TheabsorbinganddisastrousadventureoftheFlyingScudwasnowquiteended；wehaddashedintothesedeepwatersandwehadescapedagaintostarve，wehadbeenruinedandweresaved，hadquarrelledandmadeup；thereremainednothingbuttosingTeDeum，drawaline，andbeginonafreshpageofmyunwrittendiary。IdonotpretendthatIrecoveredallIhadlostwithMamie；itwouldhavebeenmorethanIhadmerited；andI
　　hadcertainlybeenmoreuncommunicativethanbecameeitherthepartnerorthefriend。Butsheacceptedthepositionhandsomely；andduringtheweekthatInowpassedwiththem，bothsheandJimhadthegracetosparemequestions。ItwastoCalistogathatwewent；therewassomerumourofaNapaland-boomatthemoment，thepossibilityofstirattractedJim，andheinformedmehewouldfindacertainjoyinlookingon，muchasNapoleononSt。Helenatookapleasuretoreadmilitaryworks。Thefieldofhisambitionwasquiteclosed；hewasdonewithaction；andlookedforwardtoaranchinamountaindingle，apatchofcorn，apairofkine，aleisurelyandcontemplativeageinthegreenshadeofforests。“Justletmegetdownonmybackinahayfield。”saidhe，“andyou’llfindthere’snomoresnaptomethanthatmuchputty。”
　　Andfortwodaystheperfervidbeingactuallyrested。Thethird，hewasobservedinconsultationwiththelocaleditor，andownedhewasintwomindsaboutpurchasingthepressandpaper。“It’sakindofaholdforanidleman。”hesaid，pleadingly；“andifthesectionwastoopenupthewayitoughtto，theremightbedollarsinthething。”Onthefourthdayhewasgonetilldinner-timealone；onthefifthwemadealongpicnicdrivetothefreshfieldofenterprise；andthesixthwaspassedentirelyinthepreparationofprospectuses。ThepioneerofMcBrideCitywasalreadyuprightandself-reliantasofyore；
　　thefirerekindledinhiseye，theringrestoredtohisvoice；achargersniffingbattleandsayingha-ha，amongthespears。Ontheseventhmorningwesignedadeedofpartnership，forJimwouldnotacceptadollarofmymoneyotherwise；andhavingoncemoreengagedmyself——orthatmortalpartofme，mypurse——amongthewheelsofhismachinery，IreturnedalonetoSanFranciscoandtookquartersinthePalaceHotel。
　　ThesamenightIhadNarestodinner。Hissunburntface，hisqueerandpersonalstrainoftalk，recalleddaysthatwerescarceoverandthatseemedalreadydistant。Throughthemusicofthebandoutside，andthechinkandclatterofthedining-room，itseemedtomeasifIheardthefoamingofthesurfandthevoicesofthesea-birdsaboutMidwayIsland。Thebruisesonourhandswerenotyethealed；andtherewesat，waitedonbyelaboratedarkies，eatingpompanoanddrinkingicedchampagne。
　　“ThinkofourdinnersontheNorah，captain，andthenobligemebylookingroundtheroomforcontrast。”
　　Hetookthesceneinslowly。“Yes，itislikeadream。”hesaid：
　　“likeasifthedarkieswerereallyaboutasbigasdimes；andagreatbigscuttlemightopenupthere，andJohnsonstickinagreatbigheadandshoulders，andcry，’Eightbells！’——andthewholethingvanish。”
　　“Well，it’stheotherthingthathasdonethat。”Ireplied。“It’sallbygonenow，alldeadandburied。Amen！sayI。”
　　“Idon’tknowthat，Mr。Dodd；andtotellyouthefact，Idon’tbelieveit。”saidNares。“There’smoreFlyingScudintheoven；
　　andthebaker’sname，Itakeit，isBellairs。Hetackledmethedaywecamein：sortofarazeeofpooroldhumanity——juryclothes——fullnewsuitofpimples：knewhimatoncefromyourdescription。IlethimpumpmetillIsawhisgame。Heknowsagooddealthatwedon’tknow，agooddealthatwedo，andsuspectsthebalance。There’stroublebrewingforsomebody。”
　　IwassurprisedIhadnotthoughtofthisbefore。Bellairshadbeenbehindthescenes；hehadknownDickson；heknewtheflightofthecrew；itwashardlypossiblebutwhatheshouldsuspect；itwascertainifhesuspected，thathewouldseektotradeonthesuspicion。Andsureenough，Iwasnotyetdressedthenextmorningerethelawyerwasknockingatmydoor。Ilethimin，forIwascurious；andhe，aftersomeambiguousprolegomena，roundlyproposedIshouldgoshareswithhim。
　　“Sharesinwhat？”Iinquired。
　　“Ifyouwillallowmetoclothemyideainasomewhatvulgarform。”saidhe，“Imightaskyou，didyougotoMidwayforyourhealth？”
　　“Idon’tknowthatIdid。”Ireplied。
　　“Similarly，Mr。Dodd，youmaybesureIwouldneverhavetakenthepresentstepwithoutinfluentialgrounds。”pursuedthelawyer。“Intrusionisforeigntomycharacter。ButyouandI，sir，areengagedonthesameends。Ifwecancontinuetoworkthethingincompany，Iplaceatyourdisposalmyknowledgeofthelawandaconsiderablepracticeindelicatenegotiationssimilartothis。Shouldyourefusetoconsent，youmightfindinmeaformidableand“——hehesitated——“andtomyownregret，perhapsadangerouscompetitor。”
　　“Didyougetthisbyheart？”Iasked，genially。
　　“IadviseYOUto！”hesaid，withasuddensparkleoftemperandmenace，instantlygone，instantlysucceededbyfreshcringing。“Iassureyou，sir，Iarriveinthecharacterofafriend；
　　andIbelieveyouunderestimatemyinformation。IfImayinstanceanexample，Iamacquaintedtothelastdimewithwhatyoumadeorratherlost，andIknowyouhavesincecashedaconsiderabledraftonLondon。”
　　“Whatdoyouinfer？”Iasked。
　　“Iknowwherethatdraftcamefrom。”hecried，wincingbacklikeonewhohasgreatlydared，andinstantlyregretstheventure。
　　“So？”saidI。
　　“YouforgetIwasMr。Dickson’sconfidentialagent。”heexplained。“Youhadhisaddress，Mr。Dodd。WeweretheonlytwothathecommunicatedwithinSanFrancisco。Youseemydeductionsarequiteobvious：youseehowopenandfrankI
　　dealwithyou，asIshouldwishtodowithanygentlemanwithwhomIwasconjoinedinbusiness。YouseehowmuchI
　　know；anditcanscarcelyescapeyourstrongcommon-sense，howmuchbetteritwouldbeifIknewall。Youcannothopetogetridofmeatthistimeofday，Ihavemyplaceintheaffair，I
　　cannotbeshakenoff；Iam，ifyouwillexcusearathertechnicalpleasantry，anencumbranceontheestate。TheactualharmI
　　cando，Ileaveyoutovaluateforyourself。Butwithoutgoingsofar，Mr。Dodd，andwithoutinanywayinconveniencingmyself，Icouldmakethingsveryuncomfortable。Forinstance，Mr。Pinkerton’sliquidation。YouandIknow，sir——andyoubetterthanI——onwhatalargefundyoudraw。IsMr。Pinkertoninthethingatall？Itwasyouonlywhoknewtheaddress，andyouwereconcealingit。SupposeIshouldcommunicatewithMr。Pinkerton——“
　　“Lookhere！”Iinterrupted，“communicatewithhimifyouwillpermitmetoclothemyideainavulgarshapetillyouareblueintheface。ThereisonlyonepersonwithwhomIrefusetoallowyoutocommunicatefurther，andthatismyself。Goodmorning。”
　　Hecouldnotconcealhisrage，disappointment，andsurprise；
　　andinthepassageIhavenodoubtwasshakenbySt。Vitus。
　　Iwasdisgustedbythisinterview；itstruckmehardtobesuspectedonallhands，andtohearagainfromthistraffickerwhatIhadheardalreadyfromJim’swife；andyetmystrongestimpressionwasdifferentandmightratherbedescribedasanimpersonalfear。Therewassomethingagainstnatureintheman’scravenimpudence；itwasasthoughalambhadbuttedme；suchdaringatthehandsofsuchadastard，impliedunchangeableresolve，agreatpressureofnecessity，andpowerfulmeans。IthoughtoftheunknownCarthew，anditsickenedmetoseethisferretonhistrail。
　　UponinquiryIfoundthelawyerwasbutjustdisbarredforsomemalpractice；andthediscoveryaddedexcessivelytomydisquiet。Herewasarascalwithoutmoneyorthemeansofmakingit，thrustoutofthedoorsofhisowntrade，publiclyshamed，anddoubtlessinadeuceofabadtemperwiththeuniverse。Here，ontheotherhand，wasamanwithasecret；
　　rich，terrified，practicallyinhiding；whohadbeenwillingtopaytenthousandpoundsforthebonesoftheFlyingScud。I
　　slippedinsensiblyintoamentalalliancewiththevictim；thebusinessweighedonme；alldaylong，Iwaswonderinghowmuchthelawyerknew，howmuchheguessed，andwhenhewouldopenhisattack。
　　Someoftheseproblemsareunsolvedtothisday；othersweresoonmadeclear。WherehegotCarthew’snameisstillamystery；perhapssomesailorontheTempest，perhapsmyownsea-lawyerservedhimforatool；butIwasactuallyathiselbowwhenhelearnedtheaddress。Itfellso。Oneevening，whenIhadanengagementandwaskillingtimeuntilthehour，Ichancedtowalkinthecourtofthehotelwhilethebandplayed。Theplacewasbrightasdaywiththeelectriclight；andIrecognised，atsomedistanceamongtheloiterers，thepersonofBellairsintalkwithagentlemanwhosefaceappearedfamiliar。ItwascertainlysomeoneIhadseen，andseenrecently；butwhoorwhere，Iknewnot。Aporterstandinghardby，gavemethenecessaryhint。ThestrangerwasanEnglishnavyman，invalidedhomefromHonolulu，wherehehadlefthisship；indeed，itwasonlyfromthechangeofclothesandtheeffectsofsickness，thatIhadnotimmediatelyrecognisedmyfriendandcorrespondent，LieutenantSebright。
　　Theconjunctionoftheseplanetsseemingominous，Idrewnear；butitseemedBellairshaddonehisbusiness；hevanishedinthecrowd，andIfoundmyofficeralone。
　　“Doyouknowwhomyouhavebeentalkingto，Mr。Sebright？”
　　Ibegan。
　　“No。”saidhe；“Idon’tknowhimfromAdam。Anythingwrong？”
　　“Heisadisreputablelawyer，recentlydisbarred。”saidI。“I
　　wishIhadseenyouintime。ItrustyoutoldhimnothingaboutCarthew？”
　　Heflushedtohisears。“I’mawfullysorry。”hesaid。“Heseemedcivil，andIwantedtogetridofhim。Itwasonlytheaddressheasked。”
　　“Andyougaveit？”Icried。
　　“I’mreallyawfullysorry。”saidSebright。“I’mafraidIdid。”
　　“Godforgiveyou！”wasmyonlycomment，andIturnedmybackupontheblunderer。
　　Thefatwasinthefirenow：Bellairshadtheaddress，andIwasthemoredeceivedorCarthewwouldhavenewsofhim。Sostrongwasthisimpression，andsopainful，thatthenextmorningIhadthecuriositytopaythelawyer’sdenavisit。Anoldwomanwasscrubbingthestair，andtheboardwasdown。
　　“LawyerBellairs？”saidtheoldwoman。“GoneEastthismorning。There’sLawyerDeannextblockup。”
　　IdidnottroubleLawyerDean，butwalkedslowlybacktomyhotel，ruminatingasIwent。Theimageoftheoldwomanwashingthatdesecratedstairhadstruckmyfancy；itseemedthatallthewater-supplyofthecityandallthesoapintheStatewouldscarcesufficetocleanseit，ithadbeensolongaclearing-houseofdingysecretsandafactoryofsordidfraud。Andnowthecornerwasuntenanted；somejudge，likeacarefulhousewife，hadknockeddowntheweb，andthebloatedspiderwasscuttlingelsewhereafternewvictims。IhadoflateasI
　　havesaidinsensiblytakensideswithCarthew；nowwhenhisenemywasathisheels，myinterestgrewmorewarm；andI
　　begantowonderifIcouldnothelp。ThedramaoftheFlyingScudwasenteringonanewphase。Ithadbeensingularfromthefirst：itpromisedanextraordinaryconclusion；andI，whohadpaidsomuchtolearnthebeginning，mightpayalittlemoreandseetheend。IlingeredinSanFrancisco，indemnifyingmyselfafterthehardshipsofthecruise，spendingmoney，regrettingit，continuallypromisingdepartureforthemorrow。Whynotgoindeed，andkeepawatchuponBellairs？
　　IfImissedhim，therewasnoharmdone，IwasthenearerParis。IfIfoundandkepthistrail，itwashardifIcouldnotputsomestickinhismachinery，andattheworstIcouldpromisemyselfinterestingscenesandrevelations。
　　Insuchamixedhumour，Imadeupwhatitpleasesmetocallmymind，andoncemoreinvolvedmyselfinthestoryofCarthewandtheFlyingScud。ThesamenightIwrotealetteroffarewelltoJim，andoneofanxiouswarningtoDr。UrquartbegginghimtosetCarthewonhisguard；themorrowsawmeintheferry-boat；andtendayslater，IwaswalkingthehurricanedeckontheCityofDenver。Bythattimemymindwasprettymuchmadedownagain，itsnaturalcondition：ItoldmyselfthatIwasboundforParisorFontainebleautoresumethestudyofthearts；andIthoughtnomoreofCartheworBellairs，oronlytosmileatmyownfondness。TheoneIcouldnotserve，evenifIwanted；theotherIhadnomeansoffinding，evenifIcouldhaveatallinfluencedhimafterhewasfound。
　　Andforallthat，Iwascloseontheheelsofanabsurdadventure。Myneighbourattablethateveningwasa’FriscomanwhomIknewslightly。Ifoundhehadcrossedtheplainstwodaysinfrontofme，andthiswasthefirststeamerthathadleftNewYorkforEuropesincehisarrival。TwodaysbeforememeantadaybeforeBellairs；anddinnerwasscarcedonebeforeIwasclosetedwiththepurser。