sheetunderthecompellingspellofwizardPinkerton。DollarsofmineweretackingofftheshoresofMexico，inperilofthedeepandtheguarda-costas；theyrangonsaloon-countersinthecityofTombstone，Arizona；theyshoneinfaro-tentsamongthemountaindiggings；theimaginationflaggedinfollowingthem，sowideweretheydiffused，sobrisklytheyspantotheturningofthewizard’scrank。Buthere，there，oreverywhereIcouldstilltellmyselfitwasallmine，andwhatwasmoreconvincing，drawsubstantialdividends。Myfortune，Icalledit；anditrepresented，whenexpressedindollars，orevenBritishpounds，anhonestpotofmoney；whenextendedintofrancs，averitablefortune。PerhapsIhaveletthecatoutofthebag；perhapsyouseealreadywheremyhopeswerepointing，andbegintoblamemyinconsistency。ButImustfirsttellyoumyexcuse，andthechangethathadbefallenPinkerton。
　　AboutaweekafterthepicnictowhichheescortedMamie，Pinkertonavowedthestateofhisaffections。FromwhatIhadobservedonboardthesteamer，wheremethoughtMamiewaitedonhimwithherlimpideyes，Iencouragedthebashfullovertoproceed；andtheverynexteveninghewascarryingmetocallonhisaffianced。
　　“Youmustbefriendher，Loudon，asyouhavealwaysbefriendedme。”hesaid，pathetically。
　　“Bysayingdisagreeablethings？Idoubtifthatbethewaytoayounglady’sfavour。”Ireplied；“andsincethispicnickingI
　　begintobeamanofsomeexperience。”
　　“Yes，youdonoblythere；Ican’tdescribehowIadmireyou。”hecried。“Notthatshewilleverneedit；shehashadeveryadvantage。GodknowswhatIhavedonetodeserveher。O
　　man，whataresponsibilitythisisforaroughfellowandnotalwaystruthful！”
　　“Braceup，oldman，braceup！”saidI。
　　ButwhenwereachedMamie’sboarding-house，itwasalmostwithtearsthathepresentedme。“HereisLoudon，Mamie。”
　　werehiswords。“Iwantyoutolovehim；hehasagrandnature。”
　　“Youarecertainlynostrangertome，Mr。Dodd。”washergraciousexpression。“Jamesisneverwearyofdescantingonyourgoodness。”
　　“Mydearlady。”saidI，“whenyouknowourfriendalittlebetter，youwillmakealargeallowanceforhiswarmheart。Mygoodnesshasconsistedinallowinghimtofeedandclotheandtoilformewhenhecouldillaffordit。IfIamnowalive，itistohimIoweit；nomanhadakinderfriend。Youmusttakegoodcareofhim。”Iadded，layingmyhandonhisshoulder，“andkeephimingoodorder，forheneedsit。”
　　Pinkertonwasmuchaffectedbythisspeech，andso，Ifear，wasMamie。Iadmititwasatactlessperformance。“Whenyouknowourfriendalittlebetter。”wasnothappilysaid；andeven“keephimingoodorder，forheneedsit“mightbeconstruedintomatterofoffence；butIlayitbeforeyouinallconfidenceofyouracquittal：wasthegeneraltoneofit“patronising“？Evenifsuchwastheverdictofthelady，Icannotbutsupposetheblamewasneitherwhollyhersnorwhollymine；IcannotbutsupposethatPinkertonhadalreadysickenedthepoorwomanofmyveryname；sothatifIhadcomewiththesongsofApollo，shemuststillhavebeendisgusted。
　　Here，however，weretwofinger-poststoParis。Jimwasgoingtobemarried，andsohadthelessneedofmysociety。Ihadnotpleasedhisbride，andsowas，perhaps，betterabsent。LateoneeveningIbroachedtheideatomyfriend。Ithadbeenagreatdayforme；Ihadjustbankedmyfivethousandcatamountaindollars；andasJimhadrefusedtolayafingeronthestock，riskandprofitwerebothwhollymine，andIwascelebratingtheeventwithstoutandcrackers。Ibeganbytellinghimthatifitcausedhimanypainoranyanxietyabouthisaffairs，hehadbuttosaytheword，andheshouldhearnomoreofmyproposal。
　　HewasthetruestandbestfriendIeverhadorwaseverliketohave；anditwouldbeastrangethingifIrefusedhimanyfavourhewassurehewanted。AtthesametimeIwishedhimtobesure；formylifewaswastinginmyhands。Iwaslikeonefromhome；allmytrueinterestssummonedmeaway。Imustremindhim，besides，thathewasnowabouttomarryandassumenewinterests，andthatourextremefamiliaritymightbeevenpainfultohiswife——“Ono，Loudon；Ifeelyouarewrongthere。”heinterjectedwarmly；“sheDOESappreciateyournature。”——Somuchthebetter，then，Icontinued；andwentontopointoutthatourseparationneednotbeforlong；that，inthewayaffairsweregoing，hemightjoinmeintwoyearswithafortune，small，indeed，fortheStates，butinFrancealmostconspicuous；thatwemightuniteourresources，andhaveonehouseinParisforthewinterandasecondnearFontainebleauforsummer，wherewecouldbeashappyasthedaywaslong，andbringuplittlePinkertonsaspracticalartisticworkmen，farfromthemoney-hungeroftheWest。“Letmegothen。”I
　　concluded；“notasadeserter，butasthevanguard，toleadthemarchofthePinkertonmen。”
　　SoIarguedandpleaded，notwithoutemotion；myfriendsittingopposite，restinghischinuponhishandandbutforthatsingleinterjectionsilent。“Ihavebeenlookingforthis，Loudon。”saidhe，whenIhaddone。“Itdoespainme，andthat’sthefact——I’msomiserablyselfish。AndIbelieveit’sadeathblowtothepicnics；forit’sidletodenythatyouweretheheartandsoulofthemwithyourwandandyourgallantbearing，andwitandhumourandchivalry，andthrowingthatkindofsocietyatmosphereaboutthething。Butforallthat，you’reright，andyououghttogo。Youmaycountonfortydollarsaweek；andifDepewCity——oneofnature’scentresforthisState——panouttheleastasIexpect，itmaybedouble。Butit’sfortydollarsanyway；andtothinkthattwoyearsagoyouwerealmostreducedtobeggary！”
　　“IWASreducedtoit。”saidI。
　　“Well，thebrutesgaveyounothing，andI’mgladofitnow！”
　　criedJim。“It’sthetriumphantreturnIgloryin！Thinkofthemaster，andthatcold-bloodedMynertoo！Yes，justlettheDepewCityboomgetonitslegs，andyoushallgo；andtwoyearslater，dayforday，I’llshakehandswithyouinParis，withMamieonmyarm，Godblessher！”
　　Wetalkedinthisveinfarintothenight。Iwasmyselfsoexultantinmynew-foundliberty，andPinkertonsoproudofmytriumph，sohappyinmyhappiness，insowarmaglowaboutthegallantlittlewomanofhischoice，andtheveryroomsofilledwithcastlesintheairandcottagesatFontainebleau，thatitwaslittlewonderifsleepfledoureyelids，andthreehadfollowedtwoupontheofficeclockbeforePinkertonunfoldedthemechanismofhispatentsofa。
　　Itisverymuchthecustomtoviewlifeasifitwereexactlyruledintwo，likesleepandwaking；theprovincesofplayandbusinessstandingseparate。ThebusinesssideofmycareerinSanFranciscohasbeennowdisposedof；Iapproachthechapterofdiversion；anditwillbefoundtheyhadaboutanequalshareinbuildingupthestoryoftheWrecker——agentlemanwhoseappearancemaybepresentlyexpected。
　　Withallmyoccupations，somesixafternoonsandtwoorthreeoddeveningsremainedatmydisposaleveryweek：acircumstancethemoreagreeableasIwasastrangerinacitysingularlypicturesque。FromwhatIhadoncecalledmyself，TheAmateurParisian，Igrewordeclinedintoawatersideprowler，alingereronwharves，afrequenterofshyneighbourhoods，ascraperofacquaintancewitheccentriccharacters。IvisitedChineseandMexicangambling-hells，Germansecretsocieties，sailors’boarding-houses，and“dives“
　　ofeverycomplexionofthedisreputableanddangerous。IhaveseengreasyMexicanhandspinnedtothetablewithaknifeforcheating，seamenwhenblood-moneyranhighknockeddownuponthepublicstreetandcarriedinsensibleonboardshort-
　　handedships，shotsexchanged，andthesmokeandthecompanydispersingfromthedoorsofthesaloon。Ihaveheardcold-mindedPolacksdebateuponthereadiestmethodofburningSanFranciscototheground，hot-headedworkingmenandwomenbawlandswearinthetribuneattheSandlot，andKearneyhimselfopenhissubscriptionforagallows，namethemanufacturerswhoweretograceitwiththeirdanglingbodies，andreadaloudtothedelightedmultitudeatelegramofadhesionfromamemberoftheStatelegislature：allwhichpreparationsofproletarianwarwereinamomentbreatheduponandabolishedbythemerenameandfameofMr。
　　Coleman。ThatlionoftheVigilanteshadbuttorousehimselfandshakehisears，andthewholebrawlingmobwassilenced。
　　Icouldnotbutreflectwhatastrangemannerofmanthiswas，tobelivingunremarkedthereasaprivatemerchant，andtobesofearedbyawholecity；andifIwasdisappointed，inmycharacteroflooker-on，tohavethematterendingloriouslywithoutthefiringofashotorthehangingofasinglemillionnaire，philosophytriedtotellmethatthissightwastrulythemorepicturesque。InathousandtownsanddifferentepochsImighthavehadoccasiontobeholdthecowardiceandcarnageofstreetfighting；whereelse，butonlythereandthen，couldIhaveenjoyedaviewofColemantheintermittentdespotwalkingmeditativelyuphillinaquietpartoftown，withaveryrollinggait，andslappinggentlyhisgreatthigh？
　　MinoraCanamus。ThishistoricfigurestalkssilentlythroughacorneroftheSanFranciscoofmymemory：therestisbric-a-
　　brac，thereminiscencesofavagrantsketcher。Mydelightwasmuchinslums。LittleItalywasahauntofmine；thereIwouldlookinatthewindowsofsmalleating-shops，transportedbodilyfromGenoaorNaples，withtheirmacaroni，andchiantiflasks，andportraitsofGaribaldi，andcolouredpoliticalcaricatures；orenteringinholdhighdebatewithsomeear-ringedfisherofthebayastothedesignsof“Mr。Owstria“
　　and“Mr。Rooshia。”Iwasoftentobeobservedhadtherebeenanytoobservemeinthatdis-peopled，hill-sidesolitudeofLittleMexico，withitscrazywoodenhouses，endlesscrazywoodenstairs，andperilousmountaingoat-pathsinthesand。
　　Chinatownbyathousandeccentricitiesdrewandheldme；I
　　couldneverhaveenoughofitsambiguous，interracialatmosphere，asofavitalisedmuseum；neverwonderenoughatitsoutlandish，necromantic-lookingvegetablessetforthtosellincommonplaceAmericanshop-windows，itstempledoorsopenandthescentofthejoss-stickstreamingforthontheAmericanair，itskitesofOrientalfashionhangingfouledinWesterntelegraph-wires，itsflightsofpaperprayerswhichthetrade-windhuntsanddissipatesalongWesterngutters。IwasafrequentwandereronNorthBeach，gazingatthestraits，andthehugeCape-Hornerscreepingouttosea，andimminentTamalpais。Thence，onmyhomewardway，Imightvisitthatstrangeandfilthyshed，earth-pavedandwalledwiththecagesofwildanimalsandbirds，whereataramshacklecounter，amidtheyellsofmonkeys，andapoignantatmosphereofmenagerie，forty-rodwhiskeywasadministeredbyaproprietorasdirtyashisbeasts。NordidIevenneglectNobHill，whichisitselfakindofslum，beingthehabitatofthemeremillionnaire。Theretheydwelluponthehill-top，highraisedaboveman’sclamour，andthetrade-windblowsbetweentheirpalacesaboutdesertedstreets。
　　ButSanFranciscoisnotherselfonly。SheisnotonlythemostinterestingcityintheUnion，andthehugestsmelting-potofracesandthepreciousmetals。Shekeeps，besides，thedoorsofthePacific，andistheportofentrytoanotherworldandanearlierepochinman’shistory。NowhereelseshallyouobserveintheancientphrasesomanytallshipsashereconvenefromroundtheHorn，fromChina，fromSydney，andtheIndies；butscarceremarkedamidthatcrowdofdeep-seagiants，anotherclassofcraft，theIslandschooner，circulates：lowinthewater，withloftysparsanddaintylines，riggedandfashionedlikeayacht，mannedwithbrown-skinned，soft-spoken，sweet-eyednativesailors，andequippedwiththeirgreatdouble-enderboatsthattellataleofboisteroussea-beaches。Thesestealoutandinagain，unnotedbytheworldoreventhenewspaperpress，saveforthelineintheclearingcolumn，“SchoonerSo-and-soforYapandSouthSeaIslands“——stealoutwithnondescriptcargoesoftinnedsalmon，gin，boltsofgaudycottonstuff，women’shats，andWaterburywatches，toreturn，afterayear，piledashighastotheeavesofthehousewithcopra，orwallowingdeepwiththeshellsofthetortoiseorthepearloyster。Tome，inmycharacteroftheAmateurParisian，thisislandtraffic，andeventheislandworld，werebeyondtheboundsofcuriosity，andhowmuchmoreofknowledge。IstoodthereontheextremeshoreoftheWestandofto-day。Seventeenhundredyearsago，andseventhousandmilestotheeast，alegionarystood，perhaps，uponthewallofAntoninus，andlookednorthwardtowardthemountainsofthePicts。Foralltheintervaloftimeandspace，I，whenIlookedfromthecliff-houseonthebroadPacific，wasthatman’sheirandanalogue：eachofusstandingonthevergeoftheRomanEmpireor，aswenowcallit，Westerncivilization，eachofusgazingonwardintozonesunromanised。
　　ButIwasdull。Ilookedratherbackward，keepingakindeyeonParis；anditrequiredaseriesofconvergingincidentstochangemyattitudeofnonchalanceforoneofinterest，andevenlonging，whichIlittledreamedthatIshouldlivetogratify。