and nervously twisted
the stem.

With an impulsive movement, he leaned forward. His voice was eager.

"Suppose," he questioned, "suppose you knew such a man--can you
imagine any circumstances under which you could make excuses for
him?"

She stood a moment weighing the problem. "It's a hard question," she
replied finally, then added impulsively: "Do you know, I'm afraid I'm
a terrible heathen? I can excuse so much where there is courage--the
cold sort of chilled-steel courage that he had. What do you think?"

The painter drew his handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped his moist
forehead, but, before he could frame his answer, the girl heard a
movement in the room, and turned lightly to join her chaperon.

Following her, Saxon found himself saying good-night to a group that
included Ribero. As the attache shook hands, he held Saxon's somewhat
longer than necessary, seeming to glance at a ring, but really
studying a scar.

"You are a good story-teller, Mr. Ribero," said Saxon, quietly.

"Ah," countered the other quickly, "but that is easy, senor, where one
has so good a listener. By the way, senor, did you ever chance to
visit Puerto Frio?"

The painter shook his head.

"Not unless in some other life--some life as dead as that of the
pharaohs."

"Ah, well--" the diplomat turned away, still smiling--"some of the
pharaohs are remarkably well preserved."

CHAPTER IV

Steele himself had not been a failure at his art. There was in him no
want of that sensitive temperament and dream-fire which gives the
artist, like the prophet, a better sight and deeper appreciation than
is accorded the generality. The only note missing was the necessity
for hard application, which might have made him the master where he
was satisfied to be the dilettante. The extreme cleverness of his
brush had at the outset been his handicap, lulling the hard sincerity
of effort with too facile results. Wealth, too, had drugged his
energies, but had not crippled his abilities. If he drifted, it was
because drifting in smooth seas is harmless and pleasant, not because
he was unseaworthy or fearful of stormier conditions. In Saxon, he had
not only recognized a greater genius, but found a friend, and with the
insouciance of a graceful philosophy he reasoned it out to his own
contentment. Each craft after its own uses! Saxon was meant for a
greater commerce. His genius was intended to be an argosy, bearing
rich cargo between the ports