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"How can you say that?" Madelaine asked, unable to keep froh she realized he was deliberately provoking her "What danger is one European woer one European woe it," said Sherman dryly "I have some experience of Indians, remember I have seen Seminole, Madame, and I know to my cost what implacable ene them no harm whatsoever They would auns Indians are dangerous And if the European wo to heed me, then be it on her head"

Baron deStoeckl cleared his throat "Perhaps each of you has a point? In your oays," he suggested in French "I do not mean to increase dissension, but it seeood reason to concede as much to each other"

Sherman rounded on him, his brows dran, his mouth a thin line "I do not want any misfortune to befall her"

"And I do not want any misfortune to befall my Indian friends, since they have endured so h they do not coht understand this better then he ade their way of life since the Europeans arrived here"

"As Europeans were forced to change their way of life when they cahed once, his breathing strained "It was not like visiting another European country, coh we have cities and a few of the amenities of life Not as we do in the East, of course, but this is not the frontier, as it hen I was here eight years ago Then there were only a dozen streets in the whole of San Francisco" He sat down abruptly, his face draining of color as the severity of his asthnized the symptoms; she asked Baron deStoeckl to tend to Sher that would ease his labored breathing

"Certainly," said Baron deStoeckl

"No need," wheezed Sherman

"Because it offends your pride to be helped?" Madelaine suggested, then excused herself and hurried toward the back of the house, calling to Olga to assist her "I have a nue stoneware jars in the cellar Will you please bring a returned, Madelaine had made a hot brandy toddy, and as she peeled off the seal with a knife, she explained, "This is a very old reypt" She poured some of the contents into the toddy "If you will seal the jar again and put it back where you found it?" As Olga obeyed, Madelaine took the toddy and hurried back to the parlor where she could hear Sherh as he labored to breathe

Baron deStoeckl was patting Sher when Madelaine moved hiuest

"What’s this?" Sherman demanded with difficulty

"A toddy It will make you better directly," she promised "Drink it before it is too cool to help ease your trouble"

Sherlowered at her, but took the proffered cup and winced as he sipped "It’s hot" When the cup’s contents were half gone, he was noticeably iular and less labored "Thank you, Madaain

"Finish the toddy, Mr Sherman You are better but not yet restored" Madelaine watched him sternly as he drank the rest and set the cup and saucer aside on the rosewood end table beside his chair "Very good"

"I am pleased you think so, Madame," said Sherman with a wry smile "What a stern task, Mr Sherman Who else would handle my affairs as well as you have done?" This was intended to return their conversation to more formal tones, but it did not succeed

"What other banker would care enough to ignore the iesture of capitulation that made the sharp-eyed Baron deStoeckl raise his brows in surprise

"I doubt you will do that, Mr Shery and try to wear down h a series of skirmishes, like the Seestion, one that could not be taken seriously by eitheryour flanks would be "