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you were me。〃
The cool ignoring of any ulterior thought in Leyton's objection
forced the guest to be equally practical in his reply。
〃Yes； but the fact is that Miss Nevil had talked of coming here
with me this evening to see you on her own affairs； and it wouldn't
have been exactly the thing for her to meet that woman。〃
〃She wouldn't；〃 said Rushbrook； promptly； 〃nor would YOU； if you
had gone into the parlor as Miss Nevil would have done。 But look
here！ If that's the reason why you didn't bring her； send for her
at once； my coachman can take a card from you； the brougham's all
ready to fetch her； and there you are。 She'll see only you and
me。〃 He was already moving towards the bell； when Leyton stopped
him。
〃No matter now。 I can tell you her business； I fancy； and in fact；
I came here to speak of it； quite independently of her。〃
〃That won't do； Leyton；〃 interrupted Rushbrook； with crisp
decision。 〃One or the other interview is unnecessary； it wastes
time； and isn't business。 Better have her present； even if she
don't say a word。〃
〃Yes； but not in this matter；〃 responded Leyton； 〃it's about
Somers。 You know he's been very attentive to her ever since her
uncle left her here to recruit her health； and I think she fancies
him。 Well； although she's independent and her own mistress； as you
know； Mrs。 Leyton and I are somewhat responsible for her
acquaintance with Somers；and for that matter so are you； and as
my wife thinks it means a marriage； we ought to know something more
positive about Somers's prospects。 Now； all we really know is that
he's a great friend of yours； that you trust a good deal to him；
that he manages your social affairs； that you treat him as a son or
nephew； and it's generally believed that he's as good as provided
for by youeh？ Did you speak？〃
〃No；〃 said Rushbrook； quietly regarding the statue as if taking its
measurement for a suitable apartment for it。 〃Go on。〃
〃Well；〃 said Leyton； a little impatiently； 〃that's the belief
everybody has； and you've not contradicted it。 And on that we've
taken the responsibility of not interfering with Somers's
attentions。〃
〃Well？〃 said Rushbrook； interrogatively。
〃Well；〃 replied Leyton； emphatically； 〃you see I must ask you
positively if you HAVE done anything； or are you going to do
anything for him？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Rushbrook； with exasperating coolness； 〃what do you
call this marriage？〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Leyton。
〃Look here； Leyton；〃 said Rushbrook； suddenly and abruptly facing
him； 〃Jack Somers has brains； knowledge of society； tact；
accomplishments； and good looks： that's HIS capital as much as mine
is money。 I employ him： that's his advertisement； recommendation；
and credit。 Now； on the strength of this； as you say； Miss Nevil
is willing to invest in him； I don't see what more can be done。〃
〃But if her uncle don't think it enough？〃
〃She's independent； and has money for both。〃
〃But if she thinks she's been deceived； and changes her mind？〃
〃Leyton； you don't know Miss Nevil。 Whatever that girl undertakes
she's weighed fully； and goes through with。 If she's trusted him
enough to marry him； money won't stop her； if she thinks she's been
deceived； YOU'LL never know it。〃
The enthusiasm and conviction were so unlike Rushbrook's usual
cynical toleration of the sex that Leyton stared at him。
〃That's odd；〃 he returned。 〃That's what she says of you。〃
〃Of ME； you mean Somers？〃
〃No； of YOU。 Come； Rushbrook； don't pretend you don't know that
Miss Nevil is a great partisan of yours； swears by you； says you're
misunderstood by people； and； what's infernally odd in a woman who
don't belong to the class you fancy； don't talk of your habits。
That's why she wants to consult you about Somers； I suppose； and
that's why； knowing you might influence her； I came here first to
warn you。〃
〃And I've told you that whatever I might say or do wouldn't
influence her。 So we'll drop the subject。〃
〃Not yet； for you're bound to see Miss Nevil sooner or later。 Now；
if she knows that you've done nothing for this man； your friend and
her lover； won't she be justified in thinking that you would have a
reason for it？〃
〃Yes。 I should give it。〃
〃What reason？〃
〃That I knew she'd be more contented to have him speculate with HER
money than mine。〃
〃Then you think that he isn't a business man？〃
〃I think that she thinks so； or she wouldn't marry him； it's part
of the attraction。 But come； James has been for five minutes
discreetly waiting outside the door to tell us dinner is ready； and
the coast clear of all other company。 But look here；〃 he said；
suddenly stopping； with his arm in Leyton's； 〃you're through your
talk； I suppose； perhaps you'd rather we'd dine with the Signora
and the others than alone？〃
For an instant Leyton thrilled with the fascination of what he
firmly believed was a guilty temptation。 Rushbrook； perceiving his
hesitation； added：
〃By the way； Somers is of the party； and one or two others you
know。〃
Mr。 Leyton opened his eyes widely at this； either the temptation
had passed； or the idea of being seen in doubtful company by a
younger man was distasteful； for he hurriedly disclaimed any
preference。 〃But；〃 he added with half…significant politeness；
〃perhaps I'm keeping YOU from them？〃
〃It makes not the slightest difference to me；〃 calmly returned
Rushbrook； with such evident truthfulness that Leyton was both
convinced and chagrined。
Preceded by the grave and ubiquitous James； they crossed the large
hall； and entered through a smaller passage a charming apartment
hung with blue damask； which might have been a boudoir； study； or
small reception…room； yet had the air of never having been anything
continuously。 It would seem that Rushbrook's habit of 〃camping
out〃 in different parts of his mansion obtained here as at Los
Osos； and with the exception of a small closet which contained his
Spartan bed； the rooms were used separately or in suites； as
occasion or his friends required。 It is recorded that an Eastern
guest； newly arrived with letters to Rushbrook； after a tedious
journey； expressed himself pleased with this same blue room； in
which he had sumptuously dined with his host； and subsequently fell
asleep in his chair。 Without disturbing his guest； Rushbrook had
the table removed； a bed； washstand； and bureau brought in； the
sleeping man delicately laid upon the former； and left to awaken to
an Arabian night's realization of his wish。
CHAPTER V
James had barely disposed of his master and Mr。 Leyton； and left
them to the ministrations of two of his underlings； before he was
confronted with one of those difficult problems that it was part of
his functions to solve。 The porter informed him that a young lady
had just driven up in a carriage ostensibly to see Mr。 Rushbrook；
and James； descending to the outer vestibule； found himself face to
face with Miss Grace Nevil。 Happily； that young lady； with her
usual tact； spared him some embarrassment。
〃Oh！ James；〃 she said sweetly； 〃do you think that I could see Mr。
Rushbrook for a few moments IF I WAITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY？ You
understand； I don't wish to disturb him or his company by being
regularly announced。〃
The young girl's practical intelligence appeared to increase the
usual respect which James had always shown her。 〃I understand；
miss。〃 He thought for a moment； and said： 〃Would you mind； then；
following me where you could wait quietly and alone？〃 As she
quickly assented； he preceded her up the staircase； past the study
and drawing…room； which he did not enter； and stopped before a
small door at the end of the passage。 Then； handing her a key
which he took from his pocket； he said： 〃This is the only room in
the house that is strictly reserved for Mr。 Rushbrook；