es. Over him lay the shadow of the
Beaubien.

An hour after the departure of Monsignor Lafelle the Beaubien, like a
radiant sun, descended to the library to greet her assembled guests.
Some moments later the heavy doors of the great dining room swung
noiselessly open, and the lady proceeded unescorted to her position at
the head of the table. At her signal the half dozen men sat down, and
the butler immediately entered, followed by two serving men with the
cocktails and the first course. The chair at the far end of the table,
opposite the Beaubien, remained unoccupied.

"Ames is late to-night," observed the girthy Gannette, glancing toward
the vacant seat, and clumsily attempting to tuck his napkin into his
collar.

The Beaubien looked sharply at him. "Were you at the club this
afternoon, Mr. Gannette?" she inquired coldly.

Gannette straightened up and became rigid. Pulling the napkin down
hastily, he replied in a thick voice, "Just a little game of
bridge--some old friends--back from Europe--"

The Beaubien turned to the butler. "William, Mr. Gannette is not
drinking wine this evening." The butler bowed and removed the glasses
from that gentleman's place.

Gannette turned to expostulate. "Now, Lucile--" he began peevishly.
The Beaubien held up a hand. Gannette glowered and sank down in his
chair like a swollen toad.

"May be Ames is trying to break into the C. and R. directors'
meeting," suggested Weston, himself a director in a dozen companies,
and a bank president besides. A general laugh followed the remark.

"They tell me," said Fitch, "that for once Ames has been outwitted,
and that by a little bucket-shop broker named Ketchim."

"How's that?" queried Kane, Board of Trade plunger, and the most
mettlesome speculator of the group.

"Why," explained Weston, "some months ago Ames tried to reach Ed.
Stolz through Ketchim, the old man's nephew, and get control of C. and
R. But friend nephew dropped the portcullis just as Ames was dashing
across the drawbridge, and J. Wilton found himself outside, looking
through the bars. First time I've ever known that to happen. Now the
boys have got hold of it on 'Change, and Ames has been getting it from
every quarter."

"Long time leaking out, seems to me," remarked Kane. "But what's Ames
going to do about it?"

"Nothing, I guess," returned Weston. "He seems to have dropped the
matter."

"I think you will find yourself mistaken," put in the Beaubien
evenly.

"