"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。