Hathaway，"explainedCaptainStidger，naivelyobliviousofanydiscourtesyontheirpart，ashefollowedHathaway'sglanceandtookhisarmastheymovedaway。"Nottheleastofourtreasures，sir。Mostofthemdaughtersofpioneers——andallCalifornianbredandeducated。Connoisseurshaveawardedthemthepalm，anddeclarethatforGrace，Intelligence，andWoman'sHighestCharmstheEastcannotfurnishtheirequal!"HavingdeliveredthisParthiancomplimentinanoratoricalpassagethroughthedoorway，thecaptaindescended，outside，intofamiliarspeech。"ButIsupposeyouwillfindthatoutforyourselfifyoustayherelong。SanFranciscomightfurnishafittingbridetoCalifornia'syoungestsenator。"
"Iamafraidthatmystayheremustbebrief，andlimitedtobusiness，"saidHathaway，whohadmerelynoticedthattheprincipalgirlwashandsomeandoriginal-looking。"Infact，Iamherepartlytoseeanoldacquaintance——ColonelPendleton。"
Thethreemenlookedateachothercuriously。"Oh!HarryPendleton，"saidMr。Hoskins，incredulously"Youdon'tknowHIM?"
"Anoldpioneer——ofcourse，"interposedShear，explanatorilyandapologetically。"Why，inPaul'stimethecolonelwasabigmanhere。"
"Iunderstandthecolonelhasbeenunfortunate，"saidHathaway，gravely；"butinMYtimehewasPresidentoftheElDoradoBank。"
"Andthebankhasn'tgotthroughitssettlementyet，"saidHoskins"IhopeYOUain'texpectingtogetanythingoutofit?"
"No，"saidHathaway，smiling；"Iwasaboyatthattime，andliveduptomysalary。Iknownothingofhisbankdifficulties，butitalwaysstruckmethatColonelPendletonwashimselfanhonorableman。"
"Itain'tthat，"saidCaptainStidgerenergetically，"butthetroublewithHarryPendletonisthathehasn'tgrownwiththeState，andneveradjustedhimselftoit。Andhewon't。HethinkstheMillenniumwasbetweenthefallof'49andthespringof'50，andafterthateverythingdropped。Hebelongstotheolddays，whenaman'ssimpleWORDwasgoodforanyamountifyouknewhim；
andtheysaythattheoldbankhadn'tascrapofpaperforhalfthatwasowingtoit。Thatwasallverywell，sir，in'49and'50，and——Luck；butitwon'tdofor'59and'60，and——Business!Andtheoldmancan'tseeit。"
"Butheisreadytofightforitnow，asintheoldtime，"saidMr。
Slate，"andthat'sanothertroublewithhischronology。He'sdonemoretokeepupduelingthananyothermanintheState，anddon'tknowthewholespiritofprogressandcivilizationisagainstit。"
ItwasimpossibletotellfromPaulHathaway'sfacewhetherhissympathywithColonelPendleton'sfoiblesorhisassenttothecriticismsofhisvisitorswasthetruer。Bothwerenodoubtequallysincere。Butthepartywaspresentlyengagedintheabsorptionofrefreshment，which，beingofapurely，spirituousandexhilaratingquality，tendedtoincreasetheirgoodhumorwiththehosttilltheyparted。Eventhenagratuitousadvertisementofhisvirtuesandtheirownintentionsincallinguponhimwasoratoricallyvoicedfromavailableplatformsandlandings，inthehallsandstairways，untilitwasprettywellknownthroughouttheGoldenGateHotelthattheHon。Mr。PaulHathawayhadarrivedfromSacramentoandhadreceiveda"spontaneousovation。"
Meantimetheobjectofithaddroppedintoaneasy-chairbythewindowofhisroom，andwasendeavoringtorecallalessprofitablememory。Theprocessofhumanforgetfulnessisnotadifficultonebetweentheagesofeighteenandtwenty-six，andPaulHathawayhadnotonlyfulfilledtheMayor'srequestbyforgettingtheparticularsofacertaintransferthathehadwitnessedintheMayor'soffice，butintheyearsucceedingthatrequest，beingabouttotryhisfortunesinthemountains，hehadformallyconstitutedColonelPendletontoactashisproxyintheadministrationofMrs。Howard'ssingularTrust，inwhich，however，hehadneverparticipatedexceptyearlytosignhisname。Hewas，consequently，somewhatastonishedtohavereceivedaletterafewdaysbeforefromColonelPendleton，askinghimtocallandseehimregardingit。
Hevaguelyrememberedthatitwaseightyearsago，andeightyearshadworkedconsiderablechangeintheoriginaltrustees，greatestofallinhissuperiorofficer，theMayor，whohaddiedtheyearfollowing，leavinghistrusteeshiptohissuccessorinoffice，whomPaulHathawayhadneverseen。TheBankofElDorado，despiteMrs。
Howard'ssanguinebelief，hadlongbeeninbankruptcy，and，althoughColonelPendletonstillsurvivedit，itwascertainthatnootherpresidentwouldsucceedtohisofficeastrustee，andthatthefunctionwouldlapsewithhim。Paulhimself，asoldieroffortune，althoughhabituallylucky，hadonlylatelysucceededtoaprofession——ifhispoliticalfunctionscouldbesodescribed。Evenwithhisluck，energy，andambition，whileeverythingwaspossible，nothingwassecure。Itseemed，therefore，asifthesoullessofficialmusteventuallyassumethedutiesofthetwosympathizingfriendswhohadoriginatedthem，andhadstoodinlocoparentistotheconstructiveorphan。Themother，Mrs。Howard，haddisappearedayearaftertheTrusthadbeenmade——itwascharitablypresumedinordertopreventanycomplicationsthatmightarisefromherpresenceinthecountry。Withthesefactsbeforehim，PaulHathawaywasmoreconcernedinwonderingwhatPendletoncouldwantwithhimthan，Ifear，anydirectsympathywiththesituation。Onthecontrary，itappearedtohimmorefavorableforkeepingthesecretofMrs。Howard'srelationship，whichwouldnowdiewithColonelPendletonandhimself；andtherewasnodangerofanyemotionalbetrayalofitinthecoldofficialadministrationofamanwhohadreceivedtheTrustthroughtheformalhandsofsuccessivepredecessors。Hehadforgottenthetimelimitedfortheguardianship，butthegirlmustsoonbeofageandofftheirhands。
Iftherehadeverbeenanyromanticorchivalrousimpressionleftuponhismemorybythesceneinthemayor'soffice，Ifearhehadputitawaywithvariousotherfoolishillusionsofhisyouth，towhichhenowbelievedhewassuperior。
Nevertheless，hewouldseethecolonel，andatonce，andsettlethequestion。Helookedattheaddress，"St。CharlesHotel。"Herememberedanoldhostelryofthatname，nearthePlaza。Coulditbepossiblethatithadsurvivedthealterationsandimprovementsofthecity?Itwasaneasywalkthroughrememberedstreets，yetwithchangedshopsandhousesandfaces。WhenhereachedthePlaza，scarcerecognizableinitslaterfrontagesofbrickandstone，hefoundtheoldwoodenbuildingstillintact，withitsvilla-likegalleriesandverandasincongruouslyandostentatiouslyoverlookedbytwonewandaspiringerectionsoneitherside。Foraninstanthetriedtorecalltheglamourofolddays。Herememberedwhenhisboyisheyesregardeditasthecrowningworkofopulenceanddistinction；herememberedaballgiventhereonsomepublicoccasion，whichwastohimtheacmeofsocialbrilliancyanddisplay。Howtawdryandtrivialitlookedbesidethoselaterandmoresolidstructures!Howinconsistentwerethoselonglatticedverandasandbalconies，patheticrecordofthatfirstillusionofthepioneersthattheirclimatewasatropicalone!Arestaurantandbilliard-saloonhadaggrandizedallofthelowerstory；buttherewasstillthefanlight，overwhichtherememberedtitleof"St。Charles，"ingildedletters，wasnowreinforcedbythetoodemonstrativelegend，"ApartmentsandBoard，bytheDayorWeek。"
Wasitpossiblethatthisnarrow，creakingstaircasehadonceseemedtohimthebroadstepsofFameandFortune?Onthefirstlanding，apreoccupiedIrishservant-girl，withamop，directedhimtoadoorattheendofthepassage，atwhichheknocked。Thedoorwasopenedbyagrizzlednegroservant，whowasstillholdingapieceofoilychamois-leatherinhishand；andthecontentsofadueling-case，scattereduponatableinthecentreoftheroom，showedwhathadbeenhisoccupation。AdmittingHathawaywithgreatcourtesy，hesaid:——
"MarseHarrybinhavin'hisoletrubble，sah，andbinengagedjustdismomen'onhistoylet；efyo'llaccommodateyo'selfondesofa，Iinformhimyo'isheah。"
Asthenegropassedintothenextroom，Paulcastahastyglancearoundtheapartment。Thefurniture，originallyrichandelegant，wasnowwornthreadbareandlustreless。Abook-case，containing，amongothervolumes，afewlawbooks——therebeingavaguetradition，asPaulremembered，thatColonelPendletonhadoncebeenconnectedwiththelaw——afewFrenchchairsoftarnishedgilt，arifleinthecorner，apresentationswordinamahoganycase，afewclassicalprintsonthewalls，andoneortwoirondeed-boxesmarked"ElDoradoBank，"weretheprincipalobjects。Amildflavorofdrydecayandmethylatedspiritspervadedtheapartment。Yetitwasscrupulouslycleanandwellkept，andafewclothesneatlybrushedandfoldedonachairborewitnesstotheservant'scare。
AsPaul，however，glancedbehindthesofa，hewasconcernedtoseeacoat，whichhadevidentlybeenthrusthurriedlyinacorner，withthesleevelininginsideout，andaneedleandthreadstillstickingintheseam。Itstruckhiminstantlythatthishadbeenthenegro'soccupation，andthatthepistol-cleaningwasapolitefiction。
"Yo''llhavetoskuseMarseHarryseein'yoinbed，buthislaig'spow'fulbadto-day，andhecan'tstand，"saidtheservantreenteringtheroom。"Skuseme，sah，"headdedinadignifiedconfidentialwhisper，halfclosingthedoorwithhishand，"butifyo'wouldn'tmindavoidin''xcitin'orcontroversicaltopicsinyo'
conversation，itwouldbedebetterfo'him。"
Paulsmilinglyassented，andtheblackretainer，withevenmorethantheusualsolemnceremoniousexaggerationofhisrace，usheredhimintothebedroom。Itwasfurnishedinthesamefadedgloryasthesitting-room，withtheexceptionofalow，ironcamp-bedstead，inwhichthetall，soldierlyfigureofColonelPendleton，cladinthreadbaresilkdressing-gown，wasstretched。Hehadchangedineightyears:hishairhadbecomegray，andwasthinnedoverthesunkentemples，buthisiron-graymoustachewasstillparticularlylongandwellpointed。Hisfaceboremarksofillnessandcare；
thereweredeeplinesdowntheangleofthenostrilthatspokeofalternatesavageoutbreakandrepression，andgavehissmileasardonicrigidity。Hisdarkeyes，thatshonewiththeexaltationoffever，fixedPaul'sonentering，andwiththetyrannyofaninvalidneverleftthem。
"Well，Hathaway?"
WiththesoundofthatvoicePaulfelttheyearsslipaway，andhewasagainaboy，lookingupadmiringlytothestrongman，whonowlayhelplessbeforehim。Hehadenteredtheroomwithafaintsenseofsympathizingsuperiorityandaconsciousnessofhavinghadexperienceincontrollingmen。ButallthisfledbeforeColonelPendleton'sauthoritativevoice；evenitsbrokentonescarriedtheolddominantspiritoftheman，andPaulfoundhimselfadmiringaqualityinhisoldacquaintancethathemissedinhisnewerfriends。
"Ihaven'tseenyouforeightyears，Hathaway。Comehereandletmelookatyou。"
Paulapproachedthebedsidewithboyishobedience。Pendletontookhishandandgazedathimcritically。
"Ishouldhaverecognizedyou，sir，forallyourmoustacheandyourinches。ThelasttimeIsawyouwasinJackHammersley'soffice。
Well，Jack'sdead，andhereIam，littlebetter，Ireckon。YourememberHammersley'shouse?"
"Yes，"saidPaul，albeitwonderingatthequestion。
"Somethinglikethis，Swissvillastyle。IrememberwhenJackputitup。Well，thelasttimeIwasout，Ipassedthere。Andwhatdoyouthinkthey'vedonetoit?"
Paulcouldnotimagine。
"Well，sir，"saidthecolonelgravely，"they'vechangeditintoachurchmissionaryshopandyoungmen'sChristianreading-room!Butthat's'progress'and'improvement'!"Hepaused，and，slowlywithdrawinghishandfromPaul's，addedwithgrimapology，"You'reyoung，andbelongtothenewschool，perhaps。Well，sir，I'vereadyourspeech；Idon'tbelongtoyourparty——minediedtenyearsago——
butIcongratulateyou。George!Confounditwhere'sthatboygone?"
Thenegroindicatedbythisyouthfultitle，althoughhemusthavebeentenyearsolderthanhismaster，afterahurriedshufflinginthesitting-roomeventuallyappearedatthedoor。
"George，champagneandmaterialsforcocktailsforthegentleman。
TheBEST，youunderstand。Nonew-fanglednotionsfromthatnewbarkeeper。"
Paul，whothoughtheobservedatroubledblinkinginGeorge'seyelid，andreferredittoafearofpossibleexcitementforhispatient，herebeggedhishostnottotroublehimself——thatheseldomtookanythinginthemorning。
"Possiblynot，sir；possiblynot，"returnedthecolonel，hastily。
"Iknowthenewideasareprohibitive，andsomeotherblankthing，butyou'resafeherefromyourconstituents，andbygad，sir，I
shan'tforceyoutotakeit!It'sMYcustom，Hathaway——anoldone——
playedout，perhaps，likealltheothers，butacustomnevertheless，andI'monlysurprisedthatGeorge，whoknowsit，shouldhaveforgottenit。"
"Fackis，MarseHarry，"saidGeorge，withfeverishapology，"itbingone'scapedmyminddismo'nin'indeprerogationobbusiness，butI'mgoin'now，shuah!"andhedisappeared。
"Agoodboy，sir，butbeginningtobecontaminated。BroughthimherefromNashvilleovertenyearsago。Eightyearsagotheyprovedtohimthathewasnolongeraslave，andmadehimd——dunhappyuntilIpromisedhimitshouldmakenodifferencetohimandhecouldstay。Ihadtosendforhiswifeandchild——ofcourse，adeadlossofeighteenhundreddollarswhentheysetfootintheState——butI'mblankedifheisn'tjustasmiserablewiththemhere，forhehastotaketwohoursinthemorningandthreeintheafternooneverydaytobewith'em。Itriedtogethimtotakehisfamilytotheminesandmakehisfortune，likethosefellowstheycallbankersandoperatorsandstockbrokersnowadays；ortogotoOregonwherethey'llmakehimsomekindofamayororsheriff——
buthewon't。HecollectsmyrentsonsomelittlepropertyIhaveleft，andpaysmybills，sir，and，ifthisblankcivilizationwouldonlyleavehimalone，he'dbeagoodenoughboy。"
Paulcouldn'thelpthinkingthattherentsGeorgecollectedweresomewhatinconsistentwiththosehewasevidentlymendingwhenhearrived，butatthatmomentthejingleofglasseswasheardinthesitting-room，andtheoldnegroreappearedatthedoor。Drawinghimselfupwithceremoniouscourtesy，headdressedPaul。"Wo'dyo'
mind，sah，takingaglanceatdewineforyo'choice?"Paulrose，andfollowedhimintothesitting-room，whenGeorgecarefullyclosedthedoor。TohissurpriseHathawaybeheldatraywithtwoglassesofwhiskeyandbitters，butnowine。"Skuseme，sah，"saidtheoldmanwithdignifiedapology，"butdeKernelwon'thaveanybutdebestchampagneforhono'blegemmenlikeyo'self，andI'sedespairedtosayitcan'tbegotindehouseordesubburbs。DebestchampagnedatwegivesvisitorsisdeWidderGlencoe。Wo'dyo'mind，sah，fordesakeo'not'xcitin'deKernelwidtriflin'
culinarymatter，tosaydatyo'don'takebutdeonebrand?"
"Certainly，"saidPaul，smiling。"Ireallydon'tcareforanythingsoearly；"then，returningtothebedroom，hesaidcarelessly，"You'llexcusemetakingtheliberty，colonel，ofsendingawaythechampagneandcontentingmyselfwithwhiskey。Eventhebestbrand——
theWidowCliquot"——withaglanceatthegratifiedGeorge——"Ifindrathertryingsoearlyinthemorning。"
"Asyouplease，Hathaway，"saidthecolonel，somewhatstiffly。"I
daresaythere'sanewfashionindrinksnow，andagentleman'sstomachisathingofthepast。Then，Isuppose，wecansparetheboy，asthisishistimeforgoinghome。PutthattinboxwiththeTrustpapersonthebed，George，andMr。Hathawaywillexcuseyourwaiting。"Astheoldservantmadeanexaggeratedobeisancetoeach，Paulremarked，asthedoorcloseduponhim，"Georgecertainlykeepshisstyle，colonel，inthefaceoftheprogressyoudeplore。"
"Hewasalwaysa'dandynigger，'"returnedPendleton，hisfaceslightlyrelaxingasheglancedafterhisgrizzledhenchman，"buthisexaggerationofcourtesyisablanksightmorenaturalandmanlythantheexaggerationofdiscourtesywhichyoursuperiorcivilized'helps'thinkisself-respect。Theexcuseofservitudeofanykindisitsspontaneityandaffection。Whenyouknowamanhatesyouandservesyoufrominterest，youknowhe'sacurandyou'reatyrant。It'syourblankprogressthat'smademenialservicedegradingbyteachingmentoavoidit。Why，sir，whenI
firstarrivedhere，JackHammersleyandmyselftookturnsascooktotheparty。Ididn'tconsidermyselfanytheworsemasterforit。Butenoughofthis。"Hepaused，and，raisinghimselfonhiselbow，gazedforsomesecondshalfcautiously，halfdoubtfully，uponhiscompanion。"I'vegotsomethingtotellyou，Hathaway，"hesaid，slowly。"You'vehadaneasytimewiththisTrust；yourshareoftheworkhasn'tworriedyou，keptyouawakenights，orinterferedwithyourcareer。Iunderstandperfectly，"hecontinued，inreplytoHathaway'sdeprecatinggesture。"Iacceptedtoactasyourproxy，andIHAVE。I'mnotcomplaining。ButitistimethatyoushouldknowwhatI'vedone，andwhatyoumaystillhavetodo。Hereistherecord。OnthedayafterthatinterviewintheMayor'soffice，theElDoradoBank，ofwhichIwas，andstillam，president，receivedseventy-fivethousanddollarsintrustfromMrs。Howard。Twoyearsafterwards，onthatsameday，thebankhad，byluckyspeculations，increasedthatsumtothecreditofthetrustonehundredandfiftythousanddollars，ordoubletheoriginalcapital。Inthefollowingyearthebanksuspendedpayment。"
CHAPTERII。
InaninstantthewholesituationandhisrelationstoitflasheduponPaulwithaterrible，butalmostgrotesque，completeness。
Herehewas，attheoutsetofhiscareer，responsibleforthewastedfortuneofthedaughterofasocialoutcast，andsaddledwithhersupport!HenowknewwhyColonelPendletonhadwishedtoseehim；foroneshamefulmomenthebelievedhealsoknewwhyhehadbeencontenttotakehisproxy!Thequestionablecharacterofthewholetransaction，hisowncarelessness，whichsprangfromthatveryconfidenceandtrustthatPendletonhadlatelyextolled——whatWOULD，whatCOULDnotbemadeofit!Healreadyheardhimselfabusedbyhisopponents——perhaps，moreterriblestill，faintlyexcusedbyhisfriends。Allthiswasvisibleinhispalefaceandflashingeyesasheturnedthemonthehelplessinvalid。
ColonelPendletonreceivedhislookwiththesamecritical，half-
curiousscrutinythathadaccompaniedhisspeech。Atlasthisfacechangedslightly，afaintlookofdisappointmentcrossedhiseyes，andasardonicsmiledeepenedthelinesofhismouth。
"There，sir，"hesaidhurriedly，asifdismissinganunpleasantrevelation；"don'talarmyourself!Takeadrinkofthatwhiskey。
Youlookpale。Well；turnyoureyesonthosewalls。Youdon'tseeanyofthatmoneylaidouthere——doyou?Lookatme。Idon'tlooklikeamanenrichedwithotherpeople'smoney——doI?Well，letthatcontentyou。EverydollarofthatTrustfund，Hathaway，withalltheinterestsandprofitsthathaveaccruedtoit，isSAFE!
EverycentofitislockedupingovernmentbondswithRothschild'sagent。Therearethereceipts，datedaweekbeforethebanksuspended。ButenoughofTHAT——THATisn'twhatIaskedyoutocomeandseemefor。"
ThebloodhadrushedbacktoPaul'scheeksuncomfortably。Hesawnow，asimpulsivelyashehadpreviouslysuspectedhisco-trustee，thatthemanhadprobablyruinedhimselftosavetheTrust。Hestammeredthathehadnotquestionedthemanagementofthefundnoraskedtowithdrawhisproxy。
"Nomatter，sir，"saidthecolonel，impatiently；"youhadtheright，andIsuppose，"headdedwithhalf-concealedscorn，"itwasyourduty。Butletthatpass。Themoneyissafeenough；but，Mr。
Hathaway，——andthisisthepointIwanttodiscusswithyou，——itbeginstolookasiftheSECRETwassafenolonger!"HehadraisedhimselfwithsomepainanddifficultytodrawnearertoPaul，andhadagainfixedhiseyeseagerlyuponhim。ButPaul'sresponsiveglancewassovaguethatheaddedquickly，"Youunderstand，sir；I
believethattherearehounds——Isayhounds!——whowouldbeabletoblurtoutatanymomentthatthatgirlatSantaClaraisKateHoward'sdaughter。"
AtanyothermomentPaulmighthavequestionedthegravityofanysuchcontingency，buttheterribleearnestnessofthespeaker，hisdominanttone，andacertainrespectwhichhadlatelysprungupinhisbreastforhim，checkedhim，andheonlyaskedwithasmuchconcernashecouldmasterforthemoment:——
"Whatmakesyouthinkso?"
"That'swhatIwanttotellyou，Hathaway，andhowI，andIalone，amresponsibleforit。WhenthebankwasindifficultyandImadeupmymindtoguardtheTrustwithmyownpersonalandprivatecapital，Iknewthattheremightbesomecommentonmyaction。Itwasadelicatemattertoshowanypreferenceorexclusionatsuchamoment，andItooktwoorthreeofmybrotherdirectorswhomI
thoughtIcouldtrustintomyconfidence。Itoldthemthewholestory，andhowtheTrustwassacred。Imadeamistake，sir，"
continuedPendletonsardonically，"agravemistake。Ididnottakeintoaccountthateveninthreeyearscivilizationandreligionhadgainedgroundhere。Therewasahoundthere——ablankJudasintheTrust。Well；hedidn'tseeit。IthinkhetalkedScriptureandmorality。Hesaidsomethingaboutthewagesofsinbeinginfamous，andonlyworthyofconfiscation。Hetalkedaboutthesinsofthefatherbeingvisiteduponthechildren，andjustly。Istoppedhim。
Well!Doyouknowwhat'sthematterwithmyankle?Look!"Hestoppedand，withsomedifficultyandinvinciblegravity，throwingasidehisdressing-gown，turneddownhisstocking，andexposedtoPaul'sgazethehealedcicatrixofanoldbullet-wound。"Troubledmedamnablynearayear。WhereIhitHIM——hasn'ttroubledhimatallsince!
"Ithink，"continuedthecolonel，fallingbackuponthepillowwithanairofrelief，"thathetoldothers——ofhisownkidney，sir，——
thoughitwasasecretamonggentlemen。Buttheyhavepreferredtobesilentnow——thanAFTERWARDS。TheyknowthatI'mready。ButI
can'tkeepthisuplong；sometime，youknow，they'reboundtoimproveinpracticeandhithigherup!AsfarasI'mconcerned，"
headded，withagrimglancearoundthefadedwallsandthreadbarefurniture，"itdon'tmind；butmineisn'tthemouthtobestopped。"
Hepaused，andthenabruptly，yetwithasuddenandpatheticdroppingofhisdominantnote，said:"Hathaway，you'reyoung，andHammersleylikedyou——what'stobedone?Ithoughtofpassingovermytoolstoyou。Youcanshoot，andIhearyouHAVE。Buttheh——lofitisthatifyoudroppedamanortwopeoplewouldaskWHY，andwanttoknowwhatitwasabout；while，whenIdo，nobodyherethinksitanythingbutMYWAY!Idon'tmeanthatitwouldhurtyouwiththecrowdtowipeoutoneortwoofthesehoundsduringthecanvass，butthetroubleisthattheybelongtoYOURPARTY，and，"
headdedgrimly，"thatwouldn'thelpyourcareer。"
"But，"saidPaul，ignoringthesarcasm，areyounotmagnifyingtheeffectofadisclosure?Thegirlisanheiress，excellentlybroughtup。Whowillbotherabouttheantecedentsofthemother，whohasdisappeared，whomsheneverknew，andwhoislegallydeadtoher?"
"Inmyday，sir，noonewhoknewthecircumstances，"returnedthecolonel，quickly。"ButwearelivinginablessederaofChristianretributionandcivilizedpropriety，andIbelievetherearealotofmenandwomenaboutwhohavenootherwayofshowingtheirownvirtuethanbyshowingupanother'svice。We'reinareactionofreform。It'stheolddrunkardswhoarealwaysmoreclamorousfortotalabstinencethanthemoderatelytemperate。Itellyou，Hathaway，therecouldn'tbeanunluckiermomentforoursecretcomingout。"
"Butshewillbeofagesoon。"
"Intwomonths。"
"Andsuretomarry。"
"Marry!"repeatedPendleton，withgrimirony。"WouldYOUmarryher?"
"That'sanotherquestion，"saidtheyoungman，promptly，"andoneofindividualtaste；butitdoesnotaffectmygeneralbeliefthatshecouldeasilyfindahusbandasgoodandbetter。"
"SupposeshefoundoneBEFOREthesecretisout。Oughthebetold?"
"Certainly。"
"AndthatwouldimplytellingHER?"
"Yes，"saidPaul，butnotsopromptly。"AndyouconsiderTHAT
fulfillingthepromiseoftheTrust——thepledgesexchangedwiththatwoman?"continuedPendleton，withglitteringeyesandareturntohisowndominanttone。
"Mydearcolonel，"saidPaul，somewhatlesspositively，butstillsmiling，"youhavemadearomantic，almostimpossiblecompactwithMrs。Howardthat，youyourselfarenowobligedtoadmit，circumstancesmaypreventyourcarryingoutsubstantially。Youforget，also，thatyouhavejusttoldmethatyouhavealreadybrokenyourpledge——undercircumstances，itistrue，thatdoyouhonor——andthatnowyourdesperateattemptstoretrieveithavefailed。Now，Ireallyseenothingwronginyourtellingtoapresumptivewell-wisherofthegirlwhatyouhavetoldtoherenemy。"
Therewasadeadsilence。Theprostratemanutteredaslightgroan，asifinpain，anddrewuphislegtochangehisposition。
Afterapause，hesaid，inarestrainedvoice，"Idifferfromyou，Mr。Hathaway；butenoughofthisforthepresent。Ihavesomethingelsetosay。ItwillbenecessaryforoneofustogoatoncetoSantaClaraandseeMissYerbaBuena。"
"Goodheavens!"saidPaul，quickly。"DoyoucallherTHAT?"
"Certainly，sir。Yougaveherthename。Haveyouforgotten?"
"Ionlysuggestedit，"returnedPaul，hopelessly；"butnomatter——
goon。"
"Icannotgothere，asyousee，"continuedPendleton，withawearygesturetowardshiscrippledankle；"andIshouldparticularlylikeyoutoseeherbeforewemakethejointdispositionofheraffairswiththeMayor，twomonthshence。Ihavesomepapersyoucanshowher，andIhavealreadywrittenaletterintroducingyoutotheLadySuperiorattheconvent，andtoher。Youhaveneverseenher?"
"No，"saidPaul。"Butofcourseyouhave?"
"Notforthreeyears。"
Paul'seyesevidentlyexpressedsomewonder，foramomentafterthecoloneladded，"Ibelieve，Hathaway，Iamlookeduponasaqueersurvivalofaratherlawlessandimproperpast。Atleast，Ihavethoughtitbetternotsociallytocompromiseherbymypresence。
TheMayorgoesthere——attheexaminationsandexercises，Ibelieve，sir；theymakeasortofreceptionforhim——witha——a——banquet——
lemonadeandspeeches。"
"IhadintendedtoleaveforSacramentoto-morrownight，"saidPaul，glancingcuriouslyatthehelplessman；"butIwillgothereifyouwish。"
"Thankyou。Itwillbebetter。"
Therewereafewwordsoffurtherexplanationofthepapers，andPendletonplacedthepacketinhisvisitor'shands。Paulrose。
Somehow，itappearedtohimthattheroomlookedmorefadedandforgottenthanwhenheenteredit，andthefigureofthemanbeforehimmorelonely，helpless，andabandoned。Withoneofhissympatheticimpulseshesaid:——
"Idon'tliketoleaveyouherealone。AreyousureyoucanhelpyourselfwithoutGeorge?CanIdoanythingbeforeIgo?"
"Iamquiteaccustomedtoit，"saidPendleton，quietly。"Ithappensonceortwiceayear，andwhenIgoout——well——ImissmorethanIdohere。"
HetookPaul'sprofferedhandmechanically，withaslightreturnofthecritical，doubtinglookhehadcastuponhimwhenheentered。
hisvoice，too，hadquiterecovereditsolddominance，ashesaid，withhalf-patronizingconventionality，"You'llhavetofindyourwayoutalone。LetmeknowhowyouhavespedatSantaClara，willyou?Good-by。"
ThestaircaseandpassageseemedtohavegrownshabbierandmeanerasPaul，slowlyandhesitatingly，descendedtothestreet。Atthefootofthestairshepausedirresolutely，andloiteredwithavagueideaofturningbackonsomepretense，onlythathemightrelievehimselfofthesenseofdesertion。Hehadalreadydetermineduponmakingthatinquiryintothecolonel'spersonalandpecuniaryaffairswhichhehadnotdaredtoofferpersonally，andhadahalf-formedplanoftestinghisownpowerandpopularityinacertainlineofreliefthatatoncesatisfiedhissympathiesandambitions。Nevertheless，afterreachingthestreet，helingeredamoment，whenanoddideaoftemporizingwithhisinclinationsstruckhim。Atthefartherendofthehotel——oneoftheparasiteslivingonitsdecayedfortunes——wasasmallbarber'sshop。Byhavinghishairtrimmedandhisclothesbrushedhecouldlingeralittlelongerbeneaththesameroofwiththehelplesssolitary，andperhapscometosomeconclusion。Heenteredthecleanbutscantilyfurnishedshop，andthrewhimselfintooneofthenearestchairs，hardlynotingthattherewerenoothercustomers，andthatasingleassistant，stroppingarazorbehindaglassdoor，wastheonlyoccupant。Buttherewasafamiliarnoteofexaggeratedpolitenessaboutthevoiceofthismanasheopenedthedoorandcametowardsthebackofthechairwiththeformula:——
"Mo'nin'，sah!Shallwehabdepleshureofshavin'orhah-cuttin'
dismo'nin'?"Paulraisedhiseyesquicklytothemirrorbeforehim。ItreflectedtheblackfaceandgrizzledhairofGeorge。
Morerelievedatfindingtheoldservantstillnearhismasterthancaringtocomprehendthereason，Hathawaysaidpleasantly，"Well，George，isthisthewayyoulookafteryourfamily?"
Theoldmanstarted；foraninstanthisfullredlipsseemedtobecomedryandashen，thewhitesofhiseyesweresuffusedandstaring，ashemetPaul'ssmilingfaceintheglass。Butalmostasquicklyherecoveredhimself，and，withapolitebutdeprecatingbow，said，——"ForGodsake，sah!Iadmitdesarkumstancesisaginme，butdesimplefackisdatI'mtemper'lyoccupyin'deplaceofanolefrien'，sah，whoiscalledrounddecornah。"
"AndI'mdevilishgladofanyfact，George，thatgivesmeachanceofhavingmyhaircutbyColonelPendleton'sright-handman。Sofireaway!"
Thegratifiedsmilewhichnowsuddenlyoverspreadthewholeoftheoldman'sface，andseemedtoquicklystiffentheruggedandwrinkledfingersthathadatfirsttrembledindrawingapairofshearsfromaraggedpocket，appearedtosatisfyPaul'scuriosityforthepresent。Butafterafewmoments'silentsnipping，duringwhichhecoulddetectinthemirrorsometracesofagitationstilltwitchingthenegro'sface，hesaidwithanairofconviction:——
"Lookhere，George——whydon'tyouregularlyuseyourleisuremomentsinthistrade?You'dmakeyourfortunebyyourtasteandskillatit。"
Forthenexthalfminutetheoldman'sframeshookwithsilentchildlikelaughterbehindPaul'schair。"Well，MarseHathaway，yo'sanolefrien'o'mymassa，andagemmanyo'self，sah，andasenetah，andIdo'anmindtellin'yo'——dat'sjesswhatIbingonedone!Itmakesalittlereadymoneyfordeolewomananddechilleren。ButdeKerneldon'no'。Ah，sah!deKernelkillmeorhisselfifhesomuchas'spicionedme。DeKernelishigh-toned，sah!——bein'agemmanyo'self，yo'understand。Hewouldn'theahobhisniggahworken'fortwomassas——forallhe'swillen'tolemmegoandhelpmyse'f。But，Lordblessyo'，sah，datain'tindecategory!DeKernelcouldn'tgetalongwidoutme。"
"Youcollecthisrents，don'tyou?"saidPaul，quietly。
"Yes，sah。"
"Much?"
"Well，no，sah；notsomuchasfom'ly，sah!Yo'see，deKernel'sprop'tyliesindeolepartsobdetown，wheredepo'whitefolkslib，anddeyain'treg'lar。DeKerneldatsof'inhisheart，hedaren'press'em；someof'emisolefo'ty-niners，likehisself，sah；andsomeisSpanish，sah，anddeyissof'too，andain'tnomoregumptiondanchilleren，andtinkit'soletimecomeag'in，anddey'sindeoleplaceslikeafo'deMexicanwah!anddeydon'binpayin'noffin'。Butwegetsalong，sah，——wegetsalong，——notindeprimafaciestyle，sah!mebbenotindemoddenwaydutdeKerneldon'tlike；butwekeepsourse'f，sah，andhaswinefo'ourfriends。Whenyo'comeagain，sah，yo''llfinddeWidderGlencoeondesideboard。"
"Hasthecolonelmanyfriendshere?"
"Mos'deoleonesbindonegone，sah，anddeKerneldon'cottontodenew。Hedon'mixmuchinsassietytilldebanksettlementsbingonedone。Skuseme，sah!——butyoudon'happentoknowwhendatis?Itwouldbeapow'fulheapoffdeKernel'smindifitwasdone。Bein'ahighandmightymanincommitteesupdahinSacramento，sah，Ididn'tknowbutwhatyo'mightknowasitmightcomebefo'yo'。"
"I'llseeaboutit，"saidPaul，withanodd，abstractedsmile。
"Shampoodismornen'，sah?"
"Nothingmoreinthisline，"saidPaul，risingfromhischair，"butsomethingmore，perhaps，inthelineofyourotherduties。You'reagoodbarberforthepublic，George，andIdon'ttakebackwhatI
saidaboutyourfuture；butJUSTNOWIthinkthecolonelwantsallyourservice。He'snotatallwell。Takethis，"hesaid，puttingatwenty-dollargoldpieceintheastonishedservant'shand，"andforthenextthreeorfourdaysdroptheshop，andundersomepretextoranotherarrangetobewithhim。Thatmoneywillcoverwhatyoulosehere，andassoonasthecolonel'sallrightagainyoucancomebacktowork。Butareyounotafraidofbeingrecognizedbysomeone?"
"No，sah，dat'sjustit。On'ystrangersdatdon'tknownobettercomeyere。"
"Butsupposeyourmastershoulddropin?It'squiteconvenienttohisrooms。"
"MarseHarryinabarber-shop!"saidtheoldmanwithasilentlaugh。"Skuseme，sah，"headded，withanapologeticmixtureofrespectanddignity，"butfo'twentyyearsnomanheztoucheddeKernel'schinbutmyself。WhenMarseHarryheztogotoabarber'sshop，itwon'tmakenomatterwho'sdar。"
"Let'shopehewillnot，"saidPaulgayly；then，anxioustoevadethegratitudewhich，sincehismunificence，hehadseenbeamingintheoldnegro'seyeandevidentlytryingtofindpolysyllabicandelevatedexpressiononhislips，hesaidhurriedly，"IshallexpecttofindyouwiththecolonelwhenIcallagaininadayortwo，"
andsmilinglydeparted。