land below the hill。 It's scarcely worth the money。 I would have
sold it long ago； but it had been a fancy of father's to keep it
wild land for the sake of old times and the healthiness of the
town。〃
〃There used to be a log cabin there； where the old man had a habit
of camping out whenever he felt cramped by civilization up here；
wasn't there？〃 said Uncle Sylvester meditatively。
〃Yes；〃 said Gabriel impatiently； 〃it's still therebut to return
to Mr。 Gunn。 He has taken a fancy to Kitty； and even if I could
not lift the mortgage； there's some possibility that the land would
still remain in the family。〃
〃I think I'll drive over this afternoon and take a look at the old
shanty if this infernal weather lets up。〃
〃Yes； but just now； my dear Sylvester； let us attend to business。
I want to show you those investments。〃
〃Oh； certainly； trot 'em out；〃 said his brother； plucking up a
simulation of interest as he took a seat at the table。
From a drawer of his desk Gabriel brought out a bundle of
prospectuses and laid them before Uncle Sylvester。
A languid smile of recognition lit up the latter's face。 〃Ah！
yes；〃 he said； glancing at them。 〃The old lot： 'Carmelita；' 'Santa
Maria；' and 'Preciosa！' Just as I imaginedand yet who'd have
thought of seeing them HERE！ A good deal rouged and powdered； Miss
Carmelita； since I first knew you！ Considerably bolstered up by
miraculous testimony to your powers； my dear Santa Maria； since
the day I found you out； to my cost！ And you too； Preciosa！a
precious lot of money I dropped on you in the old days！〃
〃You are joking；〃 said Gabriel； with an uneasy smile。 〃You don't
mean to imply that this stock is old and worthless？〃
〃There isn't a capital in America or Europe where for the last five
years it hasn't been floated with a new character each time。 My
dear Gabriel； that stock isn't worth the paper it is printed on。〃
〃But it is impossible that an experienced financier like Gunn could
be deceived！〃
〃I'm sorry to hear THAT。〃
〃Come； Sylvester！ confess you've taken a prejudice against Gunn
from your sudden dislike of his son！ And what have you against
him？〃
〃I couldn't say exactly；〃 said Uncle Sylvester reflectively。 〃It
may be his eyes； or only his cravat！ But；〃 rising cheerfully and
placing his hand lightly on his brother's shoulder； 〃don't YOU
worry yourself about that stock； old man； I'LL see that somebody
else has the worry and you the cash。 And as to the land and
Kittywell； you hold on to them both until you find out which the
young man is really after。〃
〃And then？〃 said Gabriel； with a smile。
〃Don't give him either！ But； I say； haven't we had enough business
this morning？ Let's talk of something else。 Who's the French
girl？〃
〃Marie？ She's the daughter of Jules du Pagedon't you remember？
father's friend。 When Jules died； it was always thought that
father； who had half adopted her as a child； would leave her some
legacy。 But you know that father died without making a will； and
thatrich as he washis actual assets were far less than we had
reason to expect。 Kitty； who felt the disappointment as keenly as
her friend； I believe would have divided her own share with her。
It's odd； by the way； that father could have been so deceived in
the amount of his capital； or how he got rid of his money in a way
that we knew nothing of。 Do you know； Sylvester； I've sometimes
suspected〃
〃What？〃 said Uncle Sylvester suddenly。
The bored languor of his face had abruptly vanished。 Every muscle
was alert； his gray eyes glittered。
〃That he advanced money to Du Page； who lost it； or that they
speculated together；〃 returned Gabriel； who； following Uncle
Sylvester's voice only； had not noticed the change of expression。
〃That would seem to be a weakness of the Lane family；〃 said Uncle
Sylvester grimly； with a return of his former carelessness。 〃But
that is not YOUR own opinionthat's a suggestion of some one
else？〃
〃Well；〃 said Gabriel； with a laugh and a slight addition of color；
〃it WAS Gunn's theory。 As a man of the world and a practical
financier； you know。〃
〃And you've talked with HIM about it？〃
〃Yes。 It was a matter of general wonder years ago。〃
〃Very likelybut； just now； don't you think we've had enough
financial talk？〃 said Uncle Sylvester； with a bored contraction of
his eyebrows。 〃Come；〃 looking around the room； 〃you've changed the
interior of the old house。〃
〃Yes。 Unfortunately； just after father's death it was put in the
hands of a local architect or builder； one of father's old friends；
but not a very skillful workman； who made changes while the family
were away。 That's why your present bedroom； which was father's old
study； had a slice taken off it to make the corridor larger； and
why the big chimney and hearthstone are still there； although the
fireplace is modernized。 That was Flint's stupidity。〃
〃Whose stupidity？〃 asked Uncle Sylvester； trimming his nails。
〃Flint'sthe old architect。〃
〃Why didn't you make him change it back again？〃
〃He left Lakeville shortly after； and I brought an architect from
St。 Louis after I returned from Europe。 But nothing could be done
to your room without taking down the chimney； so it remained as
Flint left it。〃
〃That reminds me； Gabriel； I'm afraid I spoke rather cavalierly to
Kitty； last night； about the arrangements of the room。 The fact
is； I've taken a fancy to it； and should like to fit it up myself。
Have I your permission？〃
〃Certainly； my dear Sylvester。〃
〃I've some knickknacks in my trunks； and I'll do it at once。〃
〃As you like。〃
〃And you'll see that I am not disturbed； and you'll explain it to
Kitty； with my apologies？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then I'm off。〃
Gabriel glanced at his brother with a perplexed smile。 Here was
the bored traveler； explorer； gold…seeker； soldier of fortune；
actually as pleased as a girl over the prospect of arranging his
room！ He called after him； 〃Sylvester！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I say； if you could； you know； just try to interest these people
to…night with some of your adventuressomething told SERIOUSLY；
you know； as if you really were in earnestI'd be awfully obliged
to you。 The fact is；you'll excuse me；but they think you don't
come up to your reputation。〃
〃They want a story？〃
〃Yes；one of your experiences。〃
〃I'll give them one。 Ta…ta！〃
For the rest of the day Uncle Sylvester was invisible； although his
active presence in his room was betrayed by the sound of hammering
and moving of furniture。 As the remainder of the party were
skating on the lake； this eccentricity was not remarked except by
one；Marie du Page；who on pretense of a slight cold had stayed
at home。 But with her suspicions of the former night； she had
determined to watch the singular relative of her friend。 Added
to a natural loyalty to the Lanes； she was moved by a certain
curiosity and fascination towards this incomprehensible man。
The house was very quiet when she stole out of her room and passed
softly along the corridor； she examined the wall carefully to
discover anything that might have excited the visitor's attention。
There were a few large engravings hanging there； could he have
designed to replace them by some others？ Suddenly she was struck
with the distinct conviction that the wall of the corridor did not
coincide with the wall of his room as represented by the line of
the door。 There was certainly a space between the two walls
unaccounted for。 This was undoubtedly what had attracted HIS
attention； but what BUSINESS was it of his？
She reflected that she had seen in the wall of the conservatory an
old closed staircase； now used as shelves for dried herbs and
seeds； which she had been told was the old…time communication
between the garden and Grandfather Lane's study；the room now
occupied by the stranger。 Perhaps it led still farther； and thus
accounted for the space。 Determined to satisfy herself； she
noiselessly descended to the conservatory。 There； surely； was the
staircase；a narrow flight of wooden steps encumbered with
packages of herbs；losing itself in upper darkness。 By the aid of
a candle she managed to grope and pick her way up step by step。
Then she paused。 The staircase had abruptly ended on the level of
the study； now cut off from it by the new partition。 She was in a
stifling inclosure； formed by the walls； scarcely eighteen inches
wide。 It was made narrower by a singular excrescence on the old
wall； which seemed to have been a bricked closet； now half
destroyed and in ruins。 She turned to descend； when a strange
sound from Uncle Sylvester's room struck her ear。 It was the sound
of tapping on the floor close to the partition； within a foot of
where she was standing。 At the same moment there was a decided
movement of the plank of the flooring beneath the partition： it
began to slide slowly； and then was gradually withdrawn into the
room。 With prompt presence of mind； she instantly extinguished her
candle and drew herself breathlessly against the partition。
When the plank was entirely withdrawn； a ray of light slipped
through the opening； revealing the bare rafters of the floor； and a
hand and arm inserted under the partition； groping as if towards
the bricked closet。 As the fingers of the exploring hand were
widely extended； Marie had no difficulty in recognizing on one of
them a peculiar signet ring which Uncle Sylvester wore。 A swift
impulse seized her。 To the audacious Marie impulse and action were
the same thing。 Bending stealthily over the aperture； she suddenly
snatched the ring from the extended finger。 The hand was quickly
withdrawn with a start and uncontrolled exclamation； and she
availed herself of that instant to glide rapidly down the stairs。
She regained her room stealthily； having the satisfaction a moment
later of hearing Uncle Sylvester's door open and the sound of his
footsteps in the corridor。 But he was evidently unable to discover
any outer ingress to the inclosure； or believed the loss of his
ring an accident； for he presently returned。 Meantime； what was
she to do？
Tell Kitty of her discovery； and show the ring？ Nonot yet！
Oddly enough； now that she had the ring； ta