Its destination was gall and wormwood both to Carmen and her husband. For it fell into the hands of Murad Ault. He coveted it as the most striking symbol of the position he had conquered in the metropolis. Its semi-barbaric splendor appealed also to his passion for display. And it was notable that the taste of the rude lad of poverty--this uncultivated offspring of a wandering gypsy and herb--collector--perhaps she had ancient and noble blood in her veins--should be the same for material ostentation and luxury as that of the cultivated, fastidious Mavick and his worldly-minded wife. So persistent is the instinct of barbarism in our modern civilization. When Ault told his wife what he had done, that sweet, domestic, and sensible woman was very far from being elated. “I am almost sorry,” she said. “Sorry for what?” asked Mr. Ault, gently, but greatly surprised. “For the Mavicks. I don't mean for Mrs. Mavick--I hear she is a worldly and revengeful woman--but for the girl. It must be dreadful to turn her out of all the surroundings of her happy life. And I hear she is as good as she is lovely. Think what it would be for our own girls.” “But it can't be helped,” said Ault, persuasively. “The house had to be sold, and it makes no difference who has it, so far as the girl is concerned.” “And don't you fear a little for our own girls, launching out that way?” “You are afraid they will get lost in that big house?” And Mr. Ault laughed. “It isn't a bit too big or too good for them. At any rate, my dear, in they go, and you must get ready to move. The house will be empty in a week.” “Murad,” and Mrs. Ault spoke as if she were not thinking of the change for herself, “there is one thing I wish you would do for me, dear.” “What is that?” “Go to Mr. Mavick, or to Mrs. Mavick, or the assignees or whoever, and have the daughter--yes, and her mother--free to take away anything they want, anything dear to them by long association. Will you?” “I don't see how. Mavick wouldn't do it for us, and I guess he is too proud to accept anything from me. I don't owe him anything. And then the property is in the assignment. Whatever is there I bought with the house.” “I should be so much happier if you could do something about it.” “Well, it don't matter much. I guess the assignees can make Mrs. Mavick believe easy enough that certain things belong to her. But I would not do it for any other living being but you.” “By-the-way,” he added, “there is another bit of property that I didn't take, the Newport palace.” “I should have dreaded that more than the other.”