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I'd wipe his dust off the earth and send it back to his ancestors
before he knew where he was； or my name isn't Harry Pendleton！〃
Hopeless and inconsistent as all this was； it was a wonderful sight
to see the colonel； his dark stern face illuminated with a zealot's
enthusiasm； his eyes on fire； the ends of his gray moustache
curling around his set jaw； his head thrown back； his legs astride；
and his gold…headed stick held in the hollow of his elbow； like a
lance at rest！ Paul saw it； and knew that this Quixotic
transformation was part of HER triumph； and yet had a miserable
consciousness that the charms of this Dulcinea del Toboso had
scarcely been exaggerated。 He turned his eyes away； and said
quietly；
〃Then you don't think this coincidence will ever awaken any
suspicion in regard to her real mother？〃
〃Not in the least； sirnot in the least；〃 said the colonel； yet；
perhaps； with more doggedness than conviction of accent。 〃Nobody
but yourself would ever notice that police report； and the
connection of that woman's name with his was not notorious； or I
should have known it。〃
〃And you believe；〃 continued Paul hopelessly； 〃that Miss Yerba's
selection of the name was purely accidental？〃
〃Purelya school…girl's fancy。 Fancy； did I say？ No； sir； by
Jove； an inspiration！〃
〃And；〃 continued Paul； almost mechanically； 〃you do not think it
may be some insidious suggestion of an enemy who knew of this
transient relation that no one suspected？〃
To his final amazement Pendleton's brow cleared！ 〃An enemy？ Gad！
you may be right。 I'll look into it； and； if that is the case；
which I scarcely dare hope for； Mr。 Hathaway； you can safely leave
him to ME。〃
He looked so supremely confident in his fatuous heroism that Paul
could say no more。 He rose and； with a faint smile upon his pale
face； held out his hand。 〃I think that is all I have to say。 When
you see Miss Yerba again；as you will； no doubt；you may tell her
that I am conscious of no misunderstanding on my part； except；
perhaps； as to the best way I could serve her； and that； but for
what she has told YOU； I should certainly have carried away no
remembrance of any misunderstanding of HERS。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the colonel； with cheerful philosophy； 〃I will
carry your message with pleasure。 You understand how it is； Mr。
Hathaway。 There is no accounting for these instinctswe can only
accept them as they are。 But I believe that your intentions； sir；
were strictly according to what you conceived to be your duty。 You
won't take something before you go？ Well； thengood…by。〃
Two weeks later Paul found among his morning letters an envelope
addressed in Colonel Pendleton's boyish scrawling hand。 He opened
it with an eagerness that no studied self…control nor rigid
preoccupation of his duties had yet been able to subdue； and
glanced hurriedly at its contents：
DEAR SIR；As I am on the point of sailing to Europe to…morrow to
escort Miss Arguello and Miss Woods on an extended visit to England
and the Continent； I am desirous of informing you that I have thus
far been unable to find any foundation for the suggestions thrown
out by you in our last interview。 Miss Arguello's Spanish
acquaintances have been very select； and limited to a few school
friends and Don Caesar and Dona Anna Briones； tried friends； who
are also fellow…passengers with us to Europe。 Miss Arguello
suggests that some political difference between you and Don Caesar；
which occurred during your visit to Rosario three months ago； may
have； perhaps； given rise to your supposition。 She joins me in
best wishes for your public career； which even in the distraction
of foreign travel and the obligations of her position she will
follow from time to time with the greatest interest。
Very respectfully yours；
HARRY PENDLETON。
CHAPTER V。
It was on the 3d of August； 1863； that Paul Hathaway resigned
himself and his luggage to the care of the gold…laced； ostensible
porter of the Strudle Bad Hof； not without some uncertainty； in a
land of uniforms； whether he would be eventually conducted to the
barracks； the police office； or the Conservatoire。 He was relieved
when the omnibus drove into the courtyard of the Bad Hof； and the
gold…chained chamberlain； flanked by two green tubs of oleanders；
received him with a gravity calculated to check any preconceived
idea he might have that traveling was a trifling affair； or that an
arrival at the Bad Hof was not of serious moment。 His letters had
not yet arrived； for he had； in a fit of restlessness； shortened
his route； and he strolled listlessly into the reading…room。 Two
or three English guests were evidently occupied in eminently
respectable reading and writing； two were sitting by the window
engaged in subdued but profitable conversation； and two Americans
from Boston were contentedly imitating them on the other side of
the room。 A decent restraint； as of people who were not for a
moment to be led into any foreign idea of social gayety at a
watering…place； was visible everywhere。 A spectacled Prussian
officer in full uniform passed along the hall； halted for a moment
at the doorway as if contemplating an armed invasion； thought
better of it； and took his uniform away into the sunlight of the
open square； where it was joined by other uniforms； and became by
contrast a miracle of unbraced levity。 Paul stood the Polar
silence for a few moments； until one of the readers arose and；
taking his booka Murrayin his hand； walked slowly across the
room to a companion； mutely pointed to a passage in the book；
remained silent until the other had dumbly perused it； and then
walked back again to his seat； having achieved the incident without
a word。 At which Paul； convinced of his own incongruity； softly
withdrew with his hat in his hand； and his eyes fixed devotionally
upon it。
It was good after that to get into the slanting sunlight and
checkered linden shadows of the Allee； to see even a tightly
jacketed cavalryman naturally walking with Clarchen and her two
round…faced and drab…haired young charges； to watch the returning
invalid procession； very real and very human； each individual
intensely involved in the atmosphere of his own symptoms； and very
good after that to turn into the Thiergarten； where the animals；
were； however； chiefly of his own species； and shamelessly and
openly amusing themselves。 It was pleasant to contrast it with his
first visit to the place three months before； and correct his crude
impressions。 And it was still more pleasant suddenly to recognize；
under the round flat cap of a general officer； a former traveler
who was fond of talking with him about America with an intelligence
and understanding of it that Paul had often missed among his own
traveled countrymen。 It was pleasant to hear his unaffected and
simple greeting； to renew their old acquaintance； and to saunter
back to the hotel together through the long twilight。
They were only a few squares from the hotel； when Paul's attention
was attracted by the curiosity and delight of two or three children
before him； who appeared to be following a quaint…looking figure
that was evidently not unfamiliar to them。 It appeared to be a
servant in a striking livery of green with yellow facings and
crested silver buttons； but still more remarkable for the
indescribable mingling of jaunty ease and conscious dignity with
which he carried off his finery。 There was something so singular
and yet so vaguely reminiscent in his peculiar walk and the
exaggerated swing of his light bamboo cane that Paul could not only
understand the childish wonder of the passers…by； who turned to
look after him； but was stirred with a deeper curiosity。 He
quickened his pace； but was unable to distinguish anything of the
face or features of the stranger； except that his hair under his
cocked hat appeared to be tightly curled and powdered。 Paul's
companion； who was amused at what seemed to be the American's
national curiosity； had seen the figure before。 〃A servant in the
suite of some Eastern Altesse visiting the baths。 You will see
stranger things； my friend； in the Strudle Bad。 Par example