y."

"Ah," said Hayden mysteriously, "you don't know what you would miss. The
best of the evening is yet to come. I've got a whole bagful of tricks up
my sleeve."

"I'm sure it's going to be a magic-lantern, or perhaps stereopticon views
illustrating his thrilling adventures in darkest Africa, or New York,
with himself well toward the center of the picture," laughed Edith
Symmes.

"I wish it were," said Penfield. "By the way, Hayden, you're among
friends. We'll all promise to keep your guilty secrets; but do be frank
and open if you can, and tell us the romantic story of your discovery in
South America, and how you happened to find something a lot of people had
been searching for in vain."

Hayden looked at Horace in surprise. That he should have ventured on this
subject was odd, and Robert was for the moment inclined to resent it. For
the fraction of a second he hesitated; and then caught at the suggestion.
He had been wondering how he should tell Marcia that he was the
discoverer of the lost and traditional mine on the estate, of which, he
continued to believe intuitively and unreasonably, without a scintilla of
real evidence, she was one of the owners. Yes, he had been wondering how
he should tell her and here was the opportunity.

"Very well, I will," he said quickly. "It isn't stereopticon views, or a
magic-lantern, Mrs. Symmes. It's worse. It's photographs, and I'm very
well toward the center of the picture. With the best will in the world,
now that I've got you all here, I shan't let you escape. You must listen
to the story of my life."

He had sent for Tatsu, and, at the appearance of the Japanese servant,
Robert whispered a word or two to him and he left the room. Just as he
did so Hayden felt a slight pressure on his arm. Turning, he met Marcia's
eyes. Her gaze was fastened on him with a frightened, almost imploring
expression and he saw that she had again grown very pale.

"What is it?" he said to her in a low voice. "You are not well, or you
are unhappy about something. Do not feel it necessary to remain here if
you would rather go home."

"Oh, no, no!" she protested vehemently. "I am quite well, and I would
rather stay, only, I implore you, I beg of you, not to show any maps or
photographs of that mine. I beg it!" Her voice, her eyes besought him.

Tatsu returned at this moment with a package which he handed to Hayden,
and the latter, taking it from him, looked carefully over its contents,
allowi