But Mr.Lawrence Grant's character in certain circumstances would seem to have as startling and inexplicable contradictions as Clementina Harcourt's,and three days later he halted his horse at the entrance of Los Gatos Rancho.The Home of the Cats--so called from the catamounts which infested the locality--which had for over a century lazily basked before one of the hottest canyons in the Coast Range,had lately been stirred into some activity by the American,Don Diego Fletcher,who had bought it,put up a saw-mill,and deforested the canyon.Still there remained enough suggestion of a feline haunt about it to make Grant feel as if he had tracked hither some stealthy enemy,in spite of the peaceful intimation conveyed by the sign on a rough boarded shed at the wayside,that the "Los Gatos Land and Lumber Company"held their office there.
A cigarette-smoking peon lounged before the door.Yes;Don Diego was there,but as he had arrived from Santa Clara only last night and was going to Colonel Ramirez that afternoon,he was engaged.
Unless the business was important--but the cool,determined manner of Grant,even more than his words,signified that it WASimportant,and the servant led the way to Don Diego's presence.
There certainly was nothing in the appearance of this sylvan proprietor and newspaper capitalist to justify Grant's suspicion of a surreptitious foe.A handsome man scarcely older than himself,in spite of a wavy mass of perfectly white hair which contrasted singularly with his brown mustache and dark sunburned face.So disguising was the effect of these contradictions,that he not only looked unlike anybody else,but even his nationality seemed to be a matter of doubt.Only his eyes,light blue and intelligent,which had a singular expression of gentleness and worry,appeared individual to the man.His manner was cultivated and easy.He motioned his visitor courteously to a chair.
"I was referred to you,"said Grant,almost abruptly,"as the person responsible for a series of slanderous attacks against Mr.
Daniel Harcourt in the 'Clarion,'of which paper I believe you are the proprietor.I was told that you declined to give the authority for your action,unless you were forced to by legal proceedings."Fletcher's sensitive blue eyes rested upon Grant's with an expression of constrained pain and pity."I heard of your inquiries,Mr.Grant;you were making them on behalf of this Mr.
Harcourt or Harkutt"--he made the distinction with intentional deliberation--"with a view,I believe,to some arbitration.The case was stated to you fairly,I think;I believe I have nothing to add to it.""That was your answer to the ambassador of Mr.Harcourt,"said Grant,coldly,"and as such I delivered it to him;but I am here to-day to speak on my own account."What could be seen of Mr.Fletcher's lips appeared to curl in an odd smile."Indeed,I thought it was--or would be--all in the family."Grant's face grew more stern,and his gray eyes glittered."You'll find my status in this matter so far independent that I don't propose,like Mr.Harcourt,either to begin a suit or to rest quietly under the calumny.Briefly,Mr.Fletcher,as you or your informant knows,I was the surveyor who revealed to Mr.Harcourt the value of the land to which he claimed a title from your man,this Elijah or 'Lige Curtis as you call him,"--he could not resist this imitation of his adversary's supercilious affectation of precise nomenclature,--"and it was upon my representation of its value as an investment that he began the improvements which have made him wealthy.If this title was fraudulently obtained,all the facts pertaining to it are sufficiently related to connect me with the conspiracy.""Are you not a little hasty in your presumption,Mr.Grant?"said Fletcher,with unfeigned surprise.
"That is for ME to judge,Mr.Fletcher,"returned Grant,haughtily.
"But the name of Professor Grant is known to all California as beyond the breath of calumny or suspicion.""It is because of that fact that I propose to keep it so.""And may I ask in what way you wish me to assist you in so doing?""By promptly and publicly retracting in the 'Clarion'every word of this slander against Harcourt."Fletcher looked steadfastly at the speaker."And if I decline?""I think you have been long enough in California,Mr.Fletcher,to know the alternative expected of a gentleman,"said Grant,coldly.
Mr.Fletcher kept his gentle blue eyes--in which surprise still overbalanced their expression of pained concern--on Grant's face.
"But is not this more in the style of Colonel Starbottle than Professor Grant?"he asked,with a faint smile.