capitulated up to a
certain point. Marcia might go ahead and pursue her avocation in peace
under one condition, that it should be a dead secret, that not a whisper
of it should reach the world.

"At first, Marcia rebelled at this decision; but one of her friends in
her confidence, probably Kitty Hampton, who has considerable executive
ability, persuaded her that it held certain advantages. For instance, she
as a noticeable figure, not only on account of her beauty, but also
because of her style and her positive genius for dress. Now, Kitty
held--and as events have proved, correctly--that Marcia, by keeping the
business end of it dark, could, by appearing as a devotee of social life,
advertise her wares as she could no other way, especially when aided and
seconded by Mrs. Habersham and Mrs. Hampton.

"But neither of these two women is financially interested with her. That
being the case, who backs the business? I am inclined to think"--Horace
spoke thoughtfully and yet with sufficient assurance--"that that person
is identical with the man who is the owner of the lost Mariposa. By the
way, you did not ask his name. It is Carrothers."

"Carrothers! Carrothers! Why, that was Ydo's name. Ydo Carrothers."
Hayden huddled down into his chair. He could not think. His brain, his
dazed and miserable brain had received too many impressions. They had
crowded upon him and he could not take them in. Penfield was talking,
talking straight ahead, but although Robert heard the words, they
conveyed no meaning to him. Then from the maze of them, Marcia's name
stood out clearly. Horace was speaking of her again.

"Hayden, are you asleep? I've just asked you why Marcia Oldham was so
surreptitiously carrying off that package from the little table in the
drawing-room last night. She wrapped it up in her gauze scarf and carried
it off as stealthily as a conspirator in a melodrama."

Hayden threw off his lethargy with a supreme effort. "Did she?" in a
tired and rather indifferent voice. "I dare say she was afraid of
disturbing the others. I asked her to take them home with her and look
them over."

"Oh!" Penfield's voice was a little disappointed but not suspicious. He
rose. There was no use in wasting any more time on a man who took news,
real news, so indifferently as Hayden. He thought with a smile of various
drawing-rooms where his bits of information would create a sensation.
Then why should he who could take the stage as a man of th