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heard in the hall。 A swift recollection of her companion's
infelicitous reputation now returned to her； and Grace Nevil； with
a slight stiffening of her whole frame； became coldly herself
again。 Mr。 Rushbrook betrayed neither surprise nor agitation。
Begging her to wait a moment until he could arrange for her to pass
to her carriage unnoticed； he left the room。
Yet it seemed that the cause of the disturbance was unsuspected by
Mr。 Rushbrook。 Mr。 Leyton； although left to the consolation of
cigars and liquors in the blue room； had become slightly weary of
his companion's prolonged absence。 Satisfied in his mind that
Rushbrook had joined the gayer party； and that he was even now
paying gallant court to the Signora； he became again curious and
uneasy。 At last the unmistakable sound of whispering voices in the
passage got the better of his sense of courtesy as a guest； and he
rose from his seat； and slightly opened the door。 As he did so the
figures of a man and woman； conversing in earnest whispers； passed
the opening。 The man's arm was round the woman's waist； the woman
wasas he had suspectedthe one who had stood in the doorway； the
Signorabutthe man was NOT Rushbrook。 Mr。 Leyton drew back this
time in unaffected horror。 It was none other than Jack Somers！
Some warning instinct must at that moment have struck the woman；
for with a stifled cry she disengaged herself from Somers's arm；
and dashed rapidly down the hall。 Somers； evidently unaware of the
cause； stood irresolute for a moment； and then more silently but
swiftly disappeared into a side corridor as if to intercept her。
It was the rapid passage of the Signora that had attracted the
attention of Grace and Rushbrook in the study； and it was the
moment after it that Mr。 Rushbrook left。
CHAPTER VI
Vaguely uneasy； and still perplexed with her previous agitation； as
Mr。 Rushbrook closed the door behind him； Grace； following some
feminine instinct rather than any definite reason； walked to the
door and placed her hand upon the lock to prevent any intrusion
until he returned。 Her caution seemed to be justified a moment
later； for a heavier but stealthier footstep halted outside。 The
handle of the door was turned； but she resisted it with the fullest
strength of her small hand until a voice； which startled her；
called in a hurried whisper：
〃Open quick； 'tis I。〃
She stepped back quickly； flung the door open； and beheld Somers on
the threshold！
The astonishment； agitation； and above all； the awkward confusion
of this usually self…possessed and ready man； was so unlike him；
and withal so painful； that Grace hurried to put an end to it； and
for an instant forgot her own surprise at seeing him。 She smiled
assuringly； and extended her hand。
〃GraceMiss NevilI beg your pardonI didn't imagine〃he began
with a forced laugh。 〃I mean； of courseI cannotbut〃 He
stopped； and then assuming a peculiar expression； said： 〃But what
are YOU doing here？〃
At any other moment the girl would have resented the tone； which
was as new to her as his previous agitation； but in her present
self…consciousness her situation seemed to require some
explanation。 〃I came here；〃 she said； 〃to see Mr。 Rushbrook on
business。 Your businessOUR business；〃 she added； with a charming
smile； using for the first time the pronoun that seemed to indicate
their unity and interest； and yet fully aware of a vague
insincerity in doing so。
〃Our BUSINESS？〃 he repeated； ignoring her gentler meaning with a
changed emphasis and a look of suspicion。
〃Yes；〃 said Grace； a little impatiently。 〃Mr。 Leyton thought he
ought to write to my uncle something positive as to your prospects
with Mr。 Rushbrook； and〃
〃You came here to inquire？〃 said the young man； sharply。
〃I came here to stop any inquiry；〃 said Grace； indignantly。 〃I
came here to say I was satisfied with what you had confided to me
of Mr。 Rushbrook's generosity； and that was enough！〃
〃With what I had confided to you？ You dared say that？〃
Grace stopped； and instantly faced him。 But any indignation she
might have felt at his speech and manner was swallowed up in the
revulsion and horror that overtook her with the sudden revelation
she saw in his white and frightened face。 Leyton's strange
inquiry； Rushbrook's cold composure and scornful acceptance of her
own credulousness； came to her in a flash of shameful intelligence。
Somers had lied！ The insufferable meanness of it！ A lie； whose
very uselessness and ignobility had defeated its purposea lie
that implied the basest suspicion of her own independence and
truthfulnesssuch a lie now stood out as plainly before her as his
guilty face。
〃Forgive my speaking so rudely；〃 he said with a forced smile and
attempt to recover his self…control； 〃but you have ruined me unless
you deny that I told you anything。 It was a jokean extravagance
that I had forgotten； at least； it was a confidence between you and
me that you have foolishly violated。 Say that you misunderstood
methat it was a fancy of your own。 Say anythinghe trusts you
he'll believe anything you say。〃
〃He HAS believed me；〃 said Grace； almost fiercely； turning upon him
with the paper that Rushbrook had given her in her outstretched
hand。 〃Read that！〃
He read it。 Had he blushed； had he stammered； had he even kept up
his former frantic and pitiable attitude； she might at that supreme
moment have forgiven him。 But to her astonishment his face
changed； his handsome brow cleared； his careless； happy smile
returned； his graceful confidence came backhe stood before her
the elegant； courtly； and accomplished gentleman she had known。 He
returned her the paper； and advancing with extended hand； said
triumphantly：
〃Superb！ Splendid！ No one but a woman could think of that！ And
only one woman achieve it。 You have tricked the great Rushbrook。
You are indeed worthy of being a financier's wife！〃
〃No；〃 she said passionately； tearing up the paper and throwing it
at his feet； 〃not as YOU understand itand never YOURS！ You have
debased and polluted everything connected with it； as you would
have debased and polluted ME。 Out of my presence that you are
insultingout of the room of the man whose magnanimity you cannot
understand！〃
The destruction of the guarantee apparently stung him more than the
words that accompanied it。 He did not relapse again into his
former shamefaced terror； but as a malignant glitter came into his
eyes； he regained his coolness。
〃It may not be so difficult for others to understand； Miss Nevil；〃
he said； with polished insolence； 〃and as Bob Rushbrook's
generosity to pretty women is already a matter of suspicion；
perhaps you are wise to destroy that record of it。〃
〃Coward！〃 said Grace； 〃stand aside and let me pass！〃 She swept by
him to the door。 But it opened upon Rushbrook's re…entrance。 He
stood for an instant glancing at the pair； and then on the
fragments of the paper that strewed the floor。 Then； still holding
the door in his hand； he said quietly：
〃One moment before you go； Miss Nevil。 If this is the result of
any misunderstanding as to the presence of another woman here； in
company with Mr。 Somers； it is only fair to him to say that that
woman is here as a friend of MINE； not of his； and I alone am
responsible。〃
Grace halted； and turned the cold steel of her proud eyes on the
two men。 As they rested on Rushbrook they quivered slightly。 〃I
can already bear witness；〃 she said coldly； 〃to the generosity of
Mr。 Rushbrook in a matter which then touched me。 But there
certainly is no necessity for him to show it now in a matter in
which I have not the slightest concern。〃
As she swept out of the room and was received in the respectable
shadow of the waiting James； Rushbrook turned to Somers。
〃And I'M afraid it won't dofor Leyton saw you；〃 he said curtly。
〃Now； then； shut that door； for you and I； Jack Somers； have a word
to say to each other。〃
What that word was； and how it was said and received； is not a part
of this record。 But it is told that it was the beginning of that
mighty Iliad； still remembered of men； which shook the financial
camps of San Francisco； and divided them into bitter contending
parties。 For when it became known the next day that Somers had
suddenly abandoned Rushbrook； and carried over to a powerful
foreign capitalist the secret methods； and even； it was believed；
the LUCK of his late employer； it was certain that there would be
war to the knife； and that it was no longer a struggle of rival
enterprise； but of vindictive men。
CHAPTER VII
For a year the battle between the Somers faction and the giant but
solitary Rushbrook raged fiercely； with varying success。 I grieve
to say that the proteges and parasites of Maecenas deserted him in
a body； nay； they openly allege