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demurely with his master； 〃but Mr。 Appleby takes ten over to San
Mateo； and some may sleep there。 The char…a…banc is still out and
five saddle…horses； to a picnic in Green Canyon； and I can't
positively say； but I should think you might count on seeing about
forty…five guests before you go to town to…morrow。 The opera
troupe seem to have not exactly understood the invitation； sir。〃
〃How？ I gave it myself。〃
〃The chorus and supernumeraries thought themselves invited too；
sir； and have come； I believe； sir。 At least Signora Pegrelli and
Madame Denise said so； and that they would speak to you about it；
but that meantime I could put them up anywhere。〃
〃And you made no distinction； of course？〃
〃No； sir； I put them in the corresponding rooms opposite； sir。
I don't think the prima donnas like it。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Whatever was in their minds； the two men never changed their
steady； practical gravity of manner。 The major…domo's appeared to
be a subdued imitation of his master's； worn； as he might have worn
his master's clothes； had he accepted； or Mr。 Rushbrook permitted；
such a degradation。 By this time they had reached the door of Mr。
Rushbrook's room； and the man paused。 〃I didn't include some
guests of Mr。 Leyton's； sir； that he brought over here to show
around the place； but he told me to tell you he would take them
away again； or leave them； as you liked。 They're some Eastern
strangers stopping with him。〃
〃All right；〃 said Rushbrook； quietly； as he entered his own
apartment。 It was decorated as garishly as the hall； as staring
and vivid in color； but wholesomely new and clean for all its
paint； veneering； and plaster。 It was filled with heterogeneous
splendorall new and well kept； yet with so much of the attitude
of the show…room still lingering about it that one almost expected
to see the various articles of furniture ticketed with their
prices。 A luxurious bed； with satin hangings and Indian carved
posts； standing ostentatiously in a corner； kept up this
resemblance； for in a curtained recess stood a worn camp bedstead；
Rushbrook's real couch； Spartan in its simplicity。
Mr。 Rushbrook drew his watch from his pocket； and deliberately
divested himself of his boots； coat； waistcoat； and cravat。 Then
rolling himself in a fleecy； blanket…like rug with something of the
habitual dexterity of a frontiersman； he threw himself on his
couch； closed his eyes； and went instantly to sleep。 Lying there；
he appeared to be a man comfortably middle…aged； with thick iron…
gray hair that might have curled had he encouraged such
inclination； a skin roughened and darkened by external hardships
and exposure； but free from taint of inner vice or excess； and
indistinctive features redeemed by a singularly handsome mouth。 As
the lower part of the face was partly hidden by a dense but
closely…cropped beard； it is probable that the delicate outlines of
his lips had gained something from their framing。
He slept； through what seemed to be the unnatural stillness of the
large house；a quiet that might have come from the lingering
influence of the still virgin solitude around it； as if Nature had
forgotten the intrusion； or were stealthily retaking her own； and
later； through the rattle of returning wheels or the sound of
voices； which were； however； promptly absorbed in that deep and
masterful silence which was the unabdicating genius of the canyon。
For it was remarkable that even the various artists； musicians；
orators； and poets whom Maecenas had gathered in his cool business
fashion under that roof； all seemed to become； by contrast with
surrounding Nature； as new and artificial as the house； and as
powerless to assert themselves against its influence。
He was still sleeping when James re…entered the room； but awoke
promptly at the sound of his voice。 In a few moments he had
rearranged his scarcely disordered toilette； and stepped out
refreshed and observant into the hall。 The guests were still
absent from that part of the building； and he walked leisurely past
the carelessly opened doors of the rooms they had left。 Everywhere
he met the same glaring ornamentation and color； the same
garishness of treatment； the same inharmonious extravagance of
furniture； and everywhere the same troubled acceptance of it by the
inmates； or the same sense of temporary and restricted tenancy。
Dresses were hung over cheval glasses； clothes piled up on chairs
to avoid the use of doubtful and over ornamented wardrobes； and in
some cases more practical guests had apparently encamped in a
corner of their apartment。 A gentleman from Siskyousole
proprietor of a mill patent now being considered by Maecenashad
confined himself to a rocking…chair and clothes…horse as being
trustworthy and familiar； a bolder spirit from Yrekain treaty for
capital to start an independent journal devoted to Maecenas's
interestshad got a good deal out of； and indeed all he had INTO；
a Louis XVI。 armoire； while a young painter from Sacramento had
simply retired into his adjoining bath…room； leaving the glories of
his bedroom untarnished。 Suddenly he paused。
He had turned into a smaller passage in order to make a shorter cut
through one of the deserted suites of apartments that should bring
him to that part of the building where he designed to make his
projected improvement； when his feet were arrested on the threshold
of a sitting…room。 Although it contained the same decoration and
furniture as the other rooms； it looked totally different！ It was
tasteful； luxurious； comfortable； and habitable。 The furniture
seemed to have fallen into harmonious position； even the staring
decorations of the walls and ceiling were toned down by sprays of
laurel and red…stained manzanito boughs with their berries；
apparently fresh plucked from the near canyon。 But he was more
unexpectedly impressed to see that the room was at that moment
occupied by a tall； handsome girl； who had paused to take breath；
with her hand still on the heavy centre…table she was moving。
Standing there； graceful； glowing； and animated； she looked the
living genius of the recreated apartment。
CHAPTER II
Mr。 Rushbrook glanced rapidly at his unknown guest。 〃Excuse me；〃
he said； with respectful business brevity； 〃but I thought every one
was out；〃 and he stepped backward quickly。
〃I've only just come；〃 she said without embarrassment； 〃and would
you mind； as you ARE here； giving me a lift with this table？〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied Rushbrook； and under the young girl's
direction the millionaire moved the table to one side。
During the operation he was trying to determine which of his
unrecognized guests the fair occupant was。 Possibly one of the
Leyton party； that James had spoken of as impending。
〃Then you have changed all the furniture； and put up these things？〃
he asked； pointing to the laurel。
〃Yes； the room was really something TOO awful。 It looks better
now； don't you think？〃
〃A hundred per cent。；〃 said Rushbrook； promptly。 〃Look here； I'll
tell you what you've done。 You've set the furniture TO WORK！ It
was simply lying stillwith no return to anybody on the investment。〃
The young girl opened her gray eyes at this； and then smiled。 The
intruder seemed to be characteristic of California。 As for
Rushbrook； he regretted that he did not know her better； he would
at once have asked her to rearrange all the rooms； and have managed
in some way liberally to reward her for it。 A girl like that had
no nonsense about her。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I wonder Mr。 Rushbrook don't look at it in that
way。 It is a shame that all these pretty thingsand you know they
are really good and valuableshouldn't show what they are。 But I
suppose everybody here accepts the fact that this man simply buys
them because they are valuable； and nobody interferes； and is
content to humor him； laugh