“I see,” said Carmel. “Thank you again.” She found herself again in the outer office, and then in the corridor, making her way toward the stairs. Near the door she saw again her guide, close to the copper receptacle which seemed to have won his affection. “See him?” he asked. “No.” “Didn’t calc’late ye would,” he said. “Seen him go home an hour ago.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Been poorer by half a dollar if I had,” he said, succinctly. She was driven to the hotel, where she registered and was shown to her room by a bell boy. No sooner had he closed the door and departed with her gratuity in his hand than she threw herself down on the bed in very girlish despair.... She had failed. Singularly enough, it was not the failure itself which stung her; it was the fact that Evan Bartholomew Pell would know of her failure.... She had failed _him_. This was an incomprehensible state of affairs, and when she discovered it she was shocked. What difference did it make what Evan Pell thought, or how he regarded her failure. It was none of his business, anyhow. The paper was hers, and he nothing but a poorly paid employee.... It was all very well to tell this to herself, but the fact remained. She could not go back to Gibeon and confess failure to Evan. She sat erect, hands clenched. Her teeth pressed her lips. “A man would see the Governor. He would manage it. I’ve a _right_ to see him. His business is with affairs like mine, and not with dances.... I will see him. I’ll make him see me!” There was a way, because there is always a way to accomplish everything.... Her thoughts came in fragmentary form, chaotic. Abner Fownes was in the city, perhaps in this very hotel. She tried to reason about him. What if he were a guest at the dinner.... That was a possibility to consider, and she scrutinized it. No, she concluded, he was not to be a dinner guest. Being a dinner guest of the Governor’s was not a fact he could have kept secret. It would elevate him in Gibeon’s eyes. He would never keep to himself a fact like that. Gibeon would have been informed. It would have been informed days ago so that Abner could have basked in this new glory!... But would he be at the ball? That was not to be determined. In politics he was important, and, ball or no ball, if he demanded an interview, the Governor would grant it. And he would demand an interview. He had journeyed to the capital in haste. This meant he had immediate need for Jenney’s appointment as sheriff.... He would see the Governor to-night! Carmel opened her bag and thanked God for the impulse which had included her evening gown in her equipment. She laid it out on the bed and smoothed it.... Presently she was taking a bath, refreshing herself, and feeling very adventurous and almost happy. With characteristic neglect of impediments and consequences, she had taken a resolution--to be an uninvited guest at the Governor’s ball.