You can begin at once.

There's a telegraph in the house.

Patrick will take any message, and you can send up to San Francisco and fix things before dinner." Before the man could reply, Rushbrook was already giving a hurried interview to the gardener and others on his way to the front porch.

In another moment he had entered his own hall,--a wonderful temple of white and silver plaster, formal, yet friable like the sugared erection of a wedding cake,--where his major-domo awaited him.
"Well, who's here ?" asked Rushbrook, still advancing towards his apartments.
"Dinner is set for thirty, sir," said the functionary, keeping step demurely with his master, "but Mr.Appleby takes ten over to San Mateo, and some may sleep there.

The char-a-banc is still out and five saddle-horses, to a picnic in Green Canyon, and I can't positively say, but I should think you might count on seeing about forty-five guests before you go to town to-morrow.