the
great door open and welcomed them to the hotel office, a large
living-room, with a wide brick and rubble fireplace in one corner, dimly
lighted by a log fitfully blazing, fed by scant draughts, so deeply was
it choked by the pile of ashes from the logs that had served to brighten
the busy room the night before. It is important to note this fireplace,
for long afterward, when I went forth to gather impressions at first
hand, and there heard Mr. Stuffer and his guests warm to the discussion
of every topic under the sun, I decided that the glow of inspiration and
the stimulating incense of resinous knots, arising from that corner,
cast the witchery which wrought conviction in the minds of men less wary
than Mr. Tescheron, who might, indeed, have renounced all his worldly
possessions had he remained more than six weeks under its spell to
escape the horrors of an entanglement in the meshes of foul crime across
the river. I see now how it must have affected him--this fireplace talk.
Steam heat is the only thing to preserve a man's common sense, and if he
be shy of that desirable faculty he should be extremely careful when
listening or talking, even under the weak spell of a gilt radiator. It
is a fact of science that certain rays of light exert a hypnotic
influence that may be employed to effect anesthesia for minor
operations. Perhaps it was the influence of these rays; I know not.
Nervous persons are especially subject to their vibrations, and when
sitting before an open wood fire, highly productive of this subtle
chemicalization, the victims become drowsy and fall easily into the mood
of the most extravagant speaker. Minor operations, under which head we
may include the extraction of a tooth or a bank balance, are then
simple, if the operator be calm and skillful in the handling of his
instruments--often mere words, but powerful tools under these favorable
conditions.

The hotel clerk was assured that the Tescherons did not intend to take a
steamer or a train; that they might remain a day or two, perhaps longer,
and would need four rooms and a bath on the sunny side of the house, on
the second floor, away from the elevator and the noise of the kitchen.
They would take breakfast as soon as it could be served.

"No breakfast for me, thank you, papa. I am going right over to the
office now. Good-bye, mother dear; Katie, look after her well. I shall
return early. Good-bye--" and Gabrielle turned to kiss her father,
havin