to her to say, that, during the last few weeks of this trying ordeal,
she looked like a sweet, pale martyr, and conducted herself toward her
traducers with the gentle, forgiving manner of one who relied not upon
the idle homage of the crowd, but upon the security of a principle that
was dearer than popular favor. "They talk about myself and Mr. Oakhurst,
my dear," she said to a friend; "but heaven and my husband can best
answer their calumny. It never shall be said that my husband ever turned
his back upon a friend in the moment of his adversity, because the
position was changed,--because his friend was poor, and he was rich."
This was the first intimation to the public that Jack had lost money,
although it was known generally that the Deckers had lately bought some
valuable property in San Francisco.

A few evenings after this, an incident occurred which seemed to
unpleasantly discord with the general social harmony that had always
existed at San Isabel. It was at dinner; and Mr. Oakhurst and Mr.
Hamilton, who sat together at a separate table, were observed to rise
in some agitation. When they reached the hall, by a common instinct they
stepped into a little breakfast-room which was vacant, and closed the
door. Then Mr. Hamilton turned with a half-amused, half-serious smile
toward his friend, and said,--

"If we are to quarrel, Jack Oakhurst,--you and I,--in the name of all
that is ridiculous, don't let it be about a"--

I do not know what was the epithet intended. It was either unspoken
or lost; for at that very instant Mr. Oakhurst raised a wineglass, and
dashed its contents into Hamilton's face.

As they faced each other, the men seemed to have changed natures.