k here--leave it to me; I'll look into it. Better that you
shouldn't appear in the matter at all."

"You understand that if it was a really serious matter, Grant," said
Harcourt with a slight attitude, "I shouldn't allow any one to take my
place."

"My dear fellow, there'll be nobody 'called out' and no 'shooting at
sight,' whatever is the result of my interference," returned Grant,
lightly. "It'll be all right." He was quite aware of the power of his
own independent position and the fact that he had been often appealed to
before in delicate arbitration.

Harcourt was equally conscious of this, but by a strange inconsistency
now felt relieved at the coolness with which Grant had accepted the
misconception which had at first seemed so dangerous. If he were ready
to condone what he thought was SHARP PRACTICE, he could not be less
lenient with the real facts that might come out,--of course always
excepting that interpolated consideration in the bill of sale, which,
however, no one but the missing Curtis could ever discover. The fact
that a man of Grant's secure position had interested himself in this
matter would secure him from the working of that personal vulgar
jealousy which his humbler antecedents had provoked. And if, as he
fancied, Grant really cared for Clementina--

"As you like," he said, with half-affected lightness, "and now let us
talk of something else. Clementina has been thinking of getting up
a riding party to San Mateo for Mrs. Ashwood. We must show them some
civility, and that Boston brother of hers, Mr. Shipley, will have to
be invited also. I can't get away, and my wife, of course, will only
be able to join them at San Mateo in the carriage. I reckon it would be
easier for Clementina if you took my place, and helped her look after
the riding party. It will need a man, and I think she'd prefer you--as
you know she's rather particular--unless, of course, you'd be wanted for
Mrs. Ashwood or Phemie, or somebody else."

From his shadowed corner he could see that a pleasant light had sprung
into Grant's eyes, although his reply was in his ordinary easy banter.
"I shall be only too glad to act as Miss Clementina's vaquero, and lasso
her runaways, or keep stragglers in the road."

There seemed to be small necessity, however, for this active
co-operation, for when the cheerful cavalcade started from the house
a few mornings later, Mr. Lawrence Grant's onerous duties seemed to be
simply confined to those