第10章

Inotherrespects，thesealedtreasuresofRushbrook\'svilla，farfromprovokinganysentimentality，seemedonlytogivetruthtothecurrentrumorthatitwasmerelywaitingtobetransformedintoagorgeouswatering-placehotelunderRushbrook\'sdirection；that，withitsnewball-roomchangedintoanelaboratedining-hall，itwouldundergostillfurtherimprovement，theinevitableendandobjectofallRushbrook\'senterprise；andthatitsformerproprietorhadalreadybegunanothervillawhosemagnificenceshouldeclipsethelast。Therecertainlyappearedtobenolimittothemillionaire\'ssuccessinallthathepersonallyundertook，orinhisfortunatecomplicitywiththeenterpriseandinventionofothers。Hisnamewasassociatedwiththeoldestandsafestschemes，aswellasthenewestandboldest——withanequalguaranteeofsecurity。Afew，itwastrue，lookeddoubtinglyuponthis"onemanpower，"butcouldnotrefutethefactthatothershadlargelybenefitedbyassociationwithhim，andthathesharedhisprofitswitharoyalhand。Someobjectedonhighergroundstohisbrutalizingtheinfluenceofwealthbyhismaterialandextravagantlypracticalprocesses，insteadofthegentlersuggestionsofeducationandpersonalexample，andwereimpelledtopointoutthefactthatheandhispatronagewerevulgar。Itwasfelt，however，bythosewhoreceivedhisbenefits，thatapropersenseofthisinferioritywasallthatethicsdemandedofthem。

OnecouldstillacceptRushbrook\'sbarbaricgiftsbyhumorouslyrecognizingthefactthathedidn\'tknowanybetter，andthatitpleasedhim，aslongastheyresentedanyhigherpretensions。

Therain-beatenwindowsofRushbrook\'stownhouse，however，werecheerfullylitthatDecemberevening。Mr。Rushbrookseldomdinedalone；infact，itwaspopularlyallegedthatveryoftentheunfinishedbusinessofthedaywasconcludedoverhisbountifulandperfectboard。HewasdressingasJamesenteredtheroom。

"Mr。Leytonisinyourstudy，sir；hewillstaytodinner。"

"Allright。"

"Ithink，sir，"addedJames，withrespectfulsuggestiveness，"hewantstotalk。Atleast，sir，heaskedmeifyouwouldlikelycomedownstairsbeforeyourcompanyarrived。"

"Ah!Well，telltheothersI\'mdiningonBUSINESS，andsetdinnerfortwointheblueroom。"

"Yes，sir。"

Meanwhile，Mr。Leyton——amanofRushbrook\'sage，butnotsofreshandvigorous-looking——hadthrownhimselfinachairbesidethestudyfire，afteraglancearoundthehandsomeandfamiliarroom。

Forthehousehadbelongedtoabrothermillionaire；ithadchangedhandswithcertainsharesof"WaterFront，"——assomeofRushbrook\'sdealingshadthetruebarbaricabsenceofmoneydetail，——andwaselegantlyandtastefullyfurnished。Thecuckoohad，however，alreadylaidafewcharacteristiceggsinthisadoptednest，andawhitemarblestatueofanudeandill-fedVirtue，sentoverbyRushbrook\'sParisagent，andunpackedthatmorning，stoodinonecorner，andmateriallybroughtdownthetemperature。AJapanesepraying-throneofpureivory，and，aboveit，afewyardsofimproper，coloredexposurebyanoldmaster，equalizedeachother。

"Andwhatisallthisaffairaboutthedinner?"suddenlyaskedatartly-pitchedfemalevoicewithaforeignaccent。

Mr。Leytonturnedquickly，andwasjustconsciousofafaintshriek，therustleofaskirt，andtheswiftvanishingofawoman\'sfigurefromthedoorway。Mr。Leytonturnedred。Rushbrooklivedengarcon，withfemininepossibilities；Leytonwasamarriedmanandadeacon。Theincidentwhich，toamanoftheworld，wouldhavebroughtonlyasmile，firedtheinexperiencedLeytonwiththoseexaggeratedideasandintensecredulityregardingvicecommontosomeverygoodmen。Hewalkedontip-toetothedoor，andpeeredintothepassage。AtthatmomentRushbrookenteredfromtheoppositedooroftheroom。

"Well，"saidRushbrook，withhisusualpracticaldirectness，"whatdoyouthinkofher?"

Leyton，stillflushed，andwitheyebrowsslightlyknit，said，awkwardly，thathehadscarcelyseenher。

"Shecostmealreadytenthousanddollars，andIsupposeI\'llhavetoeventuallyfixupaseparateroomforhersomewhere，"continuedRushhrook。

"Ishouldcertainlyadviseit，"saidLeyton，quickly，"forreally，Rushbrook，youknowthatsomethingisduetotherespectablepeoplewhocomehere，andanyofthemarelikelytosee"——

"Ah!"interruptedRushbrook，seriously，"youthinkshehasn\'tgotonclothesenough。Why，lookhere，oldman——she\'soneoftheVirtues，andthat\'stheriginwhichtheyalwaystravel。She\'sa\'Temperance\'ora\'Charity\'ora\'Resignation，\'orsomethingofthatkind。You\'llfindhernamethereinFrenchsomewhereatthefootofthemarble。"

Leytonsawhismistake，butfelt——asotherssometimesfelt——adoubtwhetherthissmilelessmanwasnotinwardlylaughingathim。Hereplied，withakeen，rapidglanceathishost:——

"Iwasreferringtosomewomanwhostoodinthatdoorwayjustnow，andaddressedmeratherfamiliarly，thinkingitwasyou。"

"Oh，theSignora，"saidRushbrook，withundisturbeddirectness；

"well，yousawheratLosOsoslastsummer。LikelysheDIDthinkyouwereme。"

ThecoolignoringofanyulteriorthoughtinLeyton\'sobjectionforcedtheguesttobeequallypracticalinhisreply。

"Yes，butthefactisthatMissNevilhadtalkedofcomingherewithmethiseveningtoseeyouonherownaffairs，anditwouldn\'thavebeenexactlythethingforhertomeetthatwoman。"

"Shewouldn\'t，"saidRushbrook，promptly；"norwouldYOU，ifyouhadgoneintotheparlorasMissNevilwouldhavedone。Butlookhere!Ifthat\'sthereasonwhyyoudidn\'tbringher，sendforheratonce；mycoachmancantakeacardfromyou；thebrougham\'sallreadytofetchher，andthereyouare。She\'llseeonlyyouandme。"Hewasalreadymovingtowardsthebell，whenLeytonstoppedhim。

"Nomatternow。Icantellyouherbusiness，Ifancy；andinfact，Icameheretospeakofit，quiteindependentlyofher。"

"Thatwon\'tdo，Leyton，"interruptedRushbrook，withcrispdecision。"Oneortheotherinterviewisunnecessary；itwastestime，andisn\'tbusiness。Betterhaveherpresent，evenifshedon\'tsayaword。"

"Yes，butnotinthismatter，"respondedLeyton；"it\'saboutSomers。Youknowhe\'sbeenveryattentivetohereversinceheruncleleftherheretorecruitherhealth，andIthinkshefancieshim。Well，althoughshe\'sindependentandherownmistress，asyouknow，Mrs。LeytonandIaresomewhatresponsibleforheracquaintancewithSomers，——andforthatmattersoareyou；andasmywifethinksitmeansamarriage，weoughttoknowsomethingmorepositiveaboutSomers\'sprospects。Now，allwereallyknowisthathe\'sagreatfriendofyours；thatyoutrustagooddealtohim；

thathemanagesyoursocialaffairs；thatyoutreathimasasonornephew，andit\'sgenerallybelievedthathe\'sasgoodasprovidedforbyyou——eh?Didyouspeak?"

"No，"saidRushbrook，quietlyregardingthestatueasiftakingitsmeasurementforasuitableapartmentforit。"Goon。"

"Well，"saidLeyton，alittleimpatiently，"that\'sthebeliefeverybodyhas，andyou\'venotcontradictedit。Andonthatwe\'vetakentheresponsibilityofnotinterferingwithSomers\'sattentions。"

"Well?"saidRushbrook，interrogatively。

"Well，"repliedLeyton，emphatically，"youseeImustaskyoupositivelyifyouHAVEdoneanything，orareyougoingtodoanythingforhim?"

"Well，"repliedRushbrook，withexasperatingcoolness，"whatdoyoucallthismarriage?"

"Idon\'tunderstandyou，"saidLeyton。

"Lookhere，Leyton，"saidRushbrook，suddenlyandabruptlyfacinghim；"JackSomershasbrains，knowledgeofsociety，tact，accomplishments，andgoodlooks:that\'sHIScapitalasmuchasmineismoney。Iemployhim:that\'shisadvertisement，recommendation，andcredit。Now，onthestrengthofthis，asyousay，MissNeviliswillingtoinvestinhim；Idon\'tseewhatmorecanbedone。"

"Butifheruncledon\'tthinkitenough?"

"She\'sindependent，andhasmoneyforboth。"

"Butifshethinksshe\'sbeendeceived，andchangeshermind?"

"Leyton，youdon\'tknowMissNevil。Whateverthatgirlundertakesshe\'sweighedfully，andgoesthroughwith。Ifshe\'strustedhimenoughtomarryhim，moneywon\'tstopher；ifshethinksshe\'sbeendeceived，YOU\'LLneverknowit。"

TheenthusiasmandconvictionweresounlikeRushbrook\'susualcynicaltolerationofthesexthatLeytonstaredathim。

"That\'sodd，"hereturned。"That\'swhatshesaysofyou。"

"OfME；youmeanSomers?"

"No，ofYOU。Come，Rushbrook，don\'tpretendyoudon\'tknowthatMissNevilisagreatpartisanofyours，swearsbyyou，saysyou\'remisunderstoodbypeople，and，what\'sinfernallyoddinawomanwhodon\'tbelongtotheclassyoufancy，don\'ttalkofyourhabits。

That\'swhyshewantstoconsultyouaboutSomers，Isuppose，andthat\'swhy，knowingyoumightinfluenceher，Icameherefirsttowarnyou。"

"AndI\'vetoldyouthatwhateverImightsayordowouldn\'tinfluenceher。Sowe\'lldropthesubject。"

"Notyet；foryou\'reboundtoseeMissNevilsoonerorlater。Now，ifsheknowsthatyou\'vedonenothingforthisman，yourfriendandherlover，won\'tshebejustifiedinthinkingthatyouwouldhaveareasonforit?"

"Yes。Ishouldgiveit。"

"Whatreason?"

"ThatIknewshe\'dbemorecontentedtohavehimspeculatewithHER

moneythanmine。"

"Thenyouthinkthatheisn\'tabusinessman?"

"Ithinkthatshethinksso，orshewouldn\'tmarryhim；it\'spartoftheattraction。Butcome，Jameshasbeenforfiveminutesdiscreetlywaitingoutsidethedoortotellusdinnerisready，andthecoastclearofallothercompany。Butlookhere，"hesaid，suddenlystopping，withhisarminLeyton\'s，"you\'rethroughyourtalk，Isuppose；perhapsyou\'dratherwe\'ddinewiththeSignoraandtheothersthanalone?"

ForaninstantLeytonthrilledwiththefascinationofwhathefirmlybelievedwasaguiltytemptation。Rushbrook，perceivinghishesitation，added:——

"Bytheway，Somersisoftheparty，andoneortwoothersyouknow。"

Mr。Leytonopenedhiseyeswidelyatthis；eitherthetemptationhadpassed，ortheideaofbeingseenindoubtfulcompanybyayoungermanwasdistasteful，forhehurriedlydisclaimedanypreference。"But，"headdedwithhalf-significantpoliteness，"perhapsI\'mkeepingYOUfromthem?"

"Itmakesnottheslightestdifferencetome，"calmlyreturnedRushbrook，withsuchevidenttruthfulnessthatLeytonwasbothconvincedandchagrined。

PrecededbythegraveandubiquitousJames，theycrossedthelargehall，andenteredthroughasmallerpassageacharmingapartmenthungwithbluedamask，whichmighthavebeenaboudoir，study，orsmallreception-room，yethadtheairofneverhavingbeenanythingcontinuously。ItwouldseemthatRushbrook\'shabitof"campingout"indifferentpartsofhismansionobtainedhereasatLosOsos，andwiththeexceptionofasmallclosetwhichcontainedhisSpartanbed，theroomswereusedseparatelyorinsuites，asoccasionorhisfriendsrequired。ItisrecordedthatanEasternguest，newlyarrivedwithletterstoRushbrook，afteratediousjourney，expressedhimselfpleasedwiththissameblueroom，inwhichhehadsumptuouslydinedwithhishost，andsubsequentlyfellasleepinhischair。Withoutdisturbinghisguest，Rushbrookhadthetableremoved，abed，washstand，andbureaubroughtin，thesleepingmandelicatelylaidupontheformer，andlefttoawakentoanArabiannight\'srealizationofhiswish。

CHAPTERV

JameshadbarelydisposedofhismasterandMr。Leyton，andleftthemtotheministrationsoftwoofhisunderlings，beforehewasconfrontedwithoneofthosedifficultproblemsthatitwaspartofhisfunctionstosolve。TheporterinformedhimthatayoungladyhadjustdrivenupinacarriageostensiblytoseeMr。Rushbrook，andJames，descendingtotheoutervestibule，foundhimselffacetofacewithMissGraceNevil。Happily，thatyounglady，withherusualtact，sparedhimsomeembarrassment。

"Oh!James，"shesaidsweetly，"doyouthinkthatIcouldseeMr。

RushbrookforafewmomentsIFIWAITEDFORTHEOPPORTUNITY?Youunderstand，Idon\'twishtodisturbhimorhiscompanybybeingregularlyannounced。"

Theyounggirl\'spracticalintelligenceappearedtoincreasetheusualrespectwhichJameshadalwaysshownher。"Iunderstand，miss。"Hethoughtforamoment，andsaid:"Wouldyoumind，then，followingmewhereyoucouldwaitquietlyandalone?"Asshequicklyassented，heprecededherupthestaircase，pastthestudyanddrawing-room，whichhedidnotenter，andstoppedbeforeasmalldoorattheendofthepassage。Then，handingherakeywhichhetookfromhispocket，hesaid:"ThisistheonlyroominthehousethatisstrictlyreservedforMr。Rushbrook，andevenherarelyusesit。YoucanwaitherewithoutanybodyknowingituntilIcancommunicatewithhimandbringyoutohisstudyunobserved。

And，"hehesitated，"ifyouwouldn\'tmindlockingthedoorwhenyouarein，miss，youwouldbemoresecure，andIwillknockwhenI

comeforyou。"

GraceNevilsmiledattheman\'sprudence，andenteredtheroom。

Buttohergreatsurprise，shehadscarcelyshutthedoorwhenshewasinstantlystruckwithasingularmemorywhichtheapartmentrecalled。ItwasexactlyliketheroomshehadalteredinRushbrook\'svillaatLosOsos!Morethanthat，oncloseexaminationitprovedtobetheverysamefurniture，arrangedassherememberedtohavearrangedit，eventotheflowersandgrasses，now，alas!fadedandwitheredonthewalls。Therecouldbenomistake。Therewastheopenebonyescritoirewiththesatinblotteropen，anditsleavesstillbearingthemarksofherownhandwriting。Socompletetohermindwastheideaofherowntenancyinthisbachelor\'smansion，thatshelookedaroundwithahalfindignantalarmforthephotographorportraitofherselfthatmightfurtherindicateit。Buttherewasnootherexposition。Theonlythingthathadbeenaddedwasagiltlegendonthesatincaseoftheblotter，——"LosOsos，August20，186-，"thedayshehadoccupiedtheroom。

Shewaspleased，astonished，butmorethanall，disturbed。Theonlymanwhomightclaimarighttothisfigurativepossessionofhertastesandhabitswastheonewhomshehadquietly，reflectively，andunderstandinglyhalfacceptedasherlover，andonwhoseaccountshehadcometoconsultRushbrook。ButSomerswasnotasentimentalist；infact，asayounggirl，forcedbyherindependentpositiontosomewhatcriticallyscrutinizemasculineweaknesses，thishadalwaysbeenapointinhisfavor；yetevenifhehadjoinedwithhisfriendRushbrooktoperpetuatethememoryoftheirfirstacquaintanceship，histastemerelywouldnothaveselectedachambredegarconinMr。Rushbrook\'shomeforitsexhibition。Herconceptionoftheoppositecharactersofthetwomenwassingularlydistinctandreal，andthismomentaryconfusionofthemwasdisagreeabletoherwoman\'ssense。ButatthismomentJamescametoreleaseherandconducthertoRushbrook\'sstudy，wherehewouldjoinheratonce。Everythinghadbeenarrangedasshehadwished。

EvenamorepracticalmanthanRushbrookmighthavelingeredoverthepictureofthetall，gracefulfigureofMissNevil，quietlyenthronedinalargearmchairbythefire，herscarlet，satin-linedcloakthrownoveritsback，andherchinrestingonherhand。Butthemillionairewalkeddirectlytowardsherwithhisusualfranknessofconsciousbutrestrainedpower，andshefelt，asshealwaysdid，perfectlyathereaseinhispresence。Evenasshetookhisoutstretchedhand，itsstraightforwardgraspseemedtoendowherwithitsownconfidence。

"You\'llexcusemycomingheresoabruptly，"shesmiled，"butI

wantedtogetbeforeMr。Leyton，who，Ibelieve，wishestoseeyouonthesamebusinessasmyself。"

"Heisherealready，anddiningwithme，"saidRushbrook。

"Ah!doesheknowIamhere?"askedthegirl，quietly。

"No；ashesaidyouhadthoughtofcomingwithhimanddidn\'t，I

presumedyoudidn\'tcaretohavehimknowyouhadcomealone。"

"Notexactlythat，Mr。Rushbrook，"shesaid，fixingherbeautifuleyesonhiminbrightandtrustfulconfidence，"butIhappentohaveafullerknowledgeofthisbusinessthanhehas，andyet，asitisnotaltogethermyownsecret，Iwasnotpermittedtodivulgeittohim。NorwouldItellittoyou，onlyIcannotbearthatyoushouldthinkthatIhadanythingtodowiththiswretchedinquisitionintoMr。Somers\'sprospects。KnowingaswellasyoudohowperfectlyindependentIam，youwouldthinkitstrange，wouldn\'tyou?ButyouwouldthinkitstillmoresurprisingwhenyoufoundoutthatIandmyunclealreadyknowhowliberallyandgenerouslyyouhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture。"

"HowIhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture?"repeatedMr。

Rushbrook，lookingatthefire，"eh?"

"Yes，"saidtheyounggirl，indifferently，"howyouweretoputhimintosucceedyouintheWaterFrontTrust，andallthat。Hetoldittomeandmyuncleattheoutsetofouracquaintance，confidentially，ofcourse，andIdaresaywithanhonorabledelicacythatwaslikehim，but——Isupposenowyouwillthinkmefoolish——allthewhileI\'dratherhehadnot。"

"You\'dratherhehadnot，"repeatedMr。Rushbrook，slowly。

"Yes，"continuedGrace，leaningforwardwithherroundedelbowsonherknees，andherslim，archedfeetonthefender。"Nowyouaregoingtolaughatme，Mr。Rushbrook，butallthisseemedtometospoilanyspontaneousfeelingImighthavetowardshim，andlimitmyindependenceinathingthatshouldbeamatteroffreewillalone。Itseemedtoomuchlikeabusinessproposition!There，mykindfriend!"sheadded，lookingupandtryingtoreadhisfacewithahalfgirlishpout，followed，however，byamaturersigh，"I\'mbotheringyouwithawoman\'sfoolishnessinsteadoftalkingbusiness。And"——anothersigh——"IsupposeitISbusinessformyuncle，whohas，itseems，boughtintothisTrustonthesepossiblecontingencies，has，perhaps，beenaskingquestionsofMr。Leyton。

ButIdon\'twantyoutothinkthatIapproveofthem，oradviseyouransweringthem。Butyouarenotlistening。"

"Ihadforgottensomething，"saidRushbrook，withanoddpreoccupation。"Excusemeamoment——Iwillreturnatonce。"

Helefttheroomquiteasabstractedly，andwhenhereachedthepassage，heapparentlycouldnotrememberwhathehadforgotten，ashewalkeddeliberatelytotheendwindow，where，withhisarmsfoldedbehindhisback，heremainedlookingoutintothestreet。A

passer-by，glancingup，mighthavesaidhehadseenthepale，sternghostofMr。Rushbrook，framedlikeastonyportraitinthewindow。

Buthepresentlyturnedaway，andre-enteredtheroom，goinguptoGrace，whowasstillsittingbythefire，inhisusualstronganddirectfashion。

"Well!Nowletmeseewhatyouwant。Ithinkthiswoulddo。"

Hetookaseatathisopendesk，andrapidlywroteafewlines。

"There，"hecontinued，"whenyouwritetoyouruncle，inclosethat。"

Gracetookit，andread:——

DEARMISSNEVIL，——PrayassureyourunclefrommethatIamquitereadytoguarantee，inanyformthathemayrequire，theundertakingrepresentedtohimbyMr。JohnSomers。Yoursverytruly，ROBERTRUSHBROOK。

Aquickflushmountedtotheyounggirl\'scheeks。"ButthisisaSECURITY，Mr。Rushbrook，"shesaidproudly，handinghimbackthepaper，"andmyuncledoesnotrequirethat。NorshallIinsulthimoryoubysendingit。"

"ItisBUSINESS，MissNevil，"saidRushbrook，gravely。Hestopped，andfixedhiseyesuponheranimatedfaceandsparklingeyes。"Youcansendittohimornot，asyoulike。But"——araresmilecametohishandsomemouth——"asthisisalettertoYOU，youmustnotinsultMEbynotacceptingit。"

Replyingtohissmileratherthanthewordsthataccompaniedit，MissNevilsmiled，too。Nevertheless，shewasuneasyanddisturbed。Theinterview，whatevershemighthavevaguelyexpectedfromit，hadresolveditselfsimplyintoabusinessindorsementofherlover，whichshehadnotsought，andwhichgavehernosatisfaction。Yettherewasthesamepotentandindefinablyprotectingpresencebeforeherwhichshehadsought，butwhoseomniscienceandwhosehelpsheseemedtohavelostthespellandcouragetoputtothetest。Herelievedherinhisabruptbutnotunkindlyfashion。"Well，whenisittobe?"

"It?"

"Yourmarriage。"

"Oh，notforsometime。There\'snohurry。"

ItmighthavestruckthepracticalMr。Rushbrookthat，evenconsideredasadesirablebusinessaffair，theprospectivecompletionofthiscontractprovokedneitherfranksatisfactionnorconventionaldissimulationonthepartoftheyounglady，forheregardedhercalmbutslightlyweariedexpressionfixedly。Butheonlysaid:"ThenIshallsaynothingofthisinterviewtoMr。

Leyton?"

"Asyouplease。Itreallymatterslittle。Indeed，IsupposeIwasratherfoolishincomingatall，andwastingyourvaluabletimefornothing。"

Shehadrisen，asiftakinghislastquestioninthesignificanceofapartingsuggestion，andwasstraighteninghertallfigure，preparatorytoputtingonhercloak。Asshereachedit，hesteppedforward，andlifteditfromthechairtoassisther。Theactwassounprecedented，asMr。Rushbrookneverindulgedinthoseminormasculinecourtesies，thatshewasmomentarilyasconfusedasayoungergirlatthegallantryofayoungerman。Intheirpreviousfriendshiphehadseldomdrawnnearherexcepttoshakeherhand——

acircumstancethathadalwaysrecurredtoherwhenhisfreeandfamiliarlifehadbeenthesubjectofgossip。Butshenowhadamorefrightenedconsciousnessthathernerveswerestrangelyrespondingtohispowerfulpropinquity，andsheinvoluntarilycontractedherprettyshouldersashegentlylaidthecloakuponthem。Yetevenwhentheactwascompleted，shehadasuperstitiousinstinctthatthesignificanceofthisrarecourtesywasthatitwasfinal，andthathehadhelpedhertointerposesomethingthatshuthimoutfromherforever。

Shewasturningawaywithaheightenedcolor，whenthesoundoflight，hurriedfootsteps，andtherustleofawoman\'sdresswasheardinthehall。Aswiftrecollectionofhercompanion\'sinfelicitousreputationnowreturnedtoher，andGraceNevil，withaslightstiffeningofherwholeframe，becamecoldlyherselfagain。Mr。Rushbrookbetrayedneithersurprisenoragitation。

Begginghertowaitamomentuntilhecouldarrangeforhertopasstohercarriageunnoticed，helefttheroom。

YetitseemedthatthecauseofthedisturbancewasunsuspectedbyMr。Rushbrook。Mr。Leyton，althoughlefttotheconsolationofcigarsandliquorsintheblueroom，hadbecomeslightlywearyofhiscompanion\'sprolongedabsence。SatisfiedinhismindthatRushbrookhadjoinedthegayerparty，andthathewasevennowpayinggallantcourttotheSignora，hebecameagaincuriousanduneasy。Atlasttheunmistakablesoundofwhisperingvoicesinthepassagegotthebetterofhissenseofcourtesyasaguest，andherosefromhisseat，andslightlyopenedthedoor。Ashedidsothefiguresofamanandwoman，conversinginearnestwhispers，passedtheopening。Theman\'sarmwasroundthewoman\'swaist；thewomanwas——ashehadsuspected——theonewhohadstoodinthedoorway，theSignora——but——themanwasNOTRushbrook。Mr。Leytondrewbackthistimeinunaffectedhorror。ItwasnoneotherthanJackSomers!

Somewarninginstinctmustatthatmomenthavestruckthewoman，forwithastifledcryshedisengagedherselffromSomers\'sarm，anddashedrapidlydownthehall。Somers，evidentlyunawareofthecause，stoodirresoluteforamoment，andthenmoresilentlybutswiftlydisappearedintoasidecorridorasiftointercepther。

ItwastherapidpassageoftheSignorathathadattractedtheattentionofGraceandRushbrookinthestudy，anditwasthemomentafteritthatMr。Rushbrookleft。

CHAPTERVI

Vaguelyuneasy，andstillperplexedwithherpreviousagitation，asMr。Rushbrookclosedthedoorbehindhim，Grace，followingsomefeminineinstinctratherthananydefinitereason，walkedtothedoorandplacedherhanduponthelocktopreventanyintrusionuntilhereturned。Hercautionseemedtobejustifiedamomentlater，foraheavierbutstealthierfootstephaltedoutside。Thehandleofthedoorwasturned，butsheresisteditwiththefulleststrengthofhersmallhanduntilavoice，whichstartledher，calledinahurriedwhisper:——

"Openquick，\'tisI。"

Shesteppedbackquickly，flungthedooropen，andbeheldSomersonthethreshold!

Theastonishment，agitation，andaboveall，theawkwardconfusionofthisusuallyself-possessedandreadyman，wassounlikehim，andwithalsopainful，thatGracehurriedtoputanendtoit，andforaninstantforgotherownsurpriseatseeinghim。Shesmiledassuringly，andextendedherhand。

"Grace——MissNevil——Ibegyourpardon——Ididn\'timagine"——hebeganwithaforcedlaugh。"Imean，ofcourse——Icannot——but"——Hestopped，andthenassumingapeculiarexpression，said:"ButwhatareYOUdoinghere?"

Atanyothermomentthegirlwouldhaveresentedthetone，whichwasasnewtoherashispreviousagitation，butinherpresentself-consciousnesshersituationseemedtorequiresomeexplanation。"Icamehere，"shesaid，"toseeMr。Rushbrookonbusiness。Yourbusiness——OURbusiness，"sheadded，withacharmingsmile，usingforthefirsttimethepronounthatseemedtoindicatetheirunityandinterest，andyetfullyawareofavagueinsincerityindoingso。

"OurBUSINESS?"herepeated，ignoringhergentlermeaningwithachangedemphasisandalookofsuspicion。

"Yes，"saidGrace，alittleimpatiently。"Mr。LeytonthoughtheoughttowritetomyunclesomethingpositiveastoyourprospectswithMr。Rushbrook，and"——

"Youcameheretoinquire?"saidtheyoungman，sharply。

"Icameheretostopanyinquiry，"saidGrace，indignantly。"I

cameheretosayIwassatisfiedwithwhatyouhadconfidedtomeofMr。Rushbrook\'sgenerosity，andthatwasenough!"

"WithwhatIhadconfidedtoyou?Youdaredsaythat?"

Gracestopped，andinstantlyfacedhim。Butanyindignationshemighthavefeltathisspeechandmannerwasswallowedupintherevulsionandhorrorthatovertookherwiththesuddenrevelationshesawinhiswhiteandfrightenedface。Leyton\'sstrangeinquiry，Rushbrook\'scoldcomposureandscornfulacceptanceofherowncredulousness，cametoherinaflashofshamefulintelligence。

Somershadlied!Theinsufferablemeannessofit!Alie，whoseveryuselessnessandignobilityhaddefeateditspurpose——aliethatimpliedthebasestsuspicionofherownindependenceandtruthfulness——suchalienowstoodoutasplainlybeforeherashisguiltyface。

"Forgivemyspeakingsorudely，"hesaidwithaforcedsmileandattempttorecoverhisself-control，"butyouhaveruinedmeunlessyoudenythatItoldyouanything。Itwasajoke——anextravagancethatIhadforgotten；atleast，itwasaconfidencebetweenyouandmethatyouhavefoolishlyviolated。Saythatyoumisunderstoodme——thatitwasafancyofyourown。Sayanything——hetrustsyou——

he\'llbelieveanythingyousay。"

"HeHASbelievedme，"saidGrace，almostfiercely，turninguponhimwiththepaperthatRushbrookhadgivenherinheroutstretchedhand。"Readthat!"

Hereadit。Hadheblushed，hadhestammered，hadheevenkeptuphisformerfranticandpitiableattitude，shemightatthatsuprememomenthaveforgivenhim。Buttoherastonishmenthisfacechanged，hishandsomebrowcleared，hiscareless，happysmilereturned，hisgracefulconfidencecameback——hestoodbeforehertheelegant，courtly，andaccomplishedgentlemanshehadknown。Hereturnedherthepaper，andadvancingwithextendedhand，saidtriumphantly:——

"Superb!Splendid!Noonebutawomancouldthinkofthat!Andonlyonewomanachieveit。YouhavetrickedthegreatRushbrook。

Youareindeedworthyofbeingafinancier\'swife!"