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matter of doubt。 Only his eyes； light blue and intelligent； which
had a singular expression of gentleness and worry； appeared
individual to the man。 His manner was cultivated and easy。 He
motioned his visitor courteously to a chair。
〃I was referred to you；〃 said Grant； almost abruptly； 〃as the
person responsible for a series of slanderous attacks against Mr。
Daniel Harcourt in the 'Clarion；' of which paper I believe you are
the proprietor。 I was told that you declined to give the authority
for your action； unless you were forced to by legal proceedings。〃
Fletcher's sensitive blue eyes rested upon Grant's with an
expression of constrained pain and pity。 〃I heard of your
inquiries； Mr。 Grant； you were making them on behalf of this Mr。
Harcourt or Harkutt〃he made the distinction with intentional
deliberation〃with a view； I believe； to some arbitration。 The
case was stated to you fairly； I think； I believe I have nothing to
add to it。〃
〃That was your answer to the ambassador of Mr。 Harcourt；〃 said
Grant； coldly； 〃and as such I delivered it to him； but I am here
to…day to speak on my own account。〃
What could be seen of Mr。 Fletcher's lips appeared to curl in an
odd smile。 〃Indeed； I thought it wasor would beall in the
family。〃
Grant's face grew more stern； and his gray eyes glittered。 〃You'll
find my status in this matter so far independent that I don't
propose； like Mr。 Harcourt； either to begin a suit or to rest
quietly under the calumny。 Briefly； Mr。 Fletcher； as you or your
informant knows； I was the surveyor who revealed to Mr。 Harcourt
the value of the land to which he claimed a title from your man；
this Elijah or 'Lige Curtis as you call him；〃he could not resist
this imitation of his adversary's supercilious affectation of
precise nomenclature；〃and it was upon my representation of its
value as an investment that he began the improvements which have
made him wealthy。 If this title was fraudulently obtained； all the
facts pertaining to it are sufficiently related to connect me with
the conspiracy。〃
〃Are you not a little hasty in your presumption； Mr。 Grant？〃 said
Fletcher； with unfeigned surprise。
〃That is for ME to judge； Mr。 Fletcher；〃 returned Grant； haughtily。
〃But the name of Professor Grant is known to all California as
beyond the breath of calumny or suspicion。〃
〃It is because of that fact that I propose to keep it so。〃
〃And may I ask in what way you wish me to assist you in so doing？〃
〃By promptly and publicly retracting in the 'Clarion' every word of
this slander against Harcourt。〃
Fletcher looked steadfastly at the speaker。 〃And if I decline？〃
〃I think you have been long enough in California； Mr。 Fletcher； to
know the alternative expected of a gentleman；〃 said Grant； coldly。
Mr。 Fletcher kept his gentle blue eyesin which surprise still
overbalanced their expression of pained concernon Grant's face。
〃But is not this more in the style of Colonel Starbottle than
Professor Grant？〃 he asked； with a faint smile。
Grant rose instantly with a white face。 〃You will have a better
opportunity of judging；〃 he said； 〃when Colonel Starbottle has the
honor of waiting upon you from me。 Meantime； I thank you for
reminding me of the indiscretion into which my folly； in still
believing that this thing could be settled amicably； has led me。〃
He bowed coldly and withdrew。 Nevertheless； as he mounted his
horse and rode away； he felt his cheeks burning。 Yet he had acted
upon calm consideration； he knew that to the ordinary Californian
experience there was nothing quixotic nor exaggerated in the
attitude he had taken。 Men had quarreled and fought on less
grounds； he had even half convinced himself that he HAD been
insulted； and that his own professional reputation demanded the
withdrawal of the attack on Harcourt on purely business grounds；
but he was not satisfied of the personal responsibility of Fletcher
nor of his gratuitous malignity。 Nor did the man look like a tool
in the hands of some unscrupulous and hidden enemy。 However； he
had played his card。 If he succeeded only in provoking a duel with
Fletcher； he at least would divert the public attention from
Harcourt to himself。 He knew that his superior position would
throw the lesser victim in the background。 He would make the
sacrifice； that was his duty as a gentleman； even if SHE would not
care to accept it as an earnest of his unselfish love！
He had reached the point where the mountain track entered the Santa
Clara turnpike when his attention was attracted by a handsome but
old…fashioned carriage drawn by four white mules； which passed down
the road before him and turned suddenly off into a private road。
But it was not this picturesque gala equipage of some local Spanish
grandee that brought a thrill to his nerves and a flash to his eye；
it was the unmistakable； tall； elegant figure and handsome profile
of Clementina； reclining in light gauzy wraps against the back
seat！ It was no fanciful resemblance； the outcome of his reverie；
there never was any one like her！it WAS she herself！ But what
was she doing here？
A vaquero cantered from the cross road where the dust of the
vehicle still hung。 Grant hailed him。 Ah！ it was a fine carroza
de cuatro mulas that he had just passed！ Si； Senor； truly； it was
of Don Jose Ramirez； who lived just under the hill。 It was
bringing company to the casa。
Ramirez！ That was where Fletcher was going！ Had Clementina known
that he was one of Fletcher's friends？ Might she not be exposed to
unpleasantness； marked coolness； or even insult in that unexpected
meeting？ Ought she not to be warned or prepared for it？ She had
banished Grant from her presence until this stain was removed from
her father's name； but could she blame him for trying to save her
from contact with her father's slanderer？ No！ He turned his horse
abruptly into the cross road and spurred forward in the direction
of the casa。
It was quite visible nowa low…walled； quadrangular mass of
whitewashed adobe lying like a drift on the green hillside。 The
carriage and four had far preceded him； and was already half up the
winding road towards the house。 Later he saw them reach the
courtyard and disappear within。 He would be quite in time to speak
with her before she retired to change her dress。 He would simply
say that while making a professional visit to Los Gatos Land
Company office he had become aware of Fletcher's connection with
it； and accidentally of his intended visit to Ramirez。 His chance
meeting with the carriage on the highway had determined his course。
As he rode into the courtyard he observed that it was also approached
by another road； evidently nearer Los Gatos； and probably the older
and shorter communication between the two ranchos。 The fact was
significantly demonstrated a moment later。 He had given his horse
to a servant； sent in his card to Clementina； and had dropped
listlessly on one of the benches of the gallery surrounding the
patio； when a horseman rode briskly into the opposite gateway； and
dismounted with a familiar air。 A waiting peon who recognized him
informed him that the Dona was engaged with a visitor； but that they
were both returning to the gallery for chocolate in a moment。 The
stranger was the man he had left only an hour beforeDon Diego
Fletcher！
In an instant the idiotic fatuity of his position struck him fully。
His only excuse for following Clementina had been to warn her of
the coming of this man who had just entered； and who would now meet
her as quickly as himself。 For a brief moment the idea of quietly
slipping out to the corral； mounting his horse again； and flying
from the rancho； crossed his mind； but the thought that he would be
running away from the man he had just challenged； and perhaps some
new hostility that had sprung up in his heart against him；
compelled him to remain。 The eyes of both men met； Fletcher's in
half…wondering annoyance； Grant's in ill…concealed antagonism。
What they would have said is not known； for at that moment the
voices of Clementina and Mrs。 Ramirez were heard in the passage；
and they both entered the gallery。 The two men were standing
together； it was impossible to see one without the other。
And yet Grant； whose eyes were instantly directed to Clementina；
thought that she had noted neither。 She remained for an instant
standing in the doorway in the same self…possessed； coldly graceful
pose he remembered she had taken on the platform at Tasajara。 Her
eyelids were slightly downcast； as if she had been arrested by some
sudden thought or some shy maiden sensitiveness； in her hesitation
Mrs。 Ramirez passed impatiently before her。
〃Mother of God！〃 said that lively lady； regarding the two
speechless men； 〃is it an indiscretion we are making hereor are
you dumb？ You； Don Diego；