ars. It is electrically
controlled, with its pipes running all around the room, so as to give
the effect of music coming from every corner."

Haynerd again softly whistled.

"There are three art galleries beyond, two for paintings, and one for
sculpture. Mr. Ames has without doubt the finest art collection in
America. It includes several Titians, Veroneses, da Vincis, Turners,
three Rubens, and two Raphaels. By the way, it may interest you to
know that his negotiations for the Murillo Madonna were completed
to-day, and the picture will be sent to him immediately."

"Might I ask what he paid for it?" Haynerd inquired casually.

"You may say that he paid something over three hundred thousand
dollars for it," she replied, in a quite matter of fact tone. "Now,"
she continued, "you will go back to your first position, near the door
of the waiting room, and remain there until I return. I may have an
opportunity later to show you the library. It is very unique. Great
carved stone fireplace, taken from a Scotch castle. Hundreds of rare
volumes and first editions. Now, if any one approaches, you can step
behind the screen and remain out of view. You have chairs and a table
there for your writing. Do not in any event leave this balcony."

With this final injunction she turned and disappeared into the little
waiting room from which they had emerged.

For some moments Carmen and Haynerd stood looking alternately at
each other and about them at their magnificent environment. Both had
seen much of the gilded life, and the girl had dwelt some months in
its alien atmosphere. But neither had ever witnessed such a
stupendous display of material wealth as was here unfolded before
their astonished gaze. At the head of the grand stairway stood the
Ames trio, to receive their resplendent guests. The women were
magnificently gowned. But Ames's massive form in its simple black
and chaste linen was the cynosure of all eyes. Even Haynerd could
not suppress a note of admiration as he gazed at the splendid figure.

"And yet," he murmured, "a victim, like the rest, of the great
delusion."

Carmen laid down the opera glasses through which she had been studying
the man. "He is an expression," she said, "of the American ideal--the
ideal of practical material life. It is toward his plane of life that
this country's youth are struggling, at, oh, what a cost! Think,
think, what his immense, misused revenue could do, if unselfishly
used! Why, th