Miss Nevil had returned to the Atlantic States with Mrs.Leyton.While rumors had played freely with the relations of Somers and the Signora as the possible cause of the rupture between him and Rushbrook, no mention had ever been made of the name of Miss Nevil.
It was raining heavily one afternoon, when Mr.Rushbrook drove from his office to his San Francisco house.

The fierce struggle in which he was engaged left him little time for hospitality, and for the last two weeks his house had been comparatively deserted.

He passed through the empty rooms, changed in little except the absence of some valuable monstrosities which had gone to replenish his capital.

When he reached his bedroom, he paused a moment at the open door.
"James!" "Yes, sir," said James, appearing out of the shadow.
"What are you waiting for ?" "I thought you might be wanting something, sir." "You were waiting there this morning; you were in the ante-room of my study while I was writing.

You were outside the blue room while I sat at breakfast.