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"Mr…" She could not bring his na simple, uncomplicated, but not as obvious as Smith She maintained her outward equanimity "There is no reason to do this"

"There’s plenty of reason," said the intruder, enjoying his position of advantage "And a Frenchwoman should not need to be told what it is"

Madelaine frowned She could always scream, but that would defeat the whole purpose of her withdrawal froarden--to reossip "I don’t think you want to do this," she began reasonably "Please stand aside" She thought she sounded like a schoolmistress with a recalcitrant pupil

"Not on your Me," the youngtoward her "Not while I have this chance" He drank the last of the cha any notice to its shattering, then reached out for her

Madelaine sought to get around hi she could use as a weapon when Sherrabbing the young ainst the wall, leaning hard on hi "You didn’t hear die lady, sir She asked you to step aside"

The young man blanched and sweat broke out on his forehead "I… I…"

"And you will do it, won’t you?" Sherh bulkier than Sher man was terrified, and he squirmed in an attempt to escape; Sherman leaned harder "Oh, God"

The relief and gratitude that had filled Madelaine a moment before vanished in a wash of exasperation "Mr Sher"

Sher ize to the lady, sir," he ordered

"I… Sorry I… didn’t mean…" He stopped as Sherman released his hold and … untoward Uponquickly at Sher directly at Madelaine for fear of the red-haired banker’s wrath

"And because it was ato anyone, will you?" Sher the fellow no chance to capitalize on his gaffe through boasting or sness

"No No I won’t Ever" With that, he bolted from the roo roo to speak first She relented before he did "Mr Sher after you did," he said, keeping his distance

She had nothing to say to that "How did you happen to follow that young et a better taste of France than ne When I saw hiht atte of this sort" He locked eyes with her "I’ht I would not have you subjected to… such things for… anything"

"Thanks to your intervention, I wasn’t," she said bluntly, and could read shock in his face "His intentions were--"

"If he had touched you, I would have killed him," said Sher tone "Now that would have been a grand gesture And neither of our reputations would survive it, so it is just as well you arrived when you did" Sheas she slipped out the door "Speaking of reputations, it ht be wise if we did not leave this rooarden now; follohen you think best"

He nodded, and before she could turn away, he blew her a kiss

San Francisco, 7 October,

How still it is this evening After a week of wind and fog, it has turned bright and hot I was surprised at this sudden change, coh I now understand it is not unusual to this region I was told that this is one of the reasons vintners have been flocking to the inland valleys north of here, where they can plant vines with a reasonable prospect of a long, wared that ill depart no later than 10 October, noto delay, but I must not, for my own sake as well as Tecum-seh’s…

"I know it is what led in her hair, his leg between hers, his body replete, tired, and yet unwilling to sleep; it was after ht, and the city beyond the house on Franklin Street was quiet