Then came the conviction that she was stupid not to have suspected the truth before.

Who else would that brusque stranger develop into but this rude host?
She bowed formally.
Mr.Rushbrook looked at her with the faintest smile on his handsome mouth.

"Well, Miss Nevil, I hope Jack Somers satisfied your curiosity ?" With a sudden recollection of the Siskyou gentleman's speech, and a swift suspicion that in some way she had been made use of with the others by this forceful-looking man before her, she answered pertly:-- "Yes; but there was a speech by a gentleman from Siskyou that struck me as being nearer to the purpose." "That's so,--I heard it as I came in," said Mr.Rushbrook, calmly.

"I don't know but you're right.".