ssel, and in sailor costume, he cast off his tarry "togs," and
took to land-life in California. Its easy idleness, as its lawlessness,
exactly suited his natural inclinations.

Similar inclinings and pursuits, at an early period brought him and
Calderon in contact; and certain relations have been established between
them; in other words, they have become united in a business
partnership--a _bank_; of that species known as "_monte_" bank.

Since the discovery of the gold _placers_, the streets of San Francisco
have been crowded with men mad after the precious metal; among them some
who do not desire to undergo the toil of sifting it out of sand, or
washing it from river-mud. They prefer the easier, and cleaner, method
of gathering it across the green baize of a gambling table.

To accommodate such gentry, Francisco de Lara has established a _monte_
bank, Faustino Calderon being his backer. But though the latter is the
moneyed man, and has supplied most of the cash to start with, he does
not show in the transaction. He is only as the sleeping partner; De
Lara, with less reputation at stake, being the active and ostensible
one.

As yet Faustino Calderon has not come within the category of the
professional gamester, and respectability does not repel him. His
dissipated habits are far from exceptional, and his father's good name
still continues to throw its _aegis_ over him. Under it he is eligible
to Californian society of the most select kind, and has the _entree_ of
its best circles.

And so also Don Francisco de Lara--in a different way. Wealth has
secured him this; for although anything but rich, he has the repute of
being so, and bears evidence of it about him. He is always stylishly
and fashionably attired; his shirt of the finest linen, with diamond
studs sparkling in its front. Free in dispensing gratuities, he gives
to the poor and the priests--finding this last kind of largess a good
speculation. For, in California, as in other Catholic countries, the
dispenser of "Peter's Pence" is sure of being held in high estimation.
Frank Lara so dispenses with a liberal hand; and is therefore styled
"Don" Francisco--saluted as such by the sandalled monks and
shovel-hatted priests who come in contact with him.

In addition to all, he is good-looking and of graceful deportment,
without being at all a dandy. On the contrary he carries himself with
earnest air, calm and cool, while in his eyes may be read the
e