understand you cannot see me now?"

Mulrady hesitated, he had always revered and recognized a certain
social superiority in Don Ramon Alvarado; somehow his son--a young
man of half his age, and once a possible son-in-law--appeared to
claim that recognition also. He rose, without a word, and preceded
Don Caesar up-stairs into the drawing-room. The alien portrait on
the wall seemed to evidently take sides with Don Caesar, as against
the common intruder, Mulrady.

"I hoped the Senora Mulrady might have saved me this interview,"
said the young man, stiffly; "or at least have given you some
intimation of the reason why I seek it. As you just now proposed
my talking to you in the presence of the unfortunate Senor Esslinn
himself, it appears she has not."

"I don't know what you're driving at, or what Mrs. Mulrady's got to
do with Slinn or you," said Mulrady, in angry uneasiness.

"Do I understand," said Don Caesar, sternly, "that Senora Mulrady
has not told you that I entrusted to her an important letter,
belonging to Senor Esslinn, which I had the honor to discover in
the wood six months ago, and which she said she would refer to
you?"

"Letter?" echoed Mulrady, slowly; "my wife had a letter of
Slinn's?"

Don Caesar regarded the millionaire attentively. "It is as I
feared," he said, gravely. "You do not know or you would not have