Paulwasnotsorrywhenthetimecametotakeleaveofhisfriend；
　　butonceagainintheclearmoonlightandfresh，balmyairoftheAllee，heforgottheunpleasantnessoftheinterview。HefoundhimselfthinkingonlyofhisridewithYerba。Well!hehadtoldherthathelovedher。Sheknewitnow，andalthoughshehadforbiddenhimtospeakfurther，shehadnotwhollyrejectedit。Itmustbehermorbidconsciousnessofthemysteryofherbirththatwithheldareturnofheraffections，——somehalf-knowledge，perhaps，thatshewouldnotdivulge，yetthatkeptherundulysensitiveofacceptinghislove。Hewassatisfiedtherewasnoentanglement；
　　herheartwasvirgin。HeevendaredtohopethatshehadALWAYS
　　caredforhim。ItwasforHIMtoremoveallobstacles——toprevailuponhertoleavethisplaceandreturntoAmericawithhimasherhusband，theguardianofhergoodname，andthecustodianofhersecret。AttimesthestrainsofadreamyGermanwaltz，playedinthedistance，broughtbacktohimthebriefmomentthathisarmhadencircledherwaistbythecrumblingwall，andhispulsesgrewlanguid，onlytoleapfirmerthenextmomentwithmoredesperateresolve。Hewouldwinher，comewhatmay!Hecouldneverhavebeeninearnestbefore:heloathedandhatedhimselfforhispreviouspassiveacquiescencetoherfate。Hehadbeenaweaktoolofthecolonel'sfromthefirst:hewasevennowhandicappedbyapreposterouspromisehehadgivenhim!Yes，shewasrighttohesitate——toquestionhisabilitytomakeherhappy!Hehadfoundherhere，surroundedbystupidityandcupidity——togiveitnoothername——sopatentthatshewasthecommongossip，andhadofferednothingbutaboyishdeclaration!Ashestrodeintothehotelthatnightitwaswellthathedidnotmeettheunfortunatecolonelonthestaircase!
　　Itwasverylate，althoughtherewasstillvisiblealightinYerba'ssalon，shiningonherbalcony，whichextendedbeforeandincludedhisownwindow。Fromtimetotimehecouldhearthemurmurofvoices。
　　Itwastoolatetoavailhimselfoftheinvitationtojointhem，evenifhisframeofmindhadpermittedit。Hewastoonervousandexcitedtogotobed，and，withoutlightinghiscandle，heopenedtheFrenchwindowthatgaveuponthebalcony，drewachairintherecessbehindthecurtain，andgazeduponthenight。Itwasveryquiet；themoonwashigh，thesquarewassleepinginatranceofcheckeredshadows，likeagiganticchessboard，withblackforeshortenedtreesforpawns。Theclickofacavalrysabre，thesoundofafootfallonthepavementofthedistantKonigsstrasse，weredistinctlyaudible；afar-offrailwaywhistlewasstartlinginitsabruptness。Inthemidstofthiscalmtheopeningofthedoorofthesalon，withthesuddenupliftingofvoicesinthehall，toldPaulthatYerba'sguestswereleaving。HeheardDonaAnna'sarchaccents——archeventoColonelPendleton'smonotonousbaritone!——Milly'shigh，rapidutterances，thesuavefalsettoofDonCaesar，andHERvoice，hethoughtatriflewearied，——thesoundofretiringfootsteps，andallwasstillagain。
　　Sostillthattherhythmicbeatofthedistantwaltzreturnedtohim，withadistinctivenessthathecouldidlyfollow。HethoughtofRosarioandtherose-breathoftheopenwindowswithastrangelonging，andrememberedthehalf-stifledsweetnessofherhappyvoicerisingwithitfromtheveranda。Whyhadheeverletitpassfromhimthenandwaftitsfragranceelsewhere?Why——Whatwasthat?
　　Theslightturningofalatch!ThecreakingoftheFrenchwindowofthesalon，andsomebodyhadslippedsoftlyhalfoutonthebalcony。Hisheartstoppedbeating。Fromhispositionintherecessofhisownwindow，withhisbacktothepartitionofthesalon，hecouldseenothing。Yethedidnotdaretomove。ForwiththequickenedsensesofaloverhefeltthediffusedandperfumedauraofHERpresence，ofHERgarments，ofHERflesh，flowinuponhimthroughtheopenwindow，andpossesshiswholebreathlessbeing!ItwasSHE!Likehim，perhaps，longingtoenjoytheperfectnight——likehim，perhaps，thinkingof——
　　"Soyouar-rangetogetridofme——ha!likthees?Totur-rnmeofffromyourheelslikeadogwhohavefollowyou——butwithoutaword——
　　withouta——a——thanks——withouta'ope!Ah!——wehaveser-rvedyou——
　　meandmysister；wearetheor-rangedry——nowwecango!Liketheoldshoe，wearetobeflungaway!Good!ButIamhereagain——yousee。Ishallspeak，andyoushallhear-r。"
　　DonCaesar'svoice——alonewithher!Paulgrippedhischairandsatupright。
　　"Stop!Staywhereyouare!Howdaredyoureturnhere?"ItwasYerba'svoice，onthebalcony，lowanddistinct。
　　"Shutthewindow!Ishallspeakwithyouwhatyouwillnottheworldtohear。"
　　"IprefertokeepwhereIam，sinceyouhavecreptintothisroomlikeathief!"
　　"Athief!Good!"HebrokeoutinSpanish，and，asifnolongerfearfulofbeingoverheard，hadevidentlydrawnnearertothewindow。"Athief。Ha!muybueno——butitisnotI，youunderstand——
　　I，CaesarBriones，whoamthethief!No!Itisthatswaggeringespadachin——thatfanfarronofaColonelPendleton——thatpatternofanofficial，Mr。Hathaway——thatmostbeautifulheiressoftheCalifornias，MissARGUELLO——thatarethieves!Yes——ofaNAME——MissArguello——ofaNAME!ThenameofArguello!"
　　Paulrosetohisfeet。
　　"Ah，so!Youstart——youturnpale——youflashyoureyes，senora，butyouthinkyouhavedeceivedmealltheseyears。YouthinkI
　　didnotseeyourgameatRosario——yes，evenwhenthatfoolishCastromuchachafirstputthatideainyourhead。Whofurnishedyouthefactsyouwanted?I——MotherofGod!SUCHFACTS!——I，whoknewtheArguellopedigree——I，whoknowitwasasimpossibleforyoutobeadaughterofthemas——what?letmethink——as——asitisimpossibleforyoutobethewifeofthatbaronwhomyouwoulddeceivewiththerest!Ah，yes；itwasahighflightforyou，Mees——Mees——DonaFulana——anoblegameforyoutobringdown!"
　　Whydidshenotspeak?Whatwasshedoing?Ifshehadbututteredasinglewordofprotest，ofangrydismissal，Paulwouldhaveflowntoherside。Itcouldnotbetheparalysisofpersonalfear:thebalconywaswide；shecouldeasilypasstotheend；shecouldevenseehisopenwindow。
　　"WhydidIdothis?BecauseIlovedyou，senora——andyouknewit!
　　Ah!youcanturnyourfaceawaynow；youcanpretendtomisunderstandme，asyoudidamomentago；youcanpartfrommenowlikeamereacquaintance——butitwasnotalwaysso!No，itwasYOU
　　whobroughtmehere；youreyesthatsmiledintomine——anddrovehomethecolonel'srequestthatIandmysistershouldaccompanyyou。God!Iwasweakthen!Yousmile，senora；youthinkyouhavesucceeded——youandyourpompouscolonelandyourclevergovernor!
　　Youthinkyouhavecompromisedme，andperjuredME，becauseofthis。Youarewrong!YouthinkIdarenotspeaktothispuppetofabaron，andthatIhavenoproofs。Youarewrong!"
　　"Andevenifyoucanproducethem，whatcareI?"saidYerbaunexpectedly，yetinavoicesofreefromexcitementandpassionthatthewearinesswhichPaulhadatfirstnoticedseemedtobetheonlydominanttone。"SupposeyouprovethatIamnotanArguello。
　　Good!youhaveyettoshowthataconnectionwithanyofyourracewouldbeanythingbutadisgrace。"
　　"Ah!youdefyme，littleone!Caramba!Listen，then!Youdonotknowall!WhenyouthoughtIwasonlyhelpingyoutofabricateyourclaimtotheArguellos'name，IwasfindingoutWHOYOUREALLY
　　WERE!Ah!Itwasnotsodifficultasyoufondlyhope，senora。Wewerenotallbrutesandfoolsintheearlydays，thoughwestoodasidetoletyourpeopleruntheirvulgarcourse。Itwasyourhiredbully——yourrespectedguardian——thisdogofanespadachin，wholetoutahintofthesecret——withaprickofhisblade——andascandal。Oneofmypeonwomenwasaservantattheconventwhenyouwereachild，andrecognizedthewomanwhoputyouthereandcametoseeyouasafriend。SheoverheardtheMotherSuperiorsayitwasyourmother，andsawanecklacethatwasleftforyoutowear。Ah!youbegintobelieve!WhenIhadputthisandthattogetherIfoundthatPepitacouldnotidentifyyouwiththechildthatshehadseen。Butyou，senora，youYOURSELFsuppliedthemissingproof!Yes!yousupplieditwiththeNECKLACEthatyouworethateveningatRosario，whenyouwishedtodohonortothisyoungHathaway——theguardianwhohadalwaysthrownyouoff!Ah!——
　　younowsuspectwhy，perhaps!Itwasyourmother'snecklacethatyouwore，andyousaidso!ThatnightIsentthegoodPepitatoidentifyit；towatchthroughthewindowfromthegardenwhenyouwerewearingit；tomakeitsureastheCreed。Isenthertoyourroomlatethatnightwhenyouhadchangedyourdress，thatshemightexamineitamongyourjewels。Andshedidandwillswear——
　　lookyou!——SWEARthatitistheonegivenyouasachildbythewomanattheconvent，whowasyourmother!Andwhowasthatwoman——
　　eh?WhowasthemotheroftheArguellodelaYerbaBuena?——whothisnobleancestress?"
　　"Excuseme——butperhapsyouarenotawarethatyouareraisingyourvoiceinalady'sdrawing-room，andthatalthoughyouarespeakingalanguagenoonehereunderstands，youaredisturbingthehotel。"
　　ItwasPaul，quiet，paleinthemoonlight，erectonthebalconybeforethewindow。AsYerba，withastart，retreatedquicklyintotheroom，DonCaesarsteppedforwardangrilyandsuspiciouslytowardsthewindow。Hehadhishandreachedforwardtowardsthehandleasiftoclosetheswingingsashagainsttheintruder，wheninaninstanthewasseizedbyPaul，tightlylockedinadesperategrip，andwhirledoutonthebalcony。Beforehecouldgainbreathtoutteracry，HathawayhadpassedhisrightarmaroundtheMexican'sthroat，effectivelystoppinghisutterance，and，withasupremeeffortofstrength，draggedhimalongthewall，fallingwithhimintotheopenwindowofhisownroom。Ashedidso，tohisinexpressiblereliefheheardthesashclosedandtheboltdrawnofthesalonwindow，andregainedhisfeet，collected，quiet，andtriumphant。
　　"Iamsorry，"hesaid，coollydustinghisclothes，"tohavebeenobligedtochangethesceneofthisdiscussionsoroughly，butyouwillobservethatyoucanspeakmorefreelyHERE，andthatanyaltercationWEmayhaveinthisroomwillbelesslikelytoattractcomment。"
　　"Assassin!"saidDonCaesarchokingly，ashestruggledtohisfeet。
　　"Thankyou。Relieveyourfeelingsasmuchasyoulikehere；infact，ifyouwouldspeakalittlelouderyouwouldobligeme。Theguestsarebeginningtobeawake，"continuedPaul，withawickedsmile，indicatingthenoiseofanopeningdoorandfootstepsinthepassage，"andarenowabletolocatewithoutdifficultythesceneofthedisturbance。"
　　Brionesapparentlyunderstoodhismeaningandthesuccessofhisstratagem。"YouthinkyouhavesavedHERfromdisgrace，"hesaid，withalividsmile，inalowertoneandadesperateattempttoimitatePaul'scoolness。"Forthepresent——ah——yees!perhapsinthishotelandthisevening。Butyouhavenotstopmymouthfor——
　　a——to-morrow——andthewholeworld，Mr。Hathaway。"
　　"Well，"saidPaul，lookingathimcritically，"Idon'tknowaboutthat。Ofcourse，there'stheequalchancethatyoumaykillme——
　　butthat'saquestionforto-morrow，too。"
　　TheMexicancastaquickglanceatthedoorandwindow。Paul，asifcarelessly，changedthekeyoftheformerfromonepockettotheother，andsteppedbeforethewindow。
　　"Sothisisaplottomurderme!Haveacare!YouarenotinyourownbrigandCalifornia!"
　　"Ifyouthinkso，alarmthehouse。Theywillfindusquarreling，andyouwillonlyprecipitatemattersbyreceivingtheinsultthatwillmakeyoufight——beforethem。"
　　"Iamr-ready，sir，whenandwhereyouwill，"saidBriones，withaswaggeringairbutashifting，furtiveeye。"Open——a——thedoor。"
　　"Pardonme。WewillleavethisroomTOGETHERinanhourforthestation。Wewillboardthenightexpressthatwilltakeusinthreehoursbeyondthefrontier，wherewecaneachfindafriend。"
　　"Butmyaffairshere——mysister——Imustseeher。"
　　"Youshallwriteanotetoheratthattable，sayingthatimportantbusiness——adispatch——hascalledyouaway，andwewillleaveitwiththeportertobedeliveredINTHEMORNING。Or——Idonotrestrictyou——youcansaywhatyoulike，providedshedon'tgetituntilwehaveleft。"
　　"Andyoumakeofmeaprisoner，sir?"
　　"No；avisitor，DonCaesar——avisitorwhoseconversationissointerestingthatIamforcedtodetainhimtohearmore。YoucanpassthetimepleasantlybyfinishingthestoryIwasobligedtointerruptamomentago。DoyouknowthismotherofMissYerba，ofwhomyouspoke?"
　　"That'sm——myaffair。"
　　"Thatmeansyoudon'tknowher。Ifyoudid，you'dhavehadherwithincall。And，assheistheonlypersonwhoisabletosaythatMissYerbaisNOTanArguello，youhavebeenveryremiss。"
　　"Ah，bah!Iamnotoneofyour——a——lawyers。"
　　"No；oryouwouldknowthat，withnobetterevidencethanyouhave，youmightbesuedforslander。"
　　"Ah!WhydoesnotMissYerbasue，then?"
　　"Becausesheprobablyexpectsthatsomebodywillshootyou。"
　　"AsYOUforinstance?"
　　"Perhaps。"
　　"AndifyoudoNOT——eh?——youhavenotstopmymouth，butyourown。
　　AndifyouDO，youhelphertomarrytheBaron，yourrival。Youarenotwise，friendHathaway。"
　　"MayIremindyouthatyouhavenotyetwrittentoyoursister，andyoumayprefertodoitcarefullyanddeliberately?"
　　DonCaesararosewithavindictiveglanceatPaul，andpulledachairbeforethetable，asthelatterplacedpen，ink，andpaperbeforehim。"Takeyourtime，"headded，foldinghisarmsandwalkingtowardsthewindow。"Saywhatyoulike，anddon'tletmypresencerestrainyou。"
　　TheMexicanbegantowritefuriously，thenspasmodically，thenslowlyandreluctantly。"Iwar-r-nyou，Ishallexposeall，"hesaidsuddenly。
　　"Asyouplease。"
　　"AndshallsaythatifIdisappear，youaremymurderer——youunderstand——myMURDERER!"
　　"Don'tconsultmeonaquestionofepithets，butgoon。"
　　DonCaesarrecommencedhiswritingwithamalignsmile。Therewasasuddensharprapatthedoor。
　　DonCaesarleapedtohisfeet，graspedhispapers，andrushedtothedoor；butPaulwasbeforehim。"Whoisthere?"hedemanded。
　　"Pendleton。"
　　Atthesoundofthecolonel'svoiceDonCaesarfellback。Paulopenedthedoor，admittedthetallfigureofthecolonel，andwasabouttoturnthekeyagain。ButPendletonliftedhishandingrimdeprecation。
　　"Thatwilldo，Mr。Hathaway。Iknowall。ButIwishtospeakwithBrioneselsewhere，alone。"
　　"Excuseme，ColonelPendleton，"saidPaulfirmly，"butIhavethepriorclaim。Wordshavepassedbetweenthisgentlemanandmyselfwhichwearenowonourwaytothestationandthefrontiertosettle。Ifyouarewillingtoaccompanyus，Ishallgiveyoueveryopportunitytoconversewithhimalone，andarrangewhateverbusinessyoumayhavewithhim，provideditdoesnotinterferewithmine。"
　　"Mybusiness，"saidPendleton，"isofapersonalnature，thatwillnotinterferewithanyclaimofyoursthatMr。Brionesmaychoosetoadmit，butisofaprivatequalitythatmustbetransactedbetweenusnow。"Hisfacewaspale，andhisvoice，althoughsteadyandself-controlled，hadthatsamestrangesuggestionofsuddenageinitwhichPaulhadbeforenoticed。WhetherDonCaesardetectedit，orwhetherhehadsomeotherinstinctiveappreciationofgreatersecurity，Paulcouldnottell。Heseemedtorecoverhisswaggeragain，ashesaid，——
　　"IshallhearwhatColonelPendletonhastosayfirst。ButIshallholdmyselfinreadinesstomeetyouafterwards——youshallnotfear，sir!"
　　Paulremainedlookingfromtheonetotheotherwithoutspeaking。
　　ItwasDonCaesarwhoreturnedhisglanceboldlyanddefiantly，ColonelPendletonwho，withthinwhitefingerspullinghismoustache，evadedit。ThenPaulunlockedthedoor，andsaidslowly，"InfiveminutesIleavethishouseforthestation。I
　　shallwaitthereuntilthetrainarrives。Ifthisgentlemandoesnotjoinme，Ishallbebetterabletounderstandallthisandtakemeasuresaccordingly。"
　　"AndItelltoyou，MeesterHathaway，sir，"saidDonCaesar，strikinganattitudeinthedoorway，"youshalldoasIplease——
　　Caramba!——andshallbeg"——
　　"Holdyourtongue，sir——or，bytheEternal!"——burstoutPendletonsuddenly，bringingdownhisthinhandontheMexican'sshoulder。
　　Hestoppedassuddenly。"Gentlemen，thisischildish。Go，sir!"
　　toDonCaesar，pointingwithagauntwhitefingerintothedarkenedhall。"Iwillfollowyou。Mr。Hathaway，asanolderman，andonewhohasseenagooddealoffoolishaltercation，Iregret，sir，deeplyregret，tobeawitnesstothisbelligerentqualityinalaw-makerandapublicman；andImustdeprecate，sir——deprecate，yourdemandonthatgentlemanforwhat，inthefollyofyouth，youarepleasedtocallpersonalsatisfaction。"
　　Ashemovedwithdignityoutoftheroom，Paulremainedblanklystaringafterhim。Wasitalladream?——orwasthisColonelPendletontheduelist?Hadtheoldmangonecrazy，orwashemerelyactingtoveilsomewildpurpose?HissuddenarrivalshowedthatYerbamusthavesentforhimandtoldhimofDonCaesar'sthreats；wouldhebewildenoughtoattempttostranglethemaninsomeremoteroomorinthedarknessofthepassage?Hesteppedsoftlyintothehall:hecouldstillhearthedoubletreadofthetwomen:theyhadreachedthestaircase——theywereDESCENDING!Heheardthedrowsyaccentsofthenightporterandtheswingingofthedoor——theywereinthestreet!
　　Wherevertheyweregoing，orforwhatpurpose，HEmustbeatthestation，ashehadwarnedthemhewouldbe。Hehastilythrewafewthingsintohisvalise，andpreparedtofollowthem。Whenhewentdownstairsheinformedtheporterthatowingtoanurgentcallofbusinessheshouldtrytocatchthethroughexpressatthreeo'clock，buttheymustretainhisroomandluggageuntiltheyheardfromhim。HerememberedDonCaesar'sletter。Hadeitherofthegentlemen，hisfriendswhohadjustgoneout，leftaletterormessage?No，Excellency；thegentlemenweretalkingearnestly——hebelieved，intheSouthAmericanlanguage——andhadnotspokentohim。
　　PerhapsitwasthisthatremindedPaul，ashecrossedthesquareagain，thathehadmadenopreparationforanypossiblefatalissuetohimselfinthisadventure。SHEwouldknowit，however，andwhyhehadundertakenit。Hetriedtothinkthatperhapssomeinterestinhimselfhadpromptedhertosendthecoloneltohim。Yet，mingledwiththiswasanoddsenseofacertainridiculousnessinhisposition:therewastheabsurdityofhisprospectiveantagonistbeingevennowinconfidentialconsultationwithhisownfriendandally，whosefunctionshehadusurped，andinwhoseinterestshewasabouttoriskhislife。Andashewalkedawaythroughthesilentstreets，theconvictionmorethanoncewasforceduponhimthathewasgoingtoanappointmentthatwouldnotbekept。
　　Hereachedthestationsometenminutesbeforethetrainwasdue。
　　Twoorthreehalf-drowsy，wrapped-uppassengerswerealreadyontheplatform；butneitherDonCaesarnorColonelPendletonwasamongthem。Heexploredthewaiting-roomsandeventhehalf-litbuffet，butwithnobettersuccess。TellingtheBahnhofInspectorthathispassagewasonlycontingentuponthearrivalofoneortwocompanions，anddescribingthemminutelytopreventmistakes，hebegangloomilytopacebeforetheticket-office。Fiveminutespassed——thenumberofpassengersdidnotincrease；tenminutes；adistantshriek——thehoarseinquiryoftheinspector——hadtheHerr'scompanionsyetgekommt?thesuddenglareofaCyclopeaneyeinthedarkness，theonglidingofthelong-jointedandgleamingspottedserpent，thetrain——ahurriedglancearoundtheplatform，oneortwogutturalorders，theslammingofdoors，theremountingofblackuniformedfigureslikecaryatidesalongthemarchepieds，apuffofvapor，andthetrainhadcomeandgonewithoutthem。
　　Yethewouldgivehisadversaryfifteenminutesmoretoallowforaccidentordelay，orthepossiblearrivalofthecolonelwithanexplanation，andrecommencedhisgloomypacing，astheBahnhofsankbackintohalf-litrepose。Attheendoffiveminutestherewasanothershriek。Paulturnedquicklytotheinspector。Ah，then，therewasanothertrain?No；itwasonlytheupexpressforBasle，goingtheotherwayandstoppingattheNordStation，halfamileaway。Itwouldnotstophere，buttheHerrwouldseeitpassinafewmomentsatfullspeed。
　　Itcamepresently，withaprolongeddespairingshriek，outofthedarkness；aflash，arushandroarathisside，aplungeintothedarknessagainwiththesamedespairingcry；aflutterofsomethingwhitefromoneofthewindows，likealoosenedcurtain，thatatlastseemedtodetachitself，and，afterawildattempttofollow，suddenlysoaredaloft，whirledoverandover，dropped，anddriftedslowly，slantwise，totheground。
　　Theinspectorhadseenit，randowntheline，andpickeditup。
　　ThenhereturnedwithittoPaulwithalookofsympathizingconcern。Itwasalady'shandkerchief，evidentlysomesignalwavedtothewell-bornHerr，whowastheonlypassengerontheplatform。
　　So，possibly，itmightbefromhisfriends，whobysomestupidmischancehadgonetothewrongstation，and——GottimHimmel!——itwashideouslystupid，yetpossible，gotonthewrongtrain!
　　TheHerr，alittlepale，butcomposed，thoughtitWASpossible。
　　No；hewouldnottelegraphtothenextstation——notyet——hewouldinquire。
　　Hewalkedquicklyaway，reachingthehotelbreathlessly，yetinaspacethatseemedalltoobriefforhisdisconnectedthought。
　　Thereweresignsofanimationinthehall，andanemptycarriagewasjustreenteringthecourtyard。Thehall-portermethimwithdemonstrativeconcernandapology。Ah!ifhehadonlyunderstoodhisExcellencybetter，hecouldhavesavedhimallthistrouble。
　　EvidentlyhisExcellencywasgoingwiththeArguelloparty，whohadorderedacarriage，doubtless，forthesameimportantjourney，anhourbefore，yethadleftonlyafewmomentsafterhisExcellency，andhisExcellency，itwouldappear，hadgonetothewrongstation。
　　Paulpushedhurriedlypastthemanandascendedtohisroom。Bothwindowswereopen，andinthefaintmoonlighthecouldseethatsomethingwhitewaspinnedtohispillow。Withnervousfingersherelithiscandles，andfounditwasanoteinYerba'shandwriting。
　　Asheopenedit，atinysprayofthevinethathadgrownonthecrumblingwallfellathisfeet。Hepickeditup，pressedittohislips，andread，withdimeyes，asfollows:——
　　"YouknownowwhyIspoketoyouasIdidto-day，andwhytheotherhalfofthisprecioussprayistheonlymemoryIcaretocarrywithmeoutofthiscrumblingruinofallmyhopes。Youwereright，Paul:mytakingyouthereWASANOMEN——nottoyou，whocanneverbeanythingbutproud，beloved，andtrue——buttoMEofalltheshameandmisery。Thankyouforallyouhavedone——forallyouwoulddo，myfriend，anddon'tthinkmeungrateful，onlybecauseIamunworthyofit。Trytoforgiveme，butdon'tforgetme，evenifyoumusthateme。Perhaps，ifyouknewall——youmightstilllovealittlethepoorgirltowhomyouhavealreadygiventheonlynameshecanevertakefromyou——YERBABUENA!
　　CHAPTERVII。
　　Itwasalreadyautumn，andinthecityofNewYorkanearlySundaymorningbreezewassweepinguptheleavesthathadfallenfromtheregularlyplantedailantustreesbeforethebrown-stonefrontageofarowofmonotonouslyalikefive-storiedhousesononeoftheprincipalavenues。ThePastoroftheThirdPresbyterianChurch，thatuplifteditsdoubletowersonthecorner，stoppedbeforeoneofthesedwellings，ranupthedozenbroadsteps，andrangthebell。Hewaspresentlyadmitttedtothesombrerichnessofahallanddrawing-roomwithhigh-backedfurnitureofdarkcarvedwoods，likecathedralstalls，and，hatinhand，somewhatimpatientlyawaitedthearrivalofhishostessandparishioner。Thedooropenedtoatall，white-hairedwomaninlustrelessblacksilk。Shewasregularandresoluteinfeatures，offinebutunbendingpresence，and，thoughsomewhatpastmiddleage，showednosignsofeithertheweaknessormellownessofyears。
　　"IamsorrytodisturbyourSabbathmorningmeditations，SisterArgalls，norwouldIifitwerenotinthelineofChristianduty；
　　butSisterRobbinsisunabletodaytomakeherusualSabbathhospitalvisit，andIthoughtifyouwereexcusedfromtheForeignMissionaryclassandBibleinstructionatthreeyoumightundertakeherfunctions。Iknow，mydearoldfriend，"hecontinued，withblanddeprecationofherhard-seteyes，"howdistastefulthispromiscuousminglingwiththeroughandungodlyhasalwaysbeentoyou，andhowreluctantyouaretobeplacedinthepositionofbeingliabletohearcoarse，vulgar，orirreverentspeech。I
　　think，too，inourlongandpleasantpastoralrelations，youhavealwaysfoundmemindfulofit。IadmitIhavesometimesregrettedthatyourlatehusbandhadnotmoregenerallyfamiliarizedyouwiththewaysoftheworld。Butsoitis——weallhaveourweaknesses。
　　Ifnotonething，another。AndasEnvyandUncharitablenesssometimesfindtheirwayinevenChristianhearts，Ishouldlikeyoutoundertakethisofficeforthesakeofexample。Therearesome，dearSisterArgalls，whothinkthattherichwidowwhoismostliberalintheendowmentofthegoodsthatProvidencehasintrustedtoherhandsclaimsthereforetobeexemptfromlaborintheChristianvineyard。Letusteachthemhowunjusttheyare。"
　　"Iamwilling，"saidthelady，withadry，determinedair。"I
　　supposethesepatientsarenotprofessedlybadcharacters?"
　　"Bynomeans。Afew，perhaps；butthemajorityareunfortunates——
　　dependenteitheruponpubliccharityorsomesmallprovisionmadebytheirfriends。"
　　"Verywell。"
　　"AndyouunderstandthatthoughtheyhavetheprivilegeofrejectingyourChristianministrations，dearSisterArgalls，youarefreetojudgewhenyoumaybepatientorimportunatewiththem?"
　　"Iunderstand。"
　　ThePastorwasnotanunkindlyman，and，asheglancedattheuncompromisinglookinMrs。Argalls'seyes，feltforamomentsomeinconsistencybetweenhishumaneinstinctsandhisChristianduty。
　　"Someofthemmayrequire，andbebenefitedby，asternmonitress，andSisterRobbins，Ifear，wasweak，"hesaidconsolinglytohimself，ashedescendedthestepsagain。
　　Atthreeo'clockMrs。Argalls，withareticuleandafewtracts，wasatthedoorofSt。John'sHospital。AsshedisplayedhertestimonialsandannouncedthatshehadtakenMrs。Robbins'splace，theofficialsreceivedherrespectfully，andgavesomeinstructionstotheattendants，which，however，didnotstopsomeindividualcomments。
　　"Isay，Jim，itdoesn'tseemthesquarethingtoletthatgrimoldgirllooseamongthempoorconvalescents。"
　　"Well，Idon'tknow:theysayshe'srichandgivesaloto'moneyaway，butifshetacklesthatswearingoldKentuckianinNo。3，she'llhaveherhandsfull。"
　　However，thecriticismwasscarcelyfair，forMrs。Argalls，althoughmovingrigidlyalongfrombedtobedoftheward，equippedwithacertainformulaofphrases，neverthelessdroppedfromtimetotimesomepracticalcommon-sensequestionsthatshowedanalmostmasculineintuitionofthepatients'needsandrequirements。Nordidshebetrayanyofthatover-sensitiveshrinkingfromcoarsenesswhichthegoodPastorhadfeared，albeitshewasquicktocorrectitsexhibition。Thelanguidmenlistenedtoherwithhalf-
　　aggressive，half-amusedinterest，andsomeofthesatisfactionoftakingabitterbutwholesometonic。Itwasnotuntilshereachedthebedatthefartherendofthewardthatsheseemedtomeetwithanycheck。
　　Itwasoccupiedbyahaggardman，withalongwhitemoustacheandfeaturesthatseemedwastedbyinwardstruggleandfever。Atthefirstsoundofhervoiceheturnedquicklytowardsher，liftedhimselfonhiselbow，andgazedfixedlyinherface。
　　"KateHoward——bytheEternal!"hesaid，inalowvoice。
　　Despiteherrigidself-possessionthewomanstarted，glancedhurriedlyaround，anddrewnearertohim。
　　"Pendleton!"shesaid，inanequallysuppressedvoice，"What，inGod'sname，areyoudoinghere?"
　　"Dying，Ireckon——soonerorlater，"hesaidgrimly，"that'swhattheydohere。"
　　"But——what，"shewentonhurriedly，stillglancingoverhershoulderasifshesuspectedsometrick——"whathasbroughtyoutothis?"
　　"YOU!"saidthecolonel，droppingbackexhaustedlyonhispillow。
　　"Youandyourdaughter。"
　　"Idon'tunderstandyou，"shesaidquickly，yetregardinghimwithsternrigidity。"YouknowperfectlywellIhaveNOdaughter。YouknowperfectlywellthatI'vekeptthewordIgaveyoutenyearsago，andthatIhavebeendeadtoherasshehasbeentome。"
　　"Iknow，"saidthecolonel，"thatwithinthelastthreemonthsI
　　havepaidawaymylastcenttokeepthemouthofaninfernalscoundrelshutwhoKNOWSthatyouarehermother，andthreatenstoexposehertoherfriends。IknowthatI'mdyinghereofanoldwoundthatIgotwhenIshutthemouthofanotherhoundwhowasreadytobarkathertwoyearsafteryoudisappeared。IknowthatbetweenyouandherI'veletmyoldniggerdieofabrokenheart，becauseIcouldn'tkeephimtosufferwithme，andIknowthatI'mhereapauperontheState。Iknowthat，Kate，andwhenIsayitI
　　don'tregretit。I'vekeptmywordtoYOU，and，bytheEternal，yourdaughter'sworthit!Forifthereeverwasafairandpeerlesscreature——it'syourchild!"
　　"Andshe——arichwoman——unlessshesquanderedthefortuneIgaveher——letsyouliehere!"saidthewomangrimly。
　　"Shedon'tknowit。"
　　"SheSHOULDknowit!Haveyouquarreled?"Shewaslookingathimkeenly。
　　"Shedistrustsme，becauseshehalfsuspectsthesecret，andI
　　hadn'tthehearttotellherall。"
　　"All?Whatdoessheknow?Whatdoesthismanknow?Whathasbeentoldher?"shesaidrapidly。
　　"Sheonlyknowsthatthenameshehastakenshehasnorightto。"
　　"Rightto?Why，itwaswrittenontheTrust——YerbaBuena。"
　　"No，notthat。Shethoughtitwasamistake。ShetookthenameofArguello。"
　　"What?"saidMrs。Argalls，suddenlygraspingtheinvalid'swristwithbothhands。"Whatname?"hereyeswerestartledfromtheirrigidcoldness，herlipswerecolorless。
　　"Arguello!Itwassomefoolishschoolgirlfancywhichthathoundhelpedtofosterinher。Why——what'sthematter，Kate?"
　　Thewomandroppedthehelplessman'swrist，then，withaneffort，recoveredherselfsufficientlytorise，and，withanairofincreaseddecorum，asifthespiritualcharacteroftheirinterviewexcludedworldlyintrusion，adjustedthescreenaroundhisbed，soaspartlytohideherownfaceandPendleton's。Then，droppingintothechairbesidehim，shesaid，inheroldvoice，fromwhichtheburdenoftenlongyearsseemedtohavebeenlifted，——
　　"Harry，what'sthatyou'replayingonme?"
　　"Idon'tunderstandyou，"saidPendletonamazedly。
　　"Doyoumeantosayyoudon'tknowit，anddidn'ttellheryourself?"shesaidcurtly。
　　"What?Tellherwhat?"herepeatedimpatiently。
　　"ThatArguelloWASherfather!"
　　"Herfather?"Hetriedtostruggletohiselbowagain，butshelaidherhandmasterfullyuponhisshoulderandforcedhimback。
　　"Herfather!"herepeatedhurriedly。"JoseArguello!GreatGod!——
　　areyousure?"
　　Quietlyandyetmechanicallygatheringthescatteredtractsfromthecoverlet，andputtingthemback，onebyoneinherreticule，shecloseditandherlipswithasnapassheuttered——"Yes。"
　　Pendletonremainedstaringathersilently，"Yes，"hemuttered，"itmayhavebeensomeinstinctofthechild's，orsomediabolicalfancyofBriones'。But，"hesaidbitterly，"trueornot，shehasnorighttohisname。"
　　"AndIsaysheHAS。"
　　Shehadrisentoherfeet，withherarmsfoldedacrossherbreast，inanattitudeofsuchPuritancomposurethatthedistantspectatorsmighthavethoughtshewasdeliveringanexordiumtotheprostrateman。
　　"ImetJoseArguello，forthesecondtime，inNewOrleans，"shesaidslowly，"eightyearsago。Hewasstillrich，butruinedinhealthbydissipation。Iwastiredofmywayoflife。HeproposedthatIshouldmarryhimtotakecareofhimandlegitimatizeourchild。IwasforcedtotellhimwhatIhaddonewithher，andthattheTrustcouldnotbedisturbeduntilshewasofageandherownmistress。Heassented。Wemarried，buthediedwithinayear。Hedied，leavingwithmehisacknowledgmentofherashischild，andtherighttoclaimherifIchose。"
　　"And?"——interruptedthecolonelwithsparklingeyes。
　　"IDON'TCHOOSE。
　　"Hearme!"shecontinuedfirmly。"Withhisnameandmyownmistress，andthegirl，asIbelieved，properlyprovidedforandignorantofmyexistence，Isawnonecessityforreopeningthepast。Iresolvedtoleadanewlifeashiswidow。Icamenorth。
　　InthelittleNewEnglandtownwhereIfirststopped，thecountrypeoplecontractedmynametoMrs。Argalls。Iletitstandso。I