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Bob pays for； and knows how to run this yer show for Bob； at Bob's
expensewe're all contented。 Ladies and gentlemen； we're all
contented。 We stand； so to speak； on the cards he's dealt us。
What may be his little game； it ain't for us to say； but whatever
it is； WE'RE IN IT。 Gentlemen and ladies； we'll drink Bob's
health！〃
There was a somewhat sensational pause； followed by good…natured
laughter and applause； in which Somers joined； yet not without a
certain constraint that did not escape the quick sympathy of the
shocked and unsmiling Miss Nevil。 It was with a feeling of relief
that she caught the chaperoning eye of Mrs。 Leyton； who was
entreating her in the usual mysterious signal to the other ladies
to rise and follow her。 When she reached the drawing…room； a
little behind the others； she was somewhat surprised to observe
that the stranger whom she had missed during the evening was
approaching her with Mrs。 Leyton。
〃Mr。 Rushbrook returned sooner than he expected； but unfortunately；
as he always retires early； he has only time to say 'goodnight' to
you before he goes。〃
For an instant Grace Nevil was more angry than disconcerted。 Then
came the conviction that she was stupid not to have suspected the
truth before。 Who else would that brusque stranger develop into
but this rude host？ She bowed formally。
Mr。 Rushbrook looked at her with the faintest smile on his handsome
mouth。 〃Well； Miss Nevil； I hope Jack Somers satisfied your
curiosity？〃
With a sudden recollection of the Siskyou gentleman's speech； and a
swift suspicion that in some way she had been made use of with the
others by this forceful…looking man before her； she answered
pertly：
〃Yes； but there was a speech by a gentleman from Siskyou that
struck me as being nearer to the purpose。〃
〃That's so；I heard it as I came in； said Mr。 Rushbrook； calmly。
〃I don't know but you're right。〃
CHAPTER IV
Six months had passed。 The Villa of Maecenas was closed at Los
Osos Canyon； and the southwest trade…winds were slanting the rains
of the wet season against its shut windows and barred doors。
Within that hollow； deserted shell； its aspectsave for a single
exceptionwas unchanged； the furniture and decorations preserved
their eternal youth undimmed by time； the rigidly…arranged rooms；
now closed to life and light； developed more than ever their
resemblance to a furniture warehouse。 The single exception was the
room which Grace Nevil had rearranged for herself； and that； oddly
enough； was stripped and bareeven to its paper and mouldings。
In other respects； the sealed treasures of Rushbrook's villa； far
from provoking any sentimentality； seemed only to give truth to the
current rumor that it was merely waiting to be transformed into a
gorgeous watering…place hotel under Rushbrook's direction； that；
with its new ball…room changed into an elaborate dining…hall； it
would undergo still further improvement； the inevitable end and
object of all Rushbrook's enterprise； and that its former
proprietor had already begun another villa whose magnificence
should eclipse the last。 There certainly appeared to be no limit
to the millionaire's success in all that he personally undertook；
or in his fortunate complicity with the enterprise and invention of
others。 His name was associated with the oldest and safest
schemes； as well as the newest and boldestwith an equal guarantee
of security。 A few； it was true； looked doubtingly upon this 〃one
man power；〃 but could not refute the fact that others had largely
benefited by association with him； and that he shared his profits
with a royal hand。 Some objected on higher grounds to his
brutalizing the influence of wealth by his material and
extravagantly practical processes； instead of the gentler
suggestions of education and personal example； and were impelled to
point out the fact that he and his patronage were vulgar。 It was
felt； however； by those who received his benefits； that a proper
sense of this inferiority was all that ethics demanded of them。
One could still accept Rushbrook's barbaric gifts by humorously
recognizing the fact that he didn't know any better； and that it
pleased him； as long as they resented any higher pretensions。
The rain…beaten windows of Rushbrook's town house； however； were
cheerfully lit that December evening。 Mr。 Rushbrook seldom dined
alone； in fact； it was popularly alleged that very often the
unfinished business of the day was concluded over his bountiful and
perfect board。 He was dressing as James entered the room。
〃Mr。 Leyton is in your study； sir； he will stay to dinner。〃
〃All right。〃
〃I think； sir；〃 added James； with respectful suggestiveness； 〃he
wants to talk。 At least； sir； he asked me if you would likely come
downstairs before your company arrived。〃
〃Ah！ Well； tell the others I'm dining on BUSINESS； and set dinner
for two in the blue room。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Meanwhile； Mr。 Leytona man of Rushbrook's age； but not so fresh
and vigorous…lookinghad thrown himself in a chair beside the
study fire； after a glance around the handsome and familiar room。
For the house had belonged to a brother millionaire； it had changed
hands with certain shares of 〃Water Front；〃as some of Rushbrook's
dealings had the true barbaric absence of money detail；and was
elegantly and tastefully furnished。 The cuckoo had； however；
already laid a few characteristic eggs in this adopted nest； and a
white marble statue of a nude and ill…fed Virtue； sent over by
Rushbrook's Paris agent； and unpacked that morning； stood in one
corner； and materially brought down the temperature。 A Japanese
praying…throne of pure ivory； and； above it； a few yards of
improper； colored exposure by an old master； equalized each other。
〃And what is all this affair about the dinner？〃 suddenly asked a
tartly…pitched female voice with a foreign accent。
Mr。 Leyton turned quickly； and was just conscious of a faint
shriek； the rustle of a skirt； and the swift vanishing of a woman's
figure from the doorway。 Mr。 Leyton turned red。 Rushbrook lived
en garcon； with feminine possibilities； Leyton was a married man
and a deacon。 The incident which； to a man of the world； would
have brought only a smile； fired the inexperienced Leyton with
those exaggerated ideas and intense credulity regarding vice common
to some very good men。 He walked on tip…toe to the door； and
peered into the passage。 At that moment Rushbrook entered from the
opposite door of the room。
〃Well；〃 said Rushbrook； with his usual practical directness； 〃what
do you think of her？〃
Leyton； still flushed； and with eyebrows slightly knit； said；
awkwardly； that he had scarcely seen her。
〃She cost me already ten thousand dollars； and I suppose I'll have
to eventually fix up a separate room for her somewhere；〃 continued
Rushhrook。
〃I should certainly advise it；〃 said Leyton； quickly； 〃for really；
Rushbrook； you know that something is due to the respectable people
who come here； and any of them are likely to see〃
〃Ah！〃 interrupted Rushbrook； seriously； 〃you think she hasn't got
on clothes enough。 Why； look here； old manshe's one of the
Virtues； and that's the rig in which they always travel。 She's a
'Temperance' or a 'Charity' or a 'Resignation；' or something of
that kind。 You'll find her name there in French somewhere at the
foot of the marble。〃
Leyton saw his mistake； but feltas others sometimes felta doubt
whether this smileless man was not inwardly laughing at him。 He
replied； with a keen； rapid glance at his host：
〃I was referring to some woman who stood in that doorway just now；
and addressed me rather familiarly； thinking it was you。〃
〃Oh； the Signora；〃 said Rushbrook； with undisturbed directness；
〃well； you saw her at Los Osos last summer。 Likely she DID think
you were me。〃
The cool ignoring of an