlyleavethemajorfreetorearrange，byhimself，theranchonthenewbasis。Infact，asthechangemustbemadebeforethecropscomein，shetalksofgoingnextweek。

Butifyouliketheplace，Rose，I\'venodoubtthemajorandDawsonwillalwaysfindroomforyouandmewhenwerundownthereforalittlefreshair。"

"Anddidyouhaveallthatinyourmind，papa，whenyoucamedownhere，andwasthatwhatyouandMr。Dawsonwantedtotalkabout?"

saidtheastonishedRose。

"Mainly，mydear，mainly。YouseeI\'macapitalistnow，andtherealvalueofcapitalistoknowhowandwhentoapplyittocertainconditions。"

"AndthisMr——Mr。Bent——doyouthink——hewillgoonandfindthewater，papa?"saidRose，hesitatingly。

"Ah!Bent——TomBent——oh，yes，"saidMallory，withgreatheartiness。

"Capitalfellow，Bent!andmightyingenious!Gladyoumethim!

Well，"thoughtfullybutstillheartily，"hemaynotfinditexactlywhereheexpected，buthe\'llfinditorsomethingbetter。Wecan\'tpartwithhim，andhehaspromisedDawsontostay。We\'llutilizeHIM，youmaybesure。"

Itwouldseemthattheydid，andfromcertaininterviewsandconversationsthattookplacebetweenMr。BentandMissMalloryonalatervisit，itwouldalsoappearthatherfatherhadexercisedadiscreetreticenceinregardtoacertainexperimentoftheyounginventor，ofwhichhehadbeenanaccidentalwitness。

AMAECENASOFTHEPACIFICSLOPE

CHAPTERI

AsMr。RobertRushbrook，knowntoanimaginativepressasthe"MaecenasofthePacificSlope，"droveuptohiscountryseat，equallyreferredtoasa"palatialvilla，"hecastaquickbutpracticallookatthepillaredpretensionsofthatenormousshellofwoodandpaintandplaster。Thestatement，alsoareportorialone，thatitssite，theCanyonofLosOsos，"somethreeyearsagowasdisturbedonlybythepassingtreadofbearandwild-cat，"hadlostsomeofitsfreshnessasapicturesqueapology，andalreadysuccessiveimprovementsontheoriginalbuildingseeminglycasttheolderpartofthestructurebacktoahoaryantiquity。TomanyitstoodasasymbolofeverythingRobertRushbrookdidorhaddone——

animprovementofallpreviousperformances；itwaslikehisownlife——anexcitingthoughirritatingstateoftransitiontosomethingbetter。Yetthevisiblearchitecturalresult，ashereshown，wasscarcelyharmonious；indeed，someofhisfriends——andMaecenashadmany——professedtoclassifythevariousimprovementsbythesuccessivefortunateventuresintheirowner\'sfinancialcareer，whichhadledtonewadditions，underthenames，of"TheComstockLodePeriod，""TheUnionPacificRenaissance，""TheGreatWheatCorner，"and"WaterFrontGableStyle，"ahumoroustriflingthatdidnot，however，preventafewwhowereartistsfromacceptingMaecenas\'sliberalcompensationfortheirservicesingivingshapetothoseideas。

Relinquishingtoagroomhisfast-trottingteam，thesecondrelayinhistwohours\'drivefromSanFrancisco，heleapedtothegroundtomeetthearchitect，alreadyawaitinghisordersinthecourtyard。Withhiseyesstillfixedupontheirregularbuildingbeforehim，hemingledhisgreetingandhisdirections。

"Lookhere，Barker，we\'llhaveawingthrownouthere，andahundred-footballroom。Somethingtoholdacrowd；somethingthatcanbeusedformusic——sabe?——aconcert，orashow。"

"Haveyouthoughtofanystyle，Mr。Rushbrook?"suggestedthearchitect。

"No，"saidRushbrook；"I\'vebeenthinkingofthetime——thirtydays，andeverythingtobein。You\'llstoptodinner。I\'llhaveyousitnearJackSomers。Youcantalkstyletohim。SayItoldyou。"

"Youwishitcompletedinthirtydays?"repeatedthearchitect，dubiously。

"Well，Ishouldn\'tmindifitwereless。Youcanbeginatonce。

There\'satelegraphinthehouse。Patrickwilltakeanymessage，andyoucansenduptoSanFranciscoandfixthingsbeforedinner。"

Beforethemancouldreply，Rushbrookwasalreadygivingahurriedinterviewtothegardenerandothersonhiswaytothefrontporch。

Inanothermomenthehadenteredhisownhall，——awonderfultempleofwhiteandsilverplaster，formal，yetfriablelikethesugarederectionofaweddingcake，——wherehismajor-domoawaitedhim。

"Well，who\'shere?"askedRushbrook，stilladvancingtowardshisapartments。

"Dinnerissetforthirty，sir，"saidthefunctionary，keepingstepdemurelywithhismaster，"butMr。ApplebytakestenovertoSanMateo，andsomemaysleepthere。Thechar-a-bancisstilloutandfivesaddle-horses，toapicnicinGreenCanyon，andIcan\'tpositivelysay，butIshouldthinkyoumightcountonseeingaboutforty-fiveguestsbeforeyougototownto-morrow。Theoperatroupeseemtohavenotexactlyunderstoodtheinvitation，sir。"

"How?Igaveitmyself。"

"Thechorusandsupernumerariesthoughtthemselvesinvitedtoo，sir，andhavecome，Ibelieve，sir。AtleastSignoraPegrelliandMadameDenisesaidso，andthattheywouldspeaktoyouaboutit，butthatmeantimeIcouldputthemupanywhere。"

"Andyoumadenodistinction，ofcourse?"

"No，sir，Iputtheminthecorrespondingroomsopposite，sir。

Idon\'tthinktheprimadonnaslikeit。"

"Ah!"

"Yes，sir。"

Whateverwasintheirminds，thetwomenneverchangedtheirsteady，practicalgravityofmanner。Themajor-domo\'sappearedtobeasubduedimitationofhismaster\'s，worn，ashemighthavewornhismaster\'sclothes，hadheaccepted，orMr。Rushbrookpermitted，suchadegradation。BythistimetheyhadreachedthedoorofMr。

Rushbrook\'sroom，andthemanpaused。"Ididn\'tincludesomeguestsofMr。Leyton\'s，sir，thathebroughtoverheretoshowaroundtheplace，buthetoldmetotellyouhewouldtakethemawayagain，orleavethem，asyouliked。They\'resomeEasternstrangersstoppingwithhim。"

"Allright，"saidRushbrook，quietly，asheenteredhisownapartment。Itwasdecoratedasgarishlyasthehall，asstaringandvividincolor，butwholesomelynewandcleanforallitspaint，veneering，andplaster。Itwasfilledwithheterogeneoussplendor——allnewandwellkept，yetwithsomuchoftheattitudeoftheshow-roomstilllingeringaboutitthatonealmostexpectedtoseethevariousarticlesoffurnitureticketedwiththeirprices。Aluxuriousbed，withsatinhangingsandIndiancarvedposts，standingostentatiouslyinacorner，keptupthisresemblance，forinacurtainedrecessstoodaworncampbedstead，Rushbrook\'srealcouch，Spartaninitssimplicity。

Mr。Rushbrookdrewhiswatchfromhispocket，anddeliberatelydivestedhimselfofhisboots，coat，waistcoat，andcravat。Thenrollinghimselfinafleecy，blanket-likerugwithsomethingofthehabitualdexterityofafrontiersman，hethrewhimselfonhiscouch，closedhiseyes，andwentinstantlytosleep。Lyingthere，heappearedtobeamancomfortablymiddle-aged，withthickiron-

grayhairthatmighthavecurledhadheencouragedsuchinclination；askinroughenedanddarkenedbyexternalhardshipsandexposure，butfreefromtaintofinnerviceorexcess，andindistinctivefeaturesredeemedbyasingularlyhandsomemouth。Asthelowerpartofthefacewaspartlyhiddenbyadensebutclosely-croppedbeard，itisprobablethatthedelicateoutlinesofhislipshadgainedsomethingfromtheirframing。

Heslept，throughwhatseemedtobetheunnaturalstillnessofthelargehouse，——aquietthatmighthavecomefromthelingeringinfluenceofthestillvirginsolitudearoundit，asifNaturehadforgottentheintrusion，orwerestealthilyretakingherown；andlater，throughtherattleofreturningwheelsorthesoundofvoices，whichwere，however，promptlyabsorbedinthatdeepandmasterfulsilencewhichwastheunabdicatinggeniusofthecanyon。

Foritwasremarkablethateventhevariousartists，musicians，orators，andpoetswhomMaecenashadgatheredinhiscoolbusinessfashionunderthatroof，allseemedtobecome，bycontrastwithsurroundingNature，asnewandartificialasthehouse，andaspowerlesstoassertthemselvesagainstitsinfluence。

HewasstillsleepingwhenJamesre-enteredtheroom，butawokepromptlyatthesoundofhisvoice。Inafewmomentshehadrearrangedhisscarcelydisorderedtoilette，andsteppedoutrefreshedandobservantintothehall。Theguestswerestillabsentfromthatpartofthebuilding，andhewalkedleisurelypastthecarelesslyopeneddoorsoftheroomstheyhadleft。Everywherehemetthesameglaringornamentationandcolor，thesamegarishnessoftreatment，thesameinharmoniousextravaganceoffurniture，andeverywherethesametroubledacceptanceofitbytheinmates，orthesamesenseoftemporaryandrestrictedtenancy。

Dresseswerehungoverchevalglasses；clothespileduponchairstoavoidtheuseofdoubtfulandoverornamentedwardrobes，andinsomecasesmorepracticalguestshadapparentlyencampedinacorneroftheirapartment。AgentlemanfromSiskyou——soleproprietorofamillpatentnowbeingconsideredbyMaecenas——hadconfinedhimselftoarocking-chairandclothes-horseasbeingtrustworthyandfamiliar；abolderspiritfromYreka——intreatyforcapitaltostartanindependentjournaldevotedtoMaecenas\'sinterests——hadgotagooddealoutof，andindeedallhehadINTO，aLouisXVI。armoire；whileayoungpainterfromSacramentohadsimplyretiredintohisadjoiningbath-room，leavingthegloriesofhisbedroomuntarnished。Suddenlyhepaused。

Hehadturnedintoasmallerpassageinordertomakeashortercutthroughoneofthedesertedsuitesofapartmentsthatshouldbringhimtothatpartofthebuildingwherehedesignedtomakehisprojectedimprovement，whenhisfeetwerearrestedonthethresholdofasitting-room。Althoughitcontainedthesamedecorationandfurnitureastheotherrooms，itlookedtotallydifferent!Itwastasteful，luxurious，comfortable，andhabitable。Thefurnitureseemedtohavefallenintoharmoniousposition；eventhestaringdecorationsofthewallsandceilingweretoneddownbyspraysoflaurelandred-stainedmanzanitoboughswiththeirberries，apparentlyfreshpluckedfromthenearcanyon。Buthewasmoreunexpectedlyimpressedtoseethattheroomwasatthatmomentoccupiedbyatall，handsomegirl，whohadpausedtotakebreath，withherhandstillontheheavycentre-tableshewasmoving。

Standingthere，graceful，glowing，andanimated，shelookedthelivinggeniusoftherecreatedapartment。

CHAPTERII

Mr。Rushbrookglancedrapidlyathisunknownguest。"Excuseme，"

hesaid，withrespectfulbusinessbrevity，"butIthoughteveryonewasout，"andhesteppedbackwardquickly。

"I\'veonlyjustcome，"shesaidwithoutembarrassment，"andwouldyoumind，asyouAREhere，givingmealiftwiththistable?"

"Certainly，"repliedRushbrook，andundertheyounggirl\'sdirectionthemillionairemovedthetabletooneside。

Duringtheoperationhewastryingtodeterminewhichofhisunrecognizedgueststhefairoccupantwas。PossiblyoneoftheLeytonparty，thatJameshadspokenofasimpending。

"Thenyouhavechangedallthefurniture，andputupthesethings?"

heasked，pointingtothelaurel。

"Yes，theroomwasreallysomethingTOOawful。Itlooksbetternow，don\'tyouthink?"

"Ahundredpercent。，"saidRushbrook，promptly。"Lookhere，I\'lltellyouwhatyou\'vedone。You\'vesetthefurnitureTOWORK!Itwassimplylyingstill——withnoreturntoanybodyontheinvestment。"

Theyounggirlopenedhergrayeyesatthis，andthensmiled。TheintruderseemedtobecharacteristicofCalifornia。AsforRushbrook，heregrettedthathedidnotknowherbetter，hewouldatoncehaveaskedhertorearrangealltherooms，andhavemanagedinsomewayliberallytorewardherforit。Agirllikethathadnononsenseabouther。

"Yes，"shesaid，"IwonderMr。Rushbrookdon\'tlookatitinthatway。Itisashamethatalltheseprettythings——andyouknowtheyarereallygoodandvaluable——shouldn\'tshowwhattheyare。ButI

supposeeverybodyhereacceptsthefactthatthismansimplybuysthembecausetheyarevaluable，andnobodyinterferes，andiscontenttohumorhim，laughathim，andfeelsuperior。Itdon\'tstrikemeasquitefair，doesityou?"

Rushbrookwaspleased。Withoutthevanitythatwouldbeeitherannoyedatthisrevelationofhisreputation，orgratifiedatherdefenseofit，hewassimplygladtodiscoverthatshehadnotrecognizedhimasherhost，andcouldcontinuetheconversationunreservedly。"Haveyouseentheladies\'boudoir?"heasked。"Youknow，theroomfittedwithknick-knacksandprettythings——someof\'emboughtfromoldcollectionsinEurope，byfellowswhoknewwhattheywerebutperhaps，"headded，lookingintohereyesforthefirsttime，"didn\'tknowexactlywhatladiescaredfor。"

"ImerelyglancedintherewhenIfirstcame，fortherewassuchaqueerlotofwomen——I\'mtoldheisn\'tveryparticularinthatway——

thatIdidn\'tstay。"

"Andyoudidn\'tthinkTHEYmightbejustasvaluableandgoodassomeofthefurniture，iftheycouldhavebeenpulledaroundandputintoshape，orsetinacorner，eh?"

Theyounggirlsmiled；shethoughtherfellow-guestratheramusing，nonethelessso，perhaps，forcatchingupherownideas，butneverthelesssheslightlyshruggedhershoulderswiththathopelessskepticismwhichwomenreservefortheirownsex。"Someofthemlookedasiftheyhadbeenpulledaround，asyousay，andhadn\'tbeenimprovedbyit。"

"There\'snoonetherenow，"saidRushbrook，withpracticaldirectness；"comeandtakealookatit。"Shecompliedwithouthesitation，walkingbyhisside，tall，easy，andself-possessed，apparentlyacceptingwithoutself-consciousnesshishalfpaternal，halfcomrade-likeinformality。Theboudoirwasalargeroom，repeatingonabiggerscaletheincongruousnessandillfittingsplendoroftheothers。Whenshehadofherownaccordrecognizedandpointedoutthemoreadmirablearticles，hesaid，gravelylookingathiswatch，"We\'vejustaboutsevenminutesyet；ifyou\'dliketopullandhaulthesethingsaround，I\'llhelpyou。"

Theyounggirlsmiled。"I\'mquitecontentwithwhatI\'vedoneinmyownroom，whereIhavenoone\'stastetoconsultbutmyown。I

hardlyknowhowMr。Rushbrook，orhisladyfriends，mightlikemyoperatinghere。"Thenrecognizingwithfemininetactthesnubthatmightseemimpliedinherrefusal，shesaidquickly，"Tellmesomethingaboutourhost——butfirstlook!isn\'tthatpretty?"

Shehadstoppedbeforethewindowthatlookeduponthedimblueabyssofthecanyon，andwasleaningouttogazeuponit。

Rushbrookjoinedher。

"Thereisn\'tmuchtobechangeddownTHERE，isthere?"hesaid，halfinterrogatively。

"No，notunlessMr。Rushbrooktookitintohisheadtoroofitin，andsomebodywasreadywithacontracttodoit。Butwhatdoyouknowofhim?Remember，I\'mquiteastrangerhere。"

"YoucamewithCharleyLeyton?"

"WithMRS。Leyton\'sparty，"saidtheyounggirl，withahalf-

smilingemphasis。"Butitseemsthatwedon\'tknowwhetherMr。

Rushbrookwantsushereornottillhecomes。Andthedrollestthingaboutitisthatthey\'reallsoperfectlyfrankinsayingso。"

"Charleyandheareoldfriends，andyou\'lldowelltotrusttotheirjudgment。"

Thiswashardlythekindofresponsethatthehandsomeandcleversocietygirlbeforehimhadbeeninthehabitofreceiving，butitamusedher。Herfellow-guestwasdecidedlyoriginal。Buthehadn\'ttoldheraboutRushbrook，anditstruckherthathisopinionwouldbeindependent，atleast。Sheremindedhimofit。

"Lookhere，"saidRushbrook，"you\'llmeetamanhereto-night——orhe\'llbesuretomeetYOU——who\'lltellyouallaboutRushbrook。

He\'sasmartchap，knowseverybodyandtalkswell。HisnameisJackSomers；heisagreatladies\'man。Hecantalktoyouaboutthesesortofthings，too，"——indicatingthefurniturewithahalftolerant，halfcontemptuousgesture，thatstruckherasinconsistentwithwhatseemedtobehispreviousinterest，——"justaswellashecantalkofpeople。BeeninEurope，too。"

Theyounggirl\'seyebrightenedwithaquickvivacityatthename，butamomentafterbecamereflectiveandslightlyembarrassed。"I

knowhim——ImethimatMr。Leyton\'s。HehasalreadytalkedofMr。

Rushbrook，but，"sheadded，avoidinganyconclusion，withaprettypout，"I\'dliketohavetheopinionofothers。Yours，now，Ifancywouldbequiteindependent。"

"YousticktowhatJackSomershassaid，goodorbad，andyouwon\'tbefarwrong，"hesaidassuringly。Hestopped；hisquickearhadheardapproachingvoices；hereturnedtoherandheldouthishand。

AsitseemedtoherthatinCaliforniaeverybodyshookhandswitheverybodyelseontheslightestoccasions，sometimestosavefurtherconversation，shegavehimherown。Heshookit，lessforciblythanshehadfeared，andabruptlylefther。Foramomentshewaspiquedatthissuperiorandsomewhatbrusquewayofignoringherrequest，butreflectingthatitmightbetheawkwardnessofanuntrainedman，shedismisseditfromhermind。

Thevoicesofherfriendsinthealreadyresoundingpassagesalsorecalledhertothefactthatshehadbeenwanderingaboutthehousewithastranger，andsherejoinedthemalittleself-

consciously。

"Well，mydear，"saidMrs。Leyton，gayly，"itseemswearetostay。

LeytonsaysRushbrookwon\'thearofourgoing。"

"Doesthatmeanthatyourhusbandtakesthewholeoperatroupeovertoyourhouseinexchange?"

"Don\'tbesatirical，butcongratulateyourselfonyouropportunityofseeinganawfullyfunnygathering。Iwouldn\'thaveyoumissitfortheworld。It\'sthemostcharacteristicthingout。"

"Characteristicofwhat?"

"OfRushbrook，ofcourse。Nobodyelsewouldconceiveofgettingtogethersuchalotofqueerpeople。"

"Butdon\'titstrikeyouthatwe\'reapartofthelot?"

"Perhaps，"returnedthelivelyMrs。Leyton。"Nodoubtthat\'sthereasonwhyJackSomersiscomingover，andissoanxiousthatYOU

shouldstay。Ican\'timaginewhyelseheshouldraveaboutMissGraceNevilashedoes。Come，Grace，noNewYorkorPhiladelphiaairs，here!Consideryouruncle\'sinterestswiththiscapitalist，tosaynothingofours。Becauseyou\'reamillionaireandhavebeenaccustomedtorichesfromyourbirth，don\'tturnupyournoseatourunpamperedappetites。Besides，JackSomersisRushbrook\'sparticularfriend，andhemaythinkyourcriticismsunkind。"

"ButISMr。SomerssuchagreatfriendofMr。Rushbrook\'s?"askedGraceNevil。

"Why，ofcourse。Rushbrookconsultshimaboutallthesethings；

giveshimcarteblanchetoinvitewhomhelikesandorderwhathelikes，andtrustshistasteandjudgmentimplicitly。"

"ThenthisgatheringisMr。Somers\'sselection?"

"Howpreposterousyouare，Grace。Ofcoursenot。OnlySomers\'sIDEAofwhatispleasingtoRushbrook，gottenupwithatasteanddiscretionallhisown。YouknowSomersisagentleman，educatedatWestPoint——traveledalloverEurope——youmighthavemethimthere；andRushbrook——well，youhaveonlytoseehimtoknowwhatHEis。Don\'tyouunderstand?"

Aslightseriousness；thesameshadowthatoncebeforedarkenedthegirl\'scharmingfacegavewaytoamischievousknittingofherbrowsasshesaidnaively，"No。"

CHAPTERIII

GraceNevilhadquiterecoveredherequanimitywhentheindispensableMr。Somers，handsome，well-bred，andself-restrained，approachedherlaterinthecrowdeddrawing-room。Blendedwithhissubduedpersonaladmirationwasacertainostentationofrespect——

asofatributetoadistinguishedguest——thatstruckher。"Iamtohavethepleasureoftakingyouin，MissNevil，"hesaid。"It\'smyonecompensationforthedreadfulresponsibilityjustthrustuponme。Ourhosthasbeensuddenlycalledaway，andIamlefttotakehisplace。"

MissNevilwasslightlystartled。Nevertheless，shesmiledgraciously。"FromwhatIhearthisisnonewfunctionofyours；

thatis，iftherereallyISaMr。Rushbrook。Iaminclinedtothinkhimamyth。"

"Youmakemewishhewere，"retortedSomers，gallantly；"butasI

couldn\'treignatall，exceptinhisstead，Ishalllooktoyoutolendyourrightfulgracetomyborroweddignity。"

Themoregeneralannouncementtothecompanywasreceivedwithafewperfidiousregretsfromthemorepolite，butwithonlyamusedsurprisebythemajority。Indeed，manyconsideredit"characteristic"——"solikeBobRushbrook，"andafewenthusiasticfriendslookeduponitasacrowningandintentionalstrokeofhumor。Itremained，however，forthegentlemanfromSiskyoutogivetheincidentasubtletythatstruckMissNevil\'sfancy。"Itremindsme，"hesaidinherhearing，"ofoleKernelFrisbee，ofRobertsonCounty，oneofthepurlitestmenIeverstruck。Whenheknewafellerwasverydry，he\'djestsetthedecanteraforehim，andmanagedtobecalledoutertheroomonbus\'ness。Now，BobRushbrook\'saboutaswhiteamanasthat。He\'sjestthefeller，who，knowingyouandmemightfeelkinderrestrainedaboutindulgingourappetitesaforehim，kinderdropsouteasy，andleavesusalone。"Andshewasimpressedbyaninstinctthatthespeakerreallyfeltthedelicacyhespokeof，andthatitleftnosenseofinferioritybehind。

Thedinner，servedinalarge，brilliantly-litsaloon，thatinfloraldecorationandgildedcolumnssuggestedaningeniousblendingofasteamboattabled\'hoteand"harvesthome，"wasperfectinitscuisine，evenifsomewhatextravagantinitsproportions。

"IshouldbegladtoreceivethesalarythatRushbrookpayshischef，andstillhappiertoknowhowtoearnitasfairly，"saidSomerstohisfaircompanion。

"Butishisskillentirelyappreciatedhere?"sheasked。

"Perfectly，"respondedSomers。"OurfriendfromSiskyouoverthereappreciatesthat\'pate\'whichhecannotnameaswellasIdo。

Rushbrookhimselfistheonlyexception，yetIfancythatevenHIS

simplicityandregularityinfeedingisasmuchamatterofbusinesswithhimasanydefectinhisearliereducation。Inhiseyes，hischef\'sgreatestqualificationishispromptnessandfertility。Haveyounoticedthatornamentbeforeyou?"pointingtoanelaborateconfection。"Itbearsyourinitials，yousee。Itwasconceivedandexecutedsinceyouarrived——rather，Ishouldsay，sinceitwasknownthatyouwouldhonoruswithyourcompany。Thegreatestdifficultyencounteredwastofindoutwhatyourinitialswere。"

"AndIsuppose，"mischievouslyaddedtheyounggirltoheracknowledgments，"thatthesamefertilemindwhichconceivedthedesigneventuallyprovidedtheinitials?"

"Thatisoursecret，"respondedSomers，withaffectedgravity。

Thewineswereofcharacteristicexpensiveness，andprovokedthesamegeneralcomment。Rushbrookseldomdrankwine；Somershadselectedit。ButthebarbaricopulenceoftheentertainmentculminatedintheCalifornianfruits，piledinpyramidsonsilverdishes，gorgeousandunrealintheirsizeandpaintedbeauty，andthetwoDivassmiledoverabasketofgrapesandpeachesasoutrageousindimensionsandglaringcolorasanypasteboardbanquetatwhichtheyhadprofessionallyassisted。Asthecoursessucceededeachother，undertheexaltationofwine，conversationbecamemoregeneralasregardedparticipation，butmorelocalandprivateasregardedthesubject，untilMissNevilcouldnolongerfollowit。Theinterestsofthatone，thehopesofanother，theclaimsofathird，inaffairsthatwereotherwiseuninteresting，werealldiscussedwithsingularyouthfulnessoftrustthattoheraloneseemedremarkable。Notthatshelackedentertainmentfromtheconversationofherclevercompanion，whoseconfidencesandcriticismswereverypleasanttoher；butshehadagentlewoman\'sinstinctthathetalkedtohertoomuch，andmorethanwasconsistentwithhisdutiesasthegeneralhost。Shelookedaroundthetableforhersingularacquaintanceofanhourbefore，butshehadnotseenhimsince。ShewouldhavespokenabouthimtoSomers，butshehadaninstinctiveideathatthelatterwouldbeantipathetic，inspiteofthestranger\'sflatteringcommendation。

SoshefoundherselfagainfollowingSomers\'scynicalbutgood-

humoreddescriptionofthevariousguests，and，Ifear，seeingwithhiseyes，listeningwithhisears，andoccasionallyparticipatinginhissuperiorattitude。The"fearfuljoy"shehadfoundinthenoveltyofthesituationandtheoriginalityoftheactorsseemednowquiterightfromthiscriticalpointofview。Soshelearnedhowtheguestwiththelonghairwasanunknownpainter，towhomRushbrookhadgivenacommissionforthreehundredyardsofpaintedcanvas，tobecutupandframedasoccasionandspacerequired，inRushbrook\'snewhotelinSanFrancisco；howthegray-beardedforeignernearhimwasanaccomplishedbibliophilewhowasfurnishingMr。Rushbrook\'slibraryfromspoilsofforeigncollections，andhadsufferedunheard-ofagoniesfromthemillionaire\'sinsistinguponahandsomeuniformbindingthatshoulddeprivecertainpreciousbutmustytomesoftheircrumbling，worm-

eatencoverings；howtheverygentle，clerical-lookingstranger，mildestofanoisy，disputingcrowdattheothertable，wasanotoriousduelistanddeadshot；howtheonlygentlemanatthetablewhoretainedaflannelshirtandhighbootswasnotalate-

comingmountaineer，butawell-knownEnglishbaronetonhistravels；howthemanwhotoldasomewhatfloridandemphaticanecdotewasapopularEasternclergyman；howtheonequerulous，discontentedfaceinalaughinggroupwasthefamoushumoristwhohadjustconvulsedit；andhowapale，handsomeyoungfellow，whoateanddranksparinglyanddisregardedthecoquettishadvancesoftheprettiestDivawiththecoldabstractionofastudent，wasanotoriousroueandgambler。Buttherewasasuddenandunlooked-

forchangeofcriticismandcritic。

Thefestivityhadreachedthatstagewhentheguestsweremoreorlessaccessibletoemotion，andmoreorlesstouchedbytheastoundingfactthateveryonewasenjoyinghimself。Thisphenomenon，whichisapttoburstintosongordanceamongotherraces，isconstrainedtovoiceitselfinanAnglo-Saxongatheringbysomeexplanation，apology，ormoral——knownasanafter-dinnerspeech。ThusitwasthatthegentlemanfromSiskyou，whohadbeenfromtimetotimecastingglancesatSomersandhisfaircompanionattheheadofthetable，nowrosetohisfeet，albeitunsteadily，pushedbackhischair，andbegan:——

"\'Pearstome，ladiesandgentlemen，andfellerpardners，thatonanoccasionlikethis，suthin\'oughterbesaidofthemanwhogotitup——whosemoneypaidforit，andwhoain\'theretospeakforhimself，exceptbydeputy。Yetyouallknowthat\'sBobRushbrook\'sstyle——heain\'there，becausehe\'sfullofsomeotherplanorimprovements——andit\'slikehimtostartsuthin\'ofthiskind，giveititsaimandpurpose，andthenstandasidetoletsomebodyelserunitforhim。Thereain\'tnomanlivin\'ezhez，sotospeak，morefasthorsesreadysaddledforriding，andmorefastmenreadyspurredtoride\'em，——whethertowinhisracesorrunhiserrands。

Thereain\'tnomanlivin\'ezknowsbetterhowtomakeothermen\'sgameshis，orhisgameseemtobeothermen\'s。AndfromJackSomerssmilin\'overthere，ezknowswheretogetthebestwinethatBobpaysfor，andknowshowtorunthisyershowforBob，atBob\'sexpense——we\'reallcontented。Ladiesandgentlemen，we\'reallcontented。Westand，sotospeak，onthecardshe\'sdealtus。

Whatmaybehislittlegame，itain\'tforustosay；butwhateveritis，WE\'REINIT。Gentlemenandladies，we\'lldrinkBob\'shealth!"

Therewasasomewhatsensationalpause，followedbygood-naturedlaughterandapplause，inwhichSomersjoined；yetnotwithoutacertainconstraintthatdidnotescapethequicksympathyoftheshockedandunsmilingMissNevil。ItwaswithafeelingofreliefthatshecaughtthechaperoningeyeofMrs。Leyton，whowasentreatingherintheusualmysterioussignaltotheotherladiestoriseandfollowher。Whenshereachedthedrawing-room，alittlebehindtheothers，shewassomewhatsurprisedtoobservethatthestrangerwhomshehadmissedduringtheeveningwasapproachingherwithMrs。Leyton。

"Mr。Rushbrookreturnedsoonerthanheexpected，butunfortunately，ashealwaysretiresearly，hehasonlytimetosay\'goodnight\'toyoubeforehegoes。"

ForaninstantGraceNevilwasmoreangrythandisconcerted。Thencametheconvictionthatshewasstupidnottohavesuspectedthetruthbefore。Whoelsewouldthatbrusquestrangerdevelopintobutthisrudehost?Shebowedformally。

Mr。Rushbrooklookedatherwiththefaintestsmileonhishandsomemouth。"Well，MissNevil，IhopeJackSomerssatisfiedyourcuriosity?"

WithasuddenrecollectionoftheSiskyougentleman\'sspeech，andaswiftsuspicionthatinsomewayshehadbeenmadeuseofwiththeothersbythisforceful-lookingmanbeforeher，sheansweredpertly:——

"Yes；buttherewasaspeechbyagentlemanfromSiskyouthatstruckmeasbeingnearertothepurpose。"

"That\'sso，——IhearditasIcamein，saidMr。Rushbrook，calmly。

"Idon\'tknowbutyou\'reright。"

CHAPTERIV

Sixmonthshadpassed。TheVillaofMaecenaswasclosedatLosOsosCanyon，andthesouthwesttrade-windswereslantingtherainsofthewetseasonagainstitsshutwindowsandbarreddoors。

Withinthathollow，desertedshell，itsaspect——saveforasingleexception——wasunchanged；thefurnitureanddecorationspreservedtheireternalyouthundimmedbytime；therigidly-arrangedrooms，nowclosedtolifeandlight，developedmorethanevertheirresemblancetoafurniturewarehouse。ThesingleexceptionwastheroomwhichGraceNevilhadrearrangedforherself；andthat，oddlyenough，wasstrippedandbare——eventoitspaperandmouldings。