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which he took from his pocket； he said： 〃This is the only room in
the house that is strictly reserved for Mr。 Rushbrook； and even he
rarely uses it。 You can wait here without anybody knowing it until
I can communicate with him and bring you to his study unobserved。
And；〃 he hesitated； 〃if you wouldn't mind locking the door when you
are in； miss； you would be more secure； and I will knock when I
come for you。〃
Grace Nevil smiled at the man's prudence； and entered the room。
But to her great surprise； she had scarcely shut the door when she
was instantly struck with a singular memory which the apartment
recalled。 It was exactly like the room she had altered in
Rushbrook's villa at Los Osos！ More than that； on close
examination it proved to be the very same furniture； arranged as
she remembered to have arranged it； even to the flowers and
grasses； now； alas！ faded and withered on the walls。 There could
be no mistake。 There was the open ebony escritoire with the satin
blotter open； and its leaves still bearing the marks of her own
handwriting。 So complete to her mind was the idea of her own
tenancy in this bachelor's mansion； that she looked around with a
half indignant alarm for the photograph or portrait of herself that
might further indicate it。 But there was no other exposition。 The
only thing that had been added was a gilt legend on the satin case
of the blotter；〃Los Osos； August 20； 186…；〃 the day she had
occupied the room。
She was pleased； astonished； but more than all； disturbed。 The
only man who might claim a right to this figurative possession
of her tastes and habits was the one whom she had quietly；
reflectively； and understandingly half accepted as her lover； and
on whose account she had come to consult Rushbrook。 But Somers was
not a sentimentalist； in fact； as a young girl； forced by her
independent position to somewhat critically scrutinize masculine
weaknesses； this had always been a point in his favor； yet even if
he had joined with his friend Rushbrook to perpetuate the memory of
their first acquaintanceship； his taste merely would not have
selected a chambre de garcon in Mr。 Rushbrook's home for its
exhibition。 Her conception of the opposite characters of the two
men was singularly distinct and real； and this momentary confusion
of them was disagreeable to her woman's sense。 But at this moment
James came to release her and conduct her to Rushbrook's study；
where he would join her at once。 Everything had been arranged as
she had wished。
Even a more practical man than Rushbrook might have lingered over
the picture of the tall； graceful figure of Miss Nevil； quietly
enthroned in a large armchair by the fire； her scarlet； satin…lined
cloak thrown over its back； and her chin resting on her hand。 But
the millionaire walked directly towards her with his usual
frankness of conscious but restrained power； and she felt； as she
always did； perfectly at her ease in his presence。 Even as she
took his outstretched hand； its straightforward grasp seemed to
endow her with its own confidence。
〃You'll excuse my coming here so abruptly；〃 she smiled； 〃but I
wanted to get before Mr。 Leyton； who； I believe； wishes to see you
on the same business as myself。〃
〃He is here already； and dining with me；〃 said Rushbrook。
〃Ah！ does he know I am here？〃 asked the girl； quietly。
〃No； as he said you had thought of coming with him and didn't； I
presumed you didn't care to have him know you had come alone。〃
〃Not exactly that； Mr。 Rushbrook；〃 she said； fixing her beautiful
eyes on him in bright and trustful confidence； 〃but I happen to
have a fuller knowledge of this business than he has； and yet； as
it is not altogether my own secret； I was not permitted to divulge
it to him。 Nor would I tell it to you； only I cannot bear that you
should think that I had anything to do with this wretched
inquisition into Mr。 Somers's prospects。 Knowing as well as you do
how perfectly independent I am； you would think it strange；
wouldn't you？ But you would think it still more surprising when
you found out that I and my uncle already know how liberally and
generously you had provided for Mr。 Somers in the future。〃
〃How I had provided for Mr。 Somers in the future？〃 repeated Mr。
Rushbrook； looking at the fire； 〃eh？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the young girl； indifferently； 〃how you were to put him
in to succeed you in the Water Front Trust； and all that。 He told
it to me and my uncle at the outset of our acquaintance；
confidentially； of course； and I dare say with an honorable
delicacy that was like him； butI suppose now you will think me
foolishall the while I'd rather he had not。〃
〃You'd rather he had not；〃 repeated Mr。 Rushbrook； slowly。
〃Yes；〃 continued Grace； leaning forward with her rounded elbows on
her knees； and her slim； arched feet on the fender。 〃Now you are
going to laugh at me； Mr。 Rushbrook； but all this seemed to me to
spoil any spontaneous feeling I might have towards him； and limit
my independence in a thing that should be a matter of free will
alone。 It seemed too much like a business proposition！ There； my
kind friend！〃 she added； looking up and trying to read his face
with a half girlish pout； followed； however； by a maturer sigh；
〃I'm bothering you with a woman's foolishness instead of talking
business。 And〃another sigh〃I suppose it IS business for my
uncle； who has； it seems； bought into this Trust on these possible
contingencies； has； perhaps； been asking questions of Mr。 Leyton。
But I don't want you to think that I approve of them； or advise
your answering them。 But you are not listening。〃
〃I had forgotten something；〃 said Rushbrook； with an odd
preoccupation。 〃Excuse me a momentI will return at once。〃
He left the room quite as abstractedly； and when he reached the
passage； he apparently could not remember what he had forgotten； as
he walked deliberately to the end window； where； with his arms
folded behind his back； he remained looking out into the street。 A
passer…by； glancing up； might have said he had seen the pale； stern
ghost of Mr。 Rushbrook； framed like a stony portrait in the window。
But he presently turned away； and re…entered the room； going up to
Grace； who was still sitting by the fire； in his usual strong and
direct fashion。
〃Well！ Now let me see what you want。 I think this would do。〃
He took a seat at his open desk； and rapidly wrote a few lines。
〃There；〃 he continued； 〃when you write to your uncle； inclose
that。〃
Grace took it； and read：
DEAR MISS NEVIL；Pray assure your uncle from me that I am quite
ready to guarantee； in any form that he may require； the
undertaking represented to him by Mr。 John Somers。 Yours very
truly；
ROBERT RUSHBROOK。
A quick flush mounted to the young girl's cheeks。 〃But this is a
SECURITY； Mr。 Rushbrook；〃 she said proudly； handing him back the
paper； 〃and my uncle does not require that。 Nor shall I insult him
or you by sending it。〃
〃It is BUSINESS； Miss Nevil；〃 said Rushbrook； gravely。 He stopped；
and fixed his eyes upon her animated face and sparkling eyes。 〃You
can send it to him or not； as you like。 But〃a rare smile came to
his handsome mouth〃as this is a letter to YOU； you must not
insult ME by not accepting it。〃
Replying to his smile rather than the words that accompanied it；
Miss Nevil smiled； too。 Nevertheless； she was uneasy and
disturbed。 The interview； whatever she might have vaguely expected
from it； had resolved itself simply into a business indorsement of
her lover； which she had not sought； and which gave her no
satisfaction。 Yet there was the same potent and indefinably
protecting presence before her which she had sought； but whose
omniscience and whose help she seemed to have lost the spell and
courage to put to the test。 He relieved her in his abrupt but not
unkindly fashion。 〃Well； when