"Philosopher!" said the other, rising. "Why, my dear boy, I could found a school of philosophy--only where would the pupils come from? No, no; philosophy wouldn't pay in California; too much blue sky and sunshine here. Well, when are we going to see you again? Soon--don't forget that. Viola and I haven't many friends--just an odd one, like yourself, here and there. Viola doesn't go much on society, and so we let the old crowd drop; and we're not sorry, not sorry--too many tares in the wheat. What old Solomon said about a dinner of herbs and good company being better than a stalled ox in a wide house with a brawling woman--wasn't that it?--was right. He was a great old chap, Solomon! Brains and experience--that's a combination that's hard to beat." They moved toward the door together, and here the colonel turned on his friend for a last good-by. "Well, so long," he said, extending his hand and smiling on the younger man with a bland benignity of aspect that had in it something paternally patronizing. "Don't forget that we expect you soon. We're always at home in the evenings, and always glad to see our friends--our real friends." When he had gone, Gault went to the window of the outer office and stood there watching him. The faded old hat, shadowing the fringe of white hair, towered over the heads of the hurrying men who passed in two streams up and down the street. Gault stood gazing till the tall figure passed out of sight. When he turned back from the window his clerks noticed that he looked moodily preoccupied. Five days after this the colonel appeared again. He was urbane, affable, and easy as an old shoe, and, with the air of a king honoring a faithful servant, borrowed thirty dollars more. This was on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon Gault, who had passed a restless night, resolved to escape from the irritation of his own thoughts and seek amusement in the society of Letitia. For this purpose he took an early lunch at his club, and by two o'clock was wending his way up the sunlit streets that run between large houses and blooming gardens through what is known as the Western Addition.