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!\"