第10章
Inotherrespects，thesealedtreasuresofRushbrook"svilla，farfromprovokinganysentimentality，seemedonlytogivetruthtothecurrentrumorthatitwasmerelywaitingtobetransformedintoagorgeouswatering-placehotelunderRushbrook"sdirection；that，withitsnewball-roomchangedintoanelaboratedining-hall，itwouldundergostillfurtherimprovement，theinevitableendandobjectofallRushbrook"senterprise；andthatitsformerproprietorhadalreadybegunanothervillawhosemagnificenceshouldeclipsethelast。Therecertainlyappearedtobenolimittothemillionaire"ssuccessinallthathepersonallyundertook，orinhisfortunatecomplicitywiththeenterpriseandinventionofothers。Hisnamewasassociatedwiththeoldestandsafestschemes，aswellasthenewestandboldest——withanequalguaranteeofsecurity。Afew，itwastrue，lookeddoubtinglyuponthis"onemanpower，"butcouldnotrefutethefactthatothershadlargelybenefitedbyassociationwithhim，andthathesharedhisprofitswitharoyalhand。Someobjectedonhighergroundstohisbrutalizingtheinfluenceofwealthbyhismaterialandextravagantlypracticalprocesses，insteadofthegentlersuggestionsofeducationandpersonalexample，andwereimpelledtopointoutthefactthatheandhispatronagewerevulgar。Itwasfelt，however，bythosewhoreceivedhisbenefits，thatapropersenseofthisinferioritywasallthatethicsdemandedofthem。
OnecouldstillacceptRushbrook"sbarbaricgiftsbyhumorouslyrecognizingthefactthathedidn"tknowanybetter，andthatitpleasedhim，aslongastheyresentedanyhigherpretensions。
Therain-beatenwindowsofRushbrook"stownhouse，however，werecheerfullylitthatDecemberevening。Mr。Rushbrookseldomdinedalone；infact，itwaspopularlyallegedthatveryoftentheunfinishedbusinessofthedaywasconcludedoverhisbountifulandperfectboard。HewasdressingasJamesenteredtheroom。
"Mr。Leytonisinyourstudy，sir；hewillstaytodinner。"
"Allright。"
"Ithink，sir，"addedJames，withrespectfulsuggestiveness，"hewantstotalk。Atleast，sir，heaskedmeifyouwouldlikelycomedownstairsbeforeyourcompanyarrived。"
"Ah!Well，telltheothersI"mdiningonBUSINESS，andsetdinnerfortwointheblueroom。"
"Yes，sir。"
Meanwhile，Mr。Leyton——amanofRushbrook"sage，butnotsofreshandvigorous-looking——hadthrownhimselfinachairbesidethestudyfire，afteraglancearoundthehandsomeandfamiliarroom。
Forthehousehadbelongedtoabrothermillionaire；ithadchangedhandswithcertainsharesof"WaterFront，"——assomeofRushbrook"sdealingshadthetruebarbaricabsenceofmoneydetail，——andwaselegantlyandtastefullyfurnished。Thecuckoohad，however，alreadylaidafewcharacteristiceggsinthisadoptednest，andawhitemarblestatueofanudeandill-fedVirtue，sentoverbyRushbrook"sParisagent，andunpackedthatmorning，stoodinonecorner，andmateriallybroughtdownthetemperature。AJapanesepraying-throneofpureivory，and，aboveit，afewyardsofimproper，coloredexposurebyanoldmaster，equalizedeachother。
"Andwhatisallthisaffairaboutthedinner?"suddenlyaskedatartly-pitchedfemalevoicewithaforeignaccent。
Mr。Leytonturnedquickly，andwasjustconsciousofafaintshriek，therustleofaskirt，andtheswiftvanishingofawoman"sfigurefromthedoorway。Mr。Leytonturnedred。Rushbrooklivedengarcon，withfemininepossibilities；Leytonwasamarriedmanandadeacon。Theincidentwhich，toamanoftheworld，wouldhavebroughtonlyasmile，firedtheinexperiencedLeytonwiththoseexaggeratedideasandintensecredulityregardingvicecommontosomeverygoodmen。Hewalkedontip-toetothedoor，andpeeredintothepassage。AtthatmomentRushbrookenteredfromtheoppositedooroftheroom。
"Well，"saidRushbrook，withhisusualpracticaldirectness，"whatdoyouthinkofher?"
Leyton，stillflushed，andwitheyebrowsslightlyknit，said，awkwardly，thathehadscarcelyseenher。
"Shecostmealreadytenthousanddollars，andIsupposeI"llhavetoeventuallyfixupaseparateroomforhersomewhere，"continuedRushhrook。
"Ishouldcertainlyadviseit，"saidLeyton，quickly，"forreally，Rushbrook，youknowthatsomethingisduetotherespectablepeoplewhocomehere，andanyofthemarelikelytosee"——
"Ah!"interruptedRushbrook，seriously，"youthinkshehasn"tgotonclothesenough。Why，lookhere，oldman——she"soneoftheVirtues，andthat"stheriginwhichtheyalwaystravel。She"sa"Temperance"ora"Charity"ora"Resignation，"orsomethingofthatkind。You"llfindhernamethereinFrenchsomewhereatthefootofthemarble。"
Leytonsawhismistake，butfelt——asotherssometimesfelt——adoubtwhetherthissmilelessmanwasnotinwardlylaughingathim。Hereplied，withakeen，rapidglanceathishost:——
"Iwasreferringtosomewomanwhostoodinthatdoorwayjustnow，andaddressedmeratherfamiliarly，thinkingitwasyou。"
"Oh，theSignora，"saidRushbrook，withundisturbeddirectness；
"well，yousawheratLosOsoslastsummer。LikelysheDIDthinkyouwereme。"
ThecoolignoringofanyulteriorthoughtinLeyton"sobjectionforcedtheguesttobeequallypracticalinhisreply。
"Yes，butthefactisthatMissNevilhadtalkedofcomingherewithmethiseveningtoseeyouonherownaffairs，anditwouldn"thavebeenexactlythethingforhertomeetthatwoman。"
"Shewouldn"t，"saidRushbrook，promptly；"norwouldYOU，ifyouhadgoneintotheparlorasMissNevilwouldhavedone。Butlookhere!Ifthat"sthereasonwhyyoudidn"tbringher，sendforheratonce；mycoachmancantakeacardfromyou；thebrougham"sallreadytofetchher，andthereyouare。She"llseeonlyyouandme。"Hewasalreadymovingtowardsthebell，whenLeytonstoppedhim。
"Nomatternow。Icantellyouherbusiness，Ifancy；andinfact，Icameheretospeakofit，quiteindependentlyofher。"
"Thatwon"tdo，Leyton，"interruptedRushbrook，withcrispdecision。"Oneortheotherinterviewisunnecessary；itwastestime，andisn"tbusiness。Betterhaveherpresent，evenifshedon"tsayaword。"
"Yes，butnotinthismatter，"respondedLeyton；"it"saboutSomers。Youknowhe"sbeenveryattentivetohereversinceheruncleleftherheretorecruitherhealth，andIthinkshefancieshim。Well，althoughshe"sindependentandherownmistress，asyouknow，Mrs。LeytonandIaresomewhatresponsibleforheracquaintancewithSomers，——andforthatmattersoareyou；andasmywifethinksitmeansamarriage，weoughttoknowsomethingmorepositiveaboutSomers"sprospects。Now，allwereallyknowisthathe"sagreatfriendofyours；thatyoutrustagooddealtohim；
thathemanagesyoursocialaffairs；thatyoutreathimasasonornephew，andit"sgenerallybelievedthathe"sasgoodasprovidedforbyyou——eh?Didyouspeak?"
"No，"saidRushbrook，quietlyregardingthestatueasiftakingitsmeasurementforasuitableapartmentforit。"Goon。"
"Well，"saidLeyton，alittleimpatiently，"that"sthebeliefeverybodyhas，andyou"venotcontradictedit。Andonthatwe"vetakentheresponsibilityofnotinterferingwithSomers"sattentions。"
"Well?"saidRushbrook，interrogatively。
"Well，"repliedLeyton，emphatically，"youseeImustaskyoupositivelyifyouHAVEdoneanything，orareyougoingtodoanythingforhim?"
"Well，"repliedRushbrook，withexasperatingcoolness，"whatdoyoucallthismarriage?"
"Idon"tunderstandyou，"saidLeyton。
"Lookhere，Leyton，"saidRushbrook，suddenlyandabruptlyfacinghim；"JackSomershasbrains，knowledgeofsociety，tact，accomplishments，andgoodlooks:that"sHIScapitalasmuchasmineismoney。Iemployhim:that"shisadvertisement，recommendation，andcredit。Now，onthestrengthofthis，asyousay，MissNeviliswillingtoinvestinhim；Idon"tseewhatmorecanbedone。"
"Butifheruncledon"tthinkitenough?"
"She"sindependent，andhasmoneyforboth。"
"Butifshethinksshe"sbeendeceived，andchangeshermind?"
"Leyton，youdon"tknowMissNevil。Whateverthatgirlundertakesshe"sweighedfully，andgoesthroughwith。Ifshe"strustedhimenoughtomarryhim，moneywon"tstopher；ifshethinksshe"sbeendeceived，YOU"LLneverknowit。"
TheenthusiasmandconvictionweresounlikeRushbrook"susualcynicaltolerationofthesexthatLeytonstaredathim。
"That"sodd，"hereturned。"That"swhatshesaysofyou。"
"OfME；youmeanSomers?"
"No，ofYOU。Come，Rushbrook，don"tpretendyoudon"tknowthatMissNevilisagreatpartisanofyours，swearsbyyou，saysyou"remisunderstoodbypeople，and，what"sinfernallyoddinawomanwhodon"tbelongtotheclassyoufancy，don"ttalkofyourhabits。
That"swhyshewantstoconsultyouaboutSomers，Isuppose，andthat"swhy，knowingyoumightinfluenceher，Icameherefirsttowarnyou。"
"AndI"vetoldyouthatwhateverImightsayordowouldn"tinfluenceher。Sowe"lldropthesubject。"
"Notyet；foryou"reboundtoseeMissNevilsoonerorlater。Now，ifsheknowsthatyou"vedonenothingforthisman，yourfriendandherlover，won"tshebejustifiedinthinkingthatyouwouldhaveareasonforit?"
"Yes。Ishouldgiveit。"
"Whatreason?"
"ThatIknewshe"dbemorecontentedtohavehimspeculatewithHER
moneythanmine。"
"Thenyouthinkthatheisn"tabusinessman?"
"Ithinkthatshethinksso，orshewouldn"tmarryhim；it"spartoftheattraction。Butcome，Jameshasbeenforfiveminutesdiscreetlywaitingoutsidethedoortotellusdinnerisready，andthecoastclearofallothercompany。Butlookhere，"hesaid，suddenlystopping，withhisarminLeyton"s，"you"rethroughyourtalk，Isuppose；perhapsyou"dratherwe"ddinewiththeSignoraandtheothersthanalone?"
ForaninstantLeytonthrilledwiththefascinationofwhathefirmlybelievedwasaguiltytemptation。Rushbrook，perceivinghishesitation，added:——
"Bytheway，Somersisoftheparty，andoneortwoothersyouknow。"
Mr。Leytonopenedhiseyeswidelyatthis；eitherthetemptationhadpassed，ortheideaofbeingseenindoubtfulcompanybyayoungermanwasdistasteful，forhehurriedlydisclaimedanypreference。"But，"headdedwithhalf-significantpoliteness，"perhapsI"mkeepingYOUfromthem?"
"Itmakesnottheslightestdifferencetome，"calmlyreturnedRushbrook，withsuchevidenttruthfulnessthatLeytonwasbothconvincedandchagrined。
PrecededbythegraveandubiquitousJames，theycrossedthelargehall，andenteredthroughasmallerpassageacharmingapartmenthungwithbluedamask，whichmighthavebeenaboudoir，study，orsmallreception-room，yethadtheairofneverhavingbeenanythingcontinuously。ItwouldseemthatRushbrook"shabitof"campingout"indifferentpartsofhismansionobtainedhereasatLosOsos，andwiththeexceptionofasmallclosetwhichcontainedhisSpartanbed，theroomswereusedseparatelyorinsuites，asoccasionorhisfriendsrequired。ItisrecordedthatanEasternguest，newlyarrivedwithletterstoRushbrook，afteratediousjourney，expressedhimselfpleasedwiththissameblueroom，inwhichhehadsumptuouslydinedwithhishost，andsubsequentlyfellasleepinhischair。Withoutdisturbinghisguest，Rushbrookhadthetableremoved，abed，washstand，andbureaubroughtin，thesleepingmandelicatelylaidupontheformer，andlefttoawakentoanArabiannight"srealizationofhiswish。
CHAPTERV
JameshadbarelydisposedofhismasterandMr。Leyton，andleftthemtotheministrationsoftwoofhisunderlings，beforehewasconfrontedwithoneofthosedifficultproblemsthatitwaspartofhisfunctionstosolve。TheporterinformedhimthatayoungladyhadjustdrivenupinacarriageostensiblytoseeMr。Rushbrook，andJames，descendingtotheoutervestibule，foundhimselffacetofacewithMissGraceNevil。Happily，thatyounglady，withherusualtact，sparedhimsomeembarrassment。
"Oh!James，"shesaidsweetly，"doyouthinkthatIcouldseeMr。
RushbrookforafewmomentsIFIWAITEDFORTHEOPPORTUNITY?Youunderstand，Idon"twishtodisturbhimorhiscompanybybeingregularlyannounced。"
Theyounggirl"spracticalintelligenceappearedtoincreasetheusualrespectwhichJameshadalwaysshownher。"Iunderstand，miss。"Hethoughtforamoment，andsaid:"Wouldyoumind，then，followingmewhereyoucouldwaitquietlyandalone?"Asshequicklyassented，heprecededherupthestaircase，pastthestudyanddrawing-room，whichhedidnotenter，andstoppedbeforeasmalldoorattheendofthepassage。Then，handingherakeywhichhetookfromhispocket，hesaid:"ThisistheonlyroominthehousethatisstrictlyreservedforMr。Rushbrook，andevenherarelyusesit。YoucanwaitherewithoutanybodyknowingituntilIcancommunicatewithhimandbringyoutohisstudyunobserved。
And，"hehesitated，"ifyouwouldn"tmindlockingthedoorwhenyouarein，miss，youwouldbemoresecure，andIwillknockwhenI
comeforyou。"
GraceNevilsmiledattheman"sprudence，andenteredtheroom。
Buttohergreatsurprise，shehadscarcelyshutthedoorwhenshewasinstantlystruckwithasingularmemorywhichtheapartmentrecalled。ItwasexactlyliketheroomshehadalteredinRushbrook"svillaatLosOsos!Morethanthat，oncloseexaminationitprovedtobetheverysamefurniture，arrangedassherememberedtohavearrangedit，eventotheflowersandgrasses，now，alas!fadedandwitheredonthewalls。Therecouldbenomistake。Therewastheopenebonyescritoirewiththesatinblotteropen，anditsleavesstillbearingthemarksofherownhandwriting。Socompletetohermindwastheideaofherowntenancyinthisbachelor"smansion，thatshelookedaroundwithahalfindignantalarmforthephotographorportraitofherselfthatmightfurtherindicateit。Buttherewasnootherexposition。Theonlythingthathadbeenaddedwasagiltlegendonthesatincaseoftheblotter，——"LosOsos，August20，186-，"thedayshehadoccupiedtheroom。
Shewaspleased，astonished，butmorethanall，disturbed。Theonlymanwhomightclaimarighttothisfigurativepossessionofhertastesandhabitswastheonewhomshehadquietly，reflectively，andunderstandinglyhalfacceptedasherlover，andonwhoseaccountshehadcometoconsultRushbrook。ButSomerswasnotasentimentalist；infact，asayounggirl，forcedbyherindependentpositiontosomewhatcriticallyscrutinizemasculineweaknesses，thishadalwaysbeenapointinhisfavor；yetevenifhehadjoinedwithhisfriendRushbrooktoperpetuatethememoryoftheirfirstacquaintanceship，histastemerelywouldnothaveselectedachambredegarconinMr。Rushbrook"shomeforitsexhibition。Herconceptionoftheoppositecharactersofthetwomenwassingularlydistinctandreal，andthismomentaryconfusionofthemwasdisagreeabletoherwoman"ssense。ButatthismomentJamescametoreleaseherandconducthertoRushbrook"sstudy，wherehewouldjoinheratonce。Everythinghadbeenarrangedasshehadwished。
EvenamorepracticalmanthanRushbrookmighthavelingeredoverthepictureofthetall，gracefulfigureofMissNevil，quietlyenthronedinalargearmchairbythefire，herscarlet，satin-linedcloakthrownoveritsback，andherchinrestingonherhand。Butthemillionairewalkeddirectlytowardsherwithhisusualfranknessofconsciousbutrestrainedpower，andshefelt，asshealwaysdid，perfectlyathereaseinhispresence。Evenasshetookhisoutstretchedhand，itsstraightforwardgraspseemedtoendowherwithitsownconfidence。
"You"llexcusemycomingheresoabruptly，"shesmiled，"butI
wantedtogetbeforeMr。Leyton，who，Ibelieve，wishestoseeyouonthesamebusinessasmyself。"
"Heisherealready，anddiningwithme，"saidRushbrook。
"Ah!doesheknowIamhere?"askedthegirl，quietly。
"No；ashesaidyouhadthoughtofcomingwithhimanddidn"t，I
presumedyoudidn"tcaretohavehimknowyouhadcomealone。"
"Notexactlythat，Mr。Rushbrook，"shesaid，fixingherbeautifuleyesonhiminbrightandtrustfulconfidence，"butIhappentohaveafullerknowledgeofthisbusinessthanhehas，andyet，asitisnotaltogethermyownsecret，Iwasnotpermittedtodivulgeittohim。NorwouldItellittoyou，onlyIcannotbearthatyoushouldthinkthatIhadanythingtodowiththiswretchedinquisitionintoMr。Somers"sprospects。KnowingaswellasyoudohowperfectlyindependentIam，youwouldthinkitstrange，wouldn"tyou?ButyouwouldthinkitstillmoresurprisingwhenyoufoundoutthatIandmyunclealreadyknowhowliberallyandgenerouslyyouhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture。"
"HowIhadprovidedforMr。Somersinthefuture?"repeatedMr。
Rushbrook，lookingatthefire，"eh?"
"Yes，"saidtheyounggirl，indifferently，"howyouweretoputhimintosucceedyouintheWaterFrontTrust，andallthat。Hetoldittomeandmyuncleattheoutsetofouracquaintance，confidentially，ofcourse，andIdaresaywithanhonorabledelicacythatwaslikehim，but——Isupposenowyouwillthinkmefoolish——allthewhileI"dratherhehadnot。"
"You"dratherhehadnot，"repeatedMr。Rushbrook，slowly。
"Yes，"continuedGrace，leaningforwardwithherroundedelbowsonherknees，andherslim，archedfeetonthefender。"Nowyouaregoingtolaughatme，Mr。Rushbrook，butallthisseemedtometospoilanyspontaneousfeelingImighthavetowardshim，andlimitmyindependenceinathingthatshouldbeamatteroffreewillalone。Itseemedtoomuchlikeabusinessproposition!There，mykindfriend!"sheadded，lookingupandtryingtoreadhisfacewithahalfgirlishpout，followed，however，byamaturersigh，"I"mbotheringyouwithawoman"sfoolishnessinsteadoftalkingbusiness。And"——anothersigh——"IsupposeitISbusinessformyuncle，whohas，itseems，boughtintothisTrustonthesepossiblecontingencies，has，perhaps，beenaskingquestionsofMr。Leyton。
ButIdon"twantyoutothinkthatIapproveofthem，oradviseyouransweringthem。Butyouarenotlistening。"
"Ihadforgottensomething，"saidRushbrook，withanoddpreoccupation。"Excusemeamoment——Iwillreturnatonce。"
Helefttheroomquiteasabstractedly，andwhenhereachedthepassage，heapparentlycouldnotrememberwhathehadforgotten，ashewalkeddeliberatelytotheendwindow，where，withhisarmsfoldedbehindhisback，heremainedlookingoutintothestreet。A
passer-by，glancingup，mighthavesaidhehadseenthepale，sternghostofMr。Rushbrook，framedlikeastonyportraitinthewindow。
Buthepresentlyturnedaway，andre-enteredtheroom，goinguptoGrace，whowasstillsittingbythefire，inhisusualstronganddirectfashion。
"Well!Nowletmeseewhatyouwant。Ithinkthiswoulddo。"
Hetookaseatathisopendesk，andrapidlywroteafewlines。
"There，"hecontinued，"whenyouwritetoyouruncle，inclosethat。"
Gracetookit，andread:——
DEARMISSNEVIL，——PrayassureyourunclefrommethatIamquitereadytoguarantee，inanyformthathemayrequire，theundertakingrepresentedtohimbyMr。JohnSomers。Yoursverytruly，ROBERTRUSHBROOK。
Aquickflushmountedtotheyounggirl"scheeks。"ButthisisaSECURITY，Mr。Rushbrook，"shesaidproudly，handinghimbackthepaper，"andmyuncledoesnotrequirethat。NorshallIinsulthimoryoubysendingit。"
"ItisBUSINESS，MissNevil，"saidRushbrook，gravely。Hestopped，andfixedhiseyesuponheranimatedfaceandsparklingeyes。"Youcansendittohimornot，asyoulike。But"——araresmilecametohishandsomemouth——"asthisisalettertoYOU，youmustnotinsultMEbynotacceptingit。"
Replyingtohissmileratherthanthewordsthataccompaniedit，MissNevilsmiled，too。Nevertheless，shewasuneasyanddisturbed。Theinterview，whatevershemighthavevaguelyexpectedfromit，hadresolveditselfsimplyintoabusinessindorsementofherlover，whichshehadnotsought，andwhichgavehernosatisfaction。Yettherewasthesamepotentandindefinablyprotectingpresencebeforeherwhichshehadsought，butwhoseomniscienceandwhosehelpsheseemedtohavelostthespellandcouragetoputtothetest。Herelievedherinhisabruptbutnotunkindlyfashion。"Well，whenisittobe?"
"It?"
"Yourmarriage。"
"Oh，notforsometime。There"snohurry。"
ItmighthavestruckthepracticalMr。Rushbrookthat，evenconsideredasadesirablebusinessaffair，theprospectivecompletionofthiscontractprovokedneitherfranksatisfactionnorconventionaldissimulationonthepartoftheyounglady，forheregardedhercalmbutslightlyweariedexpressionfixedly。Butheonlysaid:"ThenIshallsaynothingofthisinterviewtoMr。
Leyton?"
"Asyouplease。Itreallymatterslittle。Indeed，IsupposeIwasratherfoolishincomingatall，andwastingyourvaluabletimefornothing。"
Shehadrisen，asiftakinghislastquestioninthesignificanceofapartingsuggestion，andwasstraighteninghertallfigure，preparatorytoputtingonhercloak。Asshereachedit，hesteppedforward，andlifteditfromthechairtoassisther。Theactwassounprecedented，asMr。Rushbrookneverindulgedinthoseminormasculinecourtesies，thatshewasmomentarilyasconfusedasayoungergirlatthegallantryofayoungerman。Intheirpreviousfriendshiphehadseldomdrawnnearherexcepttoshakeherhand——
acircumstancethathadalwaysrecurredtoherwhenhisfreeandfamiliarlifehadbeenthesubjectofgossip。Butshenowhadamorefrightenedconsciousnessthathernerveswerestrangelyrespondingtohispowerfulpropinquity，andsheinvoluntarilycontractedherprettyshouldersashegentlylaidthecloakuponthem。Yetevenwhentheactwascompleted，shehadasuperstitiousinstinctthatthesignificanceofthisrarecourtesywasthatitwasfinal，andthathehadhelpedhertointerposesomethingthatshuthimoutfromherforever。
Shewasturningawaywithaheightenedcolor，whenthesoundoflight，hurriedfootsteps，andtherustleofawoman"sdresswasheardinthehall。Aswiftrecollectionofhercompanion"sinfelicitousreputationnowreturnedtoher，andGraceNevil，withaslightstiffeningofherwholeframe，becamecoldlyherselfagain。Mr。Rushbrookbetrayedneithersurprisenoragitation。
Begginghertowaitamomentuntilhecouldarrangeforhertopasstohercarriageunnoticed，helefttheroom。
YetitseemedthatthecauseofthedisturbancewasunsuspectedbyMr。Rushbrook。Mr。Leyton，althoughlefttotheconsolationofcigarsandliquorsintheblueroom，hadbecomeslightlywearyofhiscompanion"sprolongedabsence。SatisfiedinhismindthatRushbrookhadjoinedthegayerparty，andthathewasevennowpayinggallantcourttotheSignora，hebecameagaincuriousanduneasy。Atlasttheunmistakablesoundofwhisperingvoicesinthepassagegotthebetterofhissenseofcourtesyasaguest，andherosefromhisseat，andslightlyopenedthedoor。Ashedidsothefiguresofamanandwoman，conversinginearnestwhispers，passedtheopening。Theman"sarmwasroundthewoman"swaist；thewomanwas——ashehadsuspected——theonewhohadstoodinthedoorway，theSignora——but——themanwasNOTRushbrook。Mr。Leytondrewbackthistimeinunaffectedhorror。ItwasnoneotherthanJackSomers!
Somewarninginstinctmustatthatmomenthavestruckthewoman，forwithastifledcryshedisengagedherselffromSomers"sarm，anddashedrapidlydownthehall。Somers，evidentlyunawareofthecause，stoodirresoluteforamoment，andthenmoresilentlybutswiftlydisappearedintoasidecorridorasiftointercepther。
ItwastherapidpassageoftheSignorathathadattractedtheattentionofGraceandRushbrookinthestudy，anditwasthemomentafteritthatMr。Rushbrookleft。
CHAPTERVI
Vaguelyuneasy，andstillperplexedwithherpreviousagitation，asMr。Rushbrookclosedthedoorbehindhim，Grace，followingsomefeminineinstinctratherthananydefinitereason，walkedtothedoorandplacedherhanduponthelocktopreventanyintrusionuntilhereturned。Hercautionseemedtobejustifiedamomentlater，foraheavierbutstealthierfootstephaltedoutside。Thehandleofthedoorwasturned，butsheresisteditwiththefulleststrengthofhersmallhanduntilavoice，whichstartledher，calledinahurriedwhisper:——
"Openquick，"tisI。"
Shesteppedbackquickly，flungthedooropen，andbeheldSomersonthethreshold!
Theastonishment，agitation，andaboveall，theawkwardconfusionofthisusuallyself-possessedandreadyman，wassounlikehim，andwithalsopainful，thatGracehurriedtoputanendtoit，andforaninstantforgotherownsurpriseatseeinghim。Shesmiledassuringly，andextendedherhand。
"Grace——MissNevil——Ibegyourpardon——Ididn"timagine"——hebeganwithaforcedlaugh。"Imean，ofcourse——Icannot——but"——Hestopped，andthenassumingapeculiarexpression，said:"ButwhatareYOUdoinghere?"
Atanyothermomentthegirlwouldhaveresentedthetone，whichwasasnewtoherashispreviousagitation，butinherpresentself-consciousnesshersituationseemedtorequiresomeexplanation。"Icamehere，"shesaid，"toseeMr。Rushbrookonbusiness。Yourbusiness——OURbusiness，"sheadded，withacharmingsmile，usingforthefirsttimethepronounthatseemedtoindicatetheirunityandinterest，andyetfullyawareofavagueinsincerityindoingso。
"OurBUSINESS?"herepeated，ignoringhergentlermeaningwithachangedemphasisandalookofsuspicion。
"Yes，"saidGrace，alittleimpatiently。"Mr。LeytonthoughtheoughttowritetomyunclesomethingpositiveastoyourprospectswithMr。Rushbrook，and"——
"Youcameheretoinquire?"saidtheyoungman，sharply。
"Icameheretostopanyinquiry，"saidGrace，indignantly。"I
cameheretosayIwassatisfiedwithwhatyouhadconfidedtomeofMr。Rushbrook"sgenerosity，andthatwasenough!"
"WithwhatIhadconfidedtoyou?Youdaredsaythat?"
Gracestopped，andinstantlyfacedhim。Butanyindignationshemighthavefeltathisspeechandmannerwasswallowedupintherevulsionandhorrorthatovertookherwiththesuddenrevelationshesawinhiswhiteandfrightenedface。Leyton"sstrangeinquiry，Rushbrook"scoldcomposureandscornfulacceptanceofherowncredulousness，cametoherinaflashofshamefulintelligence。
Somershadlied!Theinsufferablemeannessofit!Alie，whoseveryuselessnessandignobilityhaddefeateditspurpose——aliethatimpliedthebasestsuspicionofherownindependenceandtruthfulness——suchalienowstoodoutasplainlybeforeherashisguiltyface。
"Forgivemyspeakingsorudely，"hesaidwithaforcedsmileandattempttorecoverhisself-control，"butyouhaveruinedmeunlessyoudenythatItoldyouanything。Itwasajoke——anextravagancethatIhadforgotten；atleast，itwasaconfidencebetweenyouandmethatyouhavefoolishlyviolated。Saythatyoumisunderstoodme——thatitwasafancyofyourown。Sayanything——hetrustsyou——
he"llbelieveanythingyousay。"
"HeHASbelievedme，"saidGrace，almostfiercely，turninguponhimwiththepaperthatRushbrookhadgivenherinheroutstretchedhand。"Readthat!"
Hereadit。Hadheblushed，hadhestammered，hadheevenkeptuphisformerfranticandpitiableattitude，shemightatthatsuprememomenthaveforgivenhim。Buttoherastonishmenthisfacechanged，hishandsomebrowcleared，hiscareless，happysmilereturned，hisgracefulconfidencecameback——hestoodbeforehertheelegant，courtly，andaccomplishedgentlemanshehadknown。Hereturnedherthepaper，andadvancingwithextendedhand，saidtriumphantly:——
"Superb!Splendid!Noonebutawomancouldthinkofthat!Andonlyonewomanachieveit。YouhavetrickedthegreatRushbrook。
Youareindeedworthyofbeingafinancier"swife!"