Carr appeared amazed.

‘I can’t imagine what makes you talk like that, Al,’ he said shortly.  ’It’s rather a serious thing with the Longstreets which way they move now.  You are deliberately encouraging him to buck a game which he ought to leave to another type of man.’

‘Deliberately is the right word,’ said Howard.  ’And I can’t quite understand what makes you seek to discourage him and pack him off to the East again.’

Carr was silent.  Sanchia’s eyes, very bright, grew brighter with a keen look of understanding.  Very innocently she spoke.

‘Are you thinking of going East, too, Mr. Carr?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ snapped Carr.  ‘I am.  What of it?’

‘Oh, nothing,’ said Sanchia.  But she laughed.  Then as Longstreet was opening his mouth to make his own statement, she cut in, turning to him, speaking directly to him, in some subtle way giving the impression that she was quite oblivious of anyone but of him and herself.

‘You mustn’t go,’ she said softly.  She studied his face and then put a light hand on his arm.  Helen stiffened.  ’How shall I say all that I feel here?’ She gave an effective gesture as she pressed the other hand against her own bosom.  ’You have come into a land of nothing but ignorance and into it you have brought the brain of a scholar.  You said, “I will find gold,” and they laughed at you—­and you found it!  It was not chance; Alan was right.  It was the act of a man who knew.  This land has many kinds of men, Mr. Longstreet.  It has no other man like you.  It needs you.  You must stay!’

‘Oh,’ said Helen.  It was scarcely more than a gasp, and yet it bespoke profound disgust.  The woman was insufferable.  Here, upon the top of her treachery, was most palpable flattery.  Surely her father would not fail to see now the woman’s true character; surely he must baulk at such talk as this.  But he was beaming again as though the clouds of a storm had passed and the sunlight were streaming upon him; he rubbed his hands together and spoke cheerfully.

’Sanchia is right; Alan is right.  These two understand me.  I shall show to the world that they have not misjudged me.  I know my own limitations.  I am no superman.  I have made blunders in my time.  But I do know my own work, and I am the only man here who does!  In a way Sanchia is right when she says that this country needs me.  It does.  And I need it.  We are going to stay, my dear.’

Sanchia flashed Helen a look of triumph; her eyes, passing on to Howard, held briefly a sparkle of malice.

‘Alan and I are very grateful to have your approval,’ she said sweetly.  ‘Aren’t we, Alan?’ and again her look was for Helen and was triumphant.

Helen pushed her plate away and for a second time rose abruptly.

‘I’ll choke if I stay in here,’ she said.  And, with breast heaving, she went to the door and out into the fading afternoon.  Sanchia’s glance followed her and then returned placidly to the men.