\"Toseeus，mydear，\"saidKittyloftily;\"andthen，too，hehastosettlesomethingaboutHISshareoftheproperty;foryouknowgrandpaleftashareofittohim。Notthathe’severbotheredhimselfaboutit，forhe’srich，——akindofMonteCristo，youknow，——withagoldmineandanislandoffthecoast，tosaynothingofawholecountythatheowns，thatiscalledafterhim，andmillionsofwildcattlethatheridesamongandlassos！It’sdreadfullyhardtodo。Youknowyoutakealongropewithaslipknot，andyouthrowitaroundyourheadso，and\"——
\"Hark！\"saidMarie，withadramaticstart，andherfingeronhersmallmouth，\"hecomes！\"
Therewastheclearrollofwheelsalongthesmooth，frozencarriagesweeptowardsthehouse，thesharpcrispclickofhoofsonstone，theopeningofheavydoors，thesuddensparklinginvasionoffrigidair，theupliftingofvoicesingreeting，——butallfamiliar！
TherewereGabrielLane’scheery，hopefultones，thesopranoofCousinJaneandCousinEmma，thebaritoneofMr。Gunn，andthegravemeasuredoratoricalutteranceofParsonDexter，whohadjoinedthepartyatthestation;butcertainlytheaccentsofnoSTRANGER。Hadhecome？Yes，forhisnamewasjustthencalled，andthequickearofMariehaddetectedalight，lounging，alienfootstepcrossthecoldstripofmarblevestibule。Thetwogirlsexchangedarapidglance;eachlookedintothemirror，andtheninterrogativelyattheother，noddedtheirheadsaffirmatively，anddescendedtothedrawing—room。Agrouphadalreadydrawnroundthefire，andasmallcentralfigure，who，withitsbackturnedtowardsthem，wasstillenwrappedinanenormousovercoatofrichfur，wasengagedinpresentinganalternatesmallvarnishedleatherboottothewarmthofthegrate。Astheyenteredtheroomtheheavyfurwasyieldedupwithapparentreluctance，andrevealedtotheastonishedgirlsamanofordinarystaturewithaslightandelegantfiguresetoffbyatravelingsuitofirreproachablecut。
Hislightreddish—yellowhair，mustache，andsunburnedcheek，whichseemedallofonecolorandoutline，madeitimpossibletodetectthegrayoftheoneorthehollownessoftheother，andgavenoindicationofhisage。Yettherewasclearlynomistake。HerewasGabrielLaneseizingtheirnervouslycoldfingersandpresentingthemtotheir\"UncleSylvester。\"
FarfromattemptingtokissKitty，thestrangerforaninstantseemedobliviousofthelittlehandsheofferedhiminthehalf—
preoccupiedbowhegaveher。ButMariewasnotsoeasilypassedover，and，withheraudaciousfacechallenginghis，heabstractedlyimpartedtotheshakeofherhandsomethingofthefervorthatheshouldhaveshownhisrelative。And，then，stillwarminghisfeetonthefender，heseemedtohaveforgottenthemboth。
\"Accustomedasyouhavebeen，sir，\"saidtheReverendMr。Dexter，seizinguponanawkwardsilence，andaccentingitlaboriously，\"perhapsIshouldsayINUREDasyouhavebeentotheexcitingandstirringincidentsofalawlessandadventurouscommunity，youdoubtlessfindinapastoral，yetcultivatedandrefined，seclusionlikeLakevilleadegreeof\"——
\"Oh，severaldegrees，\"saidUncleSylvester，blandlyflickingbitsofbuffalohairfromhiswell—fittingtrousers;\"it’scolder，youknow——muchcolder。\"
\"Iwasreferringtoalessmaterialcontrast，\"continuedMr。
Dexter，witharesignedsmile;\"yet，astothemerequestionofcold，Iamtold，sir，thatinCaliforniatherearecertainsevereregionsofaltitude——althoughthemeantemperature\"——
\"IsupposeoutinCaliforniayoufellowswouldsayourtemperaturewasadarnedsightMEANER，eh？\"brokeinAmosGunn，withaconfidentialglanceattheothers，asifofferingahumorousdiversionsuitedtotheCaliforniantaste。UncleSylvesterdidnot，however，smile。GazingcriticallyatGunn，hesaidthoughtfully：\"Ithinknot;I’veevenknownmenkilledforsayinglessthanthat，\"andturnedtotheclergyman。\"Youarequiteright;someofthehigherpassesareverycold。Iwaslostinoneofthemin’56withasmallparty。Wewereseventymilesfromanysettlement，wehadhadnothingtoeatforthirty—sixhours;ourcampfire，meltingthesnow，sanktwelvefeetbelowthesurface。\"
Thecircleclosedeagerlyaroundhim，Marie，Kitty，andCousinJanepressingforwardwithexcitedfaces;eventheclergymanassumedanexpressionofprofoundinterest。\"AmanbythenameofThompson，I
think，\"continuedUncleSylvester，thoughtfullygazingatthefire，\"wasfrozenafewyardsaway。Towardsmorning，havingbeenfifty—
eighthourswithoutfood，ourlastdropofwhiskeyexhausted，andthefireextinguished，wefound\"——
\"Yes，yes！\"saidhalfadozenvoices。
\"Wefound，\"continuedUncleSylvester，rubbinghishandscheerfully，\"wefoundit——exceedinglycold。Yes——EXCEEDINGLYcold！\"
Therewasadeadsilence。
\"Butyouescaped！\"saidKittybreathlessly。
\"Ithinkso。Ithinkweallescaped——thatis，exceptThompson，ifhisnameWASThompson;itmighthavebeenParker，\"continuedUncleSylvester，gazingwithacertainlanguidastonishmentontheeagerfacesaroundhim。
\"ButHOWdidyouescape？\"
\"Oh，somehow！Idon’trememberexactly。Idon’tthink，\"hewentonreflectively，\"thatwehadtoeatThompson——ifitwasHIM——atleastnotthen。No\"——withafainteffortofrecollection——\"thatwouldhavebeenanotheraffair。Yes，\"assuringlytotheeager，frightenedeyesofCousinJane，\"youarequiteright，thatwassomethingaltogetherdifferent。Dearme;onequitemixesupthesethings。Eh？\"
Aservanthadentered，andafterahurriedcolloquywithGabriel，thelatterturnedtoUncleSylvester——
\"Excuseme，butIthinktheremustbesomemistake！Webroughtupyourluggagewithyou——twotrunks——inthestationwagon。Amanhasjustarrivedwiththreemore，whichhesaysareyours。\"
\"Thereshouldbefiveinall，Ithink，\"saidUncleSylvesterthoughtfully。
\"Maybethereare，sir，Ididn’tcountexactly，\"saidtheservant。
\"Allright，\"saidUncleSylvestercheerfully，turningtohisbrother。\"Youcanputtheminmyroomoronthelanding，excepttwomarked’L’inatriangle。TheycontainsomethingsIpickedupforyouandthegirls。We’lllookthemoverinthemorning。And，ifyoudon’tmind，I’llexcusemyselfnowandgotobed。\"
\"Butit’sonlyhalfpastten，\"saidGabrielremonstratingly。\"Youdon’t，surely，gotobedathalfpastten？\"
\"IdowhenItravel。TravelisSOexhausting。Good—night！Don’tletanybodydisturbthemselvestocomewithme。\"
Hebowedlanguidlytothecompany，anddisappearedwithayawngracefullydisguisedintoapartingsmile。
\"Well！\"saidCousinJane，drawingalongbreath。
\"Idon’tbelieveit’syourUncleSylvesteratall！\"saidMarievivaciously。\"It’ssometrickthatGabrielisplayinguponus。
Andhe’snotevenagoodactor——heforgetshispart。\"
\"And，then，fivetrunksforonesingleman！Heavens！whatcanhehaveinthem\"saidCousinEmma。
\"Perhapshisconfederates，tospringoutuponusatnight，aftereverybody’sasleep。\"
\"Areyousureyourememberedhim，papa？\"saidKittysottovoce。
\"Certainly。And，mydearchild，heknowsallthefamilyhistoryaswellasyoudo;and\"——continuedherfatherwithaslightlaughthatdidnot，however，concealacertainseriousnessthatwasnewtohim——\"IonlywishIunderstoodasmuchaboutthepropertyashedoes。Bytheway，Amos，\"hebrokeoffsuddenly，turningtotheyoungman，\"heseemedtoknowyourpeople。\"
\"Mostmeninthefinancialworlddo，\"saidGunnalittlesuperciliously。
\"Yes;butheaskedmeifyouhadn’tarelativeofsomekindinSouthernCaliforniaorMexico。\"
Aslightflush——soslightthatonlythekeen，vivaciouslyobservanteyesofMarienoticedit——passedovertheyoungman’sface。
\"Ibelieveitisaknownfactthatourbranchofthefamilyneveremigratedfromtheirnativetown，\"hesaidemphatically。\"TheGunnswereratherpeculiarandparticularinthatrespect。\"
\"ThentherewerenooffshootsfromtheoldSTOCK，\"saidGabriel。
Nevertheless，thispetjokeofGabriel’sdidnotdissipatetheconstraintanddisappointmentleftuponthecompanybyUncleSylvester’sunsatisfyingperformanceandearlywithdrawal，andtheyseparatedsoonafter，KittyandMariebeinggladtoescapeupstairstogether。OnthelandingtheymettwooftheIrishhousemaidsinastateofagitatedexhaustion。Itappearedthatthe\"sthrangegintleman\"hadrequestedthathisbedberemadefrombedclothesandbeddingALWAYSCARRIEDWITHHIMINHISTRUNKS！Fromtheirapologetictoneitwasevidentthathehadliberallyrewardedthem。
\"Shure，Miss，\"protestedNorah，indeprecationofKitty’sflashingeye，\"there’sthimthat’slivedamongshnakesandpoysinriptilesandfaverousdisaysesthat’sparticklaravthebedsandsheetstheylieon。Hisht！HowlyMother！it’ssomethingelsehe’swantingnow！\"
ThedoorofUncleSylvester’sroomhadslowlyopened，andabluepyjama’dsleeveappeared，carefullydepositingthesheafofbowsandarrowsoutsidethedoor。\"Isay，Norah，orBridgetthere，someofyoutakethoseinfernalthingsaway。Andlookout，willyou，forthearrowheadsaredeadlypoison。Thefoolwhogot’emdidn’tknowtheywereAfrican，andnotIndianatall！Andholdon！\"Thehandvanished，andpresentlyreappearedholdingtworifles。\"Andtaketheseaway，too！They’reloaded，capped，andNOTonthehalf—
cock！Ajar，afall，theslightestshockisenoughtosendthemoff！\"
\"I’mdreadfullysorrythatyoushouldfinditsouncomfortableinourhouse，UncleSylvester，\"saidKitty，withaflushedcheekandvibratingvoice。
\"Oh，it’syou——isit？\"saidUncleSylvester’svoicecheerfully。\"I
thoughtitwasBridgetoutthere。No，Idon’tintendtofindituncomfortable。That’swhyI’mputtingthesethingsoutside。But，forHeaven’ssake，don’tYOUtouchthem。Leavethattotheineffableasswhoputthemthere。Good—night！\"
Thedoorclosed;thewhisperingvoicesofthegirlsfadedfromthecorridor;thelightswereloweredinthecentralhall，onlytheredCyclopeaneyeofanenormouscolumnarstove，likealighthouse，gleamedthroughthedarkness。Outside，thesilentnightsparkled，glistened，andfinallypaled。Towardsmorning，havinginvestedthesturdywoodenouterwallsofthehouseandfilmedwithdelicatetraceryeveryavailableinchofwindowpane，itseemedstealthilytoinvadethehouseitself，stillingandchillingitasitdrewcloserarounditscentralheartofwarmthandlife。Onlyoncethefrigidstillnesswasbrokenbytheopeningofadoorandstepsalongthecorridor。Thiswasprecededbyanacridsmellofburningbark。
ItwassubtleenoughtopermeatetheupperfloorandthebedroomofMarieduPage，whowasthatnightalightandnervoussleeper。
Peeringfromherdoor，shecouldsee，onthelowercorridor，theextraordinaryspectacleofUncleSylvester，robedinagorgeousJapanesedressing—gownofquiltedsatintrimmedwiththefurofthebluefox，candleinhand，leisurelyexaminingthewallofthepassage。Presently，drawingoutafootrulefromhispocket，heactuallybegantomeasureit！MissDuPagesawnomore。Hurriedlyclosingherdoor，shelockedandboltedit，firmlyconvincedthatGabrielLanewasharboringintheguiseofUncleSylvesterasomnambulist，amaniac，oranimpostor。
PARTII。
\"Itdoesn’tseemasifUncleSylvesterwasanythemorecomfortableforhavinghisownprivatebeddingwithhim，\"saidKittyLane，enteringMarie’sroomearlythenextmorning。\"Bridgetfoundhimcurledupinhisfurslikeacatasleeponthedrawing—roomsofathismorning。\"
Mariestarted;sherememberedherlastnight’svision。Butsomeinstinct——sheknewnotwhat——keptherfromrevealingitatthismoment。Sheonlysaidalittleironically：——
\"Perhapshemissedthewildfreedomofhisbarbariclifeinasmallbedroom。\"
\"No。Bridgetsayshesaidsomethingaboutbeingsmokedoutofhisroombyaridiculouswoodfire。Theidea！Asifamanbroughtupinthewoodscouldn’tstandalittlesmoke。No——that’shisexcuse！
Marie！——doyouknowwhatIfirmlybelieve？\"
\"No，\"saidMariequickly。
\"Ifirmlybelievethatpoormanisashamedofhispastroughlife，anddoeseverythinghecantoforgetit。That’swhyheaffectsthoseultra—civilizedandeffeminateways，andgoestotheotherextreme，aspeoplealwaysdo。\"
\"Thenyouthinkhe’sreallyreformed，andisn’tlikelytotakeanimpulsetorobandmurderanybodyagain？\"
\"Why，Marie，whatnonsense！\"
Nevertheless，UncleSylvesterappearedquitefreshandcheerfulatbreakfast。Itseemedthathehadlitthefirebeforeundressing，butthegreenlogswerepiledsofarintotheroomthatthesmokenearlysuffocatedhim。Fearfulofalarmingthehousebylettingthesmokeescapethroughthedoor，heopenedthewindow，andwhenithadpartlydispersed，soughtrefugehimselffromthearcticairofhisbedroominthedrawing—room。Sofartheactdidnotseeminconsistentwithhissanity，orevenintelligenceandconsiderationforothers。ButMariefixeduponhimapairofblack，audaciouseyes。
\"Didyoueverwalkinyoursleep，Mr。Lane？\"
\"No;but\"——thoughtfullybreakinganegg——\"Ihaveridden，Ithink。\"
\"Inyoursleep？Oh，dotellusallaboutit！\"saidCousinsJaneandEmmainchorus。
UncleSylvestercastaresignedglanceoutofthewindow。\"Oh，yes——certainly;itisn’tmuch。YouseeatonetimeIwasinthehabitofmakinglongmonotonousjourneys，andtheywereoftenexhausting，and，\"headded，becomingweariedasifattherecollection，\"alwaysdreadfullytiresome。Asthetrailwassometimesveryuncertainanddangerous，Irodeaverysurefootedmulethatcouldgoanywherewheretherewasspacebigenoughtosethersmallhoofsupon。OnenightIwascomingdowntheslopeofamountaintowardsanarrowvalleyandriverthatwerecrossedbyanold，abandonedflume，ofwhichnothingwasnowleftbuttheuprighttrestle—workandlonghorizontalstring—piece。Asthetrailwasverydifficultandthemule’spacewasslow，Ifoundmyselfdozingattimes，andatlastImusthavefallenasleep。IthinkImusthavebeenawakenedbyasingularregularityinthemovementofthemule——orelseitwasthemonotonyofstepthathadputmetosleepandthecessationofitawakenedme。Yousee，atfirstIwasnotcertainthatIwasn’treallydreaming。Forthetrailseemedtohavedisappeared;thewallofrockononesidehadvanishedalso，andthereappearedtobenothingaheadofmebuttheoppositehillside。\"
UncleSylvesterstoppedtolookoutofthewindowatapassingcarriage。Thenhewenton。\"Themooncameout，andIsawwhathadhappened。Themule，eitherofherownfreewill，orobeyingsomemovementIhadgiventhereinsinmysleep，hadswervedfromthetrail，gotontopoftheflume，andwasactuallywalkingacrossthevalleyonthenarrowstring—piece，afootwide，halfamilelong，andsixtyfeetfromtheground。Iknew，\"hecontinued，examininghisnapkinthoughtfully，\"thatshewasperfectlysurefooted，andthatifIkeptquietshecouldmakethepassage，butIsuddenlyrememberedthatmidwaytherewasabreakandgapoftwentyfeetinthecontinuousline，andthatthestring—piecewastoonarrowtoallowhertoturnroundandretracehersteps。\"
\"Goodheavens！\"saidCousinJane。
\"Ibegyourpardon？\"saidUncleSylvesterpolitely。
\"Ionlysaid，’Goodheavens！’Well？\"sheaddedimpatiently。
\"Well？\"repeatedUncleSylvestervaguely。\"Oh，that’sall。IonlywantedtoexplainwhatImeantbysayingIhadriddeninmysleep。\"
\"But，\"saidCousinJane，leaningacrossthetablewithgrimdeliberationandemphasizingeachwordwiththehandleofherknife，\"how——did——you——and——that——mulegetdown？\"
\"Oh，withslingsandropes，youknow——so，\"demonstratingbyplacinghisnapkin—ringinaslingmadeofhisnapkin。
\"AndIsupposeyoucarriedtheslingsandropeswithyouinyourfivetrunks！\"gaspedCousinJane。
\"No。Fellowsontheriverbrought’eminthemorning。Mightysprychaps，thoseriverminers。\"
\"Very！\"saidCousinJane。
Breakfastover，theywerenotsurprisedthattheirsybariticguestexcusedhimselffromaninspectionofthetowninthefrigidmorningair，anddeclinedjoiningaskatingpartytothelakeonthegroundthathecouldkeepwarmerindoorswithhalftheexertion。AnhourlaterfoundhimstandingbeforethefireinGabrielLane’sstudy，lookinglanguidlydownonhiselderbrother。
\"Then，asfarasIcansee，\"hesaidquietly，\"youhavemadeducksanddrakesofyourshareoftheproperty，andthatvirtuallyyouareinthehandsofthismanGunnandhisfather。\"
\"You’reputtingittoostrongly，\"saidGabrieldeprecatingly。\"Inthefirstplace，myinvestmentswithGunn’sfirmarebynomeansfailures，andtheyonlyholdassecurityamortgageontheforestlandbelowthehill。It’sscarcelyworththemoney。Iwouldhavesolditlongago，butithadbeenafancyoffather’stokeepitwildlandforthesakeofoldtimesandthehealthinessofthetown。\"
\"Thereusedtobealogcabinthere，wheretheoldmanhadahabitofcampingoutwheneverhefeltcrampedbycivilizationuphere，wasn’tthere？\"saidUncleSylvestermeditatively。
\"Yes，\"saidGabrielimpatiently;\"it’sstillthere——buttoreturntoMr。Gunn。HehastakenafancytoKitty，andevenifIcouldnotliftthemortgage，there’ssomepossibilitythatthelandwouldstillremaininthefamily。\"
\"IthinkI’lldriveoverthisafternoonandtakealookattheoldshantyifthisinfernalweatherletsup。\"
\"Yes;butjustnow，mydearSylvester，letusattendtobusiness。
Iwanttoshowyouthoseinvestments。\"
\"Oh，certainly;trot’emout，\"saidhisbrother，pluckingupasimulationofinterestashetookaseatatthetable。
FromadrawerofhisdeskGabrielbroughtoutabundleofprospectusesandlaidthembeforeUncleSylvester。
Alanguidsmileofrecognitionlitupthelatter’sface。\"Ah！
yes，\"hesaid，glancingatthem。\"Theoldlot：’Carmelita，’’SantaMaria，’and’Preciosa！’JustasIimagined——andyetwho’dhavethoughtofseeingthemHERE！Agooddealrougedandpowdered，MissCarmelita，sinceIfirstknewyou！Considerablybolsteredupbymiraculoustestimonytoyourpowers，mydearSantaMaria，sincethedayIfoundyouout，tomycost！Andyoutoo，Preciosa！——apreciouslotofmoneyIdroppedonyouintheolddays！\"
\"Youarejoking，\"saidGabriel，withanuneasysmile。\"Youdon’tmeantoimplythatthisstockisoldandworthless？\"
\"Thereisn’tacapitalinAmericaorEuropewhereforthelastfiveyearsithasn’tbeenfloatedwithanewcharactereachtime。MydearGabriel，thatstockisn’tworththepaperitisprintedon。\"
\"ButitisimpossiblethatanexperiencedfinancierlikeGunncouldbedeceived！\"
\"I’msorrytohearTHAT。\"
\"Come，Sylvester！confessyou’vetakenaprejudiceagainstGunnfromyoursuddendislikeofhisson！Andwhathaveyouagainsthim？\"
\"Icouldn’tsayexactly，\"saidUncleSylvesterreflectively。\"Itmaybehiseyes，oronlyhiscravat！But，\"risingcheerfullyandplacinghishandlightlyonhisbrother’sshoulder，\"don’tYOU
worryyourselfaboutthatstock，oldman;I’LLseethatsomebodyelsehastheworryandyouthecash。Andastothelandand——
Kitty——well，youholdontothembothuntilyoufindoutwhichtheyoungmanisreallyafter。\"
\"Andthen？\"saidGabriel，withasmile。
\"Don’tgivehimeither！But，Isay，haven’twehadenoughbusinessthismorning？Let’stalkofsomethingelse。Who’stheFrenchgirl？\"
\"Marie？She’sthedaughterofJulesduPage——don’tyouremember？——
father’sfriend。WhenJulesdied，itwasalwaysthoughtthatfather，whohadhalfadoptedherasachild，wouldleavehersomelegacy。Butyouknowthatfatherdiedwithoutmakingawill，andthat——richashewas——hisactualassetswerefarlessthanwehadreasontoexpect。Kitty，whofeltthedisappointmentaskeenlyasherfriend，Ibelievewouldhavedividedherownsharewithher。
It’sodd，bytheway，thatfathercouldhavebeensodeceivedintheamountofhiscapital，orhowhegotridofhismoneyinawaythatweknewnothingof。Doyouknow，Sylvester，I’vesometimessuspected\"——
\"What？\"saidUncleSylvestersuddenly。
Theboredlanguorofhisfacehadabruptlyvanished。Everymusclewasalert;hisgrayeyesglittered。
\"ThatheadvancedmoneytoDuPage，wholostit，orthattheyspeculatedtogether，\"returnedGabriel，who，followingUncleSylvester’svoiceonly，hadnotnoticedthechangeofexpression。
\"ThatwouldseemtobeaweaknessoftheLanefamily，\"saidUncleSylvestergrimly，withareturnofhisformercarelessness。\"ButthatisnotYOURownopinion——that’sasuggestionofsomeoneelse？\"
\"Well，\"saidGabriel，withalaughandaslightadditionofcolor，\"itWASGunn’stheory。Asamanoftheworldandapracticalfinancier，youknow。\"
\"Andyou’vetalkedwithHIMaboutit？\"
\"Yes。Itwasamatterofgeneralwonderyearsago。\"
\"Verylikely——but，justnow，don’tyouthinkwe’vehadenoughfinancialtalk？\"saidUncleSylvester，withaboredcontractionofhiseyebrows。\"Come，\"lookingaroundtheroom，\"you’vechangedtheinterioroftheoldhouse。\"
\"Yes。Unfortunately，justafterfather’sdeathitwasputinthehandsofalocalarchitectorbuilder，oneoffather’soldfriends，butnotaveryskillfulworkman，whomadechangeswhilethefamilywereaway。That’swhyyourpresentbedroom，whichwasfather’soldstudy，hadaslicetakenoffittomakethecorridorlarger，andwhythebigchimneyandhearthstonearestillthere，althoughthefireplaceismodernized。ThatwasFlint’sstupidity。\"
\"Whosestupidity？\"askedUncleSylvester，trimminghisnails。
\"Flint’s——theoldarchitect。\"
\"Whydidn’tyoumakehimchangeitbackagain？\"
\"HeleftLakevilleshortlyafter，andIbroughtanarchitectfromSt。LouisafterIreturnedfromEurope。Butnothingcouldbedonetoyourroomwithouttakingdownthechimney，soitremainedasFlintleftit。\"
\"Thatremindsme，Gabriel，I’mafraidIspokerathercavalierlytoKitty，lastnight，aboutthearrangementsoftheroom。Thefactis，I’vetakenafancytoit，andshouldliketofititupmyself。
HaveIyourpermission？\"
\"Certainly，mydearSylvester。\"
\"I’vesomeknickknacksinmytrunks，andI’lldoitatonce。\"
\"Asyoulike。\"
\"Andyou’llseethatIamnotdisturbed;andyou’llexplainittoKitty，withmyapologies？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"ThenI’moff。\"
Gabrielglancedathisbrotherwithaperplexedsmile。Herewastheboredtraveler，explorer，gold—seeker，soldieroffortune，actuallyaspleasedasagirlovertheprospectofarranginghisroom！Hecalledafterhim，\"Sylvester！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Isay，ifyoucould，youknow，justtrytointerestthesepeopleto—nightwithsomeofyouradventures——somethingtoldSERIOUSLY，youknow，asifyoureallywereinearnest——I’dbeawfullyobligedtoyou。Thefactis，——you’llexcuseme，——buttheythinkyoudon’tcomeuptoyourreputation。\"
\"Theywantastory？\"
\"Yes，——oneofyourexperiences。\"
\"I’llgivethemone。Ta—ta！\"
FortherestofthedayUncleSylvesterwasinvisible，althoughhisactivepresenceinhisroomwasbetrayedbythesoundofhammeringandmovingoffurniture。Astheremainderofthepartywereskatingonthelake，thiseccentricitywasnotremarkedexceptbyone，——MarieduPage，——whoonpretenseofaslightcoldhadstayedathome。Butwithhersuspicionsoftheformernight，shehaddeterminedtowatchthesingularrelativeofherfriend。AddedtoanaturalloyaltytotheLanes，shewasmovedbyacertaincuriosityandfascinationtowardsthisincomprehensibleman。
Thehousewasveryquietwhenshestoleoutofherroomandpassedsoftlyalongthecorridor;sheexaminedthewallcarefullytodiscoveranythingthatmighthaveexcitedthevisitor’sattention。
Therewereafewlargeengravingshangingthere;couldhehavedesignedtoreplacethembysomeothers？Suddenlyshewasstruckwiththedistinctconvictionthatthewallofthecorridordidnotcoincidewiththewallofhisroomasrepresentedbythelineofthedoor。Therewascertainlyaspacebetweenthetwowallsunaccountedfor。ThiswasundoubtedlywhathadattractedHIS
attention;butwhatBUSINESSwasitofhis？
Shereflectedthatshehadseeninthewalloftheconservatoryanoldclosedstaircase，nowusedasshelvesfordriedherbsandseeds，whichshehadbeentoldwastheold—timecommunicationbetweenthegardenandGrandfatherLane’sstudy，——theroomnowoccupiedbythestranger。Perhapsitledstillfarther，andthusaccountedforthespace。Determinedtosatisfyherself，shenoiselesslydescendedtotheconservatory。There，surely，wasthestaircase，——anarrowflightofwoodenstepsencumberedwithpackagesofherbs，——losingitselfinupperdarkness。Bytheaidofacandleshemanagedtogropeandpickherwayupstepbystep。
Thenshepaused。Thestaircasehadabruptlyendedonthelevelofthestudy，nowcutofffromitbythenewpartition。Shewasinastiflinginclosure，formedbythewalls，scarcelyeighteenincheswide。Itwasmadenarrowerbyasingularexcrescenceontheoldwall，whichseemedtohavebeenabrickedcloset，nowhalfdestroyedandinruins。Sheturnedtodescend，whenastrangesoundfromUncleSylvester’sroomstruckherear。Itwasthesoundoftappingonthefloorclosetothepartition，withinafootofwhereshewasstanding。Atthesamemomenttherewasadecidedmovementoftheplankoftheflooringbeneaththepartition：itbegantoslideslowly，andthenwasgraduallywithdrawnintotheroom。Withpromptpresenceofmind，sheinstantlyextinguishedhercandleanddrewherselfbreathlesslyagainstthepartition。
Whentheplankwasentirelywithdrawn，arayoflightslippedthroughtheopening，revealingthebareraftersofthefloor，andahandandarminsertedunderthepartition，gropingasiftowardsthebrickedcloset。Asthefingersoftheexploringhandwerewidelyextended，MariehadnodifficultyinrecognizingononeofthemapeculiarsignetringwhichUncleSylvesterwore。Aswiftimpulseseizedher。TotheaudaciousMarieimpulseandactionwerethesamething。Bendingstealthilyovertheaperture，shesuddenlysnatchedtheringfromtheextendedfinger。Thehandwasquicklywithdrawnwithastartanduncontrolledexclamation，andsheavailedherselfofthatinstanttogliderapidlydownthestairs。
Sheregainedherroomstealthily，havingthesatisfactionamomentlaterofhearingUncleSylvester’sdooropenandthesoundofhisfootstepsinthecorridor。Buthewasevidentlyunabletodiscoveranyouteringresstotheinclosure，orbelievedthelossofhisringanaccident，forhepresentlyreturned。Meantime，whatwasshetodo？
TellKittyofherdiscovery，andshowthering？No——notyet！
Oddlyenough，nowthatshehadthering，takenfromhiswickedfingerintheveryact，shefounditasdifficultasevertobelieveinhisburglariousdesign。Shemustwait。Themischief——
iftherehadbeenmischief——wasdone;thebreakinginofthebrickedclosetwas，fromtheappearanceoftheruins，abygoneact。
CouldithavebeensomeyouthfulescapadeofUncleSylvester’s，thesceneofwhichhewasrevisitingascriminalsarecompelledtodo？
Andhadtherebeenanythingtakenfromthecloset——orwasitsdestructionapartofthechangesintheoldhouse？HowcouldshefindoutwithoutaskingKitty？Therewasoneway。SherememberedthatMr。GunnhadonceshownagreatdealofinteresttoKittyabouttheoldhomestead，andevenofoldMr。Lane’swoodlandcabin。
ShewouldaskHIM。Itwasafriendlyact，forKittyhadnotoflatebeenverykindtohim。
Theopportunitypresenteditselfatdusk，asMr。Gunn，somewhatabstracted，stoodapartatthedrawing—roomwindow。Mariehopedhehadenjoyedhimselfwhileskating;herstupidcoldhadkeptherindoors。Shehadamusedherselframblingabouttheoldhomestead;
itwassuchaqueerplace，sofullofoldnooksandcornersandunaccountablespaces。Justtheplace，shewouldthink，whereoldtreasuresmighthavebeenstored。Eh？
Mr。Gunnhadnotspoken——hehadonlycoughed。Butinthedarknesshiseyeswerefixedangrilyonherface。Withoutobservingit，shewenton。Sheknewhewasinterestedintheoldhouse;shehadheardhimtalktoKittyaboutit：hadKittyeversaidanythingaboutsomeoldsecrethoardingplace？
No，certainlynot！Andshewasmistaken，heneverwasinterestedinthehouse！Hecouldnotunderstandwhathadputthatideainherhead！Unlessitwasthisridiculous，shadystrangerintheguiseofanunclewhomtheyhadgotthere。Itwaslikehisaffectation！
\"Oh，dear，no，\"saidMarie，withunmistakabletruthfulness，\"HEdidnotsayanything。But，\"withsuddeninconsistentaggression，\"isTHATthewayyouspeaktoKittyofheruncle？\"
Reallyhedidn’tknow——hewasjokingonly，andhewasafraidhemustjustnowaskhertoexcusehim。HehadreceivedlettersthatmadeitpossiblethathemightbecalledsuddenlytoNewYorkatanymoment。Mariestared。ItwasevidentthathehadproposedtoKittyandbeenrejected！Butshewasnonearerherdiscovery。
Norwastheretheleastrevelationinthecalm，half—bored，yetgood—humoredpresenceofthewickeduncleatdinner。Soindifferentdidheseem，notonlytohisownvillainybuteventothelossithadentailed，thatshehadawildimpulsetotaketheringfromherpocketanddisplayitonherownfingerbeforehimthenandthere。Buttheconvictionthathewouldinsomewaybeequaltotheoccasionpreventedher。Thedinnerpassedoffwithsomeconstraint，nodoubtemanatingfromtheconsciousKittyandGunn。Nevertheless，whentheyhadreturnedtothedrawing—room，Gabrielrubbedhishandsexpectantly。
\"IprevailedonSylvesterthismorningtopromisetotellussomeofhisexperiences——somethingCOMPLETEandsatisfactorythistime。
Eh？\"
UncleSylvester，warminghiscoldbloodbeforethefire，lookedmomentarilyforgetfuland——disappointing。CousinsJaneandEmmashruggedtheirshoulders。
\"Eh，\"saidUncleSylvesterabsently，\"er——er——ohyes！Well\"（morecheerfully），\"aboutwhat，eh？\"
\"Letitbe，\"saidMariepointedly，fixingherblackmagneticeyesonthewickedstranger，\"letitbesomethingabouttheDISCOVERYofgold，oraburiedTREASUREHOARD，orarobbery。\"
ToherintensedisgustUncleSylvester，farfrombeingdiscomfitedorconfused，actuallylookedpleased，andhisgrayeyesthawedslightly。
\"Certainly，\"hesaid。\"Well，then！DownontheSanJoaquinRivertherewasanoldchap——oneoftheearliestsettlers——infact，he’dcomeonfromOregonbeforethegolddiscovery。Hisname，dearme！\"——continuedUncleSylvester，withaneffortofmemoryandapparentlybeginningalreadytolosehisinterestinthestory——
\"was——er——Flint。\"
AsUncleSylvesterpausedhere，CousinJanebrokeinimpatiently。
\"Well，that’snotanuncommonname。Therewasanoldcarpenterhereinyourfather’stimewhowascalledFlint。\"
\"Yes，\"saidUncleSylvesterlanguidly。\"Butthereis，orwas，somethinguncommonaboutit——andthat’sthepointofthestory，forintheoldtimeFlintandGunnwereofthesamestock。\"
\"IsthisaCalifornianjoke？\"saidGunn，withaforcedsmileonhisflushedface。\"Ifso，spareme，forit’sanoldone。\"
\"It’smucholderHISTORY，Mr。Gunn，\"saidUncleSylvesterblandly，\"whichIrememberfromaboy。WhenthefirstFlinttradednearSaultSainteMarie，theCanadianvoyageursliterallytranslatedhisnameintoPierreaFusil，andhewentbythatnamealways。ButwhentheEnglishsupersededtheFrenchinnumbersandlanguagethenamewasliterallytranslatedbackagaininto’PeterGunn，’whichhisdescendantsbear。\"
\"Alaboredformoftheoldjoke，\"saidGunn，turningcontemptuouslyaway。
\"Butthestory，\"saidCousinsJaneandEmma。\"Thestoryofthegolddiscovery——nevermindthenames。\"
\"Excuseme，\"saidUncleSylvester，placinghishandinthebreastofhiscoatwithadelightfulexaggerationofoffendeddignity。
\"But，doubtshavingbeencastuponmypreliminarystatement，IfearImustdeclineproceedingfurther。\"Nevertheless，hesmiledunblushinglyatMissDuPageashefollowedGunnfromtheroom。
ThenextmorningthosewhohadnoticedthestrainedrelationsofMissKittyandMr。GunnwerenotsurprisedthatthelatterwasrecalledonpressingbusinesstoNewYorkbythefirsttrain;butitwasamatterofsomeastonishmenttoGabrielLaneandMarieduPagethatUncleSylvestershouldhavebeenupearly，andactuallyaccompaniedthatgentlemanasfarasthestation！Indeed，thelanguidexplorerandgold—seekerexhibitedremarkableactivity，and，cladinaroughtouristsuit，announced，overthebreakfast—
table，hisintentionoftakingalongtrampthroughthewoods，whichhehadnotrevisitedsinceaboy。Tothisendhehadevenprovidedhimselfwithasmallknapsack，andforoncerealizedKitty’sidealofhischaracter。
\"Don’tgotoofar，\"saidGabriel，\"for，althoughthecoldhasmoderated，thebarometerisfallingfast，andthereiseveryappearanceofsnow。Takecareyouarenotcaughtinoneofourblizzards。\"
\"ButYOUareallgoingonthelaketoskate！\"protestedUncleSylvester。
\"Yes;fortheveryreasonthatitmaybeourlastchance;butshoulditsnowweshallbenearerhomethanyoumaybe。\"
Nevertheless，whenitcameontosnow，asGabrielhadpredicted，theskatingpartywasbynomeanssonearhomeashehadimagined。
Ashrewdkeennessandsomestimulatingelectricconditionoftheatmospherehadtemptedtheyoungpeoplefaroutonthelake，andtheyhadignoredthefirstfalloffinegrayishgranulationsthatsweptalongtheicysurfacelikelittlepuffsofdustorsmoke。
Thenthefallgrewthicker，thegrayskycontracted，thehurryingflakes，dashedagainstthembyafiercenorthwester，werelarger，heavier，andseemedanalmostpalpableforcethatheldthemback。
Theirskates，alreadycloggedwithdrift，werebeginningtobeuseless。Thebarewind—sweptspaceswerebecomingrarer;theycouldonlystumbleonblindlytowardsthenearestshore。Norwhentheyreacheditweretheyyetsafe;theycouldscarcelystandagainstthestillincreasingstormthatwasfastobliteratingthebanksandstretchofmeadowbeyond。Theironlyhopeofshelterwastherangeofwoodsthatjoinedthehill。Holdinghandsinsinglefile，thelittleparty，consistingofKitty，Marie，andCousinsJaneandEmma——stout—heartedGabrielleadingandCousinJohnbringinguptherear——atlastsucceededinreachingit，andwererejoicedtofindthemselvesnearoldLane’shalf—ruinedcabin。Totheiraddedjoyandastonishment，whiffsofwhirlingsmokewereissuingfromthecrumblingchimney。Theyrantothecrazydoor，pushedasideitsweakfastening，andfound——UncleSylvestercalmlyenjoyingapipebeforeablazingfire。Asmallpickaxeandcrowbarwerelyinguponamoundoffreshlyturnedearthbesidethechimney，wheretherottenflooringhadbeentornup。
Thetumultuousentranceoftheskatingpartyrequirednoexplanation;
butwhencongratulationshadbeenexchanged，thewetsnowshakenoff，andtheyhaddrawnroundthefire，curiouseyeswerecastuponthesolitaryoccupantandthepileofearthanddebrisbeforehim。
\"Ibelieve，\"saidGabriellaughingly，\"thatyouhavebeensoboredherethatyouhaveactuallyplayedatgold—huntingforamusement。\"
UncleSylvestertookthepipefromhismouthandnodded。
\"It’sacommondiversionofyours，\"saidMarieaudaciously。
UncleSylvestersmiledsweetly。
\"AndhaveyoubeensuccessfulTHISTIME？\"askedMarie。
\"Igotthecolor。\"
\"Eh？\"
UncleSylvesterroseandplacedhimselfwithhisbacktothefire，gentlysurveyingtheassembledgroup。
\"Iwasinterruptedinastoryofgold—digginglastevening，\"hesaidblandly。\"HowfarhadIgot？\"
\"YouweredownontheSanJoaquinRiverinthespringof’50，withachapnamedFlint，\"chorusedCousinsJaneandEmmapromptly。
\"Ah！yes，\"saidUncleSylvester。\"Well，inthosedaystherewasascarcityofmoneyinthediggings。Golddusttherewasinplenty，butnoCOIN。Youcanfancyitwasabothertoweighoutapinchofdusteverytimeyouwantedadrinkofwhiskeyorapoundofflour;
buttherewasnootherlegaltender。Prettysoon，however，alotofgoldandsilverpiecesfoundtheirwayintocirculationinourcampandthecampsaroundus。Theywereforeign——oldFrenchandEnglishcoins。Here’soneofthemthatIkept。\"HetookfromhispocketagoldcoinandhandedittoGabriel。
Lanerosetohisfeetwithanexclamation：
\"Why，thisislikethelouis—d’orthatgrandfathersavedthroughthewarandgavetofather。\"
UncleSylvestertookthecoinback，placeditinhislefteye，likeamonocle，andwinkedgravelyatthecompany。
\"ItistheSAME！\"hewentonquietly。\"Iwasinterested，forIhadagoodmemory，andIrememberedthat，asaboy，grandfatherhadshownmeoneofthosecoinsandtoldmehewaskeepingthemforoldJulesduPage，whodidn’tbelieveinbanksandbank—notes。Well，I
tracedthemtoatradercalledFlint，whowasshippinggolddustfromStocktontoPeterGunn&Sons，inNewYork。\"
\"Towhom？\"askedGabrielquickly。
\"OldGunn——thefatherofyourfriend！\"saidUncleSylvesterblandly。\"Wetalkedthematteroveronourwaytothestationthismorning。Well，toreturn。FlintonlysaidthathehadgotthemfromamancalledThompson，whohadgotthemfromsomebodyelseinexchangeforgoods。AyearortwoafterwardsthissameThompsonhappenedtobefrozenupwithmeinStarvationCamp。WhenhethoughthewasdyingheconfessedthathehadbeenbribedbyFlinttosaywhathehadsaid，butthathebelievedthecoinswerestolen。Meantime，Flinthaddisappeared。Otherthingsclaimedmyattention。Ihadquiteforgottenhim，untilonenight，fiveyearsafterwards，Iblunderedintoadesertedmining—camp，byfallingasleeponmymule，whocarriedmeacrossabrokenflume，but——I
thinkItoldyouthatstoryalready。\"
\"Youneverfinishedit，\"saidCousinJanesharply。
\"Letmedosonow，then。IwasreallysavedbysomeIndians，whotookmeforaspiritupaloftthereinthemoonlightandspreadthealarm。Thefirstwhitemantheybroughtmewasawretcheddrunkardknowntotheboysas’OldFusil，’or’FuselOil，’whowentintodeliriumtremensatthesightofme。Well，whodoyousupposeheturnedouttobe？Flint！Flintplayedoutandruined！CastoffanddiscardedbyhisrelationsinNewYork——thefoundationofwhosefortuneshehadlaidbythevillainytheyhadacceptedandcondoned。
ForFlint，asthecarpenteroftheoldhomestead，haddiscoveredtheexistenceofabrickedclosetinthewalloffather’sstudy，partitioneditoffsothathecouldbreakintoitwithoutdetectionandrifleitathisleisure，andwhohadthuscarriedoffthatpartofgrandfather’shoardwhichfatherhadconcealedthere。Heknewitcouldneverbemissedbythedescendants。But，throughhasteorignorance，heDIDNOTTOUCHTHEPAPERSanddocumentsalsohiddenthere。AndTHEYtoldoftheexistenceofgrandfather’ssecondcache，orhiding—place，beneaththishearth，andwereleftformetodiscover。\"
Hecoollyrelithispipe，fixedhiseyesonMariewithoutapparentlypayingattentiontothebreathlessscrutinyoftheothers，andwenton：\"Flint，aliasPierreaFusil，aliasGunn，diedamaniac。Iresolvedtotestthetruthofhisstory。Icamehere。
Iknewtheoldhomestead，asaboywhohadwanderedovereverypartofit，farbetterthanyou，Gabriel，oranyone。TheelderGunnhadonlyheardofitthroughthecriminaldisclosureofhisrelative，andonlywishedtoabsorbitthroughhissonintime，andthusobliteratealltraceofFlint’soutrage。Irecognizedtheroomperfectly——thankstoourdearKitty，whohadtakenupthecarpet，whichthusdisclosedthelooseplankbeforetheclosetthatwashiddenbythepartition。Underpretextofrearrangingtheroom——forwhichKittywillforgiveme——Ispentthedaybehindalockeddoor，makingmywaythroughthepartition。ThereIfoundtherifledcloset，butthepapersintact。TheycontainedafulldescriptionofthesumtakenbyFlint，andalsoofalargersumburiedinacaskbesidethischimney。Ihadjustfinishedunearthingitafewmomentsbeforeyoucame。IhadatfirsthopedtoofferittothefamilyasaChristmasgiftto—morrow，but\"——Hestoppedandsuckedslowlyathispipe。
\"Weanticipatedyou，\"saidGabriellaughing。
\"No，\"saidUncleSylvestercoolly。\"Butbecauseitdon’thappentobelongtoYOUatall！AccordingtothepaperIhaveinmypocket，whichisaboutaslegaladocumentasIeversaw，itisfather’sfreegifttoMissMarieduPage。\"
Kittythrewherarmsaroundherwhiteandbreathlessfriendwithajoyfulcry，andhonestGabriel’sfaceshonewithunselfishgratification。
\"Foryourself，mydearGabriel，youmustbesatisfiedwiththefactthatMessrs。PeterGunn&Sonswilltakebackyourwildcatstockatthepriceyoupaidforit。Itisthepricetheypayfortheirshareinthislittletransaction，asIhadthehonorofpointingouttoMr。Gunnonourwaytothestationthismorning。\"
\"ThenyouthinkthatyoungMr。GunnknewthatFlintwashisrelation，andthathehadstolenfather’smoney，\"saidKitty，\"andthatMr。Gunnonlywantedto\"——Shestopped，withflashingeyes。
\"Ithinkhewouldhavelikedtohavemadeanarrangement，mydear，thatwouldkeepthesecretandthepropertyinthefamily，\"saidUncleSylvester。\"ButIdon’tthinkhesuspectedtheexistenceofthesecondtreasurehere。\"
\"Andthen，sir，\"saidCousinJane，\"itappearsthatallthesewretched，unsatisfactoryscrapsofstoriesyouweretellinguswerenothingafterallbut\"——
\"MywayoftellingTHISone，\"saidUncleSylvester。
Astheotherswereeagerlygatheringaroundtheunearthedtreasure，Marieapproachedhimtimidly，allheraudacitygone，tearsinhereyes，andhisringheldhesitatinglybetweenherfingers。\"HowcanIthankyou——andhowCANyoueverforgiveme？\"
\"Well，\"saidUncleSylvester，gazingathercritically，\"youmightkeeptheringtothinkoverit。\"