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 recipe given by a Sachem to Dr。
Wozun's gran'ther。 That bagleavin' out a dozen paper collars and
socksis all the rest samples。 That's me； Ezekiel Corwinonly
agent for Californy； and that's my mission。〃
〃Very well； but look here； Corwin；〃 said Demorest； with a slight
return of his old off…hand manner；〃I'd advise you to adopt a
little more caution； and a little less criticism in your speech to
the people about here； or I'm afraid you'll need the Universal
Panacea for yourself。 Better men than you have been shot in my
presence for half your freedom。〃
〃I guess you've just hit the bull's…eye there；〃 replied Ezekiel；
coolly； 〃for it's that HALF…freedom and HALF…truth that doesn't
pay。 I kalkilate gin'rally to speak my hull mindand I DO。 Wot's
the consequence？ Why； when folks find I ain't afeard to speak my
mind on their affairs； they kinder guess I'm tellin' the truth
about my own。 Folks don't like the man that truckles to 'em；
whether it's in the sellin' of a box of pills or a principle。 When
they re…cognize Ezekiel Corwin ain't goin' to lie about 'em to
curry favor with 'em； they're ready to believe he ain't goin' to
lie about Jones' Bitters or Wozun's Panacea。 And； wa'al； I've been
on the road just about a fortnit； and I haven't yet discovered that
the original independent style introduced by Ezekiel Corwin ever
broke anybody's bones or didn't pay。〃
And he told the truth。 That remarkably unfair and unpleasant
spoken man had actually frozen Hanley's Ford into icy astonishment
at his audacity； and he had sold them an invoice of the Panacea
before they had recovered； he had insulted Chipitas into giving an
extensive order in bitters； he had left Hayward's Creek pledged to
Burne's pillswith drawn revolvers still in their hands。
At another time Demorest might have been amused at his guest's
audacity； or have combated it with his old imperiousness； but he
only remained looking at him in a dull sort of way as if yielding
to his influence。 It was part of the phenomenon that the two men
seemed to have changed character since they last met； and when
Ezekiel said confidentially： 〃I reckon you're goin' to show me what
room I ken stow these duds o' mine in；〃 Demorest replied hurriedly；
〃Yes； certainly；〃 and taking up his guest's carpet…bag preceded him
through the hall to one of the apartments。
〃I'll send Manuel to you presently；〃 he said； putting down the bag
mechanically； 〃the servants are not back from church； it's some
saint's festival to…day。〃
〃And so you keep a pack of lazy idolaters to leave your house to
take care of itself； whilst they worship graven images；〃 said
Ezekiel； delighted at this opportunity to improve the occasion。
〃If my memory isn't bad； Mr。 Corwin；〃 said Demorest dryly； 〃when I
accompanied Mr。 Blandford home the night he returned from his
journey； we found YOU at church； and he had to put up his horse
himself。〃
〃But that was the Sabbaththe seventh day of the command；〃
retorted Ezekiel。
〃And here the Sabbath doesn't consist of only ONE day to serve God
in；〃 said Demorest； sententiously。
Ezekiel glanced under his white lashes at Demorest's thoughtful
face。 His fondest fears appeared to be confirmed； Demorest had
evidently become a Papist。 But that gentleman stopped any
theological discussion by the abrupt inquiry：
〃Did Mrs。 Demorest say when she thought of returning？〃
〃She allowed she mout kem to…morrowbut〃 added Ezekiel dubiously。
〃But what？〃
〃Wa'al； wot with her enjyments of the vanities of this life and the
kempany she keeps； I reckon she's in no hurry；〃 said Ezekiel；
cheerfully。
The entrance of Manuel here cut short any response from Demorest；
who after a few directions in Spanish to the peon； left his guest
to himself。
He walked to the veranda with the same dull preoccupation that
Ezekiel had noticed as so different from his old decisive manner；
and remained for a few moments abstractedly gazing into the dark
garden。 The strange and mystic shapes which had impressed even the
practical Ezekiel； had become even more weird and ghost…like in the
faint radiance of a rising moon。
What memories evoked by his rude guest seemed to take form and
outline in that dreamy and unreal expanse！
He saw his wife again； standing as she had stood that night in her
mother's house； with the white muffler around her head； and white
face； imploring him to fly； he saw himself again hurrying through
the driving storm to Warensboro； and reaching the train that bore
him swiftly and safely miles awaythat same night when her husband
was perishing in the swollen river。 He remembered with what
strangely mingled sensations he had read the account of Blandford's
death in the newspapers； and how the loss of his old friend was
forgotten in the associations conjured up by his singular meeting
that very night with the mysterious woman he had loved。 He
remembered that he had never dreamed how near and fateful were
these associations； and how he had kept his promise not to seek her
without her permission； until six months after； when she appointed
a meeting； and revealed to him the whole truth。 He could see her
now； as he had seen her then； more beautiful and fascinating than
ever in her black dress； and the pensive grace of refined suffering
and restrained passion in her delicate face。 He remembered； too；
how the shock of her disclosurethe knowledge that she had been
his old friend's wifeseemed only to accent her purity and
suffering and his own wilful recklessness； and how it had stirred
all the chivalry； generosity； and affection of his easy nature to
take the whole responsibility of this innocent but compromising
intrigue on his own shoulders。 He had had no self…accusing sense
of disloyalty to Blandford in his practical nature； he had never
suspected the shy； proper girl of being his wife； he was willing to
believe now； that had he known it； even that night； he would never
have seen her again； he had been very foolish； he had made this
poor woman participate in his folly； but he had never been