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law…maker and a public man； and I must deprecate； sirdeprecate；
your demand on that gentleman for what； in the folly of youth； you
are pleased to call personal satisfaction。〃
As he moved with dignity out of the room； Paul remained blankly
staring after him。 Was it all a dream？or was this Colonel
Pendleton the duelist？ Had the old man gone crazy； or was he
merely acting to veil some wild purpose？ His sudden arrival showed
that Yerba must have sent for him and told him of Don Caesar's
threats； would he be wild enough to attempt to strangle the man in
some remote room or in the darkness of the passage？ He stepped
softly into the hall： he could still hear the double tread of the
two men： they had reached the staircasethey were DESCENDING！ He
heard the drowsy accents of the night porter and the swinging of
the doorthey were in the street！
Wherever they were going； or for what purpose； HE must be at the
station； as he had warned them he would be。 He hastily threw a few
things into his valise； and prepared to follow them。 When he went
downstairs he informed the porter that owing to an urgent call of
business he should try to catch the through express at three
o'clock； but they must retain his room and luggage until they heard
from him。 He remembered Don Caesar's letter。 Had either of the
gentlemen； his friends who had just gone out； left a letter or
message？ No； Excellency； the gentlemen were talking earnestlyhe
believed； in the South American languageand had not spoken to
him。
Perhaps it was this that reminded Paul； as he crossed the square
again； that he had made no preparation for any possible fatal issue
to himself in this adventure。 SHE would know it； however； and why
he had undertaken it。 He tried to think that perhaps some interest
in himself had prompted her to send the colonel to him。 Yet；
mingled with this was an odd sense of a certain ridiculousness in
his position： there was the absurdity of his prospective antagonist
being even now in confidential consultation with his own friend and
ally； whose functions he had usurped； and in whose interests he was
about to risk his life。 And as he walked away through the silent
streets； the conviction more than once was forced upon him that he
was going to an appointment that would not be kept。
He reached the station some ten minutes before the train was due。
Two or three half…drowsy； wrapped…up passengers were already on the
platform； but neither Don Caesar nor Colonel Pendleton was among
them。 He explored the waiting…rooms and even the half…lit buffet；
but with no better success。 Telling the Bahnhof Inspector that his
passage was only contingent upon the arrival of one or two
companions； and describing them minutely to prevent mistakes； he
began gloomily to pace before the ticket…office。 Five minutes
passedthe number of passengers did not increase； ten minutes； a
distant shriekthe hoarse inquiry of the inspectorhad the Herr's
companions yet gekommt？ the sudden glare of a Cyclopean eye in the
darkness； the ongliding of the long…jointed and gleaming spotted
serpent； the traina hurried glance around the platform； one or
two guttural orders； the slamming of doors； the remounting of black
uniformed figures like caryatides along the marchepieds； a puff of
vapor； and the train had come and gone without them。
Yet he would give his adversary fifteen minutes more to allow for
accident or delay； or the possible arrival of the colonel with an
explanation； and recommenced his gloomy pacing； as the Bahnhof sank
back into half…lit repose。 At the end of five minutes there was
another shriek。 Paul turned quickly to the inspector。 Ah； then；
there was another train？ No； it was only the up express for Basle；
going the other way and stopping at the Nord Station； half a mile
away。 It would not stop here； but the Herr would see it pass in a
few moments at full speed。
It came presently； with a prolonged despairing shriek； out of the
darkness； a flash； a rush and roar at his side； a plunge into the
darkness again with the same despairing cry； a flutter of something
white from one of the windows； like a loosened curtain； that at
last seemed to detach itself； and； after a wild attempt to follow；
suddenly soared aloft； whirled over and over； dropped； and drifted
slowly； slantwise； to the ground。
The inspector had seen it； ran down the line； and picked it up。
Then he returned with it to Paul with a look of sympathizing
concern。 It was a lady's handkerchief； evidently some signal waved
to the well…born Herr； who was the only passenger on the platform。
So； possibly； it might be from his friends； who by some stupid
mischance had gone to the wrong station； andGott im Himmel！it
was hideously stupid； yet possible； got on the wrong train！
The Herr； a little pale； but composed； thought it WAS possible。
No； he would not telegraph to the next stationnot yethe would
inquire。
He walked quickly away； reaching the hotel breathlessly； yet in a
space that seemed all too brief for his disconnected thought。
There were signs of animation in the hall； and an empty carriage
was just reentering the courtyard。 The hall…porter met him with
demonstrative concern and apology。 Ah！ if he had only understood
his Excellency better； he could have saved him all this trouble。
Evidently his Excellency was going with the Arguello party； who had
ordered a carriage； doubtless； for the same important journey； an
hour before； yet had left only a few moments after his Excellency；
and his Excellency； it would appear； had gone to the wrong station。
Paul pushed hurriedly past the man and ascended to his room。 Both
windows were open； and in the faint moonlight he could see that
something white was pinned to his pillow。 With nervous fingers he
relit his candles； and found it was a note in Yerba's handwriting。
As he opened it； a tiny spray of the vine that had grown on the
crumbling wall fell at his feet。 He picked it up； pressed it to
his lips； and read； with dim eyes； as follows：
〃You know now why I spoke to you as I did to…day； and why the other
half of this precious spray is the only memory I care to carry with
me out of this crumbling ruin of all my hopes。 You were right；
Paul： my taking you there WAS AN OMENnot to you； who can never be
anything but proud； beloved； and truebut to ME of all the shame
and misery。 Thank you for all you have donefor all you would do；
my friend； and don't think me ungrateful； only because I am
unworthy of it。 Try to forgive me； but don't forget me； even if
you must hate me。 Perhaps； if you knew allyou might still love a
little the poor girl to whom you have already given the only name
she can ever take from youYERBA BUENA！
CHAPTER VII。
It was already autumn； and in the city of New York an early Sunday
morning breeze was sweeping up the leaves that had fallen from the
regularly planted ailantus trees before the brown…stone frontage of
a row of monotonously alike five…storied houses on one of the
principal avenues。 The Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church；
that uplifted its double towers on the corner； stopped before one
of these dwellings； ran up the dozen broad steps； and rang the
bell。 He was presently admittted to the sombre richness of a hall
and drawing…room with high…backed furniture of dark carved woods；
like cathedral stalls； and； hat in hand； somewhat impatiently
awaited the arrival of his hostess and parishioner。 The door
opened to a tall； white…haired woman in lustreless black silk。 She
was regular and resolute in features； of fine but unbending
presence； and； though somewhat past middle age； showed no signs of
either the weakness or mellowness of years。
〃I am sorry to disturb your Sabbath morning meditations； Sister
Argalls； nor would I if it were not in the line of Christian duty；
but Sister Robbins is unable today to make her usual Sabbath
hospital visit； and I thought if you were excused from the Foreign
Missionary class and Bible instruction at three you might undertake
her functions。 I know； my dear old friend；〃 he continued； with
bland deprecation of her hard…set eyes； 〃how distasteful this
promiscuous mingling