"Don't go," she said gently. "What are you going to do with your men?"
"The free companions are to be disbanded," I said, recovering myself with a gulp.
"Are any of them killed?" she asked in solicitous tones.
"No. Porter is pretty badly hurt. We got him down from Livermore to-day. He was in the jail there, with Abrams and Brown. We gave bail for them, and all the men are back at the Montgomery Street place. Barkhouse is getting on all right, and there are a few bruises and cuts scattered around in my flock. But they'll all be in trim for another fight in two or three weeks."
"I suppose you'll be sorry to part with them."
"They are a faithful set, but I've had enough excitement for a while."
This question struck me a little blank. I had really not thought of what I was going to do.
"It's another case of an occupation gone," I said rather ruefully. "With the break-up of the plots and the close of the Omega deal, I am at the end of my employments."
With this view of the question before me, I fell into a panic of regrets, and began to blush furiously at my folly in imagining for an instant that Luella could think of me for a husband.
"No," said Luella thoughtfully. "You are just at the beginning."
The tone, even more than the words, braced my nerves, and once more there glowed within me a generous courage of the future.
"You are right. I thank you," I said feelingly. "I have faith in the opportunities."
"And I have faith--" said Luella. Then she stopped.
Luella did not answer, but she gave me a look that meant more than words. I was a trifle bewildered, wondering where I stood in the eyes of this capricious young woman, but my speculations were cut short by the coming of Mrs. Knapp.
There was no reservation in her greeting. Whatever lingering doubts of me her mind had held, they had all melted away in the fire of that last journey that had ended the struggle for the life of the boy. As we talked over the events of the month, I found nothing left of the silent opposition with which she had watched my growing friendship with the daughter of the house. At last she cried:
"Oh, I had almost forgotten. Mr. Knapp wishes to see you in his room before you go."
"I am at his service," I said, and went at once to the den of the Wolf.