UponpressurehewouldalsohaveconfessedtothePhineasC。Buthedidnotconsideritgoodpracticetovolunteerinformation。"Ididnotreceiveyourcard，"hecontinued，bywayofrebuke，"soI——"
　　"Iknowyoudidn't，"remarkedthevisitor，coolly；
　　"Andyouwon'tjustyet。Lightup？"Hethrewalegoveranarmofhischair，andtossedahandfulofrich-
　　huedcigarsuponthetable。LawyerGoochknewthebrand。Hethawedjustenoughtoaccepttheinvitationtosmoke。
　　"Youareadivorcelawyer，"saidthecardlessvisitor。
　　Thistimetherewasnointerrogationinhisvoice。Nordidhiswordsconstituteasimpleassertion。Theyformedacharge——adenunciation——asonewouldsaytoadog:
　　"Youareadog。"LawyerGoochwassilentundertheimputation。
　　"Youhandle，"continuedthevisitor，"allthevariousramificationsofbusted-upconnubiality。Youareasurgeon，wemightsaw，whoextractsCupid'sdartswhenheshoots'emintothewrongparties。Youfurnishpatent，incandescentlightsforpremiseswherethetorchofHymenhasburnedsolowyoucan'tlightacigaratit。
　　AmIright，Mr。Gooch？"
　　"Ihaveundertakencases，"saidthelawyer，guardedly，"inthelinetowhichyourfigurativespeechseemstorefer。
　　Doyouwishtoconsultmeprofessionally，Mr——"
　　Thelawyerpaused，withsignificance。
　　"Notyet，"saidtheother，withanarchwaveofhiscigar，"notjustyet。Letusapproachthesubjectwiththecautionthatshouldhavebeenusedintheoriginalactthatmakesthispow-wownecessary。Thereexistsamatrimonialjumbletobestraightenedout。ButbeforeIgiveyounamesIwantyourhonest——well，anyhow，yourprofessionalopiniononthemeritsofthemix-up。
　　Iwantyoutosizeupthecatastrophe——abstractly——youunderstand？I'mMr。Nobody；andI'vegotastorytotellyou。Thenyousaywhat'swhat。Doyougetmywireless？"
　　"Youwanttostateahypotheticalcase？"suggestedLawyerGooch。
　　"That'sthewordIwasafter。'Apothecary'wasthebestshotIcouldmakeatitinmymind。Thehypo-
　　theticalgoes。I'llstatethecase。Supposethere'sawoman——adeucedfine-lookingwoman——whohasrunawayfromherhusbandandhome？She'sbadlymashedonanothermanwhowenttohertowntoworkupsomerealestatebusiness。Now，wemayaswellcallthiswoman'shusbandThomasR。Billings，forthat'shisname。I'mgivingyoustraighttipsonthecognomens。
　　TheLothariochapisHenryK。Jessup。TheBillingseslivedinalittletowncalledSusanville——agoodmanymilesfromhere。Now，JessupleavesSusanvilletwoweeksago。ThenextdayMrs。Billingsfollowshim。
　　She'sdeadgoneonthismanJessup；youcanbetyourlawlibraryonthat。"
　　LawyerGooch'sclientsaidthiswithsuchunctuoussatisfactionthateventhecallouslawyerexperiencedaslightrippleofrepulsion。Henowsawclearlyinhisfatuousvisitortheconceitofthelady-killer，theegoisticcomplacencyofthesuccessfultrifler。
　　"Now，"continuedthevisitor，"supposethisMrs。
　　Billingswasn'thappyathome？We'llsaysheandherhusbanddidn'tgeeworthacent。They'vegotincom-
　　patibilitytoburn。Thethingsshelikes，Billingswouldn'thaveasagiftwithtrading-stamps。It'sTabbyandRoverwiththemallthetime。She'saneducatedwomaninscienceandculture，andshereadsthingsoutloudatmeetings。Billingsisnoton。Hedon'tappreciatepro-
　　gressandobelisksandethics，andthingsofthatsort。OldBillingsissimplyablinkwhenitcomestosuchthings。
　　Theladyisoutandoutabovehisclass。Now，lawyer，don'titlooklikeafairequalizationofrightsandwrongsthatawomanlikethatshouldbeallowedtothrowdownBillingsandtakethemanthatcanappreciateher？
　　"Incompatibility，"saidLawyerGooch，"isundoubt-
　　edlythesourceofmuchmaritaldiscordandunhappiness。
　　Whereitispositivelyproved，divorcewouldseemtobetheequitableremedy。Areyou——excuseme——isthismanJessuponetowhomtheladymaysafelytrustherfuture？"
　　"Oh，youcanbetonJessup，"saidtheclient，withaconfidentwagofhishead。"Jessup'sallright。He'lldothesquarething。Why，heleftSusanvillejusttokeeppwplefromtalkingaboutMrs。Billings。Butshefol-
　　lowedhimup，andnow，ofcourse，he'llsticktoher。
　　Whenshegetsadivorce，alllegalandproper，Jessuptheproperthing。"
　　"Andnow，"saidLawyerGooch，"continuingthehypo-
　　ifyouprefer，andsupposingthatmyservicesshouldiredinthecase，what——"
　　Theclientroseimpulsivelytohisfeet。
　　"Oh，dangthehypotheticalbusiness，"heexclaimed，impatiently。"Let'sletherdrop，andgetdowntostraighttalk。YououghttoknowwhoIambythistime。
　　Iwantthatwomantohaveherdivorce。I'llpayforit。ThedayyousetMrs。BillingsfreeI'llpayyoufivehundreddollars。"
　　LawyerGooch'sclientbangedhisfistuponthetabletopunctuatehisgenerosity。
　　"Ifthatisthecase——"beganthelawyer。
　　"Ladytoseeyou，sir，"bawledArchibald，bouncinginfromhisanteroom。Hehadorderstoalwaysannounceimmediatelyanyclientthatmightcome。Therewasnosenseinturningbusinessaway。
　　LawyerGoochtookclientnumberonebythearmandledhimsuavelyintooneoftheadjoiningrooms。"Favourmebyremaininghereafewminutes，sir，"saidhe。"I
　　willreturnandresumeourconsultationwiththeleastpossibledelay。Iamratherexpectingavisitfromaverywealthyoldladyinconnectionwithawill。Iwillnotkeepyouwaitinglong。"
　　Thebreezygentlemanseatedhimselfwithobligingacquiescence，audtookupamagazine。Thelawyerreturnedtothemiddleoffice，carefullyclosingbehindhimtheconnectingdoor。
　　"Showtheladyin，Archibald，"hesaidtotheofficeboy，whowasawaitingtheorder。
　　Atalllady，ofcommandingpresenceandsternlyhand-
　　some，enteredtheroom。Sheworerobes——robes；notclothes——ampleandfluent。Inhereyecouldbeper-
　　ceivedthelambentflameofgeniusandsoul。Inherhandwasagreenbagofthecapacityofabushel，andanumbrellathatalsoseemedtoweararobe，ampleandfluent。Sheacceptedachair。
　　"AreyouMr。PhineasC。Gooch，thelawyer？"sheasked，informalandunconciliatorytones。
　　"Iam，"answeredLawyerGooch，withoutcircum-
　　locution。Henevercircumlocutedwhendealingwithawoman。Womencircumlocute。Timeiswastedwhenbothsidesindebateemploythesametactics。
　　"Asalawyer，sir，"beganthelady，"youmayhaveacquiredsomeknowledgeofthehumanheart。Doyoubelievethatthepusillanimousandpettyconventionsofourartificialsociallifeshouldstandasanobstacleinthewayofanobleandaffectionateheartwhenitfindsitstruemateamongthemiserableandworthlesswretchesintheworldthatarecalledmen？"
　　"Madam，"saidLawyerGooch，inthetonethatheusedincurbinghisfemaleclients，"thisisanofficeforconductingthepracticeoflaw。Iamalawyer，notaphilosopher，northeeditorofan'AnswerstotheLovelorn'columnofanewspaper。Ihaveotherclientswaiting。Iwillaskyoukindlytocometothepoint。"
　　"Well，youneedn'tgetsostiffaroundthegillsaboutit，"saidthelady，withasnapofherluminousevesandastartlinggyrationofherumbrella。"BusinessiswhatI'vecomefor。Iwantyouropinioninthematterofasuitfordivorce，asthevulgarwouldcallit，butwhichisreallyonlythereadjustmentofthefalseandignoblecon-
　　ditionsthattheshort-sihhtedlawsofmanhaveinterposedbetweenaloving——"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，madam，"interruptedLawyerGooch，withsomeimpatience，"forremindingyouagainthatthisisalawoffice。PerhapsMrs。Wilcox——"
　　"Mrs。Wilcoxisallright，"cutinthelady，withahintofasperity。"AndsoareTolstoi，andMrs。GertrudeAtherton，andOmarKhayyam，andMr。EdwardBok。
　　I'veread'emall。Iwouldliketodiscusswithyouthedivinerightofthesoulasopposedtothefreedom-destroy-
　　ingrestrictionsofabigotedandnarrow-mindedsociety。
　　ButIwillproceedtobusiness。Iwouldprefertolaythematterbeforeyouinanimpersonalwayuntilvoupassuponitsmerits。Thatistodescribeitasasup-
　　posableinstance，without——"
　　"Youwishtostateahypotheticalcase？"saidLawyerGooch。
　　"Iwasgoingtosaythat，"saidthelady，sharply。
　　"Now，supposethereisawomanwhoisallsoulandheartandaspirationsforacompleteexistence。Thiswomanhasahusbandwhoisfarbelowherinintellect，intaste——ineverything。Bah!heisabrute。Hedespisesliterature。Hesneersattheloftythoughtsoftheworld'sgreatthinkers。Hethinksonlyofrealestateandsuchsordidthings。Heisnomateforawomanwithsoul。
　　Wewillsaythatthisunfortunatewifeonedaymeetswithherideal-amanwithbrainandheartandforce。
　　Sheloveshim。Althoughthismanfeelsthethrillofanew-foundaffinityheistoonoble，toohonourabletodeclarehimself。Hefliesfromthepresenceofhisbeloved。Shefliesafterhim，trampling，withsuperbindifference，uponthefetterswithwhichanunenlightenedsocialsystemwouldbindher。Now，whatwilladivorcecost？ElizaAnnTimmins，thepoetessofSycamoreGap，gotoneforthreehundredandfortydollars。CanI——
　　ImeancanthisladyIspeakofgetonethatcheap？"
　　"Madam，"saidLawyerGooch，"yourlasttwoorthreesentencesdelightmewiththeirintelligenceandclearness。Canwenotnowabandonthehypotheticalandcomedowntonamesandbusiness？"
　　"Ishouldsayso，"exclaimedthelady，adoptingthepracticalwithadmirablereadiness。"ThomasR。Bil-
　　lingsisthenameofthelowbrutewhostandsbetweenthehappinessofhislegal——hislegal，butnothisspiri-
　　tual——wifeandHenryK。Jessup，thenoblemanwhomnatureintendedforhermate。I，"concludedtheclient，withanairofdramaticrevelation，"amMrs。Billings!"
　　"Gentlementoseeyou，sir，"shoutedArchibald，invad-
　　ingtheroomalmostatahandspring。LawyerGoocharosefromhischair。
　　"Mrs。Billings，"hesaidcourteously，"allowmetoconductyouintotheadjoiningofficeapartmentforafewminutes。Iamexpectingaverywealthyoldgentlemanonbusinesconnectedwithawill。InaveryshortwhileIwilljoinyou，andcontinueourconsultation。"
　　Withhisaccustomedchivalrousmanner，LawyerGoochusheredhissoulfulclientintotheremainingunoccupiedroom，andcameout，closingthedoorwithcircumspection。
　　ThenextvisitorintroducedbyArchibaldwasathin，nervous，irritable-lookingmanofmiddleage，withaworriedandapprehensiveexpressionofcountenance。
　　Hecarriedinonehandasmallsatchel，whichhesetdownuponthefloorbesidethechairwhichthelawyerplacedforhim。Hisclothingwasofgoodquality，butitwaswornwithoutregardtoneatnessorstyle，andappearedtobecoveredwiththedustoftravel。
　　"Youmakeaspecialtyofdivorcecases，"hesaid，in，anagitatedbutbusiness-liketone。
　　"Imaysay，"beganLawyerGooch，"thatmyprac-
　　ticehasnotaltogetheravoided——"
　　"Iknowyoudo，"interruptedclientnumberthree。
　　"Youneedn'ttellme。I'veheardallaboutyou。IhaveacasetolaybeforeyouwithoutnecessarilydisclosinganyconnectionthatImighthavewithit——thatis——"
　　"Youwish，"saidLawyerGooch，"tostateahvpo-
　　theticalcase。
　　"Youmaycallitthat。Iamaplainmanofbusiness。
　　Iwillbeasbriefaspossible。Wewillfirsttakeuphypotheticalwoman。Wewillsaysheismarrieduncon-
　　genially。Inmanywayssheisasuperiorwoman。Phys-
　　icallysheisconsideredtobehandsome。Sheisdevotedtowhatshecallsliterature——poetryandprose，andsuchstuff。Herhusbandisaplainmaninthebusinesswalksoflife。Theirhomehasnotbeenhappy，althoughthehusbandhastriedtomakeitso。Sometimeagoaman——astranger——cametothepeacefultowninwhichtheylivedandengagedinsomerealestateoperations。
　　Thiswomanmethim，andbecameunaccountablyinfatu-
　　atedwithhim。Herattentionsbecamesoopenthatthemanfeltthecommunitytobenosafeplaceforhim，soheleftit。Sheabandonedhusbandandhome，andfollowedhim。Sheforsook-herhome，whereshewasprovidedwitheverycomfort，tofollowthismanwhohadinspiredherwithsuchastrangeaffection。Isthereany-
　　thingmoretobedeplored，"concludedtheclient，inatremblingvoice，"thanthewreckingofahomebyawoman'suncalculatingfolly？"
　　LawyerGoochdeliveredthecautiousopinionthattherewasnot。
　　"Thismanshehasgonetojoin，"resumedthevisitor，"isnotthemantomakeherhappy。Itisawildandfoolishself-deceptionthatmakesherthinkhewill。Herhusband，inspiteoftheirmanydisagreements，istheonlyonecapableofdealingwithhersensitiveandpeculiarnature。Butthisshedoesnotrealizenow。"
　　"Wouldyouconsideradivorcethelogicalcureinthecaseyoupresent？"askedLawyerGooch，whofeltthattheconversationwaswanderingtoofarfromthefieldofbusiness。
　　"Adivorce!"exclaimedtheclient，feelingly-almosttearfully。"No，no-notthat。Ihaveread，Mr。Gooch，ofmanyinstanceswhereyoursympathyandkindlyinter-
　　estledyoutoactasamediatorbetweenestrangedhus-
　　bandandwife，andbroughtthemtogetheragain。Letusdropthehypotheticalcase——IneedconcealnolongerthatitisIwhoamthesuffererinthissadaffair——thenamesyoushallhave——ThomasR。Billingsandwife——
　　andHenryK。Jessup，themanwithwhomsheisinfatuated。"
　　ClientnumberthreelaidhishanduponMr。Gooch'sarm。Deepemotionwaswrittenuponhiscarewornface。"ForHeaven'ssake"，hesaidfervently，"helpmeinthishouroftrouble。Seek，outMrs。Billings，andpersuadehertoabandonthisdistressingpursuitofherlamentablefolly。Tellher，Mr。Gooch，thatherhusbandiswillingtoreceiveherbacktohisheartandhome——
　　promiseheranythingthatwillinducehertoreturn。I
　　haveheardofyoursuccessinthesematters。Mrs。Bil-
　　lingscannotbeveryfaraway。Iamwornoutwithtravelandweariness。TwiceduringthepursuitIsawher，butvariouscircumstancespreventedourhavinganinter-
　　view。Willyouundertakethismissionforme，Mr。
　　Gooch，andearnmyeverlastinggratitude？"
　　"Itistrue，"saidLawverGooch，frowningslightlyattheother'slastwords，butimmediatelycallingupanexpressionofvirtuousbenevolence，"thatonanumberofoccasionsIhavebeensuccessfulinpersuadingcoupleswhosoughttheseveringoftheirmatrimonialbondstothinkbetteroftheirrashintentionsandreturntotheirhomesreconciled。ButIassureyouthattheworkisoftenexceedinglydifficult。Theamountofargument，perseverance，and，ifImaybeallowedtosayit，eloquencethatitrequireswouldastonishyou。Butthisisacaseinwhichmysympathieswouldbewhollyenlisted。I
　　feeldeeplyforyousir，andIwouldbemosthappytoseehusbandandwifereunited。Butmytime，"concludedthelawyer，lookingathiswatchasifsuddenlyremindedofthefact，"isvaluable。"
　　"Iamawareofthat，"saidtheclient，"andifyouwilltakethecaseandpersuadeMrs。Billingstoreturnhomeandleavethemanalonethatsheisfollowing——
　　onthatdayIwillpayyouthesumofonethousanddollars。IhavemadealittlemoneyinrealestateduringtherecentboominSusanville，andIwillnotbegrudgethatamount。"
　　"Retainyourseatforafewmoments，please，"saidLawyerGooch，arising，andagainconsultinghiswatch。
　　"IhaveanotherclientwaitinginanadjoiningroomwhomIhadverynearlyforgotten。Iwillreturninthebriefestpossiblespace。"
　　ThesituationwasnowonethatfullysatisfiedLawyerGooch'sloveofintricacyandcomplication。Herevelledincasesthatpresentedsuchsubtleproblemsandpossi-
　　bilities。Itpleasedhimtothinkthathewasmasterofthehappinessandfateofthethreeindividualswhosat，uncon-
　　ciousofoneanother'spresence，withinhisreach。Hisoldfigureoftheshipglidedintohismind。Butnowthefigurefailed，fortohavefilledeverycompartmentofanactualvesselwouldhavebeentoendangerhersafety；
　　withhiscompartmentsfull，hisshipofaffairscouldbutsailontotheadvantageousportofafine，fatfee。Thethingforhimtodo，ofcourse，wastowringthebestbargainhecouldfromsomeoneofhisanxiouscargo。
　　Firsthecalledtotheofficeboy:"Locktheouterdoor，Archibald，andadmitnoone。"Thenhemoved，withlong，silentstridesintotheroominwhichclientnumberonewaited。Thatgentlemansat，patientlyscanningthepicturesinthemagazine，withacigarinhismouthandhisfeetuponatable。
　　"Well，"heremarked，cheerfully，asthelawyerentered，"haveyoumadeupyourmind？Doesfivehundreddollarsgoforgettingthefairladyadivorce？"
　　"Youmeanthatasaretainer？"askedLawyerGooch，softlyinterrogative。
　　"Hey？No；forthewholejob。It'senough，ain'tit？"
　　"Myfee，"saidLawyerGooch，"wouldbeonethousandfivehundreddollars。Fivehundreddollarsdown，andtheremainderuponissuanceofthedivorce。"
　　Aloudwhistlecamefromclientnumberone。Hisfeetdescendedtothefloor。
　　"Guesswecan'tclosethedeal，"hesaid，arising，"I
　　cleanedupfivehunderddollarsinalittlerealestatedickerdowninSusanville。I'ddoanythingIcouldtofreethelady，butitout-sizesmypile。"
　　"Couldyoustandonethousandtwohundreddollars？"
　　askedthelawyer，insinuatingly。
　　"Fivehundredismylimit，Itellyou。GuessI'llhavetohuntupacheaperlawyer。"Theclientputonhishat。
　　"Outthisway，please，"saidLawyerGooch，openingthedoorthatledintothehallway。
　　Asthegentlemanflowedoutofthecompartmentanddownthestairs，LawyerGoochsmiledtohimself。"ExitMr。Jessup，"hemurmured，ashefingeredtheHenryClaytuftofhairathisear。"Andnowfortheforsakenhusband。"Hereturnedtothemiddleoffice，andassumedabusinesslikemanner。
　　"Iunderstand，"hesaidtoclientnumberthree，"thatyouagreetopayonethousanddollarsifIbringabout，oraminstrumentalinbringingabout，thereturnofMrs。
　　Billingstoherhome，andherabandonmentofherinfatu-
　　atedpursuitofthemanforwhomshehasconceivedsuchaviolentfancy。Alsothatthecaseisnowunreservedlyinmyhandsonthatbasis。Isthatcorrect？"
　　"Entirely"，saidtheother，eagerly。AndIcanproducethecashanytimeattwohours'notice。"
　　LawyerGoochstoodupathisfullheight。Histhinfigureseemedtoexpand。Histhumbssoughtthearm-
　　holesofhisvest。Uponhisfacewasalookofsym-
　　patheticbenignitythathealwaysworeduringsuchundertakings。
　　"Then，sir，"hesaid，inkindlytones，"IthinkIcanpromiseyouanearlyrelieffromyourtroubles。Ihavethatmuchconfidenceinmypowersofargumentandpersuasion，inthenaturalimpulsesofthehumanhearttowardgood，andinthestronginfluenceofahusband'sunfalteringlove。Mrs。Billinos，sir，ishere——inthatroom——thelawyer'slongarmpointedtothedoor。
　　"Iwillcallherinatonce；andourunitedpleadings——"
　　LawyerGoochpaused，forclientnumberthreehadleapedfromhischairasifpropelledbysteelsprings，andclutchedhissatchel。
　　"Whatthedevil，"heexclaimed，harshly，"dovoumean？Thatwomaninthere!IthoughtIshookherofffortymilesback。"
　　Herantotheopenwindow，lookedoutbelow，andthrewonelegoverthesill。
　　"Stop!"criedLawyerGooch，inamazement。"Whatwouldyoudo？Come，Mr。Billings，andfaceyourerringbutinnocentwife。Ourcombinedentreatiescannotfailto——"
　　"Billings!"shoutedthenowthoroughlymovedclient。
　　"I'llBillingsyou，youoldidiot!"
　　Turning，hehurledhissatchelwithfuryatthelawyer'shead。Itstruckthatastoundedpeacemakerbetweentheeyes，causinghimtostaggerbackwardapaceortwo。
　　WhenLawyerGoochrecoveredhiswitshesawthathisclienthaddisappeared。Rushingtothewindow，heleanedout，andsawtherecreantgatheringhimselfupfromthetopofasheduponwhichhehaddroppedfromthesecond-storywindow。Withoutstoppingtocollecthishathethenplungeddownwardtheremainingtenfeettothealley，upwhichheflewwithprodigiouscelerityuntilthesurroundingbuildingswallowedhimupfromview。
　　LawyerGoochpassedhishandtremblinglyacrosshisbrow。Itwasahabitualactwithhim，servingtoclearhisthoughts。Perhapsalsoitnowseemedtosoothethespotwhereaveryhardalligator-hidesatchelhadstruck。
　　Thesatchellayuponthefloor，wideopen，withitscon-
　　tentsspilledabout。Mechanically，LawyerGoochstoopedtogatherupthearticles。Thefirstwasacollar；andtheomniscienteyeofthemanoflawperceived，wonder-
　　ingly，theinitialsH。K。J。markeduponit。Thencameacomb，abrush，afoldedmap，andapieceofsoap。
　　lastly，ahandfulofoldbusinessletters，addressed——
　　everyoneofthem——to"HenryK。Jessup，Esq。"
　　LawyerGoochclosedthesatchel，andsetituponthetable。Hehesitatedforamoment，andthenputonhishatandwalkedintotheofficeboy'santeroom。
　　"Archibald，"hesaidmildly，asheopenedthehalldoor，"IamgoingaroundtotheSupremeCourtrooms。Infiveminutesyoumaystepintotheinneroffice，andinformtheladywhoiswaitingtherethat"——hereLawyerGoochmadeuseofthevernacular——"thatthere'snothingdoing。"
　　CALLOWAY'SCODE
　　TheNewYorkEnterprisesentH。B。CallowayasspecialcorrespondenttotheRusso-Japanese-Portsmouthwar。
　　FortwomonthsCallowayhungaboutYokohamaandTokio，shakingdicewiththeothercorrespondentsfordrinksof'rickshaws——oh，no，that'ssomethingtoridein；anyhow，hewasn'tearningthesalarythathispaperwaspayinghim。ButthatwasnotCalloway'sfault。ThelittlebrownmenwhoheldthestringsofFatebetweentheirfingerswerenotreadyforthereadersoftheEnterprisetoseasontheirbreakfastbaconandeggswiththebattlesofthedescendantsofthegods。
　　ButsoonthecolumnofcorrespondentsthatweretogooutwiththeFirstArmytightenedtheirfield-glassbeltsandwentdowntotheYaluwithKuroki。Callowaywasoneofthese。
　　Now，thisisnohistoryofthebattleoftheYaluRiver。
　　Thathasbeentoldindetailbythecorrespondentswhogazedattheshrapnelsmokeringsfromadistanceofthreemiles。But，forjustice'ssake，letitbeunderstoodthattheJapanesecommanderprohibitedanearerview。
　　Calloway'sfeatwasaccomplishedbeforethebattle。
　　WhathedidwastofurnishtheEnterprisewiththebiggestbeatofthewar。Thatpaperpublishedexclu-
　　sivelyandindetailthenewsoftheattackonthelinesoftheRussianGeneralonthesamedaythatitwasmade。Nootherpaperprintedawordaboutitfortwodaysafterward，exceptaLondonpaper，whoseaccountwasabsolutelyincorrectanduntrue。
　　CallowaydidthisinfaceofthefactthatGeneralKurokiwasmaking，hismovesandlivinghisplanswiththepro-
　　foundestsecrecy，asfarastheworldoutsidehiscampswasconcerned。Thecorrespondentswereforbiddentosendoutanynewswhateverofhisplans；andeverymessagethatwasallowedonthewireswascensored——withrigidseverity。
　　ThecorrespondentfortheLondonpaperhandedinacablegramdescribing，Kuroki'splans；butasitwaswrongfrombeginningtoendthecensorgrinnedandletitgothrough。
　　So，theretheywere——KurokiononesideoftheYaluwithforty-twothousandinfantry，fivethousandcavalry，andonehundredandtwenty-fourguns。Ontheotherside，Zassulitchwaitedforhimwithonlytwenty-threethousandmen，andwithalongstretchofrivertoguard。
　　AndCallowayhadgotholdofsomeimportantinsideinformationthatheknewwouldbringtheEnterprisestaffaroundacablegramasthickasfliesaroundaParkRowlemonadestand。Ifhecouldonlygetthatmessagepastthecensor——thenewcensorwhohadarrivedandtakenhispostthatday!
　　Callowaydidtheobviouslyproperthing。Helithispipeandsatdownonaguncarriagetothinkitover。Andtherewemustleavehim；fortherestofthestorybelongstoVesey，asixteen-dollar-a-weekreporterontheEnterprise。
　　Calloway'scablegramwashandedtothemanagingeditoratfouro'clockintheafternoon。Hereaditthreetimes；andthendrewapocketmirrorfromapigeon-holeinhisdesk，andlookedathisreflectioncarefully。ThenhewentovertothedeskofBoyd，hisassistantheusuallycalledBoydwhenhewantedhim，andlaidthecablegrambeforehim。
　　"It'sfromCalloway，"hesaid。"Seewhatyoumakeofit。"
　　ThemessagewasdatedatWi-ju，andthesewerethewordsofit:
　　Foregonepreconcertedrashwitchinggoesmuffledrumourminedarksilentunfortunaterichmondexistinggreathotlybruteselectmootedparlousbeggarsyeangelincontrovertible。
　　Boydreadittwice。
　　"It'seitheracipherorasunstroke，"saidhe。
　　"Everhearofanythinglikeacodeintheoffice——asecretcode？"askedthem。e。，whohadheldhisdeskforonlytwoyears。Managingeditorscomeandgo。
　　"Noneexceptthevernacularthattheladyspecialswritein，"saidBoyd。"Couldn'tbeanacrostic，couldit？"
　　"Ithoughtofthat，"saidthem。e。，"butthebeginningletterscontainonlyfourvowels。Itmustbeacodeofsomesort。"
　　"Tryemingroups，"suggestedBoyd。"Let'ssee——'Rashwitchinggoes'——notwithmeitdoesn't。'Muf-
　　fledrumourmine'——musthaveanundergroundwire。
　　'Darksilentunfortunaterichmond'——noreasonwhyheshouldknockthattownsohard。'Existinggreathotly'——
　　noitdoesn'tpanoutI'llcallScott。"
　　Thecityeditorcameinahurry，andtriedhisluck。
　　Acityeditormustknowsomethingabouteverything；
　　soScottknewalittleaboutcipher-writing。
　　"Itmaybewhatiscalledaninvertedalphabetcipher，"
　　saidhe。"I'lltrythat。'R'seemstobetheoftenestusedinitialletter，withtheexceptionof'm。'Assuming'r'tomean'e'，themostfrequentlyusedvowel，wetransposetheletters——so。"
　　Scottworkedrapidlywithhispencilfortwominutes；
　　andthenshowedthefirstwordaccordingtohisreading——theword"Scejtzez。"
　　"Great!"criedBoyd。"It'sacharade。MyfirstisaRussiangeneral。Goon，Scott。"
　　"No，thatwon'twork，"saidthecityeditor。"It'sundoubtedlyacode。It'simpossibletoreaditwithoutthekey。Hastheofficeeverusedaciphercode？"
　　"JustwhatIwasasking，"saidthem。e。"Hustleeverybodyupthatoughttoknow。Wemustgetatitsomeway。Callowayhasevidentlygotholdofsome-
　　thingbig，andthecensorhasputthescrewson，orhewouldn'thavecabledinalotofchopsueylikethis。"
　　ThroughouttheofficeoftheEnterpriseadragnetwassent，haulinginsuchmembersofthestaffaswouldbelikelytoknowofacode，pastorpresent，byreasonoftheirwisdom，information，naturalintelligence，orlengthofservitude。Theygottogetherinagroupinthecityroom，withthem。e。inthecentre。Noonehadheardofacode。Allbegantoexplaintotheheadinvesti-
　　gatorthatnewspapersneveruseacode，anyhow——thatis，aciphercode。OfcoursetheAssociatedPressstuffisasortofcode——anabbreviation，rather——but——
　　Them。e。knewallthat，andsaidso。Heaskedeachmanhowlonghehadworkedonthepaper。NotoneofthemhaddrawnpayfromanEnterpriseenvelopeforlongerthansixyears。Callowayhadbeenonthepapertwelveyears。
　　"TryoldHeffelbauer，"saidthem。e。"HewasherewhenParkRowwasapotatopatch。"
　　Heffelbauerwasaninstitution。Hewashalfjanitor，halfhandy-manabouttheoffice，andhalfwatchman——
　　thusbecomingthepeerofthirteenandone-halftailors。
　　Sentfor，hecame，radiatinghisnationality。
　　"Heffelbauer，"saidthem。e。，"didyoueverhearofacodebelongingtotheofficealongtimeago-aprivatecode？Youknowwhatacodeis，don'tyou？"
　　"Yah，"saidHeffelbauer。"SureIknowvatacodeis。
　　Yah，apoutdwelforfifteenyearagoderofficehadacode。
　　Derrebortersindercity-roomhafithere。"
　　"Ah!"saidthem。e。"We'regettingonthetrailnow。
　　Wherewasitkept，Heffelbauer？Whatdoyouknowaboutit？"
　　"Somedimes，"saidtheretainer，"deykeepitinderlittleroombehindderlibraryroom。"
　　"Canyoufinditaskedthem。e。eagerly。"Doyouknowwhereitis？"
　　"MeinGott!"saidHeffelbauer。"Howlongyoudinkacodelive？Derreborterscallhimamaskeet。
　　Butvondayhebuttmithisheaddereditor，und——"
　　"Oh，he'stalkingaboutagoat，"saidBoyd。"Getout，Heffelbauer。"
　　Againdiscomfited，theconcertedwitandresourceoftheEnterprisehuddledaroundCalloway'spuzzle，con-
　　sideringitsmysteriouswordsinvain。
　　ThenVeseycamein。
　　Veseywastheyoungestreporter。Hehadathirty-
　　two-inchchestandworeanumberfourteencollar；buthisbrightScotchplaidsuitgavehimpresenceandcon-
　　ferrednoobscurityuponhiswhereabouts。Heworehishatinsuchapositionthatpeoplefollowedhimabouttoseehimtakeitoff，convincedthatitmustbehunguponapegdrivenintothebackofhishead。Hewasneverwithoutanimmense，knotted，hard-woodcanewithaGerman-silvertiponitscrookedhandle。Veseywasthebestphotographhustlerintheoffice。Scottsaiditwasbecausenolivinghumanbeingcouldresisttheper-
　　sonaltriumphitwastohandhispictureovertoVesey。
　　Veseyalwayswrotehisownnewsstories，exceptthebigones，whichweresenttotherewritemen。Addtothisfactthatamongalltheinhabitants，temples，andgrovesoftheearthnothingexistedthatcouldabashVesey，andhisdimsketchisconcluded。
　　VeseybuttedintothecircleofcipherreadersverymuchasHeffelbauer's"code"wouldhavedone，andaskedwhatwasup。Someoneexplained，withthetouchofhalf-familiarcondescensionthattheyalwaysusedtowardhim。Veseyreachedoutandtookthecablegramfromthem。e。'shand。UndertheprotectionofsomespecialProvidence，hewasalwaysdoingappallingthingslikethat，andcoming，offunscathed。
　　"It'sacode，"saidVesey。"Anybodygotthekey？"
　　"Theofficehasnocode，"saidBoyd，reachingforthemessage。Veseyheldtoit。
　　"ThenoldCallowavexpectsustoreadit，anyhow，"
　　saidhe。"He'supatree，orsomething，andhe'smadethisupsoastogetitby，thecensor。It'suptous。Gee!
　　Iwishtheyhadsell，me，too。Say——wecan'taffordtofalldownonourendofit。'Foregone，preconcertedrash，witching'——h'm。"
　　Veseysatdownonatablecornerandbegantowhistlesoftly，frowningatthecablegram。
　　"Let'shaveit，please，"saidthem。e。"We'vegottogettoworkonit。"
　　"IbelieveI'vegotalineonit，"saidVesey。"Givemetenminutes。"
　　Hewalkedtohisdesk，threwhishatintoawaste-basket，spreadoutflatonhischestlikeagorgeouslizard，andstartedhispencilgoing。ThewitandwisdomoftheEnterpriseremainedinaloosegroup，andsmiledatoneanother，noddingtheirheadstowardVesey。Thentheybegantoexchangetheirtheoriesaboutthecipher。
　　IttookVeseyexactlyfifteenminutes。Hebroughttothem。e。apadwiththecode-keywrittenonit。
　　"IfelttheswingofitassoonasIsawit，"saidVesey。
　　"HurrahforoldCalloway!He'sdonetheJapsandeverypaperintownthatprintsliteratureinsteadofnews。
　　Takealookatthat。"
　　ThushadVeseysetforththereadingofthecode:
　　Foregone-conclusionPreconcerted-arrangementRash-actWitching-hourofmidnightGoes-withoutsayingMuffled-reportRumour-hathitMine-hostDark-horseSilent-majorityUnfortunate-pedestriansRichmond-inthefieldExisting-conditionsGreat-WhiteWayHotly-contestedBrute-forceSelect-fewMooted-questionParlous-timesBeggars-descriptionYe-correspondentAngel-unawaresIncontrovertible-fact——
　　*Mr。Veseyafterwardexplainedthatthelogicaljournalisticcomplementoftheword"unfortunate"wasoncetheword"victim。"But，sincetheautomobilebe-
　　camesopopular，thecorrectfollowingwordisnowpedestrians。Ofcourse，inCalloway'scodeitmeantinfantry。
　　"It'ssimplynewspaperEnglish，"explainedVesey。
　　"I'vebeenreportingontheEnterpriselongenoughtoknowitbyheart。OldCallowaygivesusthecueword，andweusethewordthatnaturallyfollowsitjustasweeminthepaper。Readitover，andyou'llseehowpattheydropintotheirplaces。Now，here'sthemessageheintendedustoget。"
　　Veseyhandedoutanothersheetofpaper。
　　Concludedarrangementtoactathourofmidnightwithoutsaying。Reporthathitthatalargebodyofcavalryandanoverwhelmingforceofinfantrywillbethrownintothefield。Conditionswhite。Waycon-
　　testedbyonlyasmallforce。QuestiontheTimesdescrip-
　　tion。Itscorrespondentisunawareofthefacts。
　　"Greatstuff!"criedBoydexcitedly。"KurokicrossestheYaluto-nightandattacks。Oh，wewon'tdoathingtothesheetsthatmakeupwithAddison'sessays，realestatetransfers，andbowlingscores!"
　　"Mr。Vesey，"saidthem。e。，withhisjollying-which-
　　you-should-regard-as-a-favourmanner，"youhavecastaseriousreflectionupontheliterarystandardsofthepaperthatemploysyou。Youhavealsoassistedmateriallyingivingusthebiggest'beat'oftheyear。I
　　willletyouknowinadayortwowhetheryouaretobedischargedorretainedatalargersalary。SomebodysendAmestome。"
　　Ameswastheking-pin，thesnowy-petalledMarguerite，thestar-brightlooloooftherewritemen。Hesawattemptedmurderinthepainsofgreen-applecolic，cyclonesinthesummerzephyr，lostchildrenineverytop-
　　spinningurchin，anuprisingofthedown-troddenmassesineveryhurlingofaderelictpotatoatapassingautomobile。
　　Whennotrewriting，AmessatontheporchofhisBrooklynvillaplayingcheckerswithhisten-year-oldson。
　　Amesandthe"wareditor"shutthemselvesinaroom。
　　Therewasamapintherestuckfulloflittlepinsthatrepresentedarmiesanddivisions。TheirfingershadbeenitchingfordaystomovethosepinsalongthecrookedlineoftheYalu。Theydidsonow；andinwordsoffireAmestranslatedCalloway'sbriefmessageintoafrontpagemasterpiecethatsettheworldtalking。HetoldofthesecretcouncilsoftheJapaneseofficers；gaveKuroki'sflamingspeechesinfull；countedthecavalryandinfantrytoamanandahorse；describedthequickandsilentbuilding，ofthebridgeatStuikauchen，acrosswhichtheMikado'slegionswerehurleduponthesurprisedZas-
　　sulitch，whosetroopswerewidelyscatteredalongtheriver。
　　Andthebattle!——well，youknowwhatAmescandowithabattleifyougivehimjustonesmellofsmokeforafoundation。Andinthesamestory，withseeminglysupernaturalknowledge，hegleefullyscoredthemostprofoundandponderouspaperinEnglandforthefalseandmisleadingaccountoftheintendedmovementsoftheJapaneseFirstArmyprintedinitsissueofthesamedate。
　　Onlyoneerrorwasmade；andthatwasthefaultofthecableoperatoratWi-ju。Callowaypointeditoutafterhecameback。Theword"great"inhiscodeshouldhavebeen"gage，"anditscomplementalwords"ofbattle。"ButitwenttoAmes"conditionswhite，"
　　andofcoursehetookthattomeansnow。HisdescriptionoftheJapanesearmystrum，strugglingthroughthesnowstorm，blindedbythewhirling，flakes，wasthrillinglyvivid。Theartiststurnedoutsomeeffectiveillustrationsthatmadeahitaspicturesoftheartillerydraggingtheirgunsthroughthedrifts。But，astheattackwasmadeonthefirstdayofMay，"conditionswhite"excitedsomeamusement。
　　ButitinmadenodifferencetotheEnterprise，anyway。
　　Itwaswonderful。AndCallowaywaswonderfulinhavingmadethenewcensorbelievethathisjargonofwordsmeantnomorethanacomplaintofthedearthofnewsandapetitionformoreexpensemoney。AndVeseywaswonderful。Andmostwonderfulofallarewords，andhowtheymakefriendsonewithanother，beingoftassociated，untilnotevenobituarynoticesthemdopart。
　　Ontheseconddayfollowing，thecityeditorhaltedatVesey'sdeskwherethereporterwaswritingthestoryofamanwhohadbrokenhislegbyfallingintoacoal-hole——Ameshavingfailedtofindamurdermotiveinit。
　　"Theoldmansaysyoursalaryistoberaisedtotwentyaweek，"saidScott。
　　"Allright，"saidVesey。"Everylittlehelps。Say——Mr。Scott，whichwouldyousay——'Wecanstatewithoutfearofsuccessfulcontradiction，'or，'Onthewholeitcanbesafelyasserted'？"
　　AMATTEROFMEANELEVATION
　　ONEwintertheAlcazarOperaCompanyofNewOrleansmadeaspeculativetripalongtheMexican，CentralAmericanandSouthAmericancoasts。Theventureprovedamostsuccessfulone。Themusic-
　　loving，impressionableSpanish-Americansdelugedthecompanywithdollarsand"vivas。"Themanagerwaxedplumpandamiable。Butfortheprohibitiveclimatehewouldhaveputforththedistinctiveflowerofhisprosperity——theovercoatoffur，braided，froggedandopulent。Almostwashepersuadedtoraisethesalariesofhiscompany。Butwithamightyeffortheconqueredtheimpulsetowardsuchanunprofitableeffervescenceofjoy。
　　AtMacuto，onthecoastofVenezuela，thecompanyscoreditsgreatestsuccess。ImagineConeyIslandtranslatedintoSpanishandyouwillcomprehendMacuto。
　　ThefashionableseasonisfromNovembertoMarch。
　　DownfromLaGuayraandCaracasandValenciaandotherinteriortownsflockthepeoplefortheirholidaysea-
　　son。Therearebathingandfiestasandbullfightsandscandal。Andthenthepeoplehaveapassionformusicthatthebandsintheplazaandontheseabeachstirbutdonotsatisfy。ThecomingoftheAlcazarOperaCom-
　　panyarousedtheutmostardourandzealamongthepleasureseekers。
　　TheillustriousGuzmanBlanco，PresidentandDic-
　　tatorofVenezuela，sojournedinMacutowithhiscourtfortheseason。Thatpotentruler——whohimselfpaidasubsidyof40，000pesoseachyeartograndoperainCaracas——orderedoneoftheGovernmentwarehousestobeclearedforatemporarytheatre。Astagewasquicklyconstructedandroughwoodenbenchesmadefortheaudience。PrivateboxeswereaddedfortheuseofthePresidentandthenotablesofthearmyandGovernment。
　　ThecompanyremainedinMacutofortwoweeks。
　　Eachperformancefilledthehouseascloselyasitcouldbepacked。Thenthemusic-madpeoplefoughtforroomintheopendoorsandwindows，andcrowdedabout，hundredsdeep，ontheoutside。Thoseaudiencesformedabrilliantlydiversifiedpatchofcolour。Thehueoftheirfacesrangedfromtheclearoliveofthepure-bloodSpan-
　　iardsdownthroughtheyellowandbrownshadesoftheMestizostothecoal-blackCaribandtheJamaicaNegro。
　　ScatteredamongthemwerelittlegroupsofIndianswithfaceslikestoneidols，wrappedingaudyfibre-wovenblankets——IndiansdownfromthemountainstatesofZamoraandLosAndesandMirandatotradetheirgolddustinthecoasttowns。
　　Thespellcastuponthesedenizensoftheinteriorfastnesseswasremarkable。Theysatinpetrifiedecstasy，conspicuousamongtheexcitableMacutians，whowildlystrovewithtongueandhandtogiveevidenceoftheirdelight。Onlyoncedidthesombreraptureoftheseaboriginalsfindexpression。Duringtherenditionof"Faust，"GuzmanBlanco，extravagantlypleasedbythe"JewelSong，"castuponthestageapurseofgoldpieces。
　　Otherdistinguishedcitizensfollowedhisleadtotheextentofwhateverloosecointheyhadconvenient，whilesomeofthefairandfashionablese駉rasweremoved，inimita-
　　tion，toflingajeweloraringortwoatthefeetoftheMarguerite——whowas，accordingtothebills，Mlle。
　　NinaGiraud。Then，fromdifferentpartsofthehouserosesundryofthestolidhillmenandcastuponthestagelittlebrownanddunbagsthatfellwithsoft"thumps"
　　anddidnotrebound。Itwas，nodoubt，pleasureatthetributetoherartthatcausedMlle。Giraud'seyestoshinesobrightlywhensheopenedtheselittledeerskinbagsinherdressingroomandfoundthemtocontainpuregolddust。Ifso，thepleasurewasrightlyhers，forhervoiceinsong，pure，strongandthrillingwiththefeelingoftheemotionalartist，deservedthetributethatitearned。
　　ButthetriumphoftheAlcazarOperaCompanyisnotthetheme——itbutleansuponandcoloursit。TherehappenedinMacutoatragicthing，anunsolvablemystery，thatsoberedforatimethegaietyofthehappyseason。
　　OneeveningbetweentheshorttwilightandthetimewhensheshouldhavewhirleduponthestageintheredandblackoftheardentCarmen，Mlle。NinaGirauddis-
　　appearedfromthesightandkenof6，000pairsofeyesandasmanymindsinMacuto。Therewastheusualturmoilandhurryingtoseekher。MessengersflewtothelittleFrench-kepthotelwhereshestayed；othersofthecompanyhastenedhereortherewhereshemightbelingeringinsometiendaorundulyprolongingherbathuponthebeach。Allsearchwasfruitless。Mademoi-
　　sellehadvanished。
　　Halfanhourpassedandshedidnotappear。Thedictator，unusedtothecapricesofprimedonne，becameimpatient。Hesentanaidefromhisboxtosaytothemanagerthatifthecurtaindidnotatoncerisehewouldimmediatelyhaletheentirecompanytothecalabosa，thoughitwoulddesolatehisheart，indeed，tobecom-
　　pelledtosuchanact。BirdsinMacutocouldbemadetosing。
　　ThemanagerabandonedhopeforthetimeofMlle。
　　Giraud。Amemberofthechorus，whohaddreamedhopelesslyforyearsoftheblessedopportunity，quicklyCarmenizedherselfandtheoperawenton。
　　Afterward，whenthelostcantatriceappearednot，theaidoftheauthoritieswasinvoked。ThePresidentatoncesetthearmy，thepoliceandallcitizenstothesearch。
　　NotonecluetoMlle。Giraud'sdisappearancewasfound。
　　TheAlcazarlefttofillengagementsfartherdownthecoast。
　　OnthewaybackthesteamerstoppedatMacutoandthemanagermadeanxiousinquiry。Notatraceoftheladyhadbeendiscovered。TheAlcazarcoulddonomore。ThepersonalbelongingsofthemissingladywerestoredinthehotelagainstherpossiblelaterreappearanceandtheoperacompanycontinueduponitshomewardvoyagetoNewOrleans。
　　OnthecaminorealalongthebeachthetwosaddlemulesandthefourpackmulesofDonSe駉rJohnnyArmstrongstood，patientlyawaitingthecrackofthewhipofthearriero，Luis。Thatwouldbethesignalforthestartonanotherlongjourneyintothemountains。Thepackmuleswereloadedwithavariedassortmentofhard-
　　wareandcutlery。ThesearticlesDonJohnnytradedtotheinteriorIndiansforthegolddustthattheywashedfromtheAndeanstreamsandstoredinquillsandbagsagainsthiscoming。Itwasaprofitablebusiness，andSe駉rArmstrongexpectedsoontobeabletopurchasethecoffeeplantationthathecoveted。
　　Armstrongstoodonthenarrowsidewalk，exchanginggarbledSpanishwitholdPeralto，therichnativemerchantwhohadjustchargedhimfourpricesforhalfagrossofpot-metalhatchets，andabridgedEnglishwithRucker，thelittleGermanwhowasConsulfortheUnitedStates。
　　"Takewithyou，se駉r，"saidPeralto，"theblessingsofthesaintsuponyourjourney。"
　　"Bettertryquinine，"growledRuckerthroughhispipe。
　　"Taketwograinseverynight。Anddon'tmakeyourtriptoolong，Johnny，becausewehafneedsofyou。ItiseinvillainousgamedotMelvilleplayofwhist，anddereisnoodersubstitute。Aufwiedersehen，undkeepyoureyesdotmule'searsbetweenwhenyouonderedgeofderbrecipicesride。"
　　ThebellsofLuis'smulejingledandthepacktrainfiledafterthewarningnote。Armstrong，wavedagood-
　　byeandtookhisplaceatthetailoftheprocession。Upthenarrowstreettheyturned，andpassedthetwo-storywoodenHotelIngles，whereIvesandDawsonandRich-
　　ardsandtherestofthechapsweredawdlingonthebroadpiazza，readingweek-oldnewspapers。Theycrowdedtotherailingandshoutedmanyfriendlyandwiseandfoolishfarewellsafterhim。AcrosstheplazatheytrottedslowlypastthebronzestatueofGuzmanBlanco，withinitsfenceofbayonetedriflescapturedfromrevolutionists，andoutofthetownbetweentherowsofthatchedhutsswarmingwiththeunclothedyouthofMacuto。Theyplungedintothedampcoolnessofbananagrovesatlengthtoemergeuponabrightstream，wherebrownwomeninscantraimentlaunderedclothesdestructivelyupontherocks。Thenthepacktrain，fordingthestream，attackedthesuddenascent，andbadeadieutosuchcivilizationasthecoastafforded。
　　ForweeksArmstrong，guidedbyLuis，followedhisregularrouteamongthemountains。Afterhehadcol-
　　lectedanarrobaofthepreciousmetal，winningaprofitofnearly$5，000，theheadsofthelightenedmuleswereturneddown-trailagain。WheretheheadoftheGuaricoRiverspringsfromagreatgashinthemountain-side，Luishaltedthetrain。
　　"Halfaday'sjourneyfromhere，Se駉r，"saidhe，"isthevillageofTacuzama，whichwehavenevervisited。
　　Ithinkmanyouncesofgoldmaybeprocuredthere。Itisworththetrial。"
　　Armstrongconcurred，andtheyturnedagainupwardtowardTacuzama。Thetrailwasabruptandprecipi-
　　tousmountingthroughadenseforest。Asnightfell，darkandgloomy，Luisoncemorehalted。Beforethemwasablackchasm，bisectingthepathasfarastheycouldsee。
　　Luisdismounted。"Thereshouldbeabridge，"hecalled，andranalongthecleftadistance。"Itishere，"
　　hecried，andremounting，ledtheway。InafewmomentsArmstrong，heardasoundasthoughathunderousdrumwerebeatingsomewhereinthedark。Itwasthefallingofthemules'hoofsuponthebridgemadeofstronghideslashedtopolesandstretchedacrossthechasm。HalfamilefurtherwasTacuzama。Thevillagewasacongre-
　　gationofrockandmudhutssetintheprofundityofanobscurewood。Astheyrodeinasoundinconsistentwiththatbroodingsolitudemettheirears。Fromalong，lowmudhutthattheywerenearingrosethegloriousvoiceofawomaninsong。ThewordswereEnglish，theairfamiliartoArmstrong'smemory，butnottohismusicalknowledge。
　　Heslippedfromhismuleandstoletoanarrowwindowinoneendofthehouse。Peeringcautiouslyinside，hesaw，withinthreefeetofhim，awomanofmarvellous，imposingbeauty，clothedinasplendidlooserobeofleopardskins。ThehutwaspackedclosetothesmallspaceinwhichshestoodwiththesquattingfiguresofIndians。
　　Thewomanfinishedhersongandseatedherselfclosetothelittlewindow，asifgratefulfortheunpollutedairthatenteredit。Whenshehadceasedseveraloftheaudienceroseandcastlittlesoftly-fallingbagsatherfeet。
　　Aharshmurmur——nodoubtabarbarouskindofapplauseandcomment——wentthroughthegrimassembly。
　　Armstrong，wasusedtoseizingopportunitiespromptly。
　　Takingadvantageofthenoisehecalledtothewomaninalowbutdistinctvoice:"Donotturnyourheadthisway，butlisten。IamanAmerican。IfyouneedassistancetellmehowIcanrenderit。Answerasbrieflyasyoucan。"
　　Thewomanwasworthyofhisboldness。Onlybyasuddenflushofherpalecheekdidsheacknowledgeunderstandingofhiswords。Thenshespoke，scarcelymovingherlips。
　　"IamheldaprisonerbytheseIndians。GodknowsIneedhelp。IntwohourscometothelittlehuttwentyyardstowardtheMountainside。Therewillbealightandaredcurtaininthewindow。Thereisalwaysaguardatthedoor，whomyouwillhavetoovercome。Fortheloveofheaven，donotfailtocome。"
　　Thestoryseemstoshrinkfromadventureandrescueandmystery。Thethemeisonetoogentleforthosebraveandquickeningtones。Andyetitreachesasfarbackastimeitself。Ithasbeennamed"environment，"
　　whichisasweakawordasanytoexpresstheunnameablekinshipofmantonature，thatqueerfraternitythatcausesstonesandtreesandsaltwaterandcloudstoplayuponouremotions。Whyarewemadeseriousandsolemnandsublimebymountainheights，graveandcontempla-
　　tivebyanabundanceofoverhangingtrees，reducedtoinconstancyandmonkeycapersbytheripplesonasandybeach？Didtheprotoplasm——butenough。Thechem-
　　istsarelookingintothematter，andbeforelongtheywillhavealllifeinthetableofthesymbols。
　　Briefly，then，inordertoconfinethestorywithinscientificbounds，JohnArmstrong，wenttothehut，chokedtheIndianguardandcarriedawayMlle。Giraud。Withherwasalsoconveyedanumberofpoundsofgolddustshehadcollectedduringhersixmonths'forcedengage-
　　mentinTacuzama。TheCaraboboIndiansareeasilythemostenthusiasticloversofmusicbetweentheequatorandtheFrenchOperaHouseinNewOrleans。TheyarealsostrongbelieversthattheadviceofEmersonwasgoodwhenhesaid:"Thethingthouwantest，0discon-
　　tentedman——takeit，andpaytheprice。"AnumberofthemhadattendedtheperformanceoftheAlcazarOperaCompanyinMacuto，andfoundMlle。Giraud'sstyleandtechniquesatisfactory。Theywantedher，sotheytookheroneeveningsuddenlyandwithoutanyfuss。
　　Theytreatedherwithmuchconsideration，exactingonlyonesongrecitaleachday。ShewasquitepleasedatbeingrescuedbyMr。Armstrong。Somuchformysteryandadventure。Nowtoresumethetheoryoftheproto-
　　plasm。
　　JohnArmstrongandMlle。GiraudrodeamongtheAndeanpeaks，envelopedintheirgreatnessandsublimity。
　　Themightiestcousins，furthestremoved，innature'sgreatfamilybecomeconsciousofthetie。Amongthosehugepilesofprimordialupheaval，amidthosegiganticsilencesandelongatedfieldsofdistancethelittlenessesofmenareprecipitatedasonechemicalthrowsdownasedimentfromanother。Theymovedreverently，asinatemple。Theirsoulswereupliftedinunisonwiththestatelyheights。Theytravelledinazoneofmajestyandpeace。
　　ToArmstrongthewomanseemedalmostaholything。
　　Yetbathedinthewhite，stilldignityofhermartyrdomthatpurifiedherearthlybeautyandgaveout，itseemed，anauraoftranscendentloveliness，inthosefirsthoursofcompanionshipshedrewfromhimanadorationthatwashalfhumanlove，halftheworshipofadescendedgoddess。
　　Neveryetsinceherrescuehadshesmiled。Overherdressshestillworetherobeofleopardskins，formountainairwascold。Shelookedtobesomesplendidprincessbelongingtothosewildandawesomealtitudes。
　　Thespiritoftheregionchimedwithhers。Hereyeswerealwaysturneduponthesombrecliffs，thebluegorgesandthesnow-cladturrets，lookingasublimemelancholyequaltotheirown。Attimesonthejourneyshesangthrillingtedeumsandmisereresthatstruckthetruenoteofthehills，andmadetheirrouteseemlikeasolemnmarchdownacathedralaisle。Therescuedonespokebutseldom，hermoodpartakingofthehushofnaturethatsurroundedthem。Armstronglookeduponherasanangel。Hecouldnotbringhimselftothesacrilegeofattemptingtowooherasotherwomenmaybewooed。
　　Onthethirddaytheyhaddescendedasfarasthetierratemplada，thezonaofthetablelandsandfoothills。
　　Themountainswererecedingintheirrear，butstilltowered，exhibitingyetimpressivelytheirformidableheads。Heretheymetsignsofman。Theysawthewhitehousesofcoffeeplantationsgleamacrosstheclear-
　　ings。Theystruckintoaroadwheretheymettravellersandpack-mules。Cattleweregrazingontheslopes。
　　Theypassedalittlevillagewheretheround-eyedni駉sshriekedandcalledatsightofthem。
　　Mlle。Giraudlaidasideherleopard-skinrobe。Itseemedtobeatrifleincongruousnow。Inthemoun-
　　tainsithadappearedfittingandnatural。AndifArm-
　　strongwasnotmistakenshelaidasidewithitsomethingofthehighdignityofherdemeanour。Asthecountrybecamemorepopulousandsignificantofcomfortablelifehesaw，withafeelingofjoy，thattheexaltedprincessandpriestessoftheAndeanpeakswaschangingtoawoman——anearthwomanbutnolessenticing。A
　　littlecolourcrepttothesurfaceofhermarblecheek。
　　Shearrangedtheconventionaldressthattheremovaloftherobenowdisclosedwiththesolicitoustouchofonewhoisconsciousoftheeyesofothers。Shesmoothedthecarelesssweepofherhair。Amundaneinterest，longlatentinthechillingatmosphereoftheasceticpeaks，showedinhereyes。