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sense of shame； for there was no sense of the passion it evoked。
And he was right。 But there he should have stopped。 Unfortunately；
his masculine logic forced him to supply a reason for her coldness
in the existence of some more absorbing passion。 He believed her
ambitious and calculating： she was neither。 He believed she might
have made him an admirable copartner and practical helpmeet： he was
wrong。
〃You know my secret now；〃 she continued。 〃You know why I am
anxious to know my fate。 You understand now why I sympathize
with〃she stopped； and made a half contemptuous gesture〃with
these men Markham and Keene。 THEY do not know it； perhaps they
prefer to listen to their own vanitythat's the way of most men；
but you do know it； and you have no excuse for misjudging me； or
undeceiving them。〃 She stopped and looked at the clock。 〃They
will be here in five minutes； do you wish them to find you already
here？〃
〃It is as YOU wish；〃 stammered Brimmer； completely losing his self…
possession。
〃I have no wish；〃 she said； with a sublime gesture of indifference。
〃If you wait you can entertain them here； while Rosina is dressing
me in the next room。 We sup in the larger room across the hall。〃
As she disappeared； Quincy Brimmer rose irresolutely from his seat
and checked a half uttered exclamation。 Then he turned nervously
to the parlor…door。 What a senseless idiot he had become！ He had
never for an instant conceived the idea of making this preliminary
confidential visit known to the others； he had no wish to suggest
the appearance of an assignation with the woman； who； rightly or
wrongly； was notorious； he had nothing to gain by this voluntary
assumption of a compromising attitude； yet here he was； heMr。
Brimmerwith the appearance of being installed in her parlor；
receiving her visitors； and dispensing her courtesies。 Only a man
recklessly in love would be guilty of such an indiscretioneven
Markham's feebleness had never reached this absurdity。 In the
midst of his uneasiness there was a knock at the door； he opened it
himself nervously and sharply。 Markham's self…satisfied face drew
back in alarm and embarrassment at the unexpected apparition。 The
sight restored Brimmer's coolness and satirical self…possession。
〃IIdidn't know you were here；〃 stammered Markham。 〃I left
Keene in your room。〃
〃Then why didn't you bring him along with you？〃 said Brimmer
maliciously。 〃Go and fetch him。〃
〃Yes； but he said you were to meet him there；〃 continued Markham；
glancing around the empty room with a slight expression of relief。
〃My watch was twenty minutes fast； and I had given him up；〃 said
Brimmer； with mendacious effrontery。 〃Miss Montgomery is dressing。
You can bring him here before she returns。〃
Markham flew uneasily down the corridor and quickly returned with a
handsome young fellow of five…and…twenty； whose frank face was
beaming with excitement and youthful energy。 The two elder men
could not help regarding him with a mingled feeling of envy and
compassion。
〃Did you tell Brimmer yet？〃 said Keene； with animation。
〃I haven't had time；〃 hesitated Markham。 〃The fact is； Brimmer； I
think of going with Keene on this expedition。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Brimmer superciliously。
〃Yes；〃 said Markham； coloring slightly。 〃You see； we've got news。
Tell him； Dick。〃
〃The Storm Cloud got in yesterday from Valparaiso and Central
American ports；〃 said Keene； with glowing cheeks。 〃I boarded her；
as usual； last night； for information。 The mate says there is a
story of a man picked up crazy； in an open fishing…boat； somewhere
off the peninsula； and brought into hospital at San Juan last
August。 He recovered enough lately to tell his story and claim to
be Captain Bunker of the Excelsior； whose crew mutinied and ran her
ashore in a fog。 But the boat in which he was picked up was a
Mexican fishing…boat； and there was something revolutionary and
political about the story； so that the authorities detained him。
The consul has just been informed of the circumstances； and has
taken the matter in hand。〃
〃It's a queer story；〃 said Brimmer； gazing from the one to the
other； 〃and I will look into it also to…morrow。 If it is true；〃 he
added slowly； 〃I will go with you。〃
Richard Keene extended his hand impulsively to his two elders。
〃You'll excuse me for saying it； Brimmerand you； too； Markham
but this is just what I've been looking forward to。 Not but what
I'd have found Nell without your assistance； but you see； boys； it
DID look mighty mean in me to make more fuss about a sister than
you would for your wives！ But now that it's all settled〃
〃We'll go to supper；〃 said Miss Montgomery theatrically； appearing
at the door。 〃Dick will give me his arm。〃
CHAPTER II。
THE MOURNERS AT TODOS SANTOS。
There was a breath of spring in the soft morning air of Todos
Santosa breath so subtle and odorous that it penetrated the veil
of fog beyond the bay； and for a moment lingered on the deck of a
passing steamer like an arresting memory。 But only for an instant；
the Ometepe； bound from San Francisco to San Juan del Norte； with
its four seekers of the Excelsior； rolled and plunged on its way
unconsciously。
Within the bay and over the restful pueblo still dwelt the golden
haze of its perpetual summer； the two towers of the old Mission
church seemed to dissolve softly into the mellow upper twilight；
and the undulating valleys rolled their green waves up to the
wooded heights of San Antonio； that still smiled down upon the
arid； pallid desert。 But although Nature had not changed in the
months that had passed since the advent of the Excelsior； there
appeared some strange mutations in the town and its inhabitants。
On the beach below the Presidio was the unfinished skeleton of a
small sea…going vessel on rude stocks； on the plaza rose the framed
walls and roofless rafters of a wooden building； near the
Embarcadero was the tall adobe chimney of some inchoate manufactory
whose walls had half risen from their foundations； but all of these
objects had evidently succumbed to the drowsy influence of the
climate； and already had taken the appearances of later and less
picturesque ruins of the past。 There were singular innovations in
the costumes： one or two umbrellas； used as sunshades； were seen
upon the square； a few small chip hats had taken the place of the
stiff sombreros； with an occasional tall white beaver； while linen
coat and nankeen trousers had； at times； usurped the short velvet
jacket and loose calzas of the national costume。
At San Antonio the change was still more perceptible。 Beside the
yawning pit of the abandoned silver mine a straggling building
arose； filled with rude machinery； bearing the legend； painted in
glowing letters； 〃Excelsior Silver Mining Co。； J。 Crosby；
Superintendent；〃 and in the midst of certain excavations assailing
the int