\"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。