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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




perhaps¡¡some¡¡already¡¡absorbing¡¡passion¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡nothing£¿

She¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡itthey¡¡would¡¡only¡¡know¡¡it¡¡when¡¡it

was¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¡¡¡Could¡¡it¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡still¡¡something

between¡¡her¡¡and¡¡'Lige¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡thought¡¡struck

a¡¡chill¡¡to¡¡his¡¡breast¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡walking¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡when¡¡he

recalled¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡an¡¡effort¡£



¡¨If¡¡you¡¡think¡¡it¡¡advisable¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡run¡¡down¡¡to

San¡¡Jose¡¡for¡¡a¡¡day¡¡or¡¡two¡¡with¡¡your¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡call¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Ramirez¡£

They¡¡may¡¡know¡¡him¡¡or¡¡somebody¡¡who¡¡does¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡if¡¡YOU¡¡meet¡¡him

and¡¡casually¡¡invite¡¡him¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡different¡£¡¨



¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡good¡¡idea£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡speak¡¡to

mother¡¡now¡£¡¨



He¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡change¡¡in¡¡her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡voice£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡both

nervously¡¡lightened£»¡¡as¡¡oddly¡¡and¡¡distinctly¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡before

seemed¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡suddenly¡¡harsh¡¡and¡¡aggressive¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡of

the¡¡room¡¡with¡¡girlish¡¡brusqueness£»¡¡leaving¡¡him¡¡alone¡¡with¡¡a¡¡new¡¡and

vague¡¡fear¡¡in¡¡his¡¡consciousness¡£





A¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡later¡¡Clementina¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡before¡¡the¡¡window¡¡of¡¡the

drawing¡­room¡¡that¡¡overlooked¡¡the¡¡outskirts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡¡¡The

moonlight¡¡was¡¡flooding¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡bluish¡¡Tasajara¡¡levels¡¡with¡¡a¡¡faint

lustre£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡creek¡¡had¡¡once¡¡more¡¡returned¡¡to

them¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡curtain¡¡beside¡¡her¡¡Grant¡¡was¡¡facing¡¡her

with¡¡anxious¡¡eyes¡£



¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡must¡¡take¡¡this¡¡as¡¡your¡¡final¡¡answer£»¡¡Clementina£¿¡¨



¡¨You¡¡must¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡had¡¡I¡¡known¡¡of¡¡these¡¡calumnies¡¡before£»¡¡had¡¡you¡¡been

frank¡¡with¡¡me¡¡even¡¡the¡¡day¡¡we¡¡went¡¡to¡¡San¡¡Mateo£»¡¡my¡¡answer¡¡would

have¡¡been¡¡as¡¡final¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡spared¡¡any¡¡further

suspense¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡blaming¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grant£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡believe

that¡¡you¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡this¡¡from¡¡me£»even¡¡at¡¡that

time¡¡when¡¡you¡¡had¡¡just¡¡pledged¡¡yourself¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡its¡¡truth¡¡or

falsehood£»yet¡¡my¡¡answer¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡long¡¡as

this¡¡stain¡¡rests¡¡on¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡name¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡allow¡¡that¡¡name

to¡¡be¡¡coupled¡¡with¡¡yours¡¡in¡¡marriage¡¡or¡¡engagement£»¡¡nor¡¡will¡¡my

pride¡¡or¡¡yours¡¡allow¡¡us¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡on¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡friendship¡¡after¡¡this¡£

I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡your¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡assistance£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡even¡¡accept

that¡¡which¡¡might¡¡to¡¡others¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡some¡¡contingent¡¡claim¡£¡¡¡¡I

would¡¡rather¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡when¡¡you¡¡proposed¡¡this¡¡inquiry¡¡and¡¡my

father¡¡permitted¡¡it£»¡¡you¡¡both¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡it¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡any¡¡other

relations¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¨



¡¨But£»¡¡Clementina£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡wrong£»¡¡believe¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡Say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been

foolish£»¡¡indiscreet£»¡¡mad£»still¡¡the¡¡few¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡I¡¡made¡¡these

inquiries¡¡on¡¡your¡¡father's¡¡behalf¡¡know¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡my¡¡hopes¡¡of¡¡YOU£¡¡¨



¡¨But¡¡I¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¨



Even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hopeless¡¡preoccupation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡passion¡¡he¡¡suddenly

looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡with¡¡something¡¡of¡¡his¡¡old¡¡critical¡¡scrutiny¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she

stood¡¡there¡¡calm£»¡¡concentrated£»¡¡self¡­possessed¡¡and¡¡upright¡£¡¡¡¡Yes£¡

it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Southwestern¡¡shopkeepers

daughter¡¡was¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡his¡¡own¡£



¡¨Then¡¡you¡¡banish¡¡me£»¡¡Clementina£¿¡¨



¡¨It¡¡is¡¡we¡¡whom¡¡YOU¡¡have¡¡banished¡£¡¨



¡¨Good¡­night¡£¡¨



¡¨Good¡­by¡£¡¨



He¡¡bent¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡over¡¡her¡¡cold¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡into

the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡remained¡¡listening¡¡until¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡closed

behind¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡swiftly¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and¡¡up¡¡the

staircase£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡alacrity¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stately

goddess¡¡of¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡she¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡her¡¡bedroom¡¡and

closed¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡so¡¡exuberant¡¡still¡¡and¡¡so¡¡uncontrollable¡¡was¡¡her

levity¡¡and¡¡action£»¡¡that¡¡without¡¡going¡¡round¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡which¡¡stood

before¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡she¡¡placed¡¡her¡¡two¡¡hands¡¡upon

it¡¡and¡¡lightly¡¡vaulted¡¡sideways¡¡across¡¡it¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡window¡£

There¡¡she¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡Grant¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡square¡£

Then¡¡turning¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡half¡­lit¡¡room£»¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡the¡¡small

dressing¡­glass¡¡placed¡¡at¡¡an¡¡angle¡¡on¡¡a¡¡toilet¡¡table¡¡against¡¡the

wall¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡her¡¡palms¡¡grasping¡¡her¡¡knees¡¡she¡¡stooped¡¡down¡¡suddenly

and¡¡contemplated¡¡the¡¡mirror¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡showed¡¡what¡¡no¡¡one¡¡but¡¡Clementina

had¡¡ever¡¡seen£»and¡¡she¡¡herself¡¡only¡¡at¡¡rare¡¡intervals£»the

laughing¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡self¡­satisfied£»¡¡material¡­minded£»

ordinary¡¡country¡­girl£¡





CHAPTER¡¡X¡£





But¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Lawrence¡¡Grant's¡¡character¡¡in¡¡certain¡¡circumstances¡¡would

seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡as¡¡startling¡¡and¡¡inexplicable¡¡contradictions¡¡as

Clementina¡¡Harcourt's£»¡¡and¡¡three¡¡days¡¡later¡¡he¡¡halted¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡at

the¡¡entrance¡¡of¡¡Los¡¡Gatos¡¡Rancho¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Home¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Catsso¡¡called

from¡¡the¡¡catamounts¡¡which¡¡infested¡¡the¡¡localitywhich¡¡had¡¡for¡¡over

a¡¡century¡¡lazily¡¡basked¡¡before¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hottest¡¡canyons¡¡in¡¡the

Coast¡¡Range£»¡¡had¡¡lately¡¡been¡¡stirred¡¡into¡¡some¡¡activity¡¡by¡¡the

American£»¡¡Don¡¡Diego¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡it£»¡¡put¡¡up¡¡a¡¡saw¡­mill£»

and¡¡deforested¡¡the¡¡canyon¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡there¡¡remained¡¡enough¡¡suggestion

of¡¡a¡¡feline¡¡haunt¡¡about¡¡it¡¡to¡¡make¡¡Grant¡¡feel¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡tracked

hither¡¡some¡¡stealthy¡¡enemy£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡peaceful¡¡intimation

conveyed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sign¡¡on¡¡a¡¡rough¡¡boarded¡¡shed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wayside£»¡¡that

the¡¡¡¨Los¡¡Gatos¡¡Land¡¡and¡¡Lumber¡¡Company¡¨¡¡held¡¡their¡¡office¡¡there¡£



A¡¡cigarette¡­smoking¡¡peon¡¡lounged¡¡before¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡Don¡¡Diego

was¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡from¡¡Santa¡¡Clara¡¡only¡¡last¡¡night

and¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Colonel¡¡Ramirez¡¡that¡¡afternoon£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡engaged¡£

Unless¡¡the¡¡business¡¡was¡¡importantbut¡¡the¡¡cool£»¡¡determined¡¡manner

of¡¡Grant£»¡¡even¡¡more¡¡than¡¡his¡¡words£»¡¡signified¡¡that¡¡it¡¡WAS

important£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡servant¡¡led¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Don¡¡Diego's¡¡presence¡£



There¡¡certainly¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sylvan

proprietor¡¡and¡¡newspaper¡¡capitalist¡¡to¡¡justify¡¡Grant's¡¡suspicion¡¡of

a¡¡surreptitious¡¡foe¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡handsome¡¡man¡¡scarcely¡¡older¡¡than¡¡himself£»

in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wavy¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡perfectly¡¡white¡¡hair¡¡which¡¡contrasted

singularly¡¡with¡¡his¡¡brown¡¡mustache¡¡and¡¡dark¡¡sunburned¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡So

disguising¡¡was¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡these¡¡contradictions£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡not¡¡only

looked¡¡unlike¡¡anybody¡¡else£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡his¡¡nationality¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a

matter¡¡of¡¡doubt¡£¡¡¡¡Only¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡light¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡intelligent£»¡¡which

had¡¡a¡¡singular¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡gentleness¡¡and¡¡worry£»¡¡appeared

individual¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡manner¡¡was¡¡cultivated¡¡and¡¡easy¡£¡¡¡¡He

motioned¡¡his¡¡visitor¡¡courteously¡¡to¡¡a¡¡chair¡£



¡¨I¡¡was¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Grant£»¡¡almost¡¡abruptly£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡the

person¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡slanderous¡¡attacks¡¡against¡¡Mr¡£

Daniel¡¡Harcourt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡'Clarion£»'¡¡of¡¡which¡¡paper¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡you¡¡are

the¡¡proprietor¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡told¡¡that¡¡you¡¡declined¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡authority

for¡¡your¡¡action£»¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡by¡¡legal¡¡proceedings¡£¡¨



Fletcher's¡¡sensitive¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡rested¡¡upon¡¡Grant's¡¡with¡¡an

expression¡¡of¡¡constrained¡¡pain¡¡and¡¡pity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡your

inquiries£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grant£»¡¡you¡¡were¡¡making¡¡them¡¡on¡¡behalf¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Mr¡£

Harcourt¡¡or¡¡Harkutt¡¨he¡¡made¡¡the¡¡distinction¡¡with¡¡intentional

deliberation¡¨with¡¡a¡¡view£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡to¡¡some¡¡arbitration¡£¡¡¡¡The

case¡¡was¡¡stated¡¡to¡¡you¡¡fairly£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡I¡¡have¡¡nothing¡¡to

add¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¨



¡¨That¡¡was¡¡your¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ambassador¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Harcourt£»¡¨¡¡said

Grant£»¡¡coldly£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡as¡¡such¡¡I¡¡delivered¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡here

to¡­day¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡¡account¡£¡¨



What¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fletcher's¡¡lips¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡curl¡¡in¡¡an

odd¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡wasor¡¡would¡¡beall¡¡in¡¡the

family¡£¡¨



Grant's¡¡face¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡stern£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡gray¡¡eyes¡¡glittered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You'll

find¡¡my¡¡status¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡so¡¡far¡¡independent¡¡that¡¡I¡¡don't

propose£»¡¡like¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Harcourt£»¡¡either¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡a¡¡suit¡¡or¡¡to¡¡rest

quietly¡¡under¡¡the¡¡calumny¡£¡¡¡¡Briefly£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡or¡¡your

informant¡¡knows£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡surveyor¡¡who¡¡revealed¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Harcourt

the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡claimed¡¡a¡¡title¡¡from¡¡your¡¡man£»

this¡¡Elijah¡¡or¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis¡¡as¡¡you¡¡call¡¡him£»¡¨he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡resist

this¡¡imitation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡adversary's¡¡supercilious¡¡affectation¡¡of

precise¡¡nomenclature£»¡¨and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡representation¡¡of¡¡its

value¡¡as¡¡an¡¡investment¡¡that¡¡he¡¡began¡¡the¡¡improvements¡¡which¡¡have

made¡¡him¡¡wealthy¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡this¡¡title¡¡was¡¡fraudulently¡¡obtained£»¡¡all¡¡the

facts¡¡pertaining¡¡to¡¡it¡¡are¡¡sufficiently¡¡related¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡me¡¡with

the¡¡conspiracy¡£¡¨



¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡not¡¡a¡¡little¡¡hasty¡¡in¡¡your¡¡presumption£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grant£¿¡¨¡¡said

Fletcher£»¡¡with¡¡unfeigned¡¡surprise¡£



¡¨That¡¡is¡¡for¡¡ME¡¡to¡¡judge£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fletcher£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡Grant£»¡¡haughtily¡£



¡¨But¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Professor¡¡Grant¡¡is¡¡known¡¡to¡¡all¡¡California¡¡as

beyond¡¡the¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡calumny¡¡or¡¡suspicion¡£¡¨



¡¨It¡¡is¡¡because¡¡of¡¡that¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I¡¡propose¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡so¡£¡¨



¡¨And¡¡may¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡in¡¡what¡¡way¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡me¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡you¡¡in¡¡so¡¡doing£¿¡¨



¡¨By¡¡promptly¡¡and¡¡publicly¡¡retracting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡'Clarion'¡¡every¡¡word¡¡of

this¡¡slander¡¡against¡¡Harcourt¡£¡¨



Fletcher¡¡looked¡¡steadfastly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡speaker¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡decline£¿¡¨



¡¨I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡California£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡to

know¡¡the¡¡alternative¡¡expected¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gentleman£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Grant£»¡¡coldly¡£



Mr¡£¡¡Fletcher¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡gentle¡¡blue¡¡eyesin¡¡which¡¡surprise¡¡still

overbalanced¡¡their¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡pained¡¡concernon¡¡Grant's¡¡face¡£



¡¨But¡¡is¡¡not¡¡this¡¡more¡¡in¡¡the¡¡style¡¡of¡¡Colonel¡¡Starbottle¡¡than

Professor¡¡Grant£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡smile¡£



Grant¡¡rose¡¡instantly¡¡with¡¡a¡¡white¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡have¡¡a¡¡better

opportunity¡¡of¡¡judging£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨when¡¡Colonel¡¡Starbottle¡¡has¡¡the

honor¡¡of¡¡waiting¡¡upon¡¡you¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Meantime£»¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡for

reminding¡¡me¡¡of¡¡the¡¡indiscretion¡¡into¡¡which¡¡my¡¡folly£»¡¡in¡¡still

believing¡¡that¡¡this¡¡thing¡¡could¡¡be¡¡settled¡¡amicably£»¡¡has¡¡led¡¡me¡£¡¨



He¡¡bowed¡¡coldly¡¡and¡¡withdrew¡£¡¡¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡mounted¡¡his

horse¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡away£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡cheeks¡¡burning¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡had¡¡acted

upon¡¡calm¡¡consideration£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡Californian

experience¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡quixotic¡¡nor¡¡exaggerated¡¡in¡¡the

attitude¡¡he¡¡had¡¡taken¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡had¡¡quarreled¡¡and¡¡fought¡¡on¡¡less

grounds£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡even¡¡half¡¡convinced¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡HAD¡¡been

insulted£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡own¡¡professional¡¡reputation¡¡demanded¡¡the

withdrawal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡on¡¡Harcourt¡¡on¡¡purely¡¡business¡¡grounds£»

but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡satisfied¡¡of¡¡the¡¡personal¡¡responsibility¡¡of¡¡Fletcher

nor¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gratuitous¡¡malignity¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡did¡¡the¡¡man¡¡look¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tool

in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡some¡¡unscrupulous¡¡and¡¡hidden¡¡enemy¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡he

had¡¡played¡¡his¡¡card¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡succeeded¡¡only¡¡in¡¡provoking¡¡a¡¡duel¡¡with

Fletcher£»¡¡he¡¡at¡¡least¡¡would¡¡divert¡¡the¡¡public¡¡attention¡¡from

Harcourt¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡superior¡¡position¡¡would

throw¡¡the¡¡lesser¡¡victim¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡make¡¡the

sacrifice£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gentleman£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡SHE¡¡would¡¡not

care¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡it¡¡as¡¡an¡¡earnest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡unselfish¡¡love£¡



He¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡point¡¡where¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡track¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡Santa

Clara¡¡turnpike¡¡when¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡but

old¡­fashioned¡¡carriage¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡four¡¡white¡¡mules£»¡¡which¡¡passed¡¡down

the¡¡road¡¡before¡¡him¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡suddenly¡¡off¡¡into¡¡a¡¡private¡¡road¡£

But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡this¡¡picturesque¡¡gala¡¡equipage¡¡of¡¡some¡¡local¡¡Spanish

grandee¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡thrill¡¡to¡¡his¡¡nerves¡¡and¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡to¡¡his¡¡eye£»

it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡unmistakable£»¡¡tall£»¡¡elegant¡¡figure¡¡and¡¡handsome¡¡profile

of¡¡Clementina£»¡¡reclining¡¡in¡¡light¡¡gauzy¡¡wraps¡¡against¡¡the¡¡back

seat£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fanciful¡¡resemb

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