Paultooktheenvelopeandopenedit。Itcontainedaprinter\'sproof-slip，whichhehurriedlyglancedover。Itreadasfollows:——
\"ThoseofourreaderswhoarefamiliarwiththeearlyhistoryofSanFranciscowillbeinterestedtoknowthataneccentricandirregulartrusteeship，vestedforthelasteightyearsintheMayorofSanFranciscoandtwoofouroldestcitizens，wasterminatedyesterdaybythemajorityofabeautifulandaccomplishedyounglady，apupiloftheconventofSantaClara。Veryfew，excepttheoriginaltrustees，werecognizantofthefactthattheadministrationofthetrusteeshasbeenarecognizedfunctionofthesuccessiveMayorsofSanFranciscoduringthisperiod；andthemysterysurroundingithasbeenonlylatelydivulged。ItoffersatouchingandromanticinstanceofasurvivaloftheoldpatriarchaldutiesoftheformerAlcaldesandthesimplicityofpioneerdays。
Itseemsthat，intheunsettledconditionsoftheMexicanland-
titlesthatfollowedtheAmericanoccupation，theconsumptivewidowofascionofoneoftheoldestCalifornianfamiliesintrustedherpropertyandthecustodyofherinfantdaughtervirtuallytothecityofSanFrancisco，asrepresentedbythetrusteesspecified，untilthegirlshouldbecomeofage。Withinayear，theinvalidmotherdied。Withwhatloyalty，sagacity，andprudencethesegentlemenfulfilledtheirtrustmaybegatheredfromthefactthatthepropertyleftintheirchargehasnotonlybeensecuredandprotected，butincreasedahundredfoldinvalue；andthattheyounglady，whoyesterdayattainedhermajority，isnotonlyoneoftherichestlandedheiressesonthePacificSlope，butoneofthemostaccomplishedandthoroughlyeducatedofhersex。
ItisnownosecretthatthisfavoredchildofChrysopolisistheDonaMariaConcepciondeArguellodelaYerbaBuena，socalledfromherancestralpropertyontheisland，nowownedbytheFederalgovernment。Butitisanaffectingandpoetictributetotheparentofheradoptionthatshehaspreferredtopassundertheold，quaintlytypicalnameofthecity，andhasbeenknowntoherfriendssimplyas\'MissYerbaBuena。\'Itisanolesspleasantandsuggestivecircumstancethatour\'youngestsenator，\'theHonorablePaulHathaway，formerlyprivatesecretarytoMayorHammersley，isoneoftheoriginalunofficialtrustees；whilethechivalryoftheolderdaysisperpetuatedinthepersonofColonelHarryPendleton，theremainingtrustee。\"
Assoonashehadfinished，Paultookapencilandcrossedoutthelastsentence；butinsteadoflayingtheproofaside，orreturningittothewaitingsecretary，heremainedwithitinhishand，hissilent，setfaceturnedtowardsthewindow。Whetherthemerelyhumansecretarywastiredofwaiting，orthedevotedpartisansawsomethingonhisyoungchief\'sfacethatdisturbedhim，heturnedtoPaulwiththatexaggeratedrespectwhichhisfunctionsassecretaryhadgrafteduponhisaffectionforhisoldassociate，andsaid:——
\"Ihopenothing\'swrong，sir。NotanotherofthosescurrilousattacksonyouforputtingthatbillthroughtorelieveColonelPendleton?Yetitwasariskythingforyou，sir。\"
Paulstarted，recoveredhimselfasiffromsomeremoteabstraction，and，withasmile，said:\"No，——nothing。Quitethereverse。WritetoMr。Slate，thankhim，andsaythatitwilldoverywell——withtheexceptionofthelinesIhavemarkedout。Thenbringmetheletter，andIwilladdthisinclosure。DidyoucallonColonelPendleton?\"
\"Yes，sir。HewasatSantaClara，andhadnotyetreturned，——atleast，that\'swhatthatdandyniggerofhistoldme。Theairsandgracesthatthatcreatureputsonsincethecolonel\'saffairshavebeenstraightenedoutisalittletoomuchforawhitemantostand。Why，sir!d——difhedidn\'twanttopatronizeYOU，andallowedtomethat\'deKernel\'hada\'fahideah\'ofyou，\'andthoughtyouapromisin\'youngman。\'Thefactis，sir，thepartyismakingabigmistaketryingtogivevotestothatkindofcattle——
itwouldonlybegivingtwovotestotheotherside，for，slaveorfree，they\'rethechattelsoftheiroldmasters。Andastothemasters\'gratitudeforwhatyou\'vedoneaffectingasinglevoteoftheirparty——you\'remistaken。\"
\"ColonelPendletonbelongstonoparty，\"saidPaul，curtly；\"butifhisoldconstituentsevertrytogetintopoweragain，they\'velosttheironlyindependentmartyr。\"
Hepresentlybecameabstractedagain，andShearproducedfromhisovercoatpocketaseriesofofficial-lookingdocuments。
\"I\'vebroughtthereports，sir。\"
\"Eh?\"saidPaul，absently。
Thesecretarystared。\"ThereportsoftheSanFranciscoChiefofPolicethatyouaskedmetoget。\"Hisemployerwascertainlyveryforgetfulto-day。
\"Oh，yes；thankyou。Youcanlaythemonmydesk。I\'lllookthemoverinCommittee。Youcangonow，andifanyonecallstoseemesayI\'mbusy。\"
Thesecretarydisappearedintheadjoiningroom，andPaulleanedbackinhischair，thinking。Hehad，atlast，effectedtheworkhehadresolveduponwhenheleftRosariotwomonthsago；thearticlehehadjustread，andwhichwouldappearasaneditorialintheSanFranciscopaperthedayaftertomorrow，wastheculminationofquietlypersistentlabor，inquiry，anddeduction，andwouldbeaccepted，hereafter，asauthentichistory，which，ifnotthoroughlyestablished，atleastcouldnotbegainsaid。ImmediatelyonarrivingatSanFrancisco，hehadhastenedtoPendleton\'sbedside，andlaidthefactsandhisplanbeforehim。Tohismingledastonishmentandchagrin，thecolonelhadobjectedvehementlytothis\"saddlingofanybody\'soffspringonagentlemanwhocouldn\'tdefendhimself，\"andevenPaul\'sexplanationthattheputativefatherwasamythscarcelyappeasedhim。ButPaul\'stimelydemonstration，byrelatingthescenehehadwitnessedofJudgeBaker\'sinfelicitousmemory，thatthesecretwaslikelytoberevealedatanymoment，andthatifthegirlcontinuedtoclingtohertheory，ashefearedshewould，eventothepartingwithherfortune，theywouldbeforcedtoacceptit，orbeplacedinthehideouspositionofpublishingherdisgrace，atlastconvincedhim。
Ontheotherhand，therewaslessdangerofherPOSITIVEimpositionbeingdiscoveredthanoftheVAGUEANDIMPOSITIVEtruth。Therealdangerlayinthepresentuncertaintyandmystery，whichcourtedsurmiseandinviteddiscovery。Paul，himself，waswillingtotakealltheresponsibility，andatlastextractedfromthecolonelapromiseofpassiveassent。Theonlyrevelationhefearedwasfromtheinterferenceofthemother，butPendletonwasstronginthebeliefthatshehadnotonlyutterlyabandonedthegirltothecareofherguardians，butthatshewouldneverrescindherresolutiontodisclaimherrelationship；thatshehadgoneintoself-exileforthatpurpose；andthatifsheHADchangedhermind，hewouldbethefirsttoknowofit。Onthisdaytheyhadparted。Meantime，Paulhadnotforgottenanotherresolutionhehadformedonhisfirstvisittothecolonel，andhadactuallysucceededingettinglegislativerelieffortheGoldenGateBank，andrestoringtothecolonelsomeofhisprivatepropertythathadbeeninthehandsofareceiver。
ThishadbeenthebackgroundofPaul\'smeditation，whichonlythrewintostrongerreliefthefaceandfigurethatmovedbeforehimaspersistentlyasithadoncebeforeinthetwilightofhisroomatRosario。Thereweretimeswhenhermoonlitface，withitsfaint，strangesmile，stoodoutbeforehimasithadstoodoutoftheshadowsofthehalf-darkeneddrawing-roomthatnight；ashehadseenit——hebelievedforthelasttime——framedforaninstantinthepartedcurtainsofthedoorway，whenshebadehim\"Goodnight。\"
Forhehadnevervisitedhersince，and，ontheattainmentofhermajority，haddelegatedhispassingfunctionstoPendleton，whomhehadinducedtoaccompanytheMayortoSantaClaraforthefinalandformalceremony。Forthepresentsheneednotknowhowmuchshehadbeenindebtedtohimfortheaccomplishmentofherwishes。
Withasighheatlastrecalledhimselftohisduty，and，drawingthepileofreportswhichShearhadhandedhim，hebegantoexaminethem。These，again，borereferencetohissilent，unobtrusiveinquiries。InhisfunctionasChairmanofCommitteehehadtakenadvantageofakindofadvancedmorallegislationtheninvogue，andparticularlyinreferencetoacertainsocialreform，toexaminestatistics，authorities，andwitnesses，andinthisindirectbutexhaustivemannerhadsatisfiedhimselfthatthewoman\"KateHoward，\"alias\"Beverly，\"alias\"Durfree，\"hadlongpassedbeyondthekenoflocalpolicesupervision，andthatintherecordtherewasnotraceorindicationofherchild。Hewasgoingoverthoseinfelixrecordsofearlytransgressionswiththeeyeoftrainedexperience，makingnotesfromtimetotimeforhisofficialuse，andyetalwayswatchfulofhissecretquest，whensuddenlyhestoppedwithaquickenedpulse。Intherecordofanaffrayatagambling-house，oneofthepartieshadsoughtrefugeintheroomsof\"KateHoward，\"whowasrepresentedbeforethemagistratebyHER
PROTECTOR，JUANDEARGUELLO。ThedategivenwascontemporarywiththebeginningoftheTrust，butthatprovednothing。Butthename——
haditanysignificance，orwasitagrimcoincidence，thatspokeevenmoreterriblyandhopelesslyofthewoman\'spromiscuousfrailty?Heagainattackedtheentirereport，buttherewasnootherrecordofhername。Eventhatwouldhavepassedanyeyelesseagerandwatchfulthanhisown。
Helaidthereportsaside，andtookuptheproof-slipagain。WasthereanymanlivingbuthimselfandPendletonwhowouldconnectthesetwostatements?ThatherrelationswiththisArguellowerebriefandnotgenerallyknownwasevidentfromPendleton\'signoranceofthefact。Buthemustseehimagain，andatonce。
PerhapshemighthaveacquiredsomeinformationfromYerba；theyounggirlmighthavegiventohisagethatconfidenceshehadwithheldfromtheyoungerman；indeed，herememberedwithaflushitwaspartlyinthathopehehadinducedthecoloneltogotoSantaClara。Heputtheproof-slipinhispocketandsteppedtothedoorofthenextroom。
\"YouneednotwritethatlettertoSlate，Tony。Iwillseehimmyself。IamgoingtoSanFranciscoto-night。\"
\"Anddoyouwantanythingcopiedfromthereports，sir?\"
Paulquicklysweptthemfromthetableintohisdrawer，andlockedit。\"Notnow，thankyou。I\'llfinishmynoteslater。\"
ThenextmorningPaulwasinSanFrancisco，andhadagaincrossedtheportalsoftheGoldenGateHotel。Hehadbeenalreadytoldthatthedoomofthatpalatialedificewassealedbythelayingofthecornerstoneofanewerectioninthenextsquarethatshouldutterlyeclipseit；heevenfanciedthatithadalreadylostitsfreshness，anditsmeretriciousglitterhadbeentarnished。Butwhenhehadorderedhisbreakfasthemadehiswaytothepublicparlor，happilydesertedatthatearlyhour。Itwasherethathehadfirstseenher。Shewasstandingthere，bythatmirror，whentheireyesfirstmetinasuddeninstinctivesympathy。Sheherselfhadrememberedandconfessedit。Herecalledthepleasedyetconscious，girlishsuperioritywithwhichshehadreceivedtheadulationofherfriends；hismemoryofherwasbroadenoughnoweventoidentifyMilly，asitrepeopledthevacantandsilentroom。
AnhourlaterhewasmakinghiswaytoColonelPendleton\'slodgings，andhalfexpectingtofindtheSt。CharlesHotelitselftransformedbytheeagerspiritofimprovement。Butitwasstillthereinallitsbarbaricandprovincialincongruity。Publicopinionhadevidentlyrecognizedthatnothingsavetheabsoluterazingofitswarpedandflimsywallscouldeffectachange，andwaitedforittocollapsesuddenlylikethehouseofcardsitresembled。Paulwonderedforamomentifitwerenotominousofitslodgers\'hopelessinabilitytoacceptchangedconditions，anditwaswithafeelingofdoubtthatheevennowascendedthecreakingstaircase。Butitwasinstantlydissipatedonthethresholdofthecolonel\'ssitting-roombytheappearanceofGeorgeandhisreceptionofhismaster\'sguest。
Thegrizzlednegrowasarrayedinasurprisinglynewsuitofblueclothwithaportentouswhitewaistcoatandanenormouscrumpledwhitecravat，thatgavehimtheappearanceofsufferingfromaglandularswelling。Hismannerhad，itseemedtoPaul，advancedinexaggerationwithhisclothes。Dustingachairandofferingittothevisitor，heremainedgracefullyposedwithhishandonthebackofanother。
\"Yo\'findsusheahyet，MarseHathaway，\"hebegan，elegantlytoyingwithanenormoussilverwatch-chain，\"fo\'deKernelhedon\'binfindcontagiousapartmentsdatatallapproximate，andhedon\'
build，forhismind\'snotdatsettleddatheain\'tgoin\'totrabbel。Deplaceislowdown，sah，anddefo\'ksislowdown，anddah\'saheapo\'whitetrashdathascongestedunderderoofobdehotelsincewecame。Butweusesittemper\'ly，sah，fo\'depresent，andinadissolutoryfashion。\"
ItstruckPaulthatthecontiguityofacertainbarber\'sshopanditsdangerousreminiscenceshadsomethingtodowithGeorge\'sloftydepreciationofhissurroundings，andhecouldnothelpsaying:——
\"Thenyoudon\'tfinditnecessarytohaveitconvenienttothebarber\'sshopanymore?Iamgladofthat，George。\"
Theshottold。TheunfortunateGeorge，afteranendeavortocollecthimselfbyalteringhisposetwoorthreetimesinrapidsuccession，finallycollapsed，and，withanairofmingledpainanddignity，butwithoutlosinghisceremoniouspolitenessoruniquevocabulary，said:——
\"Yo\'gotmedah，sah!Yo\'gotmedah!Deinfirmitieso\'humannatcheh，sah，isdecommonp\'opertyobman，andagemplumlikeyo\'self，sah，alegislato\'andapow\'fulspeakah，isdelassonetohol\'itagindeindividalpusson。Iconfess，sah，decircumstanceswaspropiskuous，defeesfahlygood，andderisksinferior。Degemplumwhokeptdeshopwasanartesshisself，andhadbeenniggahtoKernelHendersonofTennessee，anddogemplumIrelievedwasaMr。Johnson。ButdeKernel，hewouldn\'tseeitindatlight，sah，andifyo\'don\'mind，sah\"——
\"Ihaven\'ttheslightestideaoftellingthecoloneloranybody，George，\"saidPaul，smiling；\"andIamgladtofindonyourownaccountthatyouareabletoputasideanyworkbeyondyourdutyhere。\"
\"Thankyo\'，sah。Ifyo\'\'llletmeintroduceyo\'toderefreshment，yo\'\'llfinditallrightnow。DeGlencoeisdah。DeKernelwillbeheresoon，buthewouldbepow\'fulmo\'tified，sah，ifyo\'didn\'thabsomethingafo\'hecome。\"Heopenedawell-filledsideboardashespoke。ItwasthefirstevidencePaulhadseenofthecolonel\'srestoredfortunes。Hewouldwillinglyhavecontentedhimselfwiththismereoutwardmanifestation，butinhisdesiretosoothetheruffleddignityoftheoldmanheconsentedtopartakeofasmallglassofspirits。Georgeatoncebecameradiantandcommunicative。\"DeKernelbingonetoSantaClaratoseedeyoungladydat\'sfinishedheredercationdah——deKernel\'sonlyward，sah。
She\'soneo\'dosemillion-heiressesandhighlyconnected，sah，widdeoldMexicanGobbermen，Iunderstand。AndIreckondey\'sbinbiggoin\'sondoundar，fohdeMayerkemhisselffo\'deKernel。Lookslikedesmightbinaproceshon，sah。Yo\'don\'knowofayoungladybinhabatitle，sah?Iwon\'tbeshuah，hisHonahdeMayerordeKerneldidn\'tsaysometingabouta\'Donna\'\"
\"Verylikely，\"saidPaul，turningawaywithafaintsmile。Soitwasalreadyintheair!Settingasidetheoldnegro\'scharacteristicexaggeration，therehadalreadybeensomeconversationbetweenthecolonelandtheMayor，whichGeorgehadvaguelyoverheard。Hemightbetoolate，thealternativemightbenolongerinhishands。ButhisdiscomposurewasheightenedamomentlaterbytheactualapparitionofthereturningPendleton。
Hewasdressedinatightlybuttonedbluefrock-coat，whichfairlyaccentedhistall，thinmilitaryfigure，althoughthetoplappelwasthrownfarenoughbacktoshowafineruffledcambricshirtandcheckedginghamnecktie，andwasitselfadornedwithawhiterosebudinthebutton-hole。Fawn-coloredtrousersstrappedovernarrowpatent-leatherboots，andatallwhitehat，whosebroadmourning-bandwasaperpetualmemoryofhismother，whohaddiedinhisboyhood，completedhisfestaltransformation。Yethiserectcarriage，highaquilinenose，andlonggraydroopingmoustachelentadistinguishinggracetothissurvivalofabygonefashion，andover-rodeanyirreverentcomment。Evenhisslightlimpseemedtogiveapeculiarcharactertohismassivegold-headedstick，andmadeitapartofhisformalelegance。
HandingGeorgehisstickandamilitarycapehecarriedeasilyoverhisleftarm，hegreetedPaulwarmly，yetwithareturnofhisolddominantmanner。
\"Gladtoseeyou，Hathaway，andgladtoseetheboyhasservedyoubetterthanthelasttime。IfIhadknownyouwerecoming，Iwouldhavetriedtogetbackintimetohavebreakfastwithyou。Butyourfriendsat\'Rosario\'——Ithinktheycallit；inmytimeitwasownedbyColonelBriones，andHEcalledit\'TheDevil\'sLittleCanyon\'——detainedmewithsomed——dcivilities。Let\'ssee——hisnameisWoods，isn\'tit?UsedtosellrumtorunawaysailorsonLongWharf，andtakestoresinexchange?OrwasitBaker?——JudgeBaker?Iforgetwhich。Well，sir，theywishedtoberemembered。\"
ItstruckPaul，perhapsunreasonably，thatthecolonel\'sindifferenceanddigressionwerebothalittleassumed，andheaskedabruptly，——
\"Andyoufulfilledyourmission?\"
\"Imadetheformaltransfer，withtheMayor，ofthepropertytoMissArguello。\"
\"ToMissArguello?\"
\"TotheDonaMariaConcepciondeArguellodelaYerbaBuena——tospeakprecisely，\"saidthecolonel，slowly。\"George，youcantakethathattothatblankhatter——what\'shisblankedname?Ireaditonlyyesterdayinalistoftheprominentcitizenshere——andtellhim，withmycompliments，thatIwantaGENTLEMAN\'Smourningbandaroundmyhat，andnotachild\'sshoelace。ItmaybeHISideaofthevalueofhisownparents——ifheeverhadany——butIdon\'tcareforhimtoappraisemine。Go!\"
AsthedoorcloseduponGeorge，Paulturnedtothecolonel——
\"ThenamItounderstandthatyouhaveagreedtoherstory?\"
Thecolonelrose，pickedupthedecanter，pouredoutaglassofwhiskey，andholdingitinhishand，said:——
\"MydearHathaway，letusunderstandeachother。Asagentleman，I
havemadeapointthroughlifenevertoquestiontheage，name，orfamilyofanyladyofmyacquaintance。MissYerbaBuenacameofageyesterday，and，assheisnolongermyward，sheiscertainlyentitledtotheconsiderationIhavejustmentioned。Ifshe，therefore，choosestotacktohernamethewholeSpanishdirectory，Idon\'tseewhyIshouldn\'tacceptit。\"
Characteristicasthisspeechappearedtobeofthecolonel\'sordinarymanner，itstruckPaulasbeingonlyanimitationofhisusualfrankindependence，andmadehimuneasilyconsciousofsomevaguedesertiononPendleton\'spart。Hefixedhisbrighteyesonhishost，whowasostentatiouslysippinghisliquor，andsaid:——
\"AmItounderstandthatyouhaveheardnothingmorefromMissYerba，eitherfororagainstherstory?Thatyoustilldonotknowwhethershehasdeceivedherself，hasbeendeceivedbyothers，orisdeceivingus?\"
\"AfterwhatIhavejusttoldyou，Mr。Hathaway，\"saidthecolonel，withanincreasedexaggerationofmannerwhichPaulthoughtmustbeapparenteventohimself，\"Ishouldhavebutonewayofdealingwithquestionsofthatkindfromanybodybutyourself。\"
Thisculminatingextravagance——takeninconnectionwithPendleton\'spassingdoubts——actuallyforcedalaughfromPaulinspiteofhisbitterness。
ColonelPendleton\'sfaceflushedquickly。Likemostpositiveone-
idea\'dmen，hewasrestrictedfromanypossiblehumorouscombination，andonlyfeltamysterioussenseofbeingdetectedinsomeweakness。Heputdownhisglass。
\"Mr。Hathaway，\"hebegan，withaslightvibrationinhisusualdominantaccents，\"youhavelatelyputmeunderasenseofpersonalobligationforafavorwhichIfeltIcouldacceptwithoutderogationfromayoungerman，becauseitseemedtobeonenotonlyofyouthfulgenerositybutofjustice，andwasnotunworthytheexaltedambitionofayoungmanlikeyourselforthesimpledesertsofanoldmansuchasIam。Iacceptedit，sir，themorereadily，becauseitwasentirelyunsolicitedbyme，andseemedtobethespontaneousofferingofyourownheart。IfIhavepresumeduponittoexpressmyselffreelyonothermattersinawaythatonlyexcitesyourridicule，Icanbutofferyouanapology，sir。IfI
haveacceptedafavorIcanneitherrenouncenorreturn，Imusttaketheconsequencestomyself，andevenbegYOU，sir，toputupwiththem。\"
RemorsefulasPaulfelt，therewasasingularresemblancebetweenthepreviousreproachfulposeofGeorgeandthispresentattitudeofhismaster，asifthemerepropinquityofpersonalsacrificehadmadethemalike，thatstruckhimwithamingledpathosandludicrousness。Buthesaidwarmly，\"ItisIwhomustapologize，mydearcolonel。Iamnotlaughingatyourconclusions，butatthissingularcoincidencewithadiscoveryIhavemade。\"
\"Ashow，sir?\"
\"IfindinthereportoftheChiefofthePolicefortheyear1850
thatKateHowardwasundertheprotectionofamannamedArguello。\"
Thecolonel\'sexaggerationinstantlylefthim。HestaredblanklyatPaul。\"Andyoucallthisalaughingmatter，sir?\"hesaidsternly，butinhismorenaturalmanner。
\"Perhapsnot，butIdon\'tthink，ifyouwillallowmetosayso，mydearcolonel，thatYOUhavebeentreatingthewholeaffairveryseriously。Ileftyoutwomonthsagoutterlyopposedtoviewswhichyouarenowtreatingasofnoimportance。Andyetyouwishmetobelievethatnothinghashappened，andthatyouhavenofurtherinformationthanyouhadthen。Thatthisisso，andthatyouarereallynonearertheFACTS，IamwillingtobelievefromyourignoranceofwhatIhavejusttoldyou，andyourconcernatit。ButthatyouhavenotbeeninfluencedinyourJUDGMENTofwhatyoudoknow，Icannotbelieve?\"HedrewnearerPendleton，andlaidhishanduponhisarm。\"Ibegyoutobefrankwithme，forthesakeofthepersonwhoseinterestsIseeyouhaveatheart。InwhatwaywillthediscoveryIhavejustmadeaffectthem?Youarenotsofarprejudicedastobeblindtothefactthatitmaybedangerousbecauseitseemscorroborative。\"
Pendletoncoughed，rose，tookhisstick，andlimpedupanddowntheroom，finallydroppingintoanarmchairbythewindow，withhiscanebetweenhisknees，andthedroopinggraysilkenthreadsofhislongmoustachecurlednervouslybetweenhisfingers。
\"Mr。Hathaway，IWILLbefrankwithyou。Iknownothingofthisblankaffair——blankitall!——butwhatI\'vetoldyou。Yourdiscoverymaybeacoincidence，nothingmore。ButIHAVEbeeninfluenced，sir，——influencedbyoneofthemostperfectgoddess-
like——yes，sir；oneofthemostsimplegirlishcreaturesthatGodeversentuponearth。AwomanthatIshouldbeproudtoclaimasmydaughter，awomanthatwouldalwaysbethesuperiorofanymanwhodareaspiretobeherhusband!Ayoungladyaspeerlessinherbeautyassheisinheraccomplishments，andwhoseequaldon\'twalkthisplanet!Iknow，sir，YOUdon\'tfollowme；Iknow，Mr。
Hathaway，yourPuritanprejudices；yourChurchproclivities，yourworldlysenseofpropriety；and，aboveall，sir，theblankedhypocriticalPharisaicdoctrinesofyourparty——ImeannooffensetoYOU，sir，personally——blindyoutothatgirl\'sperfections。
She，poorchild，herselfhasseenitandfeltit，butnever，inherblamelessinnocenceandpurity，suspectingthecause，\'Thereis，\'
shesaidtomelastnight，confidentially，\'somethingstrangelyantagonisticandrepellentinournatures，someundefinedandnamelessbarrierbetweenoureverunderstandingeachother。\'Youcomprehend，Mr。Hathaway，shedoesfulljusticetoyourintentionsandyourunquestionedabilities。\'Iamnotblind，\'shesaid，\'toMr。Hathaway\'sgifts，anditisverypossiblethefaultlieswithme。\'Herverywords，sir。\"
\"Thenyoubelievesheisperfectlyignorantofherrealmother?\"
askedPaul，withasteadyvoice，butawhiteningface。
\"Asanunbornchild，\"saidthecolonel，emphatically。\"ThesnowontheSierrasisnotmorespotlesslypureofanytraceorcontaminationofthemudoftheminingditches，thansheofhermotherandherpast。Theknowledgeofit，themerebreathofsuspicionofit，inherpresencewouldbeaprofanation，sir!Lookathereye——openastheskyandasclear；lookatherfaceandfigure——asclean，sir，asaBlue-Grassthoroughbred!Lookatthewayshecarriesherself，whetherinthosewhitefrillingsofhersimpleschool-gown，orthatblackeveningdressthatmakesherlooklikeaprincess!And，blankme，ifsheisn\'tone!There\'snopoorstockthere——nowhitetrash——nomixedblood，sir。Blankitall，sir，ifitcomestoTHAT——theArguellos——ifthere\'sahoundofthemliving——mightgodownontheirkneestohavetheirnamebornebysuchacreature!BytheEternal，sir，ifoneofthemdaredtocrossherpathwithawordthatwasn\'tabject——yes，sir，ABJECT，I\'dwipehisdustofftheearthandsenditbacktohisancestorsbeforeheknewwherehewas，ormynameisn\'tHarryPendleton!\"
Hopelessandinconsistentasallthiswas，itwasawonderfulsighttoseethecolonel，hisdarksternfaceilluminatedwithazealot\'senthusiasm，hiseyesonfire，theendsofhisgraymoustachecurlingaroundhissetjaw，hisheadthrownback，hislegsastride，andhisgold-headedstickheldinthehollowofhiselbow，likealanceatrest!Paulsawit，andknewthatthisQuixotictransformationwaspartofHERtriumph，andyethadamiserableconsciousnessthatthecharmsofthisDulcineadelTobosohadscarcelybeenexaggerated。Heturnedhiseyesaway，andsaidquietly，——
\"Thenyoudon\'tthinkthiscoincidencewilleverawakenanysuspicioninregardtoherrealmother?\"
\"Notintheleast，sir——notintheleast，\"saidthecolonel，yet，perhaps，withmoredoggednessthanconvictionofaccent。\"Nobodybutyourselfwouldevernoticethatpolicereport，andtheconnectionofthatwoman\'snamewithhiswasnotnotorious，orI
shouldhaveknownit。\"
\"Andyoubelieve，\"continuedPaulhopelessly，\"thatMissYerba\'sselectionofthenamewaspurelyaccidental?\"
\"Purely——aschool-girl\'sfancy。Fancy，didIsay?No，sir；byJove，aninspiration!\"
\"And，\"continuedPaul，almostmechanically，\"youdonotthinkitmaybesomeinsidioussuggestionofanenemywhoknewofthistransientrelationthatnoonesuspected?\"
TohisfinalamazementPendleton\'sbrowcleared!\"Anenemy?Gad!
youmayberight。I\'lllookintoit；and，ifthatisthecase，whichIscarcelydarehopefor，Mr。Hathaway，youcansafelyleavehimtoME。\"
HelookedsosupremelyconfidentinhisfatuousheroismthatPaulcouldsaynomore。Heroseand，withafaintsmileuponhispaleface，heldouthishand。\"IthinkthatisallIhavetosay。WhenyouseeMissYerbaagain，——asyouwill，nodoubt，——youmaytellherthatIamconsciousofnomisunderstandingonmypart，except，perhaps，astothebestwayIcouldserveher，andthat，butforwhatshehastoldYOU，IshouldcertainlyhavecarriedawaynoremembranceofanymisunderstandingofHERS。\"
\"Certainly，\"saidthecolonel，withcheerfulphilosophy，\"Iwillcarryyourmessagewithpleasure。Youunderstandhowitis，Mr。
Hathaway。Thereisnoaccountingfortheseinstincts——wecanonlyacceptthemastheyare。ButIbelievethatyourintentions，sir，werestrictlyaccordingtowhatyouconceivedtobeyourduty。Youwon\'ttakesomethingbeforeyougo?Well，then——good-by。\"
TwoweekslaterPaulfoundamonghismorninglettersanenvelopeaddressedinColonelPendleton\'sboyishscrawlinghand。Heopeneditwithaneagernessthatnostudiedself-controlnorrigidpreoccupationofhisdutieshadyetbeenabletosubdue，andglancedhurriedlyatitscontents:——
DEARSIR，——AsIamonthepointofsailingtoEuropeto-morrowtoescortMissArguelloandMissWoodsonanextendedvisittoEnglandandtheContinent，IamdesirousofinformingyouthatIhavethusfarbeenunabletofindanyfoundationforthesuggestionsthrownoutbyyouinourlastinterview。MissArguello\'sSpanishacquaintanceshavebeenveryselect，andlimitedtoafewschoolfriendsandDonCaesarandDonaAnnaBriones，triedfriends，whoarealsofellow-passengerswithustoEurope。MissArguellosuggeststhatsomepoliticaldifferencebetweenyouandDonCaesar，whichoccurredduringyourvisittoRosariothreemonthsago，mayhave，perhaps，givenrisetoyoursupposition。Shejoinsmeinbestwishesforyourpubliccareer，whicheveninthedistractionofforeigntravelandtheobligationsofherpositionshewillfollowfromtimetotimewiththegreatestinterest。
Veryrespectfullyyours，HARRYPENDLETON。
CHAPTERV。
Itwasonthe3dofAugust，1863，thatPaulHathawayresignedhimselfandhisluggagetothecareofthegold-laced，ostensibleporteroftheStrudleBadHof，notwithoutsomeuncertainty，inalandofuniforms，whetherhewouldbeeventuallyconductedtothebarracks，thepoliceoffice，ortheConservatoire。HewasrelievedwhentheomnibusdroveintothecourtyardoftheBadHof，andthegold-chainedchamberlain，flankedbytwogreentubsofoleanders，receivedhimwithagravitycalculatedtocheckanypreconceivedideahemighthavethattravelingwasatriflingaffair，orthatanarrivalattheBadHofwasnotofseriousmoment。Hislettershadnotyetarrived，forhehad，inafitofrestlessness，shortenedhisroute，andhestrolledlistlesslyintothereading-room。TwoorthreeEnglishguestswereevidentlyoccupiedineminentlyrespectablereadingandwriting；twoweresittingbythewindowengagedinsubduedbutprofitableconversation；andtwoAmericansfromBostonwerecontentedlyimitatingthemontheothersideoftheroom。Adecentrestraint，asofpeoplewhowerenotforamomenttobeledintoanyforeignideaofsocialgayetyatawatering-place，wasvisibleeverywhere。AspectacledPrussianofficerinfulluniformpassedalongthehall，haltedforamomentatthedoorwayasifcontemplatinganarmedinvasion，thoughtbetterofit，andtookhisuniformawayintothesunlightoftheopensquare，whereitwasjoinedbyotheruniforms，andbecamebycontrastamiracleofunbracedlevity。PaulstoodthePolarsilenceforafewmoments，untiloneofthereadersaroseand，takinghisbook——aMurray——inhishand，walkedslowlyacrosstheroomtoacompanion，mutelypointedtoapassageinthebook，remainedsilentuntiltheotherhaddumblyperusedit，andthenwalkedbackagaintohisseat，havingachievedtheincidentwithoutaword。AtwhichPaul，convincedofhisownincongruity，softlywithdrewwithhishatinhishand，andhiseyesfixeddevotionallyuponit。
ItwasgoodafterthattogetintotheslantingsunlightandcheckeredlindenshadowsoftheAllee；toseeevenatightlyjacketedcavalrymannaturallywalkingwithClarchenandhertworound-facedanddrab-hairedyoungcharges；towatchthereturninginvalidprocession，veryrealandveryhuman，eachindividualintenselyinvolvedintheatmosphereofhisownsymptoms；andverygoodafterthattoturnintotheThiergarten，wheretheanimals，were，however，chieflyofhisownspecies，andshamelesslyandopenlyamusingthemselves。Itwaspleasanttocontrastitwithhisfirstvisittotheplacethreemonthsbefore，andcorrecthiscrudeimpressions。Anditwasstillmorepleasantsuddenlytorecognize，undertheroundflatcapofageneralofficer，aformertravelerwhowasfondoftalkingwithhimaboutAmericawithanintelligenceandunderstandingofitthatPaulhadoftenmissedamonghisowntraveledcountrymen。Itwaspleasanttohearhisunaffectedandsimplegreeting，torenewtheiroldacquaintance，andtosaunterbacktothehoteltogetherthroughthelongtwilight。
Theywereonlyafewsquaresfromthehotel，whenPaul\'sattentionwasattractedbythecuriosityanddelightoftwoorthreechildrenbeforehim，whoappearedtobefollowingaquaint-lookingfigurethatwasevidentlynotunfamiliartothem。Itappearedtobeaservantinastrikingliveryofgreenwithyellowfacingsandcrestedsilverbuttons，butstillmoreremarkablefortheindescribableminglingofjauntyeaseandconsciousdignitywithwhichhecarriedoffhisfinery。TherewassomethingsosingularandyetsovaguelyreminiscentinhispeculiarwalkandtheexaggeratedswingofhislightbamboocanethatPaulcouldnotonlyunderstandthechildishwonderofthepassers-by，whoturnedtolookafterhim，butwasstirredwithadeepercuriosity。Hequickenedhispace，butwasunabletodistinguishanythingofthefaceorfeaturesofthestranger，exceptthathishairunderhiscockedhatappearedtobetightlycurledandpowdered。Paul\'scompanion，whowasamusedatwhatseemedtobetheAmerican\'snationalcuriosity，hadseenthefigurebefore。\"AservantinthesuiteofsomeEasternAltessevisitingthebaths。Youwillseestrangerthings，myfriend，intheStrudleBad。Parexample，yourowncountrymen，too；theonewhohasenrichedhimselfbythatporkofChicago，orthatsoap，orthiscandle，inacarriagewiththecrestofthetitlehehasboughtinItalywithhisdollars，andhisbeautifuldaughters，whoareseekingmoretitleswithpossiblematrimonialcontingencies。\"
Afteranearlydinner，Paulfoundhiswaytothelittletheatre。
HehadalreadybeenstruckbyahighlycoloredposterneartheBahnhof，purportingthatadistinguishedGermancompanywouldgivearepresentationof\"UncleTom\'sCabin，\"andcertainpeculiaritiesinthepictorialadvertisementofthetableauxgavepromiseofsomeentertainment。Hefoundthetheatrefairlyfull；therewastheusualcontingentofabonnirteofficers，afairsprinklingofEnglishandGermantravelers，butapparentlynoneofhisowncountrymen。Hehadnotimetoexaminethehousemoreclosely，fortheplay，commencingwithsimplepunctuality，notonlyfarexceededthepromiseoftheposters，butofanypreviousperformanceoftheplayhehadwitnessed。Transportedatoncetoagorgeoustropicalregion——theslaveStatesofAmerica——resplendentwiththefruitsandpalmsofMauritius，andpeopledexclusivelywithPaulandVirginia\'scompanionsinstripedcotton，Hathawaymanagedtokeepacomposedface，untilthearrivalofthegoodSouthernplanterSt。
ClairasoneoftheearlierportraitsofGoethe，intopboots，lightkerseymerebreeches，redingoteandlooseByroncollar，compelledhimtoshrinkintotheuppercorneroftheboxwithhishandkerchieftohisface。Luckily，theactionpassedasthenaturaleffectuponahighlysympatheticnatureofreligiousinterviewsbetweenaround-facedflaxen-haired\"KleineEva\"and\"OnkeelTome，\"occasionallyassistedbyaDissentingclergymaninGenevabands；ofexcessivebrutalitywithacattlewhipbyaZamiel-likeLegree；ofthesufferingsofarunawaynegroZimmermadchenwithachildthreeshadeslighterthanherself；andofapaintedcanvas\"man-hunt，\"whereapparentlyfourwellknownGermancomposersonhorseback，withflowinghair，topboots，andaCordechasse，werepursuing，withtheaidofapackoffoxhounds，\"themuchtoodeeplyabusedandyetspirituallyelevatedOnkeelTome。\"Pauldidnotwaitforthefinalapotheosisof\"derKleineEva，\"but，inthesilenceofahushedaudience，madehiswayintothecorridoranddownthestaircase。Hewaspassinganopendoormarked\"Direction，\"whenhisattentionwassharplyattractedbyasmallgatheringarounditandthesoundsofindignantdeclamation。
Itwasthevoiceofacountryman——morethanthat，itwasafamiliarvoice，thathehadnotheardforthreeyears——thevoiceofColonelHarryPendleton!
\"Tellhim，\"saidPendleton，inscathingtones，tosomeinvisibleinterpreter，——\"tell，him，sir，thatamoreinfamouscaricatureoftheblankestcaricaturethatevermalignedafreepeople，sir，I
neverbeforehadthehonorofwitnessing。TellhimthatI，sir——I，HarryPendleton，ofKentucky，aSoutherner，sir——anoldslaveholder，sir，declareittobeatissueoffalsehoodsunworthythecredenceofaChristiancivilizationlikethis——unworthytheattentionofthedistinguishedladiesandgentlementhataregatheredhereto-night。Tellhim，sir，hehasbeenimposedupon。
TellhimIamresponsible——givehimmycardandaddress——personallyresponsibleforwhatIsay。Ifhewantsproofs——blankitall!——
tellhimyouyourselfhavebeenaslave——MYslave，sir!Takeoffyourhat，sir!Askhimtolookatyou——askhimifhethinksyoueverlookedorcouldlooklikethatlop-eared，psalm-singing，white-headedhypocriteonthestage!Askhim，sir，ifhethinksthatblankringmastertheycallSt。ClairlookslikeME!\"
AtthisastoundingexordiumPauleagerlypressedforwardandenteredthebureau。TherecertainlywasColonelPendleton，inspotlesseveningdress；erect，flashing，andindignant；hisaquilinenoseliftedlikeahawk\'sbeakoverhisquarry，hisiron-
graymoustache，nowwhiteandwaxed，partedlikeaswallow\'stailoverhishandsomemouth，andbetweenhimandtheastounded\"Direction\"stoodtheapparitionoftheAllee——George!Therewasnomistakinghimnow。WhatPaulhadthoughtwasacurledwigorpowderwastheoldnegro\'sownwhiteknottedwool，andtheastoundingliveryheworewascarriedoffasnoonebutGeorgecouldcarryit。
Buthewasstillmoreamazedwhentheoldservant，inaGermanasexaggerated，asincoherent，butstillasfluentandpersuasiveashisownnativespeech，begananextravagantbutperfectlydignifiedanddiplomatictranslationofhismaster\'sprotests。Whereandwhen，bywhatinstinct，hehadassimilatedandmadehisownthegrotesqueinversionsandponderoussentimentalitiesofTeutonicphrasing，Paulcouldnotguess；butitwaswithbreathlesswonderthathepresentlybecameawarethat，soperfectandconvincingwastheoldman\'sstyleanddeportment，notonlythesimpleofficialsbuteventhebystanderswereprofoundlyimpressedbythisfarragoofabsurdity。Ahappywordhereandthere，thefulltitleandrankgiven，evenwithaslightexaggeration，toeachindividual，broughtadeepandguttural\"So!\"fromlipsthatwouldhavefounditdifficulttorepeatalineofhisceremoniousidiocy。
IntheirpreoccupationneitherthecolonelnorGeorgehadperceivedPaul\'sentrance，but，astheoldservantturnedwithmagnificentcourtesytowardsthebystanders，hiseyesfelluponPaul。Aflashofsurprise，triumph，andsatisfactionlituphisrollingeyes。
Paulinstantlyknewthathenotonlyrecognizedhim，butthathehadalreadyheardofandthoroughlyappreciatedacertaindistinguishedpositionthatPaulhadlatelyheld，andwasquicktoapplyit。Intensifyingforamomentthegrandiloquenceofhismanner，hecalleduponhismaster\'smostdistinguishedandhappilyarrivedoldfriend，theLordLieutenantGovernoroftheGoldenCalifornias，tocorroboratehisstatement。ColonelPendletonstarted，andgraspedPaul\'shandwarmly。Paulturnedtothealreadyhalf-mollifiedDirectorwiththediplomaticsuggestionthatthevividandrealisticactingoftheadmirablecompanywhichhehimselfhadwitnessedhadperhapsundulyexcitedhisoldfriend，evenasithadundoubtedlythrownintogreaterrelieftheusualexaggerationsofdramaticrepresentation，andtheincidentterminatedwithaprofusionofapologies，andthemostcordialexpressionsofinternationalgoodfeelingonbothsides。
Yet，astheyturnedawayfromthetheatretogether，Paulcouldnothelpnoticingthat，althoughthecolonel\'sfirstgreetinghadbeenspontaneousandunaffected，itwassucceededbyanuneasyreserve。
Paulmadenoattempttobreakit，andconfinedhimselftoafewgeneralinquiries，endingbyinvitingthecoloneltosupwithhimatthehotel。Pendletonhesitated。\"Atanyothertime，Mr。
Hathaway，Ishouldhaveinsisteduponyou，asthestranger，suppingwithme；butsincetheabsenceof——of——therestofmyparty——IhavegivenupmysuiteofroomsattheBadHof，andhavetakensmallerlodgingsformyselfandtheboyattheSchwartzeAdler。MissWoodsandMissArguellohaveacceptedaninvitationtospendafewdaysatthevillaoftheBaronandBaronessvonSchilprecht——anhourortwofromhere。\"Helingeredoverthetitlewithanoddminglingofimpressivenessandinquiry，andglancedatPaul。ButHathawayexhibitingneitheremotionnorsurpriseatthementionofYerba\'snameorthetitleofherhost，hecontinued，\"MissArguello，I
supposeyouknow，isimmenselyadmired:shehasbeen，sir，theacknowledgedbelleofStrudleBad。\"
\"Icanreadilybelieveit，\"saidPaul，simply。
\"Andhastakentheposition——theposition，sir，towhichsheisentitled。\"
WithoutappearingtonoticetheslightchallengeinPendleton\'stone，Paulreturned，\"Iamgladtohearit。Themoreparticularlyas，Ibelieve，theGermansaregreatsticklersforpositionandpedigree。\"
\"Youareright，sir——quiteright:theyare，\"saidthecolonel，proudly——\"although\"——withacertainpremeditateddeliberation——\"I
havebeencrediblyinformedthattheKingcan，incertaincases，ifhechooses，supply——yes，sir——SUPPLYafavoredpersonwithancestors——yes，sir，withANCESTORS!\"
Paulcastaquickglanceathiscompanion。
\"Yes，sir——thatis，wewillsay，inthecaseofaladyofinferiorrank——orevenbirth，theKingofthesepartscan，onhermarriagewithanobleman——blankitall!——ennobleherfatherandmother，andtheirfathersandmothers，thoughthey\'vebeendead，orasgoodasdead，foryears。\"
\"Iamafraidthat\'saslightexaggerationoftherarecustomofgranting\'noblelands，\'orestatesthatcarryhereditarytitleswiththem，\"saidPaul，moreemphatically，perhaps，thantheoccasiondemanded。
\"Fact，sir——Georgethereknowsitall，\"saidPendleton。\"Hegetsitfromtheotherservants。Idon\'tspeakthelanguage，sir，butHEdoes。Pickeditupinayear。\"
\"Imustcomplimenthimonhisfluency，certainly，\"saidPaul，lookingatGeorge。
Theoldservantsmiled，andnotwithoutacertaincondescension。
\"Yes，sah；Idon\'saytoascholarlikeyo\'self，sah，datI\'segotdegrandmaticalpresichion；butasfah，sah——asfahasdeIDIOTISMS
obdelanguagegoes。Sah——it\'sgen\'llyallowedI\'mdar!AstowhatMarseHarrysaysobdeignoblingobpredecessors，I\'vehadit，sah，fromdebestautority，sah——defurst，Imaysay，sah——derealprimafaciemen——degemplumobhisSereneHighness，indekorseebordinaryconversashun，sah。\"
\"That\'lldo，George，\"saidPendleton，withpaternalbrusqueness。
\"RunonaheadandtellthatblankchamberlainthatMr。Hathawayisoneofmyfriends——andhavesupperaccordingly。\"AsthenegrohastenedawayheturnedtoPaul:\"Whathesaysistrue:he\'sthemostpopularmanorboyinallStrudleBad——adevilishsightmorethanhismaster——andgoesanywherewhereIcan\'tgo。Princesandprincessesstopandtalktohiminthestreet；theGrandDukeaskedpermissiontohavehimupinhiscarriageattheracestheotherday；and，bytheEternal，sir，hegivesthestyletoalltheflunkeysintown!\"
\"AndIsee，hedressesthecharacter，\"observedPaul。