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entrance。 When he succeeded； he found himself before an iron gate；
happily open； but savoring offensively of feudalism and tyrannical
proprietorship； and passed through and entered an avenue of trees
scarcely distinguishable in the darkness； whose mysterious shapes
and feathery plumes were unknown to him。 Numberless odors equally
vague and mysterious were heavy in the air； strange and delicate
plants rose dimly on either hand； enormous blossoms； like ghostly
faces； seemed to peer at him from the shadows。 For an instant
Ezekiel succumbed to an unprofitable sense of beauty； and
acquiesced in this reckless extravagance of Nature that was so
unlike North Liberty。 But the next moment he recovered himself；
with the reflection that it was probably unhealthy； and doggedly
approached the house。 It was a long； one…storied； structure；
apparently all roof； vine； and pillared veranda。 Every window and
door was open； the two or three grass hammocks swung emptily
between the columns； the bamboo chairs and settees were vacant； his
heavy footsteps on the floor had summoned no attendant； not even a
dog had barked as he approached the house。 It was shiftless； it
was sinfulit boded no good to the future of Demorest。
He put down his carpet…bag on the veranda and entered the broad
hall； where an old…fashioned lantern was burning on a stand。 Here；
too； the doors of the various apartments were open； and the rooms
themselves empty of occupants。 An opportunity not to be lost by
Ezekiel's inquiring mind thus offered itself。 He took the lantern
and deliberately examined the several apartments； the furniture；
the bedding； and even the small articles that were on the tables
and mantels。 When he had completed the roundincluding a corridor
opening on a dark courtyard； which he did not penetratehe
returned to the hall； and set down the lantern again。
〃Well；〃 said a voice in his own familiar vernacular； 〃I hope you
like it。〃
Ezekiel was surprised； but not disconcerted。 What he had taken
in the shadow for a bundle of serapes lying on the floor of the
veranda； was the recumbent figure of a man who now raised himself
to a sitting posture。
〃Ez to that；〃 drawled Ezekiel； with unshaken self…possession；
〃whether I like it or not ez only a question betwixt kempany
manners and truth…telling。 Beggars hadn't oughter be choosers； and
transient visitors like myself needn't allus speak their mind。 But
if you mean to signify that with every door and window open and
universal shiftlessness lying round everywhere temptin' Providence；
you ain't lucky in havin' a feller…citizen of yours drop in on ye
instead of some Mexican thief； I don't agree with yethat's all。〃
The man laughed shortly and rose up。 In spite of his careless yet
picturesque Mexican dress； Ezekiel instantly recognized Demorest。
With his usual instincts he was naturally pleased to observe that
he looked older and more careworn。 The softer； sensuous climate
had perhaps imparted a heaviness to his figure and a deliberation
to his manner that was quite unlike his own potential energy。
〃That don't tell me who you are； and what you want；〃 he said；
coldly。
〃Wa'al then； I'm Ezekiel Corwin of North Liberty； ez used to live
with my friend and YOURS too； I guessseein' how the friendship
was swapped into relationshipSquire Blandford。〃
A slight shade passed over Demorest's face。 〃Well；〃 he said；
impatiently； 〃I don't remember you； what then？〃
〃You don't remember me； that's likely；〃 returned Ezekiel
imperturbably； combing his straggling chin beard with three fingers；
〃but whether it's NAT'RAL or not； considerin' the sukumstances when
we last met； ez a matter of op…pinion。 You got me to harness up the
hoss and buggy the night Squire Blandford left home； and never was
heard of again。 It's true that it kem out on enquiry that the hoss
and buggy ran away from the hotel； and that you had to go out to
Warensboro in a sleigh； and the theory is that poor Squire Blandford
must have stopped the hoss and buggy somewhere； got in and got run
away agin； and pitched over the bridge。 But seein' your relationship
to both Squire and Mrs。 Blandford； and all the sukumstances； I
reckoned you'd remember it。〃
〃I heard of it in Boston a month afterwards；〃 said Demorest； dryly；
〃but I don't think I'd have recognized you。 So you were the hired
man who gave me the buggy。 Well； I don't suppose they discharged
you for it。〃
〃No；〃 said Ezekiel； with undisturbed equanimity。 〃I kalkilate Joan
would have stopped that。 Considerin'； too； that I knew her when
she was Deacon Salisbury's darter； and our fam'lies waz thick az
peas。 She knew me well enough when I met her in Frisco the other
day。〃
〃Have you seen Mrs。 Demorest already？〃 said Demorest； with sudden
vivacity。 〃Why didn't you say so before？〃 It was wonderful how
quickly his face had lighted up with an earnestness that was not；
however； without some undefinable uneasiness。 The alert Ezekiel
noticed it and observed that it was as totally unlike the
irresistible dominance of the man of five years ago as it was
different from the heavy abstraction of the man of five minutes
before。
〃I reckon you didn't ax me；〃 he returned coolly。 〃She told me
where you were； and as I had business down this way she guessed I
might drop in。〃
〃Yes； yesit's all right； Mr。 Corwin； glad you did；〃 said
Demorest； kindly but half nervously。 〃And you saw Mrs。 Demorest？
Where did you see her； and how did you think she was looking？ As
pretty as ever； eh？〃
But the coldly literal Ezekiel was not to be beguiled into polite
or ambiguous fiction。 He even went to the extent of insulting
deliberation before he replied。 〃I've seen Joan Salisbury lookin'
healthier and ez far ez I kin judge doin' more credit to her stock
and raisin' gin'rally；〃 he said； thoughtfully combing his beard；
〃and I've seen her when she was too poor to get the silks and
satins； furbelows； fineries and vanities she's flauntin' in now；
and that was in Squire Blandford's time； too； I reckon。 Ez to her
purtiness； that's a matter of taste。 You think her purty； and I
guess them fellows ez was escortin' and squirin' her round Frisco
thought so too； or SHE thought they did to hev allowed it。〃
〃You are not very merciful to your townsfolk； Mr。 Corwin；〃 said
Demorest； with a forced smile； 〃but what can I do for you？〃
It was the turn for Ezekiel's face to brighten； or rather to break
up； like a cold passionless mirror suddenly cracked； into various
amusing but distorted reflections on the person before him。
〃Townies ain't to be fooled by other townies； Mr。 Demorest； at
least that ain't my idea o' marcy； he…he！ But seen you're
pressin'； I don't mind tellen you MY business。 I'm the only agent
of Seventeen Patent Medicine Proprietors in Connecticut represented
by the firm of Dilworth & Dusenberry； of San Francisco。 Mebbe you
heard of 'em aforeA1 druggists and importers。 Wa'al； I'm openin'
a field for 'em and spreadin' 'em gin'rally through these air
benighted and onhealthy districts； havin' the contract for the hull
Stateespecially for Wozun's Universal Injin Panacea ez cures
everythingbein' had from a re