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diff --git a/19901-h/19901-h.htm b/19901-h/19901-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6963e5e --- /dev/null +++ b/19901-h/19901-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9385 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Castle of the Shadows, by Mrs. C. N. Williamson. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + img {border: 0;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Castle Of The Shadows, by Alice Muriel Williamson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Castle Of The Shadows + +Author: Alice Muriel Williamson + +Release Date: November 23, 2006 [EBook #19901] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CASTLE OF THE SHADOWS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Suzanne Shell, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></p> +<p>Some changes have been made to correct +typographical errors and inconsistencies. The author's use of a mixture of US and UK English spelling +has been retained. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 254px;"> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img src="images/cover_th.jpg" width="254" height="400" alt="" title="" /></a> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE CASTLE OF THE SHADOWS</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<table class="bbox" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="book list"> +<tr><td align='center'>Books by</td></tr> +<tr><td class="bb" align='left'>C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lightning Conductor</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Princess Passes</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">My Friend the Chauffeur</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lady Betty Across the Water</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rosemary in Search of a Father</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">My Lady Cinderella</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Car of Destiny</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Chaperon</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Princess Virginia</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Set in Silver</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left' style="padding-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Etc., Etc.</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>The +Castle of the Shadows</h1> +<h3>By</h3> +<h2>MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON</h2> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 170px;"> +<img src="images/anchor.jpg" width="170" height="300" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + +<h4>New York +<br /> +Doubleday, Page & Company +<br /> +1909</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h5>AUTHORIZED EDITION +<br /> +DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO.</h5> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3>TO +<br /> +A GOOD MARCHESE +<br /> +THIS STORY OF +<br /> +A WICKED MARCHESE</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left' colspan="2"><b>CHAPTER</b></td><td align='right'><b>PAGE</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>I.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Where Dreamland Began</a></td><td align='right'>3</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>II.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">The Story Told by Two</a></td><td align='right'>31</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>III.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">A Mystery and a Bargain</a></td><td align='right'>61</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>IV.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">The Closed Door</a></td><td align='right'>84</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>V.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Lady on the Verandah</a></td><td align='right'>108</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>VI.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The End of the World</a></td><td align='right'>134</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>VII.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">The Gates Open</a></td><td align='right'>158</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>VIII.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Number 1280</a></td><td align='right'>178</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>IX.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A Cry Across the Water</a></td><td align='right'>201</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>X.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">"Once on Board the Lugger"</a></td><td align='right'>224</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>XI.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Virginia's Great Moment</a></td><td align='right'>248</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>XII.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Stand and Deliver!</a></td><td align='right'>270</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>XIII.</b></a></td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">The Game of Bluff</a></td><td align='right'>294</td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CASTLE_OF_THE_SHADOWS" id="THE_CASTLE_OF_THE_SHADOWS"></a>THE CASTLE OF THE SHADOWS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Castle of the Shadows</h2> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>WHERE DREAMLAND BEGAN</h3> + + +<p>According to the calendar it was winter; +but between Mentone and the frontier +town of Ventimiglia, on the white road inlaid +like a strip of ivory on dark rocks above the +sapphire of the Mediterranean, it was fierce +summer in the sunshine. A girl riding between +two men, reined in her chestnut mare at a +cross-road which led into the jade-green twilight +of an olive grove. The men pulled up +their horses also, and all three came to a sudden +halt at a bridge flung across a swift but shallow +river, whose stony bed cleft the valley.</p> + +<p>The afternoon sunshine poured down upon +them, burnishing the coils of the girl's hair to +gold, and giving a dazzling brilliancy to a complexion +which for twenty years to come need<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +not fear the light of day. She was gazing up +the valley shut in on either side with thickly +wooded hills, their rugged heads still gilded, +their shoulders already half in shadow; but the +eyes of the men rested only upon her. One +was English, the other Italian; and it was the +Italian whose look devoured her beauty, moving +hungrily from the shining tendrils of gold that +curled at the back of her white neck, up to the +small pink ear almost hidden with a thick, rippling +wave of hair; so to the piquant profile which +to those who loved Virginia Beverly, was dearer +than cold perfection.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the olive woods!" she exclaimed. "How +sweet they are! See the way the sunshine +touches the old, gnarled trunks, and what a +lovely light filters through the leaves. One +never sees it anywhere except in an olive grove. +I should like to live in one."</p> + +<p>"Well, why not?" laughed the Englishman. +"What prevents you from buying two or three? +But you would soon tire of them, my child, +as you do of everything as soon as it belongs +to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's not fair," replied the girl. "Besides, +if it were, who has helped to spoil me? I <i>will</i> +buy an olive grove, and you shall see if I tire of +it. Come, let's ride up the valley, and find out +if there are any for sale. It looks heavenly cool +after this heat."</p> + +<p>"You'll soon discover that it's too cool," said +the Italian, in perfect English. "The sun is +only in these valleys for a few hours, and it's +gone for the day now. Besides, there's nothing +interesting here. One sees the best from +where we stand."</p> + +<p>Virginia Beverly turned her eyes upon him, +and let them dwell on his face questioningly. +"Of course, you must know every inch of this +country," she said, "as you used to live just +across the Italian border."</p> + +<p>For once he did not answer her look. "I +haven't spent much time here for several years. +Paris has absorbed me," he said evasively. +"One forgets a good deal; but if you want to see +a really charming valley, we had better go +farther on. Then I think I can show you one."</p> + +<p>Virginia's pretty brows, which were many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +shades darker than her hair, drew together. +"But I don't want to go farther," she said. +"And I like this valley."</p> + +<p>"Spoilt child!" ejaculated the Englishman, +who claimed rights of cousinship, though by +birth Virginia was American.</p> + +<p>At that moment two members of the riding +party, who had contrived to be left behind, came +leisurely up. One was a very handsome, dark +woman, who succeeded in looking not more than +thirty, the other a young man of twenty-five, +enough like Virginia to suggest that they were +brother and sister.</p> + +<p>"What are you stopping for?" inquired Lady +Gardiner, who would not have been sorry to +keep her friends in advance.</p> + +<p>"Waiting for you," said Virginia promptly. +"I want to explore this valley."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she gave her mare a little pat +on the velvety neck. The animal, which was +Virginia's own, brought from her namesake +state, had never known the touch of the whip, +but understood the language of hand and voice. +She went off at a trot up the shadowed road;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +and the Marchese Loria was the first to follow. +But he bit his lip under the black moustache, +pointed in military fashion at the ends, and +appeared more annoyed than he need because a +pretty girl had insisted upon having her own way.</p> + +<p>It was not yet cold, as he had prophesied, but +it was many degrees cooler than in the sunshine; +and as they rode on the valley narrowed, the soft +darkness of the olive grove closing in the white +road that overhung the rock-bed of the river.</p> + +<p>The hills rose higher, shutting out the day, +and there was a brooding silence, only intensified +by the hushed whisper of the water among +its pebbles.</p> + +<p>The shoulders of the heights were losing their +gold glitter now; and Virginia had a curious +sensation of leaving reality behind and entering +a mysterious dreamland.</p> + +<p>For a long time they rode without speaking. +Then Virginia broke the spell of constraint which +had fallen upon them.</p> + +<p>"Where are the persons who gather the +olives?" she asked of the Italian, who rode +almost sullenly beside her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This isn't the time of year for that," he +replied, more abruptly than was his custom +in speaking to her.</p> + +<p>"I never saw such a deserted place!" exclaimed +the girl. "We have ridden ever so far +into the valley now—two miles at least—and +there hasn't been a sign of human habitation; +not a person, not a house, except the little +ruined tower we passed a few minutes ago, and +that old château almost at the top of the hill. +Look! the last rays of the sun are touching its +windows before saying good-bye to the valley. +Aren't they like the fiery eyes of some fierce animal +glaring watchfully down at us out of the dusk?"</p> + +<p>Pointing upward, she turned to him for approval +of her fancy, and to her surprise saw him +pale, as if he had been attacked with sudden +illness.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" she asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all," he replied. "A slight +chill, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"No, there is more than that," Virginia said +slowly. "I'm sure of it. I've been sure ever +since we stood on the bridge looking up this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +valley. You wanted to go on. You could +hardly bear to stop, and when I proposed riding +in you made excuses."</p> + +<p>"Only for your sake, fearing you might catch +cold."</p> + +<p>"Yet you suggested going on to another +valley. Would it have been warmer than this? +Oh, Marchese, I don't like you when you are +subtle and secretive. It reminds me that we +are of different countries—as different as +the north can be from the south. Do tell me +what is really in your mind. Why do you +hate this valley? Why has coming into it tied +your tongue, and made you look as if you had +seen a ghost?"</p> + +<p>"You exaggerate, Miss Beverly," said Loria. +"But if you care to know the precise truth you +shall, on one condition."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"That you turn your horse's head and consent +to go out into the sunshine again. When +we are there I will tell you."</p> + +<p>"No. If I hear your story, and think it worth +turning back for, I will. I mean to have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +nearer glimpse of that château. It must have +a lovely view over the tops of the olive trees."</p> + +<p>She touched the mare, who changed from a +trot into a gallop. In five minutes more they +would be under the castle; but almost instantly +Loria, obliged to follow, had caught up with +her again.</p> + +<p>"One of the greatest sorrows of my life is +connected with this valley," he answered desperately. +"Now will you take pity upon me +and turn round?"</p> + +<p>Virginia hesitated. The man's voice shook. +She did not know whether to yield or to feel +contempt because he showed emotion so much +more readily than her English and American +friends. But while she hesitated they were +joined by her cousin, Sir Roger Broom, who +had been riding behind with her half-brother, +George Trent, and Lady Gardiner.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Loria," he exclaimed, with a +certain excitement underlying his tone; "it has +just occurred to me that this is—er—the +place that's been nicknamed for the last few +years the 'Valley of the Shadow.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are right," answered Loria. "That +is why I didn't wish to come in."</p> + +<p>Sir Roger nodded toward the château, which +now loomed over them, gray, desolate, one half +in ruins, yet picturesquely beautiful both in +position and architecture. "Then that is——" +he began, but the Italian cut him short.</p> + +<p>"Yes. And won't you help me persuade Miss +Beverly that we've seen enough of this valley +now?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the castle's for <i>sale</i>!" cried Virginia +suddenly, before Roger Broom had had time to +speak.</p> + +<p>She pointed to one of the tall gate-posts at the +foot of the hill, close to the road, which showed +a notice-board announcing in both French and +Italian that the Château de la Roche was to be +sold, permission to view being obtainable within.</p> + +<p>"Poor people; they must have been reduced +to sad straits indeed!" murmured Sir Roger, +looking at the board with its faded lettering, +half defaced by time and weather.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was all very unfortunate, very miserable," +Loria said hastily. "Shall we go back?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Englishman seemed hardly to hear. "I'd +seen photographs of the valley, but I'd quite +forgotten, until suddenly it began to look familiar. +Then, all in a flash, I remembered."</p> + +<p>"What do you remember; and why do you +call this the Valley of the Shadow?" demanded +Virginia. "You are both very mysterious. But +perhaps it's the influence of the place. Everything +seems mysterious here."</p> + +<p>Roger Broom sighed, and roused himself with +an effort from his reverie. "Queer that we +should have drifted here by accident," he said—"especially +with <i>you</i>, Loria."</p> + +<p>"Why especially with me?" the other asked +with a certain sharpness.</p> + +<p>"You were the poor fellow's friend. Oh, +Virginia, forgive me for not answering you. +This place is reminiscent of tragedy. A man +whom I used to know slightly, and Loria intimately, +lived here. That grim old house perched +up on the hillside has been the home of his +ancestors for hundreds of years. Now, you see, +it is for sale. But it's likely to remain so. +Who would buy it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Virginia. "Is it haunted?"</p> + +<p>"Only by melancholy thoughts of a family +ruined, a man cut off from life at its best and +brightest, to be sent into exile worse than death. +By the way, Loria, do you know what became +of the sister?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard that she still lives here with +an aunt and one old servant," answered the +Italian, his face gray-white in the greenish dusk +of the olive woods.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible? What a life for a girl! I +suppose that there is absolutely not money +enough to keep up another establishment, no +matter how small. Why, were there no relatives—no +one to help?"</p> + +<p>"The relatives all believed in her brother's +guilt, and she would have nothing to do with +them. As for help, her family is a difficult one +to help. Of course it would be a good thing +for her to sell the château."</p> + +<p>Virginia sat her horse between the two others, +impatient and curious. It was easy to see how +distasteful the conversation was to the Marchese +Loria. He answered Sir Roger's questions only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +by an effort; and as for her cousin, even he was +moved out of the imperturbable <i>sang-froid</i> which +sometimes pleased, sometimes irritated Virginia, +according to her mood.</p> + +<p>"Was it because of this young man's guilt +that the place was called the Valley of the +Shadow?" she asked again.</p> + +<p>"Yes. A mere nickname, of course, though +an ominous one," said Roger. "You see, the +Dalahaides used to keep open house, and spend a +great deal of money at one time, so that their +ruin threw a gloom over the country even colder +than the evening shadows. The father took +his own life in shame and despair, the mother +died of grief, and only a girl is left of the four +who used to be so happy together."</p> + +<p>"But what of the fourth—the brother?" +In spite of herself, Virginia's voice sank, and the +penetrating chill of the valley crept into her +spirit.</p> + +<p>"He is worse than dead," answered Roger +evasively. "By Jove! Loria is right. It <i>is</i> +cold here. Let us turn back."</p> + +<p>"I should like to buy that château,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>announced the American girl, as calmly as if +she had spoken of acquiring a new brooch.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! What next?" exclaimed Sir +Roger. "But you're not in earnest, of course."</p> + +<p>"I am in earnest," said she. "I should love +to have it. It's an ideal house, set on that great +rocky hill, and ringed round with olive groves. +Though the sun is gone so soon from the bottom +of the valley, where we are, the château +windows are still bright. The place fascinates +me. I am going to ride in and ask to see the +house. Who will come with me?"</p> + +<p>Virginia looked at the Marchese with a half-smiling +challenge; but he did not speak, and +Lady Gardiner's black eye gave out a flash. +She was as poor as she was handsome and +well-born, and her life as the American girl's +chaperon was an easy one. The thought that +Virginia Beverly might make up her mind to +become the Marchesa Loria was disagreeable to +Kate Gardiner, and she was glad that the +Italian should displease the spoilt beauty.</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you, dear, if you are really bent +on the adventure," said the elder woman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Forgive me, Miss Beverly. But I—once +knew these people. I could not go into their +house on such an errand. They would think I +had come to spy on their misfortune," protested +Loria miserably.</p> + +<p>"I knew them too," said Roger Broom, +"and I'll stay down here and keep Loria +company."</p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner looked at George Trent, with +whom she was having an amusing flirtation, +which would certainly have been more than +amusing if he had been only a quarter as rich +as his half-sister.</p> + +<p>"I'll take you and Virgie up to the door, anyhow," +he responded to the look, and springing +from his horse, he pushed open the tall gate of +rusty iron.</p> + +<p>Then, mounting again, the three passed +between the gray stone gate-posts with an +ancient carved escutcheon obliterated with moss +and lichen. They rode along the grass-grown +avenue which wound up the hill among the +cypresses and olive trees, coming out at last, as +they neared the château, from shadow into a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +pale, chastened sunshine which among the +gray-green trees had somewhat the effect of +moonlight.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever heard of the Dalahaides?" +Virginia demanded of her chaperon.</p> + +<p>"If I have, I've forgotten," said Lady Gardiner. +"And yet there does seem to be a dim +memory of something strange hovering at the +back of my brain."</p> + +<p>They were above the grove now, on a terrace +with a perspective of ruined garden, whence +the battered faces of ancient statues peeped out, +yellow-white from behind overgrown rose bushes +and heliotrope. The château was before them, +the windows still reflecting the sunlight; but +this borrowed glitter was all the brightness it had. +Once beautiful, the old battlemented house had +an air of proud desolation, as if scorning pity, +since it could no longer win admiration.</p> + +<p>"You would have to spend thousands of +pounds in restoring this old ruin if you should +really buy it, Virginia," said Lady Gardiner.</p> + +<p>"Well, wouldn't it be worth while to spend +them?" asked the girl. "I certainly——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +She stopped in the midst of her sentence, a +bright flush springing to her face; for turning +a corner of the avenue which brought them close +to the château, they came suddenly upon a +young woman, dressed in black, who must have +heard their last words.</p> + +<p>Instantly George Trent had his hat in his +hand, and before Virginia could speak he had +dismounted and plunged into explanations. +He begged pardon for the intrusion, and said +that, as they had seen the announcement that +the château was for sale, they had ventured to +ride up in the hope of being allowed to see +the house. As he spoke, in fairly good though +rather laboured French, he smiled on the girl +in black with a charming smile, very like Virginia's. +And Lady Gardiner looked from one to +the other gravely. She was not as pleased as +she had been that George Trent had come here +with them, for the girl in the shabby black +dress had a curiously arresting, if not beautiful +face, and her surroundings, the background of +the desolate castle, and the circumstances of +the meeting, framed her in romance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner did not like the alacrity with +which Trent had snatched off his hat and +sprung from his horse, nor did she approve of +the expression in his eyes, though Virginia's +were just as eager.</p> + +<p>To the surprise of all three, the girl answered +in English; not the English of a French <i>jeune +fille</i>, instructed by an imported "Miss," but the +English of an Englishwoman, pure and sweet, +though the voice was sad and lifeless. Her +melancholy dark eyes, deep and sombre as +mountain tarns, wandered from the brother's +handsome face to the beautiful one of the sister.</p> + +<p>"Pray don't speak of an intrusion," she said. +"Our servant will be glad to show you through the +house, and afterward, if you really think of buying +the place, he will give you the address of an +agent in Mentone who can tell you everything."</p> + +<p>"Then shan't we find you again when we have +seen the château?" asked Virginia wistfully.</p> + +<p>The girl smiled for the first time, but there was +no brightness in the smile. "I shall be very +pleased to speak with you before you go if there +is anything you care to say to me," she replied,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +mechanically raising the great bunch of heliotrope +she had been gathering to her lips.</p> + +<p>"Now I will call our servant. He will put up +your horses while you go in; though I'm afraid +that we have no very good accommodation for +them, as our stables have been empty for a long +time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, we needn't give him that +trouble," said Trent. "I can fasten the horses' +bridles to some tree or other, and they will be +all right."</p> + +<p>The girl disappeared, a slender, youthful +figure in the plain black gown, yet her step, +though it was not slow, had none of the lithsomeness +of youth. She seemed to have lost +all joy of life, though she could scarcely have +been more than twenty-two or three.</p> + +<p>"Another mystery!" Virginia said in a low +voice. "How comes she to be English? Is she +the girl they were talking about down below, +or is she a companion?"</p> + +<p>"She looks like a banished princess," said +Trent. "I never saw such wonderful eyes. +Deep as a well, reflecting a night of stars."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner's lips tightened a little. She +was rather vain of her eyes. "I think the girl +would appear a very ordinary young person," +she remarked, "if one saw her anywhere but +here."</p> + +<p>George lifted her down from the horse without +answering, but Virginia did not wait to be +helped. She sprang to the ground, and by the +time that George had tethered the horses an old +man in a faded livery came limping out from +the side door through which the girl in black +had lately disappeared.</p> + +<p>Almost crippled with rheumatism, he had +still all the dignity of a trusted servant of an +ancient house, and his old eyes seemed gravely +to defy these prosperous young people to criticize +his threadbare clothing.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle" had desired him to take +monsieur and mesdames over the château, he +politely announced in French, and went on to +beg that they would give themselves the trouble +of being conducted to the door at the front, that +they might go in by the great hall. He also +regretted that the visitors had not arrived earlier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +in the day, as the rooms could not be seen at +their best advantage so near to sunset.</p> + +<p>Virginia's heart began to beat oddly as she +entered the house. She had still the feeling of +having left realities behind and strayed into +dreamland; but with the opening of the heavy +door it seemed to her that the dream was about +to change into a vision which would mean something +for her future.</p> + +<p>Of course it was all nonsense, she told herself, +as the old man led them across the shadowy, +tapestry-hung hall, and from one huge, dim, +wainscotted or frescoed room to another; yet +always, as they approached a doorway, she +caught herself thinking—"Now a strange +thing is going to happen."</p> + +<p>"This is the state drawing-room; this is the +library; this is the chapel; this is the bride's +suite," the servant announced laconically. But +though the castle was evidently very ancient +and must have a private history of its own, centuries +old, he offered no garrulous details of +past grandeur, as most servants would. As +they walked through a dining-room of magnif<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>icent +proportions, but meagrely furnished, they +passed a half-open door, and Virginia had a +glimpse of a charming little room with a huge +projecting window. Mechanically she paused, +then drew away quickly as she saw that mademoiselle +was seated at a table arranging the +flowers she had gathered in the melancholy garden. +The old man hobbled on, as if the door had +not existed, and Virginia would have followed, +had not the girl in black stepped forward and +invited them in, with a certain proud humility.</p> + +<p>"This is our sitting-room—my aunt's and +mine," she said. "My aunt is not here now, +so come in, if you will. It is a small room; +still, it is one of the brightest and most home-like +we have left."</p> + +<p>She held open the door, and the three visitors +obeyed her gesture of invitation; but suddenly +the girl's face changed. The blood streamed +up to her forehead, then ebbed again, leaving +her marble-pale. She gave a slight start, as +if she would have changed her mind and kept +the strangers from entering; yet she made no +motion to arrest them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She has just remembered something in this +room that she doesn't wish us to see," thought +Virginia; but it was too late to retreat, without +drawing attention to an act which she could not +explain. They all went in, the others apparently +suspecting nothing; but in a second Virginia +instinctively guessed the reason of her +hostess's sudden constraint, and the sympathetic +thrill that ran through her own veins +surprised her. In a panel of the darkly wainscotted +and curiously gilded wall was placed +a life-size portrait of a man. It was an oil-painting, +defective in technique, perhaps, but +so spirited, so extraordinarily lifelike as to +give an effect, at first glance in the twilight, as if +a handsome young man were just stepping in +through an open door. Virginia seemed to +meet the brilliant, audacious eyes; the frank, +almost boyish smile was for her; and—whether +because of the half-told story of this strange +house, or because of the brave young splendour +of the figure in the portrait—her heart +gave a bound such as it had never yet given for +a man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>She did not need to be told that this was the +counterfeit presentment of him who, in some +mysterious way, had brought ruin upon those +who loved him; and suddenly she understood +the full meaning of Loria's words when he had +said, "The relatives all believed in his guilt, so +his sister would have nothing to do with them."</p> + +<p>Virginia Beverly, headstrong, wilful, passionate, +was only superficially spoilt by the flattery +which had been her daily diet as a great beauty +and a great heiress. She was impulsive, but +her impulses were true and often unselfish. +Now her warm heart went out to meet the loyal +heart of the pale, sad girl in black, whom an +hour ago she had never seen, whose very name +she had not known. "She is right to believe +in him," Virginia said to herself. "Loyalty is +the finest virtue of all. I believe in him too. +Whatever crime they say he committed, I'm +sure he was innocent. What—a criminal, +with that face? It's not possible, and I wish +I could tell her so."</p> + +<p>She could scarcely tear her eyes from the +portrait, though she feared to let her interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +be observed, lest it should unjustly be put down +to vulgar curiosity. And when the old man who +conducted them, having met and answered a +quick glance from his mistress, invited the +visitors to continue their tour of inspection, +Virginia left her thoughts behind in the room +of the portrait, walking as in a dream through +the series of lofty, half-dismantled apartments +which still remained to be visited.</p> + +<p>She hoped that, when they should see their +hostess again for the promised leave-taking, it +would be in the same room as before. But she +was doomed to disappointment. Mademoiselle +met the party in the great hall, and, hearing +from George Trent that his sister thought seriously +of buying the château, gave them the +address of an estate agent in Mentone.</p> + +<p>Virginia was not a self-centred girl, and at +any other time she would have been surprised at +the encouragement given to this new whim of +hers by her half-brother; she would have sought +some underlying cause, for George Trent—who +was her mother's son by a first marriage—was +nearly five years older than she, and rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +piqued himself upon influencing her to ways +of wisdom. But now, though he extolled the +charms of the Château de la Roche, and made +light of the expenses of restoration, as they rode +down the avenue under the olive trees, Virginia +was too much occupied with the mystery of +the house and the portrait's original to observe +the young man's manner. It did not escape +Lady Gardiner's observation, however, and +her thoughts were troubled.</p> + +<p>She was thirty-six and George Trent was ten +years younger; but she confessed to twenty-nine, +and really did not look more, except when certain +worries, which she usually kept in the background, +pressed heavily upon her. For a year, +ever since Virginia had left America for England +and the Continent, she had lived with the +sister and brother, and had been reaping a harvest +almost literally of gold and diamonds. She +did not want Virginia to marry and free herself +from chaperonage; and if she could not marry +George Trent herself, since he was neither +old enough nor rich enough, she could not bear +the thought that he might forget his passing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +admiration for her, and fall seriously in love +with some one else.</p> + +<p>She, too, was curious concerning mademoiselle +and her past, but with a very different +curiosity from Virginia's, and she determined +to learn the story of the Dalahaides and their +château above the Valley of the Shadow. She +did not, however, wish to appear curious before +Virginia or her brother, and hoped that the American +girl, with her wonted audacity, would at +once approach the topic when they had rejoined +Sir Roger Broom and the Marchese Loria. +But Virginia asked no questions, contenting herself +with answering those of her cousin, which +for some reason confined themselves entirely to +the château. Lady Gardiner was sure, since +he admitted having known the Dalahaides, that, +being human, Roger would have liked to hear +something of the girl who lived there like Mariana +in the Moated Grange; and it would have +been interesting to know why he refrained from +mentioning her.</p> + +<p>As they rode through the valley, dark and sad +now, in the chill of its early dusk, she brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +her horse to Virginia's side in so narrow a defile +of the road that Roger, who was with the girl, +dropped behind.</p> + +<p>"Have you noticed that the Marchese hasn't +asked us a single question about your château?" +she remarked. "He is a changed man since we +came into this valley. I wonder if there was ever +anything between him and that tragic-looking +girl up there? Perhaps Sir Roger knows, and +that's the reason he didn't speak of her."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," echoed Virginia listlessly, and +Kate Gardiner said no more.</p> + +<p>An odd restraint seemed to have settled on +the whole party, which had started out so gaily +in the sunshine. Each one was sunk deep in +his or her own thoughts, as if the twilight had +touched them with its delicate melancholy.</p> + +<p>They were stopping at the Cap Martin hotel, +high on the hill in its beautiful garden, and +among its pines; and there was a dance that +night, for which Virginia had promised Loria +several waltzes; but she complained that the +ride had tired her.</p> + +<p>Instead of dancing she went after dinner to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +the private sitting-room which she and Lady +Gardiner shared, having quietly asked Roger +Broom if he would come to her there for a few +minutes. He found her, not in the room, but +on the balcony, in floods of moonlight, which +gave her beauty an unearthly charm as she lay +on a <i>chaise longue</i>, wrapped in an evening cloak +of white and silver brocade.</p> + +<p>"You don't mind leaving the dance a little +while—for me?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Roger smiled his quiet, pleasant smile. +"There's nothing in the world I would mind +leaving for you, Virginia," he said, "and I +think you know that very well."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes I believe it's true. I should like +to believe it to-night," she answered, "because +I need your help. There's a secret, and I must +find it out."</p> + +<p>As the girl spoke there was a slight sound in +the room beyond the big, open window.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" exclaimed Roger. "Who is +there?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody," said Virginia. "It must be a log +of olive-wood falling in the fireplace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY TOLD BY TWO</h3> + + +<p>Roger waited. He knew that Virginia +was gathering her forces together, and +that he might expect the unexpected.</p> + +<p>"I want you to tell me all about that girl in +mourning who lives at the Château de la +Roche," she said after a moment; "and what +her brother did."</p> + +<p>Roger was slow in answering. "It's not a +pleasant story for your ears. I was sorry this +afternoon that I had spoken even as freely +as I did about it before you. Loria took +me to task rather, after you'd gone up to +the château, and he was right. By Jove! +Virginia, I believe that if I'd said nothing, +the idea of buying the place would never have +occurred to you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," she admitted. "But it <i>has</i> +occurred to me, and once I have an idea in my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +head I keep it tenaciously—as all my long-suffering +friends know to their sorrow. Will you +go to-morrow to the agent whose address I have +and make inquiries?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you think if no one thwarts me, I'll get +over the fancy. But I won't! I'm going to have +that château among the olive trees for mine if it +costs me fifty thousand pounds (which it won't, +I know), even if I only live in it for one month +out of five years. The thing is, to feel it's my +own. So now, you see, as the place is practically +my property, naturally I'd like to know something +of the people who have been its owners."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why. When one buys a house +one doesn't usually agitate oneself much about +the family history of one's predecessors."</p> + +<p>"Roger, you know this is different. I want +you and no one to else tell me. Still, if you +won't——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you insist you must be gratified, I +suppose, up to certain limits. What do you +want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Everything."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"H'm! Rather too large an order, my child. +However, to begin with, the Dalahaides of the +Château de la Roche were English in the last +generation, but the family is of French origin. +When the last member of the French branch +died, a banker in London was the next heir. +He gave the château and the Dalahaide house +in Paris as a wedding present to his son, who +was about to be married. The bride and +bridegroom came over on their honeymoon, +and took such a fancy to the château +that they made their home there, or rather +between it and the old house in Paris. This +young couple had in time a son, and then +a daughter. Perhaps you saw the daughter +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was she. You didn't ask me about +her before."</p> + +<p>"No; the fact is, I thought that further conversation +on the subject would be too painful +for poor Loria. You must have seen that he +was upset."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help seeing. But go on."</p> + +<p>"Well, the father and mother and their two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +children were a most devoted family. They +were all handsome and clever and popular, and +if they were not millionaires, they were extravagant, +for they gave delightful entertainments +here and in Paris, and their purses were open +for any one who wished to dip in his fingers.</p> + +<p>"The son Maxime, always called Max, inherited +his father's generous, reckless, extravagant +ways. He was drawn into the fastest +set in Paris, and lost a lot of money at baccarat. +That wouldn't have mattered much, perhaps, if +at the same time some large investments of the +father's hadn't gone wrong and crippled the +family resources. Then, as misfortunes generally +come in crowds, there was a slight earthquake +along this part of the coast, and the +château was partly ruined, as you saw to-day, +for they were not able then to have it restored. +'Next year,' they said; but there was no next +year for the Dalahaides. Only a few months +after the first two blows came the third, which +was to crush the family for ever. Max Dalahaide +was accused of murder, tried, and condemned."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What—he is <i>dead</i>, then? I thought you +said—I——" Virginia's heart gave so sudden +and violent a bound that she stammered, +and grew red and white under the revealing +moonlight. She was thinking of the portrait—seeing +it again, looking into the eyes which +had seemed to speak. Dead! Executed as +a murderer! The thought was horrible; it +stifled her.</p> + +<p>"No, he is not dead," answered Roger +gravely; "at least, if he is I haven't heard of it. +But—if he still exists—one can't call it living—he +must have wished a hundred times a day +to die and be out of his misery. Perhaps death +has come to him. It might, and I not have +known; for from out of the pit which has +engulfed him, seldom an echo reaches the world +above."</p> + +<p>"Roger, you frighten me! What do you +mean?" the girl exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, child. I forgot for a moment, +and was thinking aloud. I don't often forget +you, do I? I said to-day that Max Dalahaide was +dead in life. That is true. Family influence, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +tremendous eloquence of a man engaged to plead +his cause, the fact that Max insisted upon his +innocence, while the evidence was entirely circumstantial, +saved him from the guillotine, +which I believe he would have preferred, in his +desperation. He was sent to that Hades upon +earth, New Caledonia, a prisoner for life."</p> + +<p>"But—he was <i>English</i>!"</p> + +<p>"No. His parents had been English, but he, +having been born in France, was a French subject. +He had even served his time in the army. +Naturally he was amenable to French law; and +he is buried alive in Noumea, the most terrible +prison in the world."</p> + +<p>"And he was innocent!"</p> + +<p>Roger, who had been gazing out over the sea, +turned a surprised look upon Virginia.</p> + +<p>"No! He was not innocent," he said quickly. +"Everything proved his guilt. It is impossible +that he should have been innocent."</p> + +<p>"His sister believed in him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, his sister. What does that prove? +The father thought him guilty, and killed himself. +As for the mother—who knows? At all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +events, she died—broken-hearted. Every +penny the family possessed, after their great +losses, went for Maxime's defense; but, except +that his life was saved, it was in vain."</p> + +<p>"You knew him—he was your friend—yet +you believed in his guilt?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly knew him well enough to call myself +a friend. I admired him, certainly Max +Dalahaide was the handsomest, wittiest, most +fascinating fellow I ever met. Neither man +nor woman could resist him, if he set out to +conquer. Loria and he were like brothers; yet +Loria thought with the rest of the world. He +can't be blamed for disloyalty, either, for really +there was nothing else to think, if one used one's +reason."</p> + +<p>"If he had been <i>my</i> friend, I would not have +used my reason!" exclaimed Virginia. "What +is the use of reason, when one has instinct?—and +that is never wrong. But it is good of you +to defend the Marchese, for I know you don't +like him."</p> + +<p>"Don't I?" echoed Roger. "If I don't, I'm +afraid it is because you <i>do</i>. You won't have me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +dear; you've told me that, and I don't mean to +bother you again; but I'm weak enough to be +jealous when I think there's danger of your +saying 'Yes' to anybody else."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that there is any such danger +in this case," said Virginia. "But the Marchese +is very handsome, and rather romantic, and he +sings like an angel. Oh, yes, I am almost in +love with him when he sings—or I was till +yesterday. And how he dances! It's poetry. +When I am waltzing with the Marchese Loria I +invariably make up my mind that I will accept +him next time he asks. Then, afterward, something +holds me back. To-day, in that valley of +shadows, he affected me quite differently. It +was as if—as if the shadows had shut down +between us. I saw him in the shadow, his +features changed—repellent. As the French +say, he 'made me horror.' Yet I didn't know +why. Now I begin to understand. It was my +precious instinct warning me, saying: 'This +man is disloyal. Don't trust him.'"</p> + +<p>"You are unjust," said Roger. "I should +like to let you misjudge him, but I can't be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +a bounder, you know. He really behaved +extremely well in the Dalahaide affair. The +man couldn't believe, against a mountain of +evidence; nevertheless, he did what he could +for his friend, guilty as he thought him. All +this happened four years ago, when you were +a demure little schoolgirl—if you ever <i>could</i> +have been demure!—in your own Virginia, +not allowed even to hear of, much less read, the +great newspaper scandals of the moment. I +can't remember every detail of the affair, but +it was said to be largely through Loria's efforts +that Max was saved from capital punishment +for his crime."</p> + +<p>"You haven't told me yet what that crime +was."</p> + +<p>"Yes. I have said it was murder."</p> + +<p>"Ah! but that is only a crude statement. I +ask for the story."</p> + +<p>"You won't have it from me, my child," answered +Roger coolly. "I'm not a sensation-monger. +It was a horrid affair, and one +doesn't talk of such things to little girls. You +know all from me that you will know. Buy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +your château, if you choose. You've money +enough to squander on twenty such toys and +not miss it. No doubt poor Madeleine Dalahaide +will be benefited by the exchange—her +castle for your money. Fortunate for her, +perhaps, that she is the last of the French Dalahaides, +and has the right to sell the château."</p> + +<p>"You will tell me nothing more?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>"Then I will tell <i>you</i> one thing. I believe +that the man was innocent. I have seen his +portrait. I have seen his sister. That is +enough for me. But what you will not tell me +I shall learn for myself, and then—and then—you +shall see what you shall see."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Virginia slept restlessly that night. In her +dreams she was always in the Valley of the +Shadow, striving to find her way out into the +sunlight; and sometimes the valley seemed but +the entrance to that bottomless pit of shame +where Maxime Dalahaide was entombed. She +awoke from a dream forgotten, in a spasm of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +cold fear, before it was dawn, and switching on +the electric light near the bed, she drew her +watch from under the pillow. It was just six +o'clock; and for a few moments Virginia lay +still, thinking over the events of yesterday. +After all, what did they mean for her? Nothing, +said Reason; everything, said a Voice +to which she could give no name.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her heart began to beat quickly +with the excitement of a strange thought that +seemed to spring out of herself, and then turn +to face her. It pushed the girl from her bed, +and she rose, shivering; for even here at Cap +Martin it was cold in the early morning before +the vivid sun had warmed the air.</p> + +<p>She was used to lying in bed until a fire of +fragrant pine cones and olive wood crackled +on the hearth, and her own maid had filled the +bath in the bathroom adjoining. But now +she bathed in the cold, dressing herself in her +riding-habit, and even arranging her hair without +help. By seven her toilet was made, and, +turning off the electric light, she found that the +sky was pink and golden with the winter sunrise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>The girl rang for coffee, and ordered her horse +to be ready. She and Kate Gardiner never +met before ten o'clock, at earliest; thus three +hours would pass before any one save her maid +would begin to wonder where she was; and for +the maid she would leave a line of explanation, +mentioning that she had gone out on +business, and that nothing was to be said +unless Lady Gardiner inquired.</p> + +<p>Virginia had a ride of nearly two hours before +she could reach the destination she had planned; +but neither the fresh air, the beauty of the scene, +nor the exercise which she loved, could calm the +fever in her blood. It was as if some power +stronger than herself pushed her on; and though +she had always been too healthy in mind and +body to suffer from superstition, she now believed, +half fearfully, that such an influence +had possession of her.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with me?" she asked. +"I am no longer myself. It is as if I were only +an instrument in hands that use me as they +will. Why do I go this morning to the Château +de la Roche? I don't know. I don't know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +what I shall say to excuse myself when I am +there. Yet, somehow, the words will come +to me—I feel it."</p> + +<p>For it was to the château above the Valley +of the Shadow that she was going.</p> + +<p>When she reached the gates, half-way up the +slope of the wooded hill which the whole party +had climbed together yesterday, suddenly the +nervous exaltation that had carried her courageously +so far, broke like a violin string too tightly +drawn. She was horrified at her own boldness. +She half turned back; then, setting her +lips together, she slipped down from her +saddle and opened the gate.</p> + +<p>This morning no slim, black-clad figure moved +among the wilderness of neglected flowers. +Virginia tethered her mare, ascended the two +or three stone steps, and struck the mailed glove +of iron which formed the knocker on the oak of +the door. Its echoes went reverberating through +wide, empty spaces, and for some moments she +stood trembling at her audacity. She said to +herself that she could not knock again. If no +one answered the last summons she would take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +it as a sign that she ought not to have come, and +she would steal away. But just as the limit of +time she mentally set had passed, and she was +in the act of turning from the door, it opened.</p> + +<p>The servant who had guided Virginia and her +friends through the house the day before appeared, +his pale, dignified old face showing such +evident signs of surprise that the American girl, +who had never flinched before any one or anything, +stammered and blushed as she asked for +Mademoiselle Dalahaide.</p> + +<p>The old man politely ushered her in, but +he was unable to hide his embarrassment. +Mademoiselle should be informed at once, if +she were at home, but, in fact, it was possible—— He +hesitated, and Virginia saw well +that he prepared a way of escape for his young +mistress in case she wished to avoid the unexpected +caller.</p> + +<p>"Pray tell mademoiselle that—that——" +Virginia began. She had meant to finish by +saying that her business was urgent. But—supposing +when she found herself face to face +with the girl in black, the fugitive desires which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +had dragged her here refused to be clothed in +coherent words?</p> + +<p>As the servant waited respectfully for the end +of the message, a door which Virginia remembered +as leading into the family chapel suddenly +opened. Mademoiselle Dalahaide came +slowly out, her head bent, her long black dress +sweeping the stone floor of the hall in sombre +folds. She did not see the stranger at first; +but a faint ejaculation from the lips of the old +Frenchman caused the dark head to be quickly +raised.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the two girls met. Mademoiselle +Dalahaide drew back a little, her tragically +arresting face unlighted by a smile. She +looked the question that she did not speak; +but she gave the American no greeting, and +there was something of displeasure or distrust +in her level, searching look.</p> + +<p>The moment which Virginia had dreaded, +yet sought for, had come. All self-consciousness +left her. She went to meet the other in +an eager, almost childlike way.</p> + +<p>"Do forgive me," she said in English. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +had to come. I could not sleep last night. I got +up before any one else was awake, because I—because +I wanted so much to see you, that +I couldn't wait: and I wanted to come to you +alone."</p> + +<p>Madeleine Dalahaide's faint frown relaxed. +Virginia in that mood was irresistible, even to a +woman. Still the girl in black did not smile. +She had almost forgotten that it was necessary +and polite to force a smile for strangers. She +had been so much alone, she and sorrow had +grown so intimate, that she had become almost +primitively sincere. The ordinary, pleasant +little hypocrisies of the society in which she +had once lived during what now seemed another +state of existence, no longer existed for her.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, she was not discourteous. +"You are kind to have taken this trouble," +she said. "It is something about the château, +no doubt—some questions which perhaps you +forgot to ask yesterday?"</p> + +<p>The old man, who understood not a word of +English, had discreetly and noiselessly retired, +now that fate had taken the management of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +situation from his hands. The two girls were +alone in the great hall, the chapel door still open +behind Madeleine Dalahaide, giving her a +background of red and purple light from a +stained-glass window.</p> + +<p>"No," Virginia answered. "If I said that +business about the château brought me, it +would be merely an excuse. It would make +things easier for me in beginning, but—I wish +to say to you only things that are really true. +I came because—because I want to help you."</p> + +<p>The white oval of the other's face was suddenly +suffused with scarlet. The dark head +was lifted on the slender throat.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," she said coldly. "But I am +not in need of help. If that is your reason for +thinking of buying this house, I beg——"</p> + +<p>"But it is not my reason. What can I say +that you won't misunderstand? There is one +whom you love. Just now you were praying for +him in that chapel. I know it. You were +praying to God to help him, weren't you? +What if I should be an instrument sent you to +be used for that purpose?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>The tragic eyes stared at the eager, beautiful +face, dazed and astonished.</p> + +<p>Virginia went on, not seeming to choose her +words, but letting them flow as they would.</p> + +<p>"I know how you have suffered. It is only a +little while that I have known, but it seems +long, very long. I have seen <i>his</i> portrait, and +partly I came up to tell you this morning +that I believe in his innocence; partly that, +but most of all I came to say that he must +be saved."</p> + +<p>"Saved?" echoed Madeleine Dalahaide. +"But that is not possible. Only death can +save him now."</p> + +<p>Neither had uttered a name; neither was +aware that it had not been spoken by the other. +For Madeleine always, for Virginia in this hour, +one name rang through the world. There was +no need to give it form. And, strangely, +Madeleine was no longer surprised at Virginia's +mission. Perhaps, indeed, she believed her +an incarnate answer to prayer; and in a moment +all conventionalities had crumbled to pieces +at their feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why do you say that?" cried the American +girl. "Prisoners are released sometimes."</p> + +<p>"Not life-prisoners at Noumea," replied the +other; and the answer fell desolately on Virginia's +ear. Yet the thought, lit into life by her own +words, as a flame is lighted by striking a match, +had given her courage which would not die.</p> + +<p>"Then he will be the first," she said. "I +have been thinking. Oh! it has all been very +vague—a kind of dream. But now I see +everything clearly. Time unravels mysteries +not easily solved at first. His innocence must +be proved. Powerful friends shall give all +their thoughts, all their ingenuity——"</p> + +<p>"We have no friends," Madeleine answered +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"You have one friend. You have me."</p> + +<p>Then at last a sense of the strangeness of this +scene rushed in a wave over the consciousness of +the lonely dweller in the castle.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," she said slowly. "Yesterday +we had never met. I only knew your +name because you spoke of buying this poor, +sad home of mine. I——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Neither do I understand," broke in Virginia. +"But I have never understood myself. +I only know that this seems to be the thing I was +born for. And if I fail in what I want to do +for you and yours, why, I shall have come into +the world for nothing, that is all."</p> + +<p>"But you are wonderful!" exclaimed Madeleine +Dalahaide, realizing with sudden force +the other's extreme beauty and strong magnetism. +"Did you—is it possible that you +ever knew my brother?"</p> + +<p>"I never heard his name till yesterday. But +I have seen you, I have seen this house, I have +heard something of the story, and—I have +seen his portrait. Nobody told me, of course, +that it was his; nobody could. But I knew at +once. And I wondered how any one who had ever +known him could have believed that—that——"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid to say it. Believed that +he was a murderer. Oh, friends—<i>friends</i>! +Friendship is a flower that withers with the +first frost."</p> + +<p>"You shan't have cause to think that of me—if +you are going to take me for a friend."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shall thank heaven for you. Even if +you can do nothing, to think that there is one +human being in the world besides my poor +aunt and me who believe in him, is like balm +on an open wound. Come with me into the +room where you saw the portrait. I painted it +the year before—the end. I talk to it sometimes, +and for a moment I almost forget the +horrible truth—when the eyes smile back at +me just as they used to do when we had some +joke together."</p> + +<p>"As they will again," finished Virginia.</p> + +<p>They went into the room of the portrait and +stood before it in silence. Each one felt that +its look was for her.</p> + +<p>"And yet," Madeleine said, as if answering a +question, "there must be some one who thinks +of us, and remembers us with kindness, giving +<i>him</i> at least the benefit of a doubt; some one +who talked to you of Max and told you the +story of—of his so-called crime in such a way +as not to fill your mind with horror."</p> + +<p>"No one has told me the story yet," hesitated +Virginia. "I have only heard hints.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +They said—the word—<i>murder</i>! But that is +not the face of a murderer. How could any +one believe it?"</p> + +<p>"You don't know—the story?"</p> + +<p>Virginia shook her head.</p> + +<p>"When you know it, you will turn away from +us, as every one else has."</p> + +<p>"No—no! Be sure I will not."</p> + +<p>"How can I be sure? Ah, almost all the +solace of hope has gone now! You will hear +the horrible details, and—that will be the end."</p> + +<p>Virginia caught the slender, cold fingers that +twisted together nervously. "Tell me yourself," +she cried. "Tell me all—you, his +sister. Then you will see how I shall bear it, +and whether I shall fail you."</p> + +<p>"I will!"</p> + +<p>Madeleine Dalahaide's breath came unevenly. +For a moment she could not speak. Then she +began, her eyes not on Virginia, but on the +portrait.</p> + +<p>"There was a woman," she said in a low, +choked voice. "She was an actress. Max +was in love with her, or thought he was. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +was handsome. I have seen her on the stage. +Other men besides Max were mad about her. +But she seemed to care for him. He wanted +to marry her, and when father and mother +didn't approve, he quarrelled with them, for +the first time in his life. We had always been +so happy before that—so united. Everything +began to go wrong with my poor Max +then. He played cards at his club, and lost +a great deal of money. And as if that were not +enough, father's losses came. He could do +nothing for Max. Besides, the woman Max +loved made him jealous. He suspected that +she cared for somebody else. He told me that +the last time I saw him before—the terrible +thing happened. But he didn't tell the man's +name. Perhaps he didn't know him. We +had a long talk, for I had been his friend and +confidante through all. I didn't want him to +marry the woman; but even that would be +better than to have him miserable, as he said +he must be without her. And it was the next +night that the murder was committed. But it +was not known until the day after."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Was it—the man of whom he was jealous +who was murdered?"</p> + +<p>"No, the woman, Liane Devereux. She had +been shot—in the face. Oh, it was horrible! +It is horrible now to talk to you of it. Her +features were so destroyed that she could be +recognized only by her hair, which was golden-red, +and her figure—her beautiful figure which +all the world admired so much. Even her +hands—she must have held them up before +her face, the poor creature, instinctively trying +to save herself, to preserve her beauty, for +they, too, were shattered. Her jewels were all +gone, and she had had many jewels. Soon the +police discovered that they had been pawned. +And Max was accused of pawning them, to get +money to pay gambling debts."</p> + +<p>"How could they accuse him of that?"</p> + +<p>"He really had pawned them, at her request. +She wanted money, and would not listen to his +objections to getting it in that way. He had +pawned them on the day of the murder, and +still had the tickets, which he had forgotten to +enclose with the money for the jewels, when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +sent it to Mademoiselle Devereux. She had +asked him to pawn the things in his name, so +that hers could be protected, and, of course, +that went dreadfully against Max. He couldn't +possibly prove, when the woman was dead, +that he had pawned the jewels for her, because +the money he had raised had disappeared. He +would have taken it to her himself, but on +returning to his own flat from the pawnbroker's +he received a strange letter saying that she +hated him, and never wished to see him again. +It was all quite sudden, and Max was angry. +Still, he might have gone, insisting that she +should tell him what she meant by such a letter, +but he had arranged a hurried journey to England. +They arrested him on the way. He +was going there in the hope of borrowing some +money from his godfather, a cousin of ours, +who had told Max that if at any time he should +be in difficulties he must apply to him. But +what proof had Max of his own intentions? +Every one thought that he was escaping to +England to hide himself, after having committed +a cowardly murder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There were other bits of evidence against +him, too; for instance, the revolver with which +the woman was shot was his, with a silver monogram +on it. Everybody—even the best of his +friends—believed him guilty. And father—poor +father!—but I can't talk about that part. +It is too cruel. Oh, you are pale, and changed! +I knew it would be so. You are like the rest. +But how could I expect anything else when you +have heard such a story? Everything against +him—nothing in his favour. Even Max himself +was dazed. Over and over again he +said that he had no explanation to give of the +mystery."</p> + +<p>"There is only one explanation, since he was +innocent—and I'm as sure of that as before," +said Virginia firmly. "It was a diabolically +clever plot, planned with fiendish ingenuity, +to ruin your brother—all your family, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Hundreds of times I have thought of that," +sighed Madeleine Dalahaide. "Many, many +times I spoke of it to the man who defended +Max at his trial. But there was no one it +would be reasonable to suspect. We had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +absolutely no enemy. Max had none. Everybody +adored him—in his happy days."</p> + +<p>"The man whom Liane Devereux loved +better than your brother?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you must see, as the advocate saw, +that if she loved the other better he had no +motive either to kill the woman or ruin Max. +Where there had been no injury, there need be +no revenge. And if Max knew who the man was +he never told his name."</p> + +<p>"There was nobody—<i>nobody</i> who had a +right to think himself injured by your brother, +even long before?"</p> + +<p>"Not by my brother, so far as we could find +out. The theory of a plot was advanced, of +course, and—and I clung to it; but it fell to the +ground. There seemed nothing to support it."</p> + +<p>"And yet, from the way you speak, I can't +help thinking that you suspect some one."</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>I</i>! But I am only a woman. I was +a very young girl then. Every one I spoke to—even +Max—thought my idea a mad one, +and said it would do our case far more harm +than good to have it mentioned."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell me, won't you, what it was?"</p> + +<p>Madeleine hesitated. "I dare not," she answered. +"My reason says that the thing is +impossible. If I wrong the man, it would be +shameful to create a prejudice in your mind +against one, no doubt a stranger to you, but +whom you might one day meet, and, meeting, +remember my words. Besides, it can do no +good to speak. It would be hopeless to prove +anything against him, even if his hand had +been in a plot."</p> + +<p>"Yet you said that your brother had no +enemy?"</p> + +<p>"This man was <i>my</i> enemy. It had not always +been so. Once we were friends. But—something +happened, and afterward I think he hated me."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that you are speaking of the +Marchese Loria?"</p> + +<p>The question sprang from Virginia's lips +before she had stopped to reflect whether it were +wise to ask it, and she was terrified at the effect +of her impulsive words.</p> + +<p>Madeleine Dalahaide's pale, sad face became +ashen, her great eyes dilated, and there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +something of fear, perhaps even of distrust, in +the look she turned upon Virginia.</p> + +<p>"You know him?" she exclaimed, her voice +suddenly sharp.</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted the American girl.</p> + +<p>"Then I think that you and I cannot be +friends."</p> + +<p>"Not friends? But if I give up the Marchese +Loria for you?"</p> + +<p>"I do not ask or wish you to do that."</p> + +<p>"If he is your enemy he shall not be my +friend."</p> + +<p>"I have not said he was my enemy."</p> + +<p>"I have heard that he loved your brother +dearly."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<p>"And yesterday——"</p> + +<p>"What of yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"He was with us when we rode into the +valley. He turned pale, and begged not to come, +because the place, he said, was connected with +a great sorrow in his life."</p> + +<p>"He would not meet me face to face! Did <i>he</i> +suggest that you should try to save my brother?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, he did not speak his name before me. +He does not know what is in my mind. No one +knows yet but you. It was my cousin, Roger +Broom, who met you long ago, and told me that +the Marchese Loria had done much to save +your brother's life."</p> + +<p>"It may be that he did. I don't deny it. +But if you are to be my friend I ask you this: +say nothing of Maxime Dalahaide to Loria."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERY AND A BARGAIN</h3> + + +<p>Lady Gardiner stood at Virginia's door, +remained for a moment undecided, then +tapped gently. The girl's voice answered "Come +in!" and Kate obeyed.</p> + +<p>Virginia sat at a small writing-table in +a window reading a book; but at sight of +Lady Gardiner she snatched up a paper +and hastily laid it over the volume. "Oh, +I thought it was George," she exclaimed, +blushing brilliantly. "He has asked me to +take a walk."</p> + +<p>"Now," thought Kate, "what has that book +she's hiding from me to do with the mystery +that's been going on for the past three days?" +but aloud, she said, without appearing to notice +the hurried movement or the tell-tale blush: +"I came to ask if you would go down to town +with me for a little shopping."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't," Virginia answered. +"You see—er—I promised George."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he wouldn't mind if we arranged for +him to meet us in about an hour; and we might +all three have tea together at Rumpelmayer's."</p> + +<p>Virginia looked embarrassed, which was +unusual for her. "We didn't think of going into +Mentone," she said. "We shall just stroll about, +for the fact is, we've business to talk over."</p> + +<p>"You seem to have had a great deal of business +to talk over these last few days, you and Mr. +Trent and Sir Roger. Would it be indiscreet to +ask, dear child, if there has been any hitch about +the purchase of your new toy? Oh, don't look +vexed—your château, then?"</p> + +<p>"No, there's been no hitch. What made you +think that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, business talks are so new for you. A +little while ago you fled from the first hint +of business. But now—you are very much +changed these last few days, since we went to +the château, Virginia. I've been wanting to +speak to you about it. However, you are going +out to walk, and I must wait."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Virginia met her eyes firmly; yet the violet +gaze was not quite as frankly open and childlike +as it used to be. "You needn't wait, if your +shopping can," she said. "Do sit down. I +dare say it may be twenty minutes before George +comes for me. He's with Roger—somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw them. Virginia, do you know, +I've been rather unhappy for several days?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know. I'm very sorry. Is it anything +I've done?"</p> + +<p>"Yes and no." Kate did not sit down, but +perched on the arm of a big cushioned chair +between the writing-desk and the dressing-table. +"You see, dear," she went on in her softest +voice, to which she could give a pretty, tearful +<i>tremolo</i> at will, "I'm in rather a peculiar position. +You have been so sweet all this year and more +that we've been together, that I suppose you've +spoilt me. I've forgotten often that I'm only a +paid chaperon, and have felt like a friend and +confidante."</p> + +<p>"Why, so you are," returned Virginia.</p> + +<p>"Wait, dear; let me finish. I've told you my +various troubles, and you've told me things, too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +Now, suddenly, everything is changed. Why, +you even sit in your bedroom, instead of in our +sitting-room, or on the balcony with me, as you +used. You don't seem to want my society; you +make excuses if I suggest going anywhere. You +and your brother and cousin are continually getting +away by yourselves and talking in whispers. +Oh, I'm not hurt. It isn't that. I'm not so +thin-skinned and stupid. But I've been thinking +that perhaps I'd offended you, or you +were simply tired of me, and, being kind-hearted, +didn't like to send me about my +business. You know, dear, if you would rather +have any one else——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Kate, you <i>are</i> stupid!" cried Virginia. +"Of course I'm not tired of you. We really +have had business—not about the château. I—didn't +mean to tell you until things were more +settled, but since you've been talking like this, +I will. I've discovered lately that I'm tired of +the Riviera, heavenly as it is here. We've been +a month now——"</p> + +<p>"I always told you that Monte Carlo was +more amusing, while as for Cannes——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I've seen enough of the Riviera for +a while."</p> + +<p>"What about your château, then—your +château in the olive woods that you so adore?"</p> + +<p>"That won't be ready until next winter. +There's lots to be done. And—I've set my +heart on a yachting trip."</p> + +<p>Kate Gardiner's face fell. She was a wretched +sailor, and Virginia knew it. Even the crossing +from Dover to Calais was torture to her on a +calm day.</p> + +<p>"A <i>long</i> yachting trip?" she asked, controlling +her voice.</p> + +<p>"I don't quite know yet. Some weeks, perhaps. +The only difficulty is about you."</p> + +<p>Kate did not answer for a moment. <i>Was</i> +this an excuse to get rid of her, and if so, why? +Could it be that Roger Broom had been warning +Virginia that her half-brother was in danger of +making a fool of himself about a woman many +years his senior? A short time ago she might +have believed that this was the explanation, for +Roger Broom knew a good deal about Lady +Gardiner. He was aware that her dead hus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>band was +but a city man, knighted when he was +sheriff; that she had been governess to the gruff +old widower's one daughter; that she had +married him for his money, and spent it freely +until what remained was lost in a great financial +panic; that since then she had lived as she +could, trading upon her own aristocratic connections +to chaperon girls, chiefly Americans, who +wished to see "English society from the inside." +Roger knew her real age, or something near it; he +knew that she had been in debt when she had +got this chance with Virginia, to whom she had +been recommended by an American duchess; +and as there was nothing against her character, +he had been too good-natured—as she would +have expressed it—to "put a spoke in her +wheel." However, if he suspected designs upon +George, he might not have continued to be as +discreet; but during these last three days +of mysterious confabs, George Trent had +appeared as much changed toward her as his +half-sister had, so that Roger need have had no +new fears for him. George had never ceased +to be courteous, but there was a subtle difference<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +in his manner, in his way of looking at her. He +appeared preoccupied; he no longer sought her +out. And this alteration had only come about +since the day when they had visited the Château +de la Roche.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, then, it was George who was tired of +her. He had never been the same since he had +seen that girl in black, with the tragic eyes and +the dead-white face, with no more life in it than +a marble statue. Maybe he was planning to +attach that girl to the party in some way, and +would find the society of the woman with whom +he had flirted a constraint.</p> + +<p>At this thought Kate Gardiner felt her blood +grow hot. It was unbearable that she should be +sent out of George Trent's life to make room for +a younger woman. She would not have it—she +would not! If it killed her to go on this hateful +yachting trip she would go; she would not be +whistled down the wind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if the difficulty is only about me," +she said sweetly, "it needn't be a difficulty +at all. I dare say I shall be ill for a few +days, but it can't last forever. I shall simply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +stop in my stateroom until I am fit to lie +in a deck-chair and be a more or less interesting +invalid."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she watched Virginia's face +through half-lowered lashes, and was certain that +it changed. There could no longer be any +doubt on that subject. For some reason Virginia +did not want her on the yacht.</p> + +<p>"I should hate you to be a martyr," said the +girl uncomfortably. "Roger and I have been +thinking it over, and I was wondering, in case +we went (nothing is actually decided yet), +whether you would like to wait here. I would +keep on your room and the sitting-room, and the +victoria, and you should have my maid and your +own horse. Your income would be the same as +always, of course; and you have a lot of friends +here, so you wouldn't be lonely."</p> + +<p>"How sweet and thoughtful you are, dearest +child!" exclaimed Kate gratefully; while within +she was saying, "Oh, so this is the game, is it? +Come now; at least you're showing your hand. +Roger and you have been 'talking things over?' +You seem to have thought out the details pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +well; and I'm to be bribed. But it won't work, +my love, it won't work." She rose, and going to +Virginia, took her hand, looking affectionately +down at the beautiful face. "You are always +ready to sacrifice yourself for me. But what +would you do for a chaperon if I stopped +behind?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you see, George and Roger and I would +be all the party on board. Surely George is +chaperon enough?"</p> + +<p>"Poor Marchese!" murmured Kate. "I'm +afraid he also is suffering from an eclipse."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean," said Virginia, +her colour deepening. "Why should he expect +an invitation to go with us?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! why? Unless, indeed, he had hopes +that he was soon to be given some rights over +you. Only the other day I used to fancy +that you and he were half engaged."</p> + +<p>"We never were. I—I found him rather +interesting. But I don't think I have behaved +very badly. I really meant—oh, I don't know +<i>what</i> I meant then; but I know I don't mean it +now. The Marchese Loria is the <i>last</i> person I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +should wish to have go on this yachting trip, and +as it's only us three, we'll chaperon each other."</p> + +<p>"Can it be that she means to marry Roger +Broom after all?" Kate Gardiner asked herself. +"To my certain knowledge, she's refused him. +I heard him reminding her of it the other night. +But one never knows how many times a girl may +change her mind. The more I think of it the +more determined I am to be of the party on +that yacht."</p> + +<p>"Unless I should be one too many, I'd really +love to go," said she aloud. "I must get over my +horror of the sea. Mayn't I be with you, dear, if +you have really made up your mind? I've grown +so fond of you. I should feel deserted here."</p> + +<p>"Even for a few weeks?"</p> + +<p>"Even for a few weeks. When you marry, or +go home to the States, I must lose you, but do let +me be with you as long as I can."</p> + +<p>"You shall go if you really wish to so much," +said Virginia, trying in vain not to appear constrained. +"Only I warn you, you may find that +you've made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Why, how seriously you speak. One would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +think you meditated a voyage to the North Pole. +Probably, though, you'll simply linger about in +the Mediterranean; go to Naples, Greece, perhaps, +and Egypt?"</p> + +<p>"Something of the sort, I suppose," Virginia +answered, dropping her eyes and playing with the +paper she had used to conceal her book. "It's +rather vague at present. Roger and George are +looking for a yacht. We'll talk of it again later. +I only mentioned it now to show you that we've +really had business. And by the way, Kate, I'd +rather you didn't say anything about it yet to +people outside. It seems like making it of so +much importance and I'd hate being asked three +times a day: 'Well, when do you start on that +yachting trip?'"</p> + +<p>"I shall be discreet, never fear," replied Kate, +more sure than ever that some mystery which +she could not fathom hid itself under this new +plan of Virginia's. "And now for something +else I wanted to ask you. Do, like a dear, good +girl, lend me ten pounds. You know how +stupidly hard up I always am. I'll pay it back +in a few days."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Virginia was on her feet in an instant and at +the dressing-table, rummaging among scented +laces and pretty odds and ends for the gold-netted +purse with "V. B." on it in brilliants. For a +moment her back was turned, and during that +moment Kate Gardiner, standing close to the +desk which the girl had left noiselessly, raised a +corner of the paper and peeped underneath. +The book which Virginia had been reading lay +open. It was French, and at the top of the page +Kate saw the word "Noumea." She dared +look no longer, but let the paper drop, and had +wheeled round with her back to the desk just as +Virginia found the purse.</p> + +<p>"Thank you <i>so</i> much," purred Lady Gardiner, +who knew from experience that Virginia would +beg her not to give back the money, and that, +with a grateful kiss, and perhaps a tear or two, +she would allow herself to be persuaded.</p> + +<p>At this instant there came a knock at the door +leading into the sitting-room, which Kate had +left half-open on entering, and George Trent +appeared, looking excited and eager. His eyes +fell upon Virginia, and he began to speak before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +he had seen Lady Gardiner, standing at a little +distance and out of his view at the door.</p> + +<p>"I say, Virgie," he exclaimed, "the most +ripping piece of luck. We can get hold of a +steam yacht with four cannon—toys, but fit for +work—only you'll have to buy, not hire——"</p> + +<p>He stopped short, a look passing between him +and Virginia, quick as a flash of light, yet not too +quick to be seen by Kate.</p> + +<p>"Good!" said the girl. "Well, we'll talk +about it as we walk. Kate's going shopping." +Evidently she intended to change the subject, but +Lady Gardiner was not ready for another.</p> + +<p>"Mercy! Are you fitting out as pirates?" she +demanded, laughing.</p> + +<p>George Trent flushed with annoyance under +her unsparing eyes, but he smiled carelessly and +shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you mean the cannon? They happen to +be there. It wouldn't be worth while to have the +yacht dismantled. I think myself they'd give +distinction. It isn't everybody who goes yachting +in such conditions."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, no. I only wish we may have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +chance to use them. Perhaps we may, if we can +get far enough up the Nile. You see, Virginia +has told me of the trip and promised that I may +go. I hope you don't mind."</p> + +<p>Of course George said that it would be charming +to have her on board, and he opened the +sitting-room door when she went out, making +the necessary agreeable remarks about her +shopping expedition. But when the door had +closed after Lady Gardiner, and Virginia had +joined him in the sitting-room, he was no longer +smiling.</p> + +<p>"So we're to have another passenger, are we?" +he said in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"She <i>says</i> she wants to go, but she may change +her mind. You know what a wretched sailor she +is. Perhaps even after starting she'll think +better of it and beg to be put off at the nearest +port. I had to tell her about the yacht, for she +was so inquisitive concerning the business that +has occupied you and Roger and me for the past +three days. But she has promised not to say +anything outside till she has permission."</p> + +<p>"How much does she know?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nothing at all, except that I'm tired of the +Riviera and want to go yachting somewhere—almost +anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Sure she doesn't suspect?"</p> + +<p>"How could she?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose she couldn't. And as far as +I'm concerned, I don't see why we shouldn't +trust her as if she were one of ourselves; a nice, +jolly little woman, with no harm in her. What +motive could she possibly have for blocking our +game?"</p> + +<p>"What, indeed? But you know I said so to +Roger, and he vowed he'd have nothing to do +with it if any one knew except you and Madeleine +Dalahaide and me. He wouldn't hear of poor +Kate's being told, though I assured him one +might trust her. It was all I could do to get him +to promise us, anyway."</p> + +<p>"How <i>did</i> you get him to, by the by? He +poured whole cataracts of ice-water on the +scheme at first."</p> + +<p>"I—I—suppose I wheedled."</p> + +<p>"Virgie! I'll bet you said you'd marry him if +he'd go in with us!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I didn't—exactly say I <i>wouldn't</i>."</p> + +<p>"Poor old Roger! Shall you be cad enough +to chuck him afterward?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't do that. I shall be so grateful +to him for this, that I shall feel no reward could +be too great for him—that is, if we <i>succeed</i>. +He is a dear, kind fellow, and I have often made +him unhappy. I've always thought, somehow, +that I should end by marrying him."</p> + +<p>"Yet you've refused him three times."</p> + +<p>"That was to put off the evil day."</p> + +<p>"And you came jolly near accepting Loria."</p> + +<p>"Did I really, do you think? It seems so long +ago, I can hardly remember. Anyway, everything +is different now."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you there. By Jove, what a funny +world it is! What will Roger say when he +hears that Kate Gardiner is bent on going? If +he consents to her being on board, I don't see +why he should go on refusing to take Miss +Dalahaide."</p> + +<p>"That's not the same thing at all. One can +never do things quite secretly. They always +leak out. Already it has got into the papers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +somehow—I suppose through that stupid agent—that +I have bought the Château de la Roche, +and interest has been revived in the Dalahaide +story. It's so unfortunate that people should +begin to talk again just now! And then if, on +top of all this, should come the news that we'd +taken Madeleine Dalahaide off with us on a +mysterious yachting expedition, what would be +said? Roger is quite right."</p> + +<p>"It seems cruel that she should be left out +of it."</p> + +<p>"It would be more cruel to have her in, and +perhaps ruin everything. She feels that herself +though, of course, it's hard. Still, think how +awful for her if—we <i>failed</i>! But I will not think +of that. There's no such word as fail!"</p> + +<p>"According to Roger, there's no such word as +success. He's absolutely hopeless, and is only +going into the adventure to please you—to <i>win</i> +you, perhaps. And, by Jove, it <i>will</i> be an +adventure!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me about the yacht you've heard of."</p> + +<p>They went out together, walking among the +pine trees surrounding the hotel; and meanwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +Kate Gardiner had driven into the bright little +town of Mentone, with its background of mountains, +its foreground of blue-green sea. In the +neighbourhood of the shops, she sent away her +victoria, which was to pick her up at Rumpelmayer's +at five o'clock. She was charmingly +dressed, and had secured ten pounds with which +to buy an exquisite antique Italian watch which +had taken her fancy a day or two before; never +had there been so little need to worry about the +future from a pecuniary point of view; still, +Kate was not happy. She had lost interest in +the watch, lost interest in her shopping expedition +altogether, and was lingering outside the +jeweler's wondering whether she should spend +the ten pounds as she had planned or not, when +a man's voice at her shoulder made her turn. It +was the Marchese Loria; and Lady Gardiner +noticed, as the sun streamed full into his face +when he took his off hat, that he looked sallow +and haggard.</p> + +<p>He was staying at the Cap Martin also, but +they had not seen each other that day, and now +it struck Kate that he was surprisingly changed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +since the afternoon when they had so gaily ridden +off to find the Valley of the Shadow. She was +certain that, for some reason which puzzled her +sorely, Loria had completely lost his chance with +Virginia, and because his interests no longer +threatened her own, she felt more friendly +toward him. They both seemed to be rather +left out in the cold, and she found herself suddenly +sympathizing with the Italian.</p> + +<p>He was quick to note the unusual cordiality of +her smile, and was curious as to its motive, for +Loria knew that Lady Gardiner was one of the +few women who never act without one; and he +had been fully aware that she did not favour his +cause with Virginia Beverly.</p> + +<p>"Has something in this window caught +your fancy?" he inquired, stopping and joining +her.</p> + +<p>Kate pointed to a serpent belt, crusted with +diamond scales, emerald-eyed, and having its +open mouth lined with rubies. "Isn't that +lovely?" she asked. "An antique, of course; +everything is in this window. I daren't look at +it. It's far beyond my means."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm thinking of buying it myself," said Loria +calmly. "I mean to give it to a woman I know, +as a little souvenir of my gratitude for very +great kindness."</p> + +<p>"Lucky woman!" exclaimed Kate enviously, +for she really wanted the diamond snake. "She +must have done you some tremendous favour to +have earned that."</p> + +<p>"She hasn't done anything yet. But I hope +she will. I hope very much that she will tell me +certain things I'm anxious to know, and afterward +help me, if necessary, to make use of the +knowledge. I wonder if she will do it?"</p> + +<p>There was now a meaning in his voice which +could not be mistaken. Kate looked up quickly +and met his eyes. For, a long instant they gazed +at each other, then she said: "I think the woman +would be foolish if she didn't."</p> + +<p>"Will you come with me when I buy the +thing?" asked Loria.</p> + +<p>Kate smiled and flushed faintly through the +white rose balm which gave an illusion of youth. +They went in, and Loria asked to be shown the +serpent belt from the window.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>A very old man, an Italian, brought the glittering +thing and laid it on a piece of black velvet, +which he spread as a background on the counter.</p> + +<p>"It is only two thousand francs," he +announced, "and it has a history. Perhaps I am +indiscreet to mention it, but it may add to the +interest, and I see that the illustrious Signor is +a countryman of my own. This jewel was an +heirloom in a very ancient family; but great misfortunes +overtook them some years ago. The +heir was accused of crime, and banished for life +to Noumea. They were forced to sell everything +of value."</p> + +<p>Loria was ghastly. With an instinctive gesture +of horror, he pushed the velvet away, not touching +the serpent and averting his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Let us choose something else," he said +hoarsely to Lady Gardiner. But she was merciless. +He had as much as offered her the belt, +and she would not give it up easily.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing else half as pretty or quaint," +she said. "I think this bit of history makes +it all the more interesting."</p> + +<p>Loria did not look again at the serpent glitter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>ing +on its black velvet cushion, but, having +hesitated for a barely perceptible space, he +abruptly ordered the jeweler to send the belt to +his hotel, where it would be paid for on delivery. +Kate decided that, as she was in such a vein +of luck, she would have the watch she fancied, +and keep the Marchese while she made the purchase. +Half maliciously she said to the shopkeeper: +"I suppose this pretty thing has no such +story as the other?"</p> + +<p>"Rather strangely, madame has chosen +another heirloom disposed of by the same family," +returned the man, as he placed the old blue-enameled +watch in a box filled with pink cotton. +It seemed as if Fate persisted in linking them +with these Dalahaides!</p> + +<p>Loria did not speak, but Kate's observant eyes +saw that the gloved hand nearest her closed +tightly on the stick it held. A moment later she +had paid for her purchase, and they were out in +the street again.</p> + +<p>"You look very down," she remarked. "I +believe you must have been losing a lot at +Monte, and that a little sympathy and good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +advice would do you good. I meant to go to +Rumpelmayer's presently, but suppose we go +now and have tea together?"</p> + +<p>Neither he nor she had said in so many words +that there was to be a bargain between them; +but Loria understood what the suggestion of a +tête-à-tête at Rumpelmayer's meant, and augured +well of Kate's genuine good-will, by her readiness +to give the opportunity he wanted.</p> + +<p>She was curious, he labouring under suppressed +excitement, and they did not speak +much as they walked. At the confectioner's +Loria chose a table in a corner, far from the +few early customers who had already arrived. +It was not yet four o'clock, and the rooms +would not begin to be crowded for half an hour. +In that time much could be said, much, perhaps, +planned for the future.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE CLOSED DOOR</h3> + + +<p>The Marchese Loria ordered tea, and the +two newly made allies pretended to have +no important more business than eating and +drinking. But certain that nobody was within +hearing distance, Loria squandered little time +in frivolities. At any moment some one they +knew might come in and interrupt their talk.</p> + +<p>"You said that I looked 'very down,'" +he began abruptly. "That is cool English +for broken-hearted, no doubt. I'm half mad, +I think, Lady Gardiner. For four nights I +haven't slept; for three days I've scarcely eaten. +You know why; there's no use in wasting +words on explanation."</p> + +<p>"You love her so much?" exclaimed Kate.</p> + +<p>"I love her so much. You believe me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; for you have the reputation of being a +rich man, and it can't be all a bubble, or you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +wouldn't buy eighty-pound presents—for gratitude, +and rather premature gratitude at that."</p> + +<p>"Ah! the gift hasn't been made yet."</p> + +<p>"I fancy it will be made. And the principle is +the same. You can't be a fortune-hunter, like +many agreeable, titled countrymen of yours +whom I have met."</p> + +<p>"If a man began by seeking out Miss Beverly +as a fortune-hunter, he would end by being her +lover. She is the most beautiful girl on earth, +and—the most maddening. I think I shall go +mad if I am to lose her."</p> + +<p>"How you Italians can love—and hate!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we can hate also, it is true. There is no +half-way with us. Lady Gardiner, I used to +think that you disliked me; but to-day you are +different. I was as desperately in need of help +as a drowning man, and I caught at the new look +of kindness in your eyes, as such a man catches +at a floating spar."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was the appeal in your eyes that +called out the answer in mine," said Kate, half +believing that she told the truth; for there was +a certain magnetic power in the man's passion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +which was, at least, sincere. "What help can I +give you?"</p> + +<p>"First of all, you can answer a few questions. +What have I done to change Miss Beverly so +completely?"</p> + +<p>"Frankly, I don't know. There's something +odd going on—something which interests her so +much that she can think of nothing else."</p> + +<p>"The change began on the day of—our ride. +Our last ride! The last of everything worth +having, it has been for me. She was angry +because I was unwilling to go into—that +valley. But afterward, when she learned how +intimately I had been associated with the people +at the château there, how could she blame me? +I suppose she <i>did</i> learn the story?"</p> + +<p>"She learned something of it, I know, the night +after we rode up the valley. You remember +there was a dance? I had left my fan in our +sitting-room, and ran up to find it. There was +no light in the room, and Virginia and Sir Roger +were on the balcony. Of course, I didn't mean +to listen, but I couldn't find the fan at first, and +I didn't like to startle them by suddenly switch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>ing on +the light, so I—er—I overheard a little +of the conversation. Sir Roger was telling her +the story of that unfortunate Maxime Dalahaide—why, +Marchese, how you must have loved him! +The very mention of his name turns you pale."</p> + +<p>"We were like brothers," said Loria in a low +voice. "But go on. Did Sir Roger Broom +mention me in connection with the story?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrel! That explains all, then. +This is your honourable English gentleman, who +traduces a man behind his back, to ruin him with +the girl they both love!"</p> + +<p>"You do Roger Broom injustice. He +defended you. Virginia thought that your +friendship was not worth much, since you +believed Maxime Dalahaide guilty, but Sir Roger +assured her you had behaved exceedingly well."</p> + +<p>"H'm! One knows what faint praise can do. +Did he give her all the details of that loathsome +story?"</p> + +<p>"No; he refused. I was rather sorry, as I +was interested by that time. Besides, I had +wanted to know, and I couldn't think of any one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +it would be convenient to ask, except Sir Roger +or you."</p> + +<p>"I wish he had told her all! If he had, she +would never have wished to hear of the Dalahaides +again."</p> + +<p>"You speak bitterly of your old friends."</p> + +<p>"I? No, you misunderstand. I mean only +that a girl—a stranger—would be horrified if +she could know the full details. It was a ghastly +affair. I loved Max, but there was no excuse for +him—none. And it would be better for Miss +Beverly to have nothing to do with that family. +They bring unhappiness to all who come near +them. It is as if they were under a curse, which +every one connected with them must share. I +can't bear to think that so black a shadow should +darken <i>her</i> sunlight. Already, you see, she has +changed. She goes once to the Château de la +Roche, and the spell falls upon her."</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that she hasn't been more than +once," said Lady Gardiner.</p> + +<p>"Ah! that was one of the things I wished to +ask. You think so?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. The morning after we all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +went there she disappeared for hours, and would +say nothing except that she had slept badly, got +up early, and gone off for a ride. Whether Mr. +Trent was with her or not I can't tell but when +I first saw her, after looking everywhere, they +were together, so absorbed in what they were +saying that I believe if a revolver had been fired +within a dozen yards of them they would hardly +have heard it. At luncheon that same day, Sir +Roger was telling me how he had seen the agent, +and found out about the château, as it appears +she had asked him to do—she has but to ask and +to have, with him, you must know!—and +though she was pleased and interested to a +certain extent, still, she seemed to be thinking +of something else."</p> + +<p>"That <i>something else</i>! If I could find out +what that was, I might know who is taking her +from me."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's not as simple an affair to +unravel as that; for I can tell you one of the +things, at least, which was apparently occupying +her thoughts at the time, yet I can't quite see why +or how it could have much to do with you. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +remember, perhaps, that you came while we +were at luncheon the day after our ride into +the Valley of the Shadow, and proposed that +we should all go to Monte Carlo on your motor-car, +that we should spend the afternoon in the +Casino, and dine with you at the Hôtel de Paris? +Virginia said that she had important letters to +write, and couldn't go; and her manner was +rather distant."</p> + +<p>"It chilled my heart."</p> + +<p>"Well, she asked Sir Roger and Mr. Trent +to come up to her sitting-room after luncheon. +Naturally, I was there too; I've been told to +look upon the room as my own. She did not tell +what she had been doing in the morning, but, +wherever she had been, she had contrived to +discover a good deal more about the Dalahaide +story than Sir Roger had been willing to tell her +the night before, and she announced boldly, that +in spite of everything, she believed Maxime +Dalahaide was innocent. She demanded of +Roger—who has spent a good deal of time in +France, you know, and is supposed to be well up +in French law—whether it wouldn't be possible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +to have the case brought up again, with the best +lawyers in the country, expense to be no object. +When Roger had shown her that the thing +couldn't be done, and there was no use discussing +it, she wanted him to say that by setting some +wonderful detectives on the trail of the real +criminal the truth might be discovered, and the +man unjustly accused brought home in triumph +from Noumea by a penitent Government. Sir +Roger assured her that was hopeless. That, in +the first place, Maxime Dalahaide wasn't +innocent, and that, in the second place, +even if he were, his innocence would be still +more impossible to prove after all these +years than it would have been at the time +of the trial."</p> + +<p>"What did she reply to that?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. She was silent and seemed +impressed. She became very thoughtful. Since +then I have not heard her say one word of +the Dalahaides, except incidentally about the +château, which she actually means to buy, and +have restored in time to come to it, if she likes, +next year. Now, I don't see why her interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +in the Dalahaides, if she continues to feel it, +should interfere with her friendship for you."</p> + +<p>Loria did not answer. He sat thinking +intently, his dark eyes staring unseeingly out of +the window. At last he spoke. "Why—<i>why</i> +should she interest herself in this cold-blooded +murderer, whose best friends turned from him +in horror at his crime? Is it pure philanthropy? +Has the sister implored Miss Beverly to throw +her money into this bottomless gulf? What +happened when you were at the château that day +I never knew."</p> + +<p>"We thought that the subject was disagreeable +to you," said Kate. "We saw and spoke with +Miss Dalahaide, a pale, cold girl, dressed in +black, with a voice that somehow sounded—<i>dead</i>. +She did not mention her brother, and +seemed so reserved that I should think it would +be difficult to break the ice with her. Indeed, +she appeared very annoyed at the necessity for +showing us a little room with a life-size picture +in it, which I fancied must be a portrait of the +brother."</p> + +<p>A curious shiver passed through Loria's body.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Miss Beverly saw that portrait?" he asked in +a low, strained voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I noticed that she kept glancing at +it again and again while we stopped in the room. +I suppose a morbid sort of curiosity regarding +a murderer is natural, even in a young girl, +provided his personality is interesting."</p> + +<p>Once more Loria remained silent, his face set +in hard lines.</p> + +<p>"Such a man as Maxime Dalahaide must have +been before his fall, would be a dangerous rival," +Lady Gardiner went on, with a spice of malice. +She was watching Loria as she spoke, and +thrilled a little at the look in his eyes as he +turned them upon her. "Oh, these Italians!" +she thought. "They are so emotional that they +frighten one. Their passions are like caged +tigers, and you never quite know whether the +cage door is safely locked."</p> + +<p>"Maxime Dalahaide will never be dangerous +to any man again on this earth—not even to +himself, since the worst has happened to him +that can happen," answered Loria.</p> + +<p>"Strange if, although he is buried in a prison-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>land +at the other end of the world, he might still, +in a vague, dim way, be a rival to fear more than +another," Kate reflected dreamily. Aloud she +went on: "It seems ridiculous to say so, but I +believe that Virginia is making a hero of him. +She has never seen this man—she never can see +him; yet his image—evolved from that portrait +at the château which was his old home—may +blur others nearer to her."</p> + +<p>"Great heavens! You believe that?"</p> + +<p>"I merely suggest it. The idea only occurred +to me at this moment. But Virginia is certainly +thinking of Maxime Dalahaide. To-day, she +was reading a French book about Noumea. +She hid it when I came into the room; but later +I came across it by accident. Yes, she is thinking +of him, but it is only a girl's foolish, romantic +fancy, of course—a spoilt child, crying for the +moon, because it's the one thing that no adoring +person can get for her. I shouldn't worry about +it much, if I were you. Indeed, perhaps she +sees herself that she is not very wise, and wants +to forget. Now she has set her heart on +a yachting trip; but you must not speak of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +it to her or the others, for she asked me not +to tell."</p> + +<p>"She gives me little enough chance to speak +of anything. A short time ago she would not +have cared for a yachting trip, unless I were to +be of the party. Now, I suppose, her wish is +to be rid of me."</p> + +<p>"Her wish is also to be rid of me."</p> + +<p>"You are not to go?"</p> + +<p>"Not if Virginia can make a decent excuse to +leave me behind."</p> + +<p>"Who, then, goes with her?"</p> + +<p>"Her half-brother, and Sir Roger Broom. She +isn't even going to take a maid."</p> + +<p>"Heavens! It is Sir Roger Broom, then, who +will win her!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to think. She has +refused him; he is many years older than she, +and she has known him since she was a child, +for Sir Roger went often to America while her +father—his cousin—was alive. Why should +she suddenly make up her mind to marry him? +He was her guardian during her minority, or +what remained of it after her father's death;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +now she has had her one-and-twentieth birthday, +and is her own mistress. I fancied that she +intended to remain so for a time, unless she lost +her head—or her heart—and Sir Roger, nice +as he is, is scarcely the man to make a girl like +Virginia Beverly do either. Still, I don't understand +the yachting trip. It is in every way +mysterious; and since you have asked my +advice, it is this: find out where they are +going, and appear there, as if by chance. By +that time our spoiled beauty's mind may +have changed."</p> + +<p>"Won't you tell me where they are going?"</p> + +<p>"I would if I could." This was true, since +Kate was sure that, change as Virginia might, +she would never return to her brief, ballroom +fancy for the Italian. "I hinted at Naples, +Greece, and Egypt, and Virginia answered that +it would be 'something of the sort'—answered +evasively, saying nothing was decided yet; and +so the conversation would have ended if George +Trent hadn't come bursting in, very excited, exclaiming +before he saw me that he'd got hold of +exactly the right steam yacht, with <i>four cannon</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Loria started like a sensitive woman. "A +yacht with four cannon! What can they want +with cannon?"</p> + +<p>"I asked if they were fitting out for pirates, +and Mr. Trent assured me that the cannon being +on board was a mere accident; they would not +have them removed, but they had no intention of +making use of them. Still, there's no doubt that +there's some mystery behind this yachting expedition. +I can't make it out at all. Whether it is +Mr. Trent's plan——"</p> + +<p>"But he would not wish to go without you."</p> + +<p>"A few days ago, perhaps not. But others +besides Virginia have changed. That day when +we rode up the Valley of the Shadow, as they +call it, was destined to be an eventful day for +us all."</p> + +<p>"You mean——"</p> + +<p>"I mean that George Trent is a different man +since he went to the Château de la Roche."</p> + +<p>A dark flush rose to Loria's forehead. "He +met Madeleine Dalahaide?"</p> + +<p>"One might think, from your expression and +accent, that you were jealous."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One would think wrongly then. A man can't +be in love with two women at the same time."</p> + +<p>"Can't he? I wasn't sure. Men are strange; +perhaps there's something of the dog in the +manger about them, at times. At all events, +George Trent is much interested in the yachting +trip, and he <i>doesn't</i> want me to go. Perhaps +Miss Dalahaide is to be of the party; and in that +case I should be the odd woman. Not that it +matters to me. George was pleasant to flirt with +but I should not marry again, unless I married +money. Virginia's great fortune comes from +her father, George's step-father, who was jealous +of the mother's affection for the first husband's +son, and disliked him. George will accept +nothing from Virginia, and has only what his +mother could leave him—a miserable five +thousand dollars a year."</p> + +<p>Loria scarcely listened. His level black brows +were drawn together. "She was reading a book +about Noumea," he said slowly. "What if—no, +it is impossible—impossible!"</p> + +<p>"What is impossible? If I am to help you, +you must have no secrets from me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She could not hope, if she went there, to +see him. Bah! The bare thought is monstrous."</p> + +<p>"It is a little far-fetched," said Kate. "I +should think the adventure they are undertaking +will be no more startling than an attempt to +reach the Second Cataract. The cannon <i>might</i> +be needed there, you know."</p> + +<p>"That is true. But, Lady Gardiner, you +must find out where they are going, and let +me know. A hundred diamond serpents would +not be enough to testify my gratitude. You +mean to go with them?"</p> + +<p>"If they will take me."</p> + +<p>"They must take you. They must! You are +my only hope, the only link that will be left +between me and Virginia Beverly. Listen! +We are talking frankly to each other, you and I. +We never thought to be such friends—but we +are friends, and must trust each other to succeed. +You often speak, half-jestingly, of being +poor. I have money—I don't say enough; +who has enough? But I am not a poor man. +Watch Virginia for me; watch Sir Roger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +Broom. Let me know where this yacht is +taking you, whom she carries, all that happens +on board of her. Advise me, from what you +see of passing events; and for all these services, +worth an inestimable sum to me, I will +give you what I can afford—say, a thousand +pounds. You shall have half down the day +you start, and the other half the day that you +return."</p> + +<p>"You are generous; and—I will be loyal," +said Kate. "It will not be my fault, I promise +you, if the yacht sails without me. Now I must +go. We must have been talking here for more +than an hour, for Virginia's carriage, which she +lent me, has just driven up to the door. Whenever +there is a new development of this mystery, +which interests us both, you shall know it. I +wish I could take you up to Cap Martin with me, +if you are ready to go that way, but perhaps it +would be wiser not—especially as the victoria +isn't my own."</p> + +<p>Kate Gardiner had not been in the hotel an +hour when a box was brought to her door by the +Marchese Loria's valet. Inside was the diamond<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +serpent. She told herself that she had done a +very good afternoon's work.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Soon every one knew that the American heiress +and beauty, Miss Virginia Beverly, had bought, +for twenty thousand pounds, the famous steam +yacht which the mad Spanish Prince d'Almidares +had used as a despatch boat at the time of the +American war with Spain. For some time it +had been for sale, lying in harbour at Nice; +but it had been too costly a toy; the cannon +with which it was armed were worth only the +price of old iron to most buyers of yachts. +They were equally useless to Miss Beverly and +her party, as she and George Trent and Roger +Broom impressed upon all who asked questions; +but, then, what was the use in wasting time +enough to dismantle the yacht, as she was wanted +immediately, and the cannon were too cleverly +concealed to injure the smart appearance of the +little craft?</p> + +<p>It was given out that the <i>Bella Cuba</i> would +touch at Greece, go on to Egypt, and perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +visit Algiers and Lisbon, steaming at last up the +Thames to Tilbury. Virginia Beverly ostentatiously +bought thin summer clothing, saying that +it would be summer weather on the sea before she +bade good-bye to the water. Still, Virginia +announced that she did not wish to be bound +down to a definite programme, and Kate Gardiner +had to be satisfied with a prospect of vagueness +if she intended to be of the party.</p> + +<p>Not for a single moment had she abandoned +that intention. Even if she had not stood to earn +a thousand pounds she would have moved heaven +and earth to go, for more and more, as the days +of preparation went on, her curiosity and +excitement increased.</p> + +<p>Roger Broom, it was clear, had been intensely +annoyed when he was informed that Lady +Gardiner had so far overcome her fear of the +sea, as to wish to be a passenger on the <i>Bella +Cuba</i>. He had said little, but his face was +expressive, and Kate was of opinion that he +would have said a great deal more, had not +some strong motive restrained him. Perhaps, +she thought, this motive was fear of rousing her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +suspicions if he too emphatically advocated her +stopping behind. But—suspicions of <i>what</i>? +That was the question she often asked herself, +and could never answer.</p> + +<p>She had asked it of Loria also, when they met—as +secretly as if the bond between them had +been a forbidden love. But if the truth about +the yachting trip had been told, even he had no +solution ready for the puzzle.</p> + +<p>At last the yacht, which had been re-painted, +was ready, the captain and crew of picked men, +all Englishmen, were engaged, and the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> steamed into the harbour at Mentone, +exactly one month from the date (as Kate +happened to remember) of the eventful ride into +the Valley of the Shadow.</p> + +<p>They were to start in two days, and Lady +Gardiner's heart sank at the thought of all the +physical suffering she was doomed to endure. +Nevertheless, when Virginia hinted that, if she +chose to think better of her decision, it was not +yet too late, she courageously assured the girl that +she was looking forward to the trip. She had +always wanted to see Egypt!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>The yacht was swift, and had proved herself +seaworthy, but she was comparatively small, and +when Kate went on board with Virginia to inspect +the accommodation, she was surprised to be +shown only five passenger cabins. Still, as she +had been informed that there were to be but +four in the party, she did not see why it would +be impossible for Virginia's maid to go, and +ventured to say as much.</p> + +<p>"But we have decided to take a doctor," +explained Virginia. "We shall be so long at +sea that otherwise it really wouldn't be safe."</p> + +<p>"For my part I'd much rather have a maid +than a doctor," sighed Kate, to whom Virginia's +Celestine had made herself agreeably useful. +"We shall have nothing worse the matter with +us than seasickness; and how <i>are</i> we to do our +hair?"</p> + +<p>Thus bemoaning her fate, she passed along +the line of white and gold painted doors, and +stopped suddenly at a sixth, the only one which +was closed. Gently she tried the handle. It +did not yield.</p> + +<p>"One would think that this ought to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +another cabin," she remarked sweetly; "else +what becomes of the symmetry? Now, if +only it <i>were</i> one, you might take Celestine. +You'd be so <i>much</i> more comfortable."</p> + +<p>"That cabin can't be used," Virginia said, +her eyes very bright, her cheeks very red. "And +if you want Celestine, Kate, you must stop on +land."</p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner at once protested that she was +not thinking of <i>herself</i>; oh, indeed no! but merely +of her <i>dear</i> girl, who was not used to being her +own maid. She said no more of the locked door, +but she could think of nothing else. Why could +the cabin not be used, and why had Virginia +suddenly grown cross at the bare suggestion that +it should be? Was it possible that Madeleine +Dalahaide was going after all, that her presence +was to be kept secret from Kate until the last +moment, and that she was to have this stateroom? +Perhaps, Lady Gardiner's jealous suspicion +whispered, she was already in the cabin, +and had locked herself in, fearing just such an +intrusion as the turned key had prevented.</p> + +<p>That night she saw Loria, and told him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +precisely what had happened on board. "I +shouldn't wonder," she said reflectively, "if the +whole mystery of this trip were not on the other +side of that closed door. Something tells me +it is so."</p> + +<p>"When do you start?" asked the Italian.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, at five in the afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Could you make an excuse to go on board in +the morning alone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Celestine has taken most of our things +on to-day, and put them away for us. We are +not supposed to leave the hotel till three o'clock. +But I could say I had lost something, and hoped +that I'd left it on the <i>Bella Cuba</i>. Or perhaps I +could slip on board without saying anything until +afterward. But what good would it do me? +The door isn't likely to be unlocked; and I can +see nothing through the keyhole. I tried this +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I will get you a key which, if there isn't one +already on the inside, will open the door."</p> + +<p>In the night Kate Gardiner had strange dreams +of the locked cabin. Twenty times in her +sleep she was on the point of finding out the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +secret, but always woke before she had made it +her own. She was up early in the morning, and +went out, saying, as if carelessly, to Celestine, +that she must buy a few last things which she +had forgotten. In the town she met Loria, as +they had arranged over-night, and he put into +her hand something in a sealed envelope.</p> + +<p>"You are sure this will do it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Sure," returned the Italian.</p> + +<p>Then they parted; Kate took a small boat and +was rowed out to the <i>Bella Cuba</i>, which lay +anchored not far from shore.</p> + +<p>"I have come on board to look for a diamond +ring which I think I dropped in my cabin yesterday," +she remarked to the captain.</p> + +<p>He turned away, all unsuspicious and Kate +hurried to the saloon off which the cabins opened. +Already she had broken the seal on the envelope, +and taken out a small, peculiarly shaped steel +implement. With a quick glance over her +shoulder and a loud beating of the heart, she +thrust the master-key into the lock of the closed +door.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE LADY ON THE VERANDAH</h3> + + +<p>No one was coming; Lady Gardiner dared +to turn the key. The door opened, and +she looked into the room beyond.</p> + +<p>It was a cabin, of the same size as the others, and +fitted up as a stateroom, but furnished and decorated +differently. The five which Kate had been +shown yesterday were comfortable, but not particularly +luxurious, and she had wondered, since +this was ostensibly a pleasure trip, that beauty-loving +Virginia had not thought it worth while to +have her own cabin, at least, made more dainty.</p> + +<p>In the locked stateroom, whose secret Kate +was violating, the berth was hung with old +brocaded silk of blue and silver, the curtains +edged with curious thick lace, yellowed by +time. On the floor lay a beautiful tiger-skin, +covering it from end to end. A large fitted +travelling-bag stood open on a cushioned seat,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +showing silver-topped bottles; and the wall on +one side of the cabin was almost hidden with +photographs and sketches which had been +tacked up, over a low book-shelf, filled with +volumes in uniform binding of blue and gold. +The photographs were of places as well as people, +and Kate had just identified the Valley of the +Shadow, dominated by the Château de la Roche, +when a sudden sound sent her out of the cabin +and into the saloon, with her heart pounding and +her nerves throbbing, in shamed fear of discovery.</p> + +<p>She had just time to lock the door and pass on +to that of her own stateroom when Celestine +appeared, carrying various small parcels. She +had been sent to the yacht by her mistress to +finish a few preparations for the voyage, and was +surprised to see Lady Gardiner. Kate, however, +was prepared with her story of the lost ring, which +no doubt Celestine would repeat to Virginia, and +produced the jewel, saying that fortunately she +had found it on the floor of her cabin.</p> + +<p>The maid had no suspicion, probably did not +dream that the <i>Bella Cuba</i> had a secret to keep, +and Lady Gardiner was rowed back to shore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +confident that she had come safely out of the +morning's adventure. The mystery, however, +remained a mystery, except that Kate was certain +now of one thing which she had only +suspected. There was to be a passenger on +board the <i>Bella Cuba</i>, whose expected presence +had carefully been concealed from her. For +this passenger elaborate preparations had been +made. Everything behind that locked door +was beautiful, but nothing was new. In the +fleeting glimpse Kate had obtained before the +sound of Celestine's descending steps had sent +her flying from her stolen inspection, she had +been impressed with the feeling that the decorations +of the stateroom had all been taken +from some other room, with the view of surrounding +its occupant with old associations.</p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner hoped to see Loria before +going back to the hotel, and an appointment +had been made, to be kept as nearly to the time +as possible; but he was not at Rumpelmayer's, +the place of meeting, and, astonished at his +defection, she was obliged to return to the Cap +Martin without the expected talk. In her room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +she found a line from the Italian. Sir Roger +Broom had seen him at Rumpelmayer's, he +explained, and had joined him there. Fearing +that Lady Gardiner might come in while they +were together, he pleaded an engagement and +went out, still accompanied by Broom. Now, +Loria asked, was it possible that Miss Beverly's +cousin suspected anything? Had Lady Gardiner +been imprudent and dropped the slightest +hint of their new allegiance?</p> + +<p>Kate had begun a note in reply, when Virginia +knocked at her door, inquiring whether she were +ready for luncheon. "Wait for me just a +moment in the sitting-room," said the elder +woman, and, her ideas confused in the necessity +for haste, she merely scrawled: "Don't think +Sir Roger or any one suspects. Must have been +an accident. Key worked well. I saw cabin. +It is ready for a passenger. I would wager that +that passenger is Madeleine Dalahaide. Probably +we shall not have a word together in private now +before we go, but will write you from every port, +or wire if necessary and possible.—K. G."</p> + +<p>This note she took down to the dining-room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +with her, and barely had a chance to press it into +Loria's palm as he bade her, with the others, a +rather formal farewell.</p> + +<p>The Marchese was not one of those who went +out to the yacht to see the last of the beautiful +American girl and her party. Virginia had +definitely refused him now, and the old, pleasant +intimacy had been brought to a sudden end. +Nevertheless, he sent her flowers—a great +basket of roses big enough to fill up half of her +stateroom on the <i>Bella Cuba</i>—which she +promptly gave to Kate, with various other +elaborate offerings, keeping for her own cabin +only a small bunch of fragrant violets sent by +some one whose name she seemed to guess, +although there was no card.</p> + +<p>So, at last, they were off; and no sad-faced +girl in black had appeared. Besides the original +party of four, there was only a little dark, keen-eyed +English doctor, taken from his practice in +Mentone. He looked like a man who would +know how to keep a secret, and Kate wondered +whether the mystery of the <i>Bella Cuba</i> were a +mystery to Dr. Grayle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Miss Dalahaide will come on board at +Naples," Kate said to herself when it became +certain that they would stop there. "She is +well known in Mentone, no doubt, and didn't +wish it to leak out that she was going on this +yachting trip."</p> + +<p>But they arrived at Naples, sent off telegrams +and letters, coaled, and left without taking on +another passenger. Always it seemed to Kate +that Virginia's manner showed suppressed nervous +excitement. She was restless, capricious, +took an interest in nothing for more than ten +minutes together. She had never been to +Naples before, yet she appeared to grudge the two +or three hours they spent in driving about, and +would not listen to Kate's suggestion that they +should stop long enough for a visit to Pompeii.</p> + +<p>"Next time," she said evasively. Altogether, +she had not at all the air of a young woman +yachting for pleasure, as of course she must be, +since what other object could the trip have? "I +am in a hurry to see Cairo," she replied, when +Lady Gardiner inquired the reason of her +impatience.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>After all, they did not touch at Greece, but +went straight on to Alexandria, the sea being so +calmly unruffled that even Kate had no excuse +for illness. She might have been very happy in +these long, lazy, blue-and-gold days, if George +Trent had been his old self. But the frost which +had withered the flower of his fancy for her that +day in the Valley of the Shadow, had never +thawed. He read and smoked a great deal, +leaving Roger Broom to amuse Virginia and +Lady Gardiner.</p> + +<p>Something went wrong with the engine the +morning when they expected to reach Alexandria +and Kate heard talk of a "heated bearing on the +crankshaft," which might have to be taken off, +thus delaying them a couple of days. "But a +couple of days!" she exclaimed in surprise. +"Surely you mean to stop longer than that!"</p> + +<p>"We hadn't thought of it," answered Roger +drily.</p> + +<p>"Are you going up the Nile then?"</p> + +<p>"No; the <i>Bella Cuba</i> is rather big, you know."</p> + +<p>"Not so big as the excursion boats that go, +is she?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Virginia doesn't care about it, anyhow; she +loves the sea for its own sake, and hasn't come as +much for sight-seeing as for a complete rest. +While the repairs are being done we shall run up +to Cairo by rail, stop a night at the Ghezireh +Palace, and drive out for a look at the Sphinx +and the Pyramids."</p> + +<p>"You really are the most extraordinary +people!" ejaculated Kate. "I don't know what +to make of you."</p> + +<p>Roger smiled, and was silent. He had the air +of thinking it of small importance whether or not +Lady Gardiner, who had insisted upon coming +on this trip, knew what to make of her hosts and +hostess. But, then, Sir Roger Broom had never +more than tolerated this most charming of +companions.</p> + +<p>Kate had kept the master-key which Loria had +given her, and had never ceased to hope for +another chance to investigate the locked stateroom, +which might, she told herself sometimes, +have a hidden occupant. To be sure, so far as +she knew, no other passengers had come on +board at Naples; but, then, they had all been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +away from the yacht for several hours, and +some one might have been smuggled into the +cabin. With this fancy lurking in her mind, +she would have given much for a second peep; +but she had never found a moment when it +seemed safe to run the risk.</p> + +<p>She could imagine no reason, if Madeleine +Dalahaide had come on board at Naples, beyond +spying-distance of old acquaintances, why she +should remain hidden in the stateroom, unless, +indeed, there were some truth in Loria's suggestion +that the yacht was bound for New Caledonia, +to take the girl out to her convict brother. +In that case, perhaps, it might conceivably be +necessary to keep the captain and crew in ignorance +of her presence, lest they should gossip in +port. Still, Virginia's restlessness, her lack of +interest in the beautiful places so easy to visit, +her desire to remain on board when the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> was in port, seemed to point to some +peculiar motive under her indifference to all +pleasures of the trip.</p> + +<p>In Alexandria, the girl "did not see why they +should pack up to stop a night in Cairo." What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +if the crankshaft could be repaired sooner than +they supposed? Then they would be wasting +time. But she was overruled, and just before +sunset they drove up to one of the most beautiful +hotels in the world.</p> + +<p>The evening chill was beginning to fall, yet +many people still lingered on the huge terrace +overlooking the Nile, where the "winging" +sails of the little boats were pink and golden as +mother-o'-pearl, reflecting the crimson glory of +the sky. A woman sitting alone at a little table +looked up as they passed, and with a slight start. +Virginia half stopped, staring almost rudely at +the face which was lifted for a moment. But it +was only for a moment.</p> + +<p>The woman, who was exceedingly handsome, +of the most luscious Spanish type of beauty, +flushed under the American girl's intent gaze, +drew up a sable cape which had partly fallen +from the shoulders of her white cloth dress, +and turned a resentful back.</p> + +<p>"What a handsome creature, but awfully +made up!" whispered Kate, who had no mercy +on her own sex.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p>Virginia did not answer. She walked on, +looking as if she had awakened from a dream.</p> + +<p>At dinner that night, next to the party from +the yacht, was a small table laid for one. It was +unoccupied until they had half finished dinner; +then heads began suddenly to turn toward the +door; people whispered, there was a perceptible, +though scarcely definable thrill of interest, and a +tall woman in sequined black tulle, glittering +with diamonds, came slowly up the room. She +must have known that all eyes were upon her, +yet she appeared unconscious. Her lashes were +cast down as she moved toward a chair held +obsequiously ready by a waiter at the little +empty table, and their dusky length was not +second even to Virginia's. As the newcomer +sat down, she faced Roger Broom.</p> + +<p>"That woman's face looks somehow familiar +to me," he said, "yet I can't think where, if +ever, I have seen it. I suppose it can only be a +chance resemblance to somebody or other."</p> + +<p>Virginia opened her lips to speak, but closed +them again hastily. Kate then threw a questioning +glance her way, and saw that she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +suddenly grown pale. "I wish you or George +would find out who she is," the girl said presently. +"She is one of the handsomest women I ever +saw. If possible, I should like to know her."</p> + +<p>"I can promise that you shall at least know +her name," replied Roger, smiling. "It +wouldn't be safe to say more." And, true to +his word, an hour after dinner he came to the +private drawing-room where Virginia and Lady +Gardiner sat, with the required information.</p> + +<p>"The strange beauty is a Portuguese countess," +he announced. "Her name is De Mattos, +and she is a widow, spending the winter here +alone, except for her maid. She is much +admired, especially by men, but apparently does +not care to make acquaintances; otherwise, +as she seems to be a person whose name the +gossips respect, your wish might perhaps have +been gratified."</p> + +<p>"Have you remembered yet where you saw +her before?"</p> + +<p>"I've remembered where I saw some one like +her. But it is not the same woman."</p> + +<p>"You're sure?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Absolutely. The other was a blonde with +Titian hair. And she has been dead for years."</p> + +<p>Virginia said no more, and appeared to forget +the Portuguese countess. But when Lady Gardiner +complained of being tired, and went off +to bed, that she might be fresh for sight-seeing +next morning, also to write a puzzled letter to +the Marchese Loria, Virginia remained. George +Trent had gone to a Cairene theatre, and she +and Roger were alone together.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the door closed upon Kate +Gardiner, when the girl sprang up from her +chair, and before Roger knew what she meant +to do, was sitting on a divan beside him, her +hand on his sleeve.</p> + +<p>"Roger," she exclaimed, "I thank you a +thousand, thousand times for insisting that I +should come here."</p> + +<p>"You haven't seen anything yet," he returned. +"Thank me after to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"It's the most wonderful thing in the world +that we should have come," she went on. "If +we had employed the cleverest detectives in +Paris and London they might never have dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>covered +what chance, merest chance—if there +is such a thing as chance—has put into our +hands to-night."</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, dear child?" +asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'm talking about Liane Devereux, the +actress that Maxime Dalahaide is supposed to +have murdered. You've been very good, Roger. +I've appreciated it, for you never believed in +his innocence. Now you must believe, in spite +of yourself, since she is here, calling herself the +Countess de Mattos."</p> + +<p>Roger stared at her in amazement. "But +this is madness, dear," he said. "Liane Devereux +was murdered; whether Maxime Dalahaide +or another was her murderer, there is no +possible doubt that she is dead. You can't +know the story as well as I thought you did, +if you don't put that beyond questioning."</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Liane Devereux is in this house, +and Providence sent me here to see her. It's +that which is beyond question."</p> + +<p>"Did Madeleine Dalahaide show you the +woman's picture?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, two pictures; a photograph and an +ivory miniature. She kept them because they +were her brother's, just as she kept everything +of his. I looked at them again and again, until +I knew the features line by line. I can't be +mistaken. This is the same woman. There +was an even deeper mystery about that murder +than Maxime Dalahaide's best friends guessed."</p> + +<p>Roger Broom shrugged his shoulders with a +despairing laugh. "For light-hearted trampling +on established facts, give me an American +girl!" he exclaimed. "A woman is murdered, +her body found, identified, buried. Four or +five years afterward another woman appears, +a brunette, while Number One was blonde. +Number One, a Frenchwoman, was murdered +in Paris; Number Two, a Portuguese, is spending +the winter in Cairo. There is absolutely +nothing to link these women together except +a resemblance of feature, which, though strong, +is not convincing even to a man who saw Number +One on the stage many times. Yet here comes +a maiden from the States, who was in the +schoolroom in her own country when Number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +One was murdered, and insists, because she +has seen a portrait or two, that Liane Devereux, +the dead actress, and the Countess de Mattos +are one and the same."</p> + +<p>"I know it sounds childish," admitted Virginia, +with unwonted meekness; "nevertheless, +I'm absolutely sure. I'd stake my life on it, +if it were necessary."</p> + +<p>"How do you proceed to explain the identification +and burial of Liane Devereux's body if she +is now alive in Cairo?"</p> + +<p>"I don't pretend to explain—yet. There +was a mistake—that's all I can say."</p> + +<p>"Liane Devereux was too well known for +that to be possible. Besides, if there had been +such a mistake, another woman, murdered and +buried in her place, must have been missing. +As a matter of fact, no other woman was +missing."</p> + +<p>"You mean no other woman's disappearance +was discovered."</p> + +<p>"You're incorrigible! I know you're wrong; +but, admitting for the sake of argument that +you might be right, what use could you make of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +this marvellous private information, supplied +to your brain only? If the Countess de Mattos +is really Liane Devereux, come to life, one might +be sure that a woman clever enough to plan from +the beginning so astounding an affair would +be too clever to leave any tracks behind her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is one of the difficulties," said +Virginia. "Only somehow we must get over it."</p> + +<p>"I hope, my dear free-lance detective, that +you aren't plotting to accuse the Countess to +her face, and have a dramatic scene in the hall +of the Ghezireh Palace?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet what to do," the girl +answered slowly. "But I don't want to leave +Cairo until after we've done something."</p> + +<p>"Believe me, there's nothing to do. We are +on a wild-goose chase as it is; don't let's complicate +things by a suit for slander just as it's +begun. My advice is, dear, put this mad idea +out of your head, and let's get on about our +business as quickly as we can—as quickly as +you yourself wanted to do a few hours ago."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm sorry I can't take your advice," +said Virginia. "I'm growing superstitious. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +believe that I was brought here for a particular +purpose, and I don't mean to go until, in some +way, I've accomplished that purpose."</p> + +<p>Roger sighed, and said no more. He had +exhausted his stock of arguments; he knew +Virginia almost as well as he loved her. He had +promised coöperation; and though there had +been no bargaining, she had voluntarily led him +to hope for a reward which, to him, was beyond +any other happiness the world might hold. +Therefore he could do nothing but bow to the +inevitable, and await developments, which meant, +with a girl like Virginia Beverly, expecting the +unexpected.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Suddenly in the night Virginia sat up in bed +and exclaimed aloud: "Oh, if I could!" Kate +Gardiner, in a room adjoining, heard her, and +supposed that she was talking in her sleep. But +the truth was that a plan had at that instant +sprung fully armed from her brain, like Minerva +from the head of Jove; a plan so daring that the +bare thought was an electric shock.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>She could not sleep after its conception, but +lay tossing and tingling until it was time to get +up. Every moment would be long now until the +machinery could be set in motion, and she +bathed and dressed hastily, having long ago +ceased actively to miss Celestine's lost ministrations.</p> + +<p>There was no sound in the next room. Kate +was not yet awake, evidently; and so, as she +took quite two hours for dressing and beautifying, +it would be foolish to wait for her. Virginia +went downstairs, looking about in vain for +Roger or George, and stepped out on to the +wide verandah, for a look at the Nile by morning +light. To her joy the beautiful Portuguese +countess was there, breakfasting alone, with a +yellow-covered French novel open on the little +table before her. Virginia instantly decided +that she would also breakfast on the verandah, +and as near to the Countess as possible.</p> + +<p>As the American girl's pale blue serge rustled +its silk lining along the floor, the Portuguese +woman raised her eyes from the novel she was +reading as she sipped her coffee. The eyes had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +appeared almost black in the evening; now +Virginia saw that they were a curious, greenish +gray, and her heart gave a leap, for the eyes of +Liane Devereux, in the painted ivory miniature, +had been gray.</p> + +<p>Now or never, Virginia said to herself, was the +time to begin the campaign. She seized the tide +of fortune at its flood, and spoke in English, +making the most of the pretty, drawling Southern +accent of the State after which she had been +named, because American girls were privileged to +be eccentric.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," she said. "Oh, I do hope +you understand my language, because I want +to tell you something."</p> + +<p>The green-gray eyes of the Countess shone +keenly between their heavy black fringes during +a silent moment of inspection, which must have +shown her Virginia divinely young, and childishly +innocent of guile. At the end of the +moment she smiled.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I understand English, and speak it a +little," she responded, with a charming accent, +and in a voice musical but unexpectedly deep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +"You are American, is it not? What have you to +tell me—that we have met before, somewhere?"</p> + +<p>At this—or Virginia imagined it—there +came again a steely flash from the black lashes. +"Oh, no," said the girl hurriedly. "I never +saw you until yesterday. What I want to tell +you is, that I hope you will forgive me for staring +at you as I did then. I was afraid you'd think +me rude. But I just couldn't help it, you are +so beautiful. I adore beauty. You can be +sure now I'm American, can't you? for nobody +but an American girl would say such things to a +perfect stranger. I'm glad I <i>am</i> American, for +if I didn't speak I don't see exactly how I should +get to know you. And I want to know you +very much. I made my cousin, Sir Roger +Broom—he's English, though I'm American—ask +who you were, so I heard your name. +Mine is Virginia Beverly. Now we're introduced, +aren't we?"</p> + +<p>The Countess laughed and looked pleased. +"I have seen your name in the journals," she +said—"the journals of society all over the +world, that one reads in hotels when one has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +nothing better to do, is it not? They told the +truth in one thing, for they said that you were +<i>très belle</i>. And you have bought the yacht of a +Spanish gentleman, whom I have known a little. +Yes, I remember it was a Miss Virginia Beverly, +for it is not a name to forget; and I love yachting."</p> + +<p>By this time, Virginia had ordered her breakfast +and received it, but she was far too excited +to make more than a pretense at eating. It was +almost as if the Countess de Mattos were playing +into her hands. It seemed too good to be true. +She was afraid that something would happen +to ruin all; that she would lose her head, and +by her precipitancy put the other on her guard; +yet the opportunity was too admirable to be +entirely neglected.</p> + +<p>"If you like yachting, it would be nice if +you could come and have a day's run with us," +said the girl. "The <i>Bella Cuba</i> is at Alexandria, +and we should all love taking you. My cousin +and my half-brother, George Trent, couldn't +talk of anything but you last night. Perhaps, +later, we might arrange it, if the railway journey +both ways wouldn't bore you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I should be charmed," +replied the Countess. She flushed, and her eyes +brightened. Virginia looked at her admiringly, +yet sharply, and said to herself: "If that rich, +dark complexion of yours is make-up—as it +must be to prove my theory right—then it's the +cleverest make-up that any woman ever had as +a disguise."</p> + +<p>At this moment Sir Roger Broom and George +Trent came out on to the verandah together, both +looking very much surprised to see Virginia in +conversation with the Countess de Mattos.</p> + +<p>"Can she have said anything?" Roger thought +quickly. But the calm expression of the beautiful, +dark face was in itself an answer to his +silent question.</p> + +<p>The two men strolled up to Virginia, who +asked and received permission from the Countess +to introduce her brother and cousin; and soon +they were talking as if they had known each +other for days instead of moments.</p> + +<p>The Portuguese beauty was distinctly ingratiating +in her manner to all three, so much so that +Roger became thoughtful. He was more certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +than ever, if that were possible, that this woman +was not Liane Devereux, for the voice was many +tones deeper, and the Countess spoke English +with an accent that was not at all French.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that no woman could disguise +herself so completely—face, voice, mannerisms, +accent—no matter how clever she +might be; besides, Virginia's idea was ridiculous. +But he began to wonder whether the lovely +Portuguese had a right to her title, or, if she had, +whether it were as well gilded as her charming +frocks and her residence at this expensive hotel +would suggest at first sight.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that she caught too readily +at new acquaintances for a rich and haughty +daughter of Portuguese aristocracy, and though +he believed that he understood, only too well, +Virginia's motive for cultivating a friendship, +he was inclined to fear that the girl might be +victimized by an adventuress.</p> + +<p>The Countess de Mattos was too handsome +and too striking not to have been remarked in +Cairo, no matter how quietly she might live at +the Ghezireh Palace Hotel, and he determined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +to make inquiries of some officers whom he +knew there.</p> + +<p>At all events, plans for the present were +changed. Instead of a day or two in Cairo they +were to stay on indefinitely. George, as well +as Roger, was taken into the secret, but Lady +Gardiner was told only the fact. She was +pleased at first, for she was fond of Cairo, and +had never had a chance to stop there in luxury +before. She did not, however, like the Countess +de Mattos, who was much too handsome to be +acceptable to her; and before the slower and +more prudent Roger had learnt anything, she was +primed with all the gossip of the hotel regarding +the Portuguese beauty. There was a certain Mrs. +Maitland-Fox at the Ghezireh Palace, whom +Lady Gardiner had met before, and from her she +gathered the crumbs of gossip with which she +immediately afterward regaled Virginia.</p> + +<p>"They" said that the Countess de Mattos, +although she might really be a countess (and +there were those who pretended to vouch for +this), had scarcely a penny. She traded on her +beauty and the lovely clothes with which some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +trusting milliner must have supplied her, to +pick up rich or influential friends, from whom +she was certain to extort money in some way or +another. And it was Mrs. Maitland-Fox's +advice that Miss Beverly should be warned to +beware of the beautiful lady.</p> + +<p>Among his friends, Roger heard something of +the same sort, and though he was bound to admit +that it was all very vague, he begged Virginia to +abandon a forlorn hope, and let the Portuguese +woman alone.</p> + +<p>"If she were really a Portuguese woman she +might vanish from before my eyes, for all I +should care," obstinately returned the girl. +"But she is Liane Devereux, and if she breathed +poison I wouldn't let her go till I had torn out +her secret."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean to set about doing that?" +demanded Roger.</p> + +<p>"That is <i>my</i> secret," said Virginia. "Only +let me alone and don't thwart me, or you'll spoil +everything."</p> + +<p>Roger waited, expectant and apprehensive. +He had not to wait long.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE END OF THE WORLD</h3> + + +<p>They stayed a week in Cairo, and at the end +of that time the Countess de Mattos had +accepted an invitation to go yachting; not for +a day, but for a vague period of "dawdling," as +Virginia evasively expressed it. The beautiful +Portuguese woman had hesitated at first, and +confided to the American girl that, on account of +the delay in receiving an expected sum of money, +she did not quite see how she could get away in +time. But Virginia had begged the Countess +not to let such a small difficulty trouble her for a +moment. She really must accept a loan to tide +over the little annoyance; it would indeed be too +hard to lose the pleasure of her companionship +for the sake of a few paltry dollars, so that would +be no favour at all, or rather, the favour would be +the other way round.</p> + +<p>The "few paltry dollars" necessary turned out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +to be three thousand; but if they had been three +times three thousand Virginia would have lent +them just as cheerfully without the prospect of, +or even wish for, their return. With the money +obtained from Virginia's practically unlimited +letter of credit in her pocket, and a hint delicately +expressed that more would be at her service whenever +she wished, "as it was such a nuisance +having to keep in touch with one's bankers and +people like that on a long yachting trip when +nothing was less settled than one's plans," the +Countess thought herself very well off.</p> + +<p>"Are you in a hurry to be anywhere in particular +during the next few weeks?" asked the +girl of her new friend. "No? How nice! +Then let us throw all the responsibility of planning +things upon the men. What fun never to +know where we are going, but to be surprised +always when we arrive anywhere."</p> + +<p>And the Countess de Mattos agreed. She +would have agreed with almost anything that +Virginia said that day. If the American girl +believed that Providence had directed her to +cross the path of this beautiful woman, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +beautiful woman was equally sure that the god +of luck had put this infatuated young heiress in +her way.</p> + +<p>Roger would hardly have consented to the +carrying out of Virginia's plan, which he called +"kidnapping," had George Trent not joined his +arguments to his sister's.</p> + +<p>"It does seem a mad idea," he admitted, +"but if the woman isn't Liane Devereux, no +harm will be done, except that she'll be taken a +longer journey than she expects. If she is—ah! +I know what you think, old chap, without +your lifting your eyebrows up to your hair; +but, by Jove! Virgie's got an instinct that's +like the needle of a compass. When she says +'north,' I'd bet my bottom dollar it <i>was</i> north, +that's all. If I don't object to Virgie's associating +with the Countess, you needn't—yet, +anyhow. She isn't the kind of girl to be hurt +by that sort of thing, and, besides, she'll have +the dickens of a tantrum if we try to thwart her +now she's set her heart on this trick. She'd +be equal to slipping anchor with the Countess on +board and leaving us in the lurch. Let's see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +the little girl through on her own lines, and if +the snap doesn't come off, she can't blame <i>us</i>. +Anyway, it's rougher on me than on you, for +Virgie's put me up to do the agreeable to the +Countess and keep her from getting restless +before we attempt to spring our mine. A while +ago I wouldn't have asked anything better than +flirting all day with such a woman, who is as +pretty and as fascinating as they're made, +but I'm not in the mood for it now, somehow. +Still, we're playing for big stakes—you for +yours, Roger, I for mine."</p> + +<p>This was the only reference he made to his +interest in Madeleine Dalahaide; but Roger +guessed what was in his mind.</p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner floundered deeper than ever +into the quicksands of mystery when she heard +that the Countess de Mattos was to be one of the +party for the rest of the voyage—wherever it +was to take them. What could be Virginia's +object in picking up this woman? Was it +really true that she had taken the violent and +sudden fancy to her that she feigned to feel, +or did that pretense cloak a hidden motive?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +Kate had no clue, unless the fact that Virginia +had asked her never to mention Madeleine +Dalahaide or the Château de la Roche before +the Countess could be called a motive. She would +have disobeyed Virginia, by way of a curiosity-satisfying +experiment, if she had not feared that +the result might be disastrous and that she would +be found out.</p> + +<p>At least she would in a gentle, tactful way have +suggested objections to the Countess de Mattos's +presence on the yacht, had she not been certain +that Virginia would have frankly advised her +to stay behind if she did not like the arrangements +for the rest of the trip. Much as she +loved Cairo in the height of its gay season, much +as she hated the sea at all seasons, nevertheless +she was doggedly determined to see this adventure +to the end (bitter though it might be), not +only to earn her thousand pounds, but to know +the secret which actually kept her waking and +wondering at night.</p> + +<p>It really was the strangest thing that Virginia +should want this adventuress on the yacht, +Kate indignantly remarked to Mrs. Maitland-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>Fox. +The girl had refused to take a maid +because there would not be room, yet now she +dragged this creature on board to flirt with +George Trent and perhaps inveigle him into +a marriage under the impression that he was +as rich as he was handsome.</p> + +<p>But with Virginia herself, after the first few +moments of surprise, Lady Gardiner had been +circumspect. She had not even dared to ask +the question burning on her lips—whether the +Countess would have the locked stateroom, +or what arrangement would be made for her +accommodation? Obliged to wait for this information +until the hour of going on board again, +once the Countess de Mattos's presence was to be +expected without hope of change, Kate began +to be impatient to start.</p> + +<p>The party, counting quiet, keen-eyed little +Dr. Grayle, was now increased to six, an equal +number of men and women, for the Countess +had readily given up her maid. They all +travelled to Alexandria together one morning, +and, boarding the yacht, Kate eagerly watched +for the new guest to be taken to her stateroom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +Would the locked door be opened? No; Virginia +led her past that mysterious, closed door, +to the cabin formerly occupied by George Trent, +and Kate saw that the young man's belongings, +just brought back from Cairo, had been set +down inside the stateroom once sacred to the +doctor alone. In this there were two berths, +and evidently George and the medical man +would "chum" together for the rest of the +voyage. The discovery did not add to Lady +Gardiner's love for the Portuguese woman, for, +half forgetting her uneasiness concerning Madeleine +Dalahaide, she was now jealous of the new +beauty, and it was gall and wormwood to Kate +that George Trent, lost to her, should be making +gallant sacrifices of his personal comfort for +another woman.</p> + +<p>She had written to the Marchese Loria on the +first night of their arrival in Cairo, before the +acquaintance with the Countess had begun, and, +as she could learn nothing of the future programme +for the voyage, it had not seemed worth +while to write again. As for the invitation to +the Portuguese woman, Kate did not see that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +it could be of personal interest to Loria, and she +never wrote unless she had something to say +which was of importance to him; therefore the +Italian remained in ignorance that the Countess +de Mattos was a member of the little party on the +<i>Bella Cuba</i>.</p> + +<p>So far as the trip had gone, there was nothing +to excite his anxiety save that the girl he coveted +for her beauty and her money was going farther +and farther from him. But one day a telegram +came for him to the Cap Martin Hotel, where he +still remained. It was dated from Port Said. +"Bound for Australia," were the three words +the message contained; and they were words of +heavy import to Loria.</p> + +<p>Australia! There was no reason why Virginia +Beverly should not visit Australia. He had +heard her say that she would not be satisfied until +she had seen all the world. But if she had +thought of going to Australia before she left +Mentone, she had carefully refrained from saying +so. It was more the fact that she had concealed +such an intention than that she was now carrying +it out, which seemed ominous to Loria. Sydney<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +was the nearest place of departure for New +Caledonia. In a Messageries mail boat it took +ten days to reach Noumea from Sydney; it +would perhaps take longer in a yacht like the +<i>Bella Cuba</i>. And the sensible question to ask +would be, Was it likely that a bright, erratic, +butterfly being like beautiful Virginia Beverly +would go so far simply for the pleasure of seeing +the prison which contained a stranger, a convicted +assassin for whom she had conceived a +girlishly romantic interest?</p> + +<p>It was not as if she could hope to meet and +talk with Maxime Dalahaide himself, have the +pleasure of carrying him messages from his +sister, or perhaps even bring Madeleine to him +(for the Château de la Roche was empty now, +in the hands of workmen, and no one, not even +Loria, had been able to learn where Mademoiselle +Dalahaide and her aunt had gone). The +Italian was not unlearned in such lore of +the far-away French prison-land as could be +obtained, and he had read that, though strangers +were allowed to land at Noumea, and a few had +been enabled through influence to penetrate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +inside the prison walls, all personal intercourse +with the convicts was strictly interdicted. Since +the one almost miraculous escape, over thirty +years ago, of Henri Rochefort and Humbert, +watch and ward had been more strictly kept +than ever; besides, they had escaped from +Ducos, on the Isle of Pines, which in those +days had been sacred to political prisoners, and +discipline there had been, even then, lax compared +to that of the Ile Nou, the very heart +of prison-land, where Maxime Dalahaide was +dragging out the weary years of his lost life.</p> + +<p>Yet what if Virginia should have formed the +extraordinary resolve of going to Noumea? +What was it to him—Loria—since she could +accomplish nothing there? Suppose, even, that +among other miserable convicts she saw Maxime—pallid, +thin, sullen and hopeless, his good +looks and his brilliant audacity crushed and gone—would +not the romantic feeling she had conceived +for him be instantly turned into horror +and disgust? When such a chill had withered +a girl's fancy for a man, there could be no future +blossoming, and her heart might be caught in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +the rebound. Once, Loria had thought that +Virginia had been on the point of caring for him. +Perhaps when they met she would turn to him +again, remorseful for the pain she had caused, +grateful for his unwavering loyalty; and, telling +himself these things, he was almost persuaded +that it would do him more good than harm if +Virginia did go to Noumea. But he was never +wholly persuaded. A strange fear knocked +at his heart, a fear that had no name. He never +quite saw its face. Like a haunting ghost, it was +always behind him, and he could hear the swish +of its garments, the stealthy sound of its footfalls; +but when he turned upon it the thing was +gone, leaving only the impression of a black +shadow with a veiled face inexpressibly awful.</p> + +<p>Loria could not sleep by night, and by day he +was restless. He began to dread an illness, and +was constantly troubled with headache, which +gave him an excuse for believing that the vague, +nervous apprehension he suffered was largely the +result of physical causes.</p> + +<p>What else, indeed, could it be? He had +absolutely nothing to fear. Of this he was still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +continually reminding himself, when another +telegram came from Lady Gardiner, dated +Sydney. "Leaving here to-morrow," she said. +"Destination unknown."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The <i>Bella Cuba</i> was ten days out from Sydney +Heads. Her passengers rose early, for in the +morning it was good to be alive. Virginia, +fresh from her cold, salt bath, came on deck, +and saw the Countess de Mattos there, with +George Trent. Far away lay a strip of land, turning +slowly from violet to emerald as the yacht +steamed nearer. Virginia saw it and flushed. She +knew what it must be, and quickly she glanced at +George, with an eager question in her eyes.</p> + +<p>It was tacitly understood that the task of +informing the Countess de Mattos what her +destination was to be must be left to Virginia; +she coveted it, while the two men did not. Still, +the Portuguese might have guessed, on seeing +that strip of violet; or George might inadvertently +have given her a clue, and she would be on +her guard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>But George's blue eyes met his sister's; and +with the faintest shake of his head he contrived +to convey to her the intelligence that the secret +still remained a secret.</p> + +<p>Virginia's heart was beating fast as she joined +her brother and the Countess, and her hand was +not quite steady as she offered her field-glass to +the beautiful Portuguese, who had long ago +begged the two ladies on board to call her +"Manuela."</p> + +<p>"What a large island!" exclaimed the +Countess. "And we seem to be making for it. +What can it be? Mr. Trent says perhaps it is +a mirage. But I think that is his joke. He likes +teasing."</p> + +<p>"I think," replied Virginia calmly, though her +eyes were on the face of Manuela, "that we +must be coming in sight of New Caledonia."</p> + +<p>As she gave this answer, Roger Broom came +up the companionway, and heard the last +words, which rang out, distinctly. Instantly he +knew that the moment for which Virginia had +been waiting was at hand, and he, too, watched +the Countess.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>She had taken Virginia's field-glass, and was +gazing through it at the far-off land which with +each moment seemed to grow more distinct. +Only the delicate, aquiline profile could be seen +by the eager eyes that looked for a sign of +weakness. She did not speak at first, but a +visible shiver ran through her body. The field-glass +came down rather suddenly, and her fingers +gripped it tightly as they rested on the rail. +But she did not turn her face, and continued +gazing landward as at last she echoed the words, +"New Caledonia!"</p> + +<p>"Is not that a prison for the French <i>forçats</i>?" +she slowly asked.</p> + +<p>Tacitly, the two men left the answer to Virginia. +"Yes," said the girl. "Noumea is a +penal settlement. They say it is very interesting +to see. We thought that we might stop for a +day or two in the harbour there."</p> + +<p>This time the Countess turned. "Oh, but +that would be terrible!" she exclaimed. "We—they +might rob and murder us, these convicts. +You did not say that we were coming +to Noumea."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was to be one of our surprises," replied +Virginia. "I thought that you would like it."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" ejaculated Manuela. "I do not +like it at all. I have a horror of such places and +such people. This is a pleasure trip, is it not? +There is no pleasure in visiting a prison-land. +Dear Virginia, dear Mr. Trent and Sir Roger, +do let us turn our faces another way and go +somewhere else."</p> + +<p>Virginia had not lost a single changing shade +of expression on the Countess de Mattos's darkly +beautiful face; but if she had been questioned, +she would have had to confess that she was +disappointed in the great effect toward which +she had so long been working up. She had half +expected to see this wicked woman who, in some +deadly and mysterious way, had plotted to +destroy Maxime Dalahaide, turn livid under +the brown stain which she (Virginia) suspected, +gasp, totter, and perhaps fall fainting when she +heard those fatal names—"New Caledonia, +Noumea." But Manuela gave none of these +evidences of distress. If she paled, the dusky +stain in whose existence Virginia so tenaciously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +believed hid the sign of her emotion. It allowed +a deep flush to be seen; even Virginia could not +deny that, but pallor was difficult to trace where +complexion and even lips were tinted brown +and red; and the slight quivering of the body, +the dropping of the hand with the field-glass, +were not so marked that they might not be due +to an ordinary, disagreeable surprise.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry you feel so about the place," said +Virginia. "That's the worst of planning surprises, +isn't it? One can't always be sure of +bringing off a success. Now, I'm afraid we +must make the best of it, for as we arranged to +come here, our stores won't last long enough to +avoid New Caledonia and go farther. We +must buy butter and milk and vegetables, and +chickens and lots of things, to say nothing of +coaling. But you needn't see anything of the +prison and the prisoners unless you like. The +harbour is said to be glorious, and you can stop +on board and read novels, while the rest of us do +our sight-seeing, which won't take us very long."</p> + +<p>"Sight-seeing in a prison!" exclaimed the +Countess. "You English and Americans are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +strange. We Latins, we never give ourselves +pain that can be avoided. There is enough that +is unpleasant in life without that. Ugh! I +would rather do without butter and milk than +buy it of convicts, who may poison us in sheer +spite because we are more fortunate than they. +Could we not turn round, and get back to Sydney +without starving?"</p> + +<p>"No, it couldn't be managed," said Virginia.</p> + +<p>Manuela turned pleading eyes upon Roger +and George. They were men; they knew more +about such things than women; besides she +could usually make men do what she wished. +But for once she found creatures of the opposite +sex who were not to be melted by her pleading. +They agreed with Virginia that it was impossible +now to avoid New Caledonia.</p> + +<p>"And how long shall we stay?" plaintively +inquired the Countess, when she had been +obliged to resign herself to the inevitable, which, +to her credit, she did with a very pretty grace. +"Shall we leave again to-night, with our poisoned +food?"</p> + +<p>"Wait till you have seen the rocks in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +harbour," answered George. "If they're as +bad as the book says, they must be something +to see. Anyhow, it's only possible to get in or +out between sunrise and sunset. I'm afraid, +Countess, you'll have to put up with it till +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Manuela sighed a long sigh. She +asked no more questions, she made no more +protests. She turned her back upon New Caledonia, +and appeared to dismiss the land of lost +souls from her mind.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Roger, when he and Virginia had +walked away, leaving the Countess and George +Trent to the flirtation which was so embittering +the daily life of Lady Gardiner. "Well, was I +right or wrong about this woman?"</p> + +<p>"Wrong," firmly answered Virginia.</p> + +<p>"You say that still, after the way she took your +<i>grand coup</i>? But this is only because you hate +giving up, beaten."</p> + +<p>"I'm not beaten yet," the girl returned +doggedly. "I hoped for something different—yes, +I admit that. But her game means as +much to her as ours does to us. She's playing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +it for all it's worth. If she weren't such a +wretch, I should have admired her pluck. How +she held her ground! Taken by surprise as she +was, almost her first thought was whether we +had purposely caught her in this trap, or whether +she had only an avenging fate to thank for such +a terrible and startling coincidence. I saw that, +at least, in her eyes and her face, Roger, though +I didn't see all I had been looking for. Think +what she must have been feeling! She helped +to send an innocent man who had loved and +trusted her into this exile, worse than death. +She thought herself free from him forever, +because he was at the other end of the world, +dead-alive, in the grave where she buried him. +Suddenly she finds herself looking at that grave, +unable to escape. At any moment it may open, +and the dead appear to accuse her. What a +situation!"</p> + +<p>"What an imagination!" exclaimed Roger. +"Dear child, you have let it carry you away as +far from the truth as you've carried this woman +from her home—this woman whom you've +so audaciously kidnapped."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wait," said Virginia, her voice trembling. +"I haven't done with her. This is only the first +turn of the thumbscrew. She doesn't dream +yet of the ordeal she'll have to go through."</p> + +<p>"May have to go through," quietly amended +Roger Broom.</p> + +<p>"You mean—oh, Roger, don't you think +we'll succeed in what we've come for so far, so +very far?"</p> + +<p>Virginia, with tears sparkling in uplifted eyes, +was irresistible.</p> + +<p>"I hope it, dear," the man who loved and +wanted her said, gravely. "I never thought it, +you know. But the way hasn't seemed far to +me, because I have been with you and the +time will not have been wasted for me if we fail, +because it has kept me by your side. I shall +think, 'I have done what I could, and it has +pleased Virginia.'"</p> + +<p>"It has made Virginia grateful for all her life +long," said the girl softly, "and whatever happens +she will never forget. You have done so +much already! Disapproving my plan, still +you loyally did all you could to forward it. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +used your influence to get us the one chance here, +without which we could hope to do nothing. +You wrote to the French Ambassador in London, +the English Ambassador in France, and finally, +when our interests were so twisted up in masses +of official red-tape that it seemed they could +never get disentangled, you ran on to Paris +yourself to call on the Minister of the Colonies. +If it had not been for the permit you got from +him, we might as well have given up coming +here, for all the prison doors would have been +shut to us. Now, through him, and through +you, they will be open, and our first step is clear. +All this made me feel hopeful, when we were +far away; I felt sure that we should succeed. +But now that we have come these thousands +of miles in our poor little boat; now that we have +arrived at the end of the world and our real +work is still before us, my heart suddenly sinks +down—down. I'm frightened—I'm almost ill: +and your words and your face are so grave, +Roger! Your very tenderness and kindness +make it worse, for somehow, it's as if you +thought there might be a good-bye. It makes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +me realize that, after all, the greatest danger +is to be run by you and George. You have +both come for my sake; and—you are going +to risk your lives."</p> + +<p>"Risk your lives!" repeated a voice; and +turning quickly, Virginia and her cousin saw +Lady Gardiner, who had lately developed a +rather stealthy way of creeping noiselessly +behind her friends.</p> + +<p>Virginia's mood was not one to promote +presence of mind. She was speechless; but +Roger stepped in to the breach.</p> + +<p>"We were talking of a swim that George and I +propose to have in these pleasant waters," he +remarked. "There are supposed to be a good +many sharks about, and Virginia is advising +prudence."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" breathed Lady Gardiner. "She is +quite right. We will all join our persuasions to +hers. But the Countess tells me this island is +actually New Caledonia, the French penal +settlement. Isn't that where your friend Miss +Dalahaide's brother is imprisoned?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so," said Virginia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How exciting! And how well you've kept +the secret of this expedition! Is there any +chance of our coming across the interesting +murderer?"</p> + +<p>"Don't call him that!" Virginia cried hotly. +"How do you suppose that it would be possible +for us to come across him? Do tourists who +go to Portland 'come across' prisoners who +have been convicted of murder—whether innocent +or not? Noumea isn't the only port we +have visited. It is on our way. We shall stop +a day or two, and then—we shall go on somewhere +else."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," drily returned Lady Gardiner.</p> + +<p>It was noon when they slowly steamed into +the beautiful harbour of Noumea, and before +them lay the crime-cursed land, fair with the +fatal fairness of deadly nightshade.</p> + +<p>There, for nearly five years, Maxime Dalahaide +had not lived, but existed. To give him +back to life, she had come thousands of miles +and spent more than twenty thousand pounds. +What would they find that he had become, if +those precious documents which Roger had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +obtained proved as potent as they hoped? +Would his brain and heart have been strong +enough to bear the hopeless agony, the shame, +the hideous associations of those years which +to him must have seemed a century of despair; +or would he have fallen under the burden?</p> + +<p>Virginia shivered as if with cold, as she +fancied a hard, official voice announcing that +Number So-and-So was dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE GATES OPEN</h3> + + +<p>The Countess de Mattos had a headache +which was so severe, she announced, +that it would prevent her from landing; besides, +she was not interested in convicts. Lady Gardiner, +on the contrary, was greatly interested. +Never had she been more alert; never had her +black eyes been so keen. She wanted to go +everywhere; she wanted to see everything. +She thought Noumea a charming place; she +had "really <i>no</i> sympathy for the prisoners." +One might commit a crime solely for the pleasure +of being sent here.</p> + +<p>The party of five went ashore, and Kate's +principal preoccupation seemed to be to keep +as close to Virginia as possible. She had the +air of expecting some choice excitement, which +she might miss if the girl were lost sight of for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>a moment. But nothing in the manner of Virginia +or her brother or cousin suggested that +they had come to this strange spot "at the end +of the world" with any object save that of +amusement. They behaved just as they had +behaved at Sydney, or any other port at which +they had called. All five strolled up, under a +blaze of tropical sunshine, to the Place des +Cocotiers, and sitting on the shaded verandah +of the Hôtel de France, sipped a cooling drink +concocted of oranges, lemons and pineapple. +Then they sauntered on again, much observed +by a few weary-looking persons they met, +through broad streets, with long, low, white +houses.</p> + +<p>Dr. Grayle kept beside Lady Gardiner now, +and they walked in front, as the former was +supposed to have studied the subject of the +penal settlement so thoroughly as to be qualified +for guide.</p> + +<p>Kate glanced over her shoulder often; but +Dr. Grayle succeeded in genuinely interesting +her in a story of an atrocious criminal who +had been expatriated to Noumea some years +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>before. When she looked hurriedly back, ostensibly +to ask Roger Broom if he had ever heard +the spicy narrative, the three had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Lady Gardiner flushed in anger with them +for their duplicity, with herself for her carelessness +in letting them slip away. "Dear me! +what <i>has</i> become of the others?" she exclaimed. +"We must turn back and find them."</p> + +<p>Dr. Grayle took the defection calmly—so +calmly that Kate leaped to the conviction that +he was in the plot against her. The others +wanted to go somewhere or do something +without her, and this little brown-faced, sharp-eyed +man had been told off as a kind of decoy +duck. But she would circumvent them yet. +She <i>would</i> know what was going on.</p> + +<p>"They have probably gone to buy some bit +of carving or other souvenirs of convict make," +said the doctor. "Certainly we'll turn back if +you like."</p> + +<p>They did turn back, and wandered about in +all the (according to Dr. Grayle) most likely +places to find the lost ones, but in vain. Kate +could have burst into tears of rage. She was +hot, tired, dusty, and—worst of all—thwarted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +It was hateful to feel herself helpless in the plotters' +hands, being made to dance when they +pulled the strings, and to know that this "horrid +little brown man" was secretly laughing at her +behind his polite air of concern. Yet she <i>was</i> +helpless, and had to acknowledge it. If she +left the doctor and went off on an expedition +of independent exploration she would not know +which way to go, and might get into trouble. +But at last she could no longer bear her wrongs +in silence; and, after all, she had nothing to +gain by being nice to Dr. Grayle.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you think," she burst out angrily, +"that you are making a fool of me, and that I +don't know it. But I'm not as simple as you +seem to believe. I'm perfectly well aware that +there's a mystery going on, and that all these +elaborate precautions are to keep me out of it."</p> + +<p>Dr. Grayle raised his eyebrows. "Then you +are much more enlightened than I am," he +returned mildly. "I'm really quite at loss to +know what you mean, Lady Gardiner."</p> + +<p>"In plain words, I mean that you are walking +me off my feet to cover the others' escape.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +You know perfectly well where they are, but +they've ordered you to keep out of the way, +and you are doing as you're told, like a nice, +obedient little man. I never was so abominably +treated in my life."</p> + +<p>"I can't see, even if Miss Beverly and her two +relations choose to go off for a little private +sight-seeing on their own account, that either +you or I have anything to complain of," said the +doctor. "We are outsiders, and are both very +well paid for our services. My opinion is that +few persons in our position receive as much +consideration from their employers as we do."</p> + +<p>Kate was so furious at this snub (which +found a vital spot) that she was literally speechless +for a moment. She would have liked to +strike the impertinent little wretch who dared +put her on a level with himself; but she could +hardly do that, even in Noumea. When the +wave of angry blood flowed back from her brain, +and she recovered presence of mind, she turned +abruptly and walked away from the doctor. +But he was at her side again almost immediately, +keeping up with her without any appearance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +of haste, though she quickened her pace in spite +of fatigue, looking as cool, as serene, as if he +had been taking an afternoon stroll in Bond +Street. Evidently he had torn a leaf out of +Roger Broom's book; and Kate recalled the +forgotten fact that it was Roger who had recommended +him to Virginia's notice.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he said, "but you are +now going toward that part of the town which +was burnt down at the time of the plague here, +about three years ago. It is leading you rather +out of the way of the hotel, where we were all to +meet for luncheon; but perhaps you have a +curiosity to see it? I have studied a map of the +place, and if you like can point out——"</p> + +<p>"I do not like!" Lady Gardiner cut in sharply. +"I wish to send a cablegram."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, that is impossible."</p> + +<p>"<i>What!</i> One can't telegraph from this loathsome +place?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you were so charmed with it? +One cannot telegraph to-day."</p> + +<p>"Why not to-day? Is it a holiday for the +operators?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So far as we are concerned."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I see what you mean now. You +intend to prevent my communicating with my +friends! But this is too much. I will do so."</p> + +<p>"I fancied you were attached to Miss Beverly."</p> + +<p>"What has that to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"A good deal. We are Miss Beverly's guests—or +her servants, whichever you please. In +either case, we surely owe her fealty. I have +been informed that she does not wish to have any +communication made with the outside world, +from Noumea."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> was not informed of this mandate."</p> + +<p>"I dare say she thought that you would be +guided by my counsel."</p> + +<p>"Counsel! A strange word for your tyranny. +At least, I suppose, there are no orders against +returning to the hotel?"</p> + +<p>"None. So long as we are discreet."</p> + +<p>"And in what does your idea of discretion +consist, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Keeping ourselves to ourselves. They are +rather suspicious folk in New Caledonia. Few +tourists come this way. Probably we are the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +first people who have landed here not on business +for many a long year."</p> + +<p>"I am not at all sure that we haven't come on +business—very particular business."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't make that remark before anybody +else, if I were you. You might—get into +trouble."</p> + +<p>As Dr. Grayle said this he looked steadily at +Lady Gardiner. Their eyes met, and so peculiarly +cold and menacing was the expression of +his that she felt unpleasantly chilled, and even +subdued. Those steady eyes so underscored his +words with sinister meaning, that Kate dared not +ask whether the "trouble" to which he suggestively +referred would come to her through +him or the inhabitants of Noumea. She thought +that he looked capable of reducing her to helplessness +by violence, if she showed signs of +resisting his will, and she relapsed into silence. +But she had not given up the hope of cabling to +Loria. She resolved to watch her chance.</p> + +<p>They walked back to the Hôtel de France, but +the others had not returned, though the time +fixed was long past. Kate was so hungry and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +weary that again she could have wept, and was +secretly glad when Dr. Grayle ordered luncheon +for two, though the prospect of a meal <i>tête-à-tête</i> +was not enjoyable. She complained, however, +of being too warm and dusty to eat, unless she +could refresh herself by splashing a little in +cold water, and she had to look down to hide +the light which flashed into her eyes when Grayle +consented without protest to her taking a room, +and re-making her toilet before lunch.</p> + +<p>"Now I shall get off that cable," she said to +herself. Hardly had she entered the bare, +poorly furnished bedroom when she rang, and +stood waiting eagerly for a servant to answer +the summons. Presently came the expected +knock. She flew to open the door, and—there +stood the little doctor, behind him approaching a +maid, probably an ex-convict.</p> + +<p>"You rang, Lady Gardiner," said Dr. Grayle, +"to ask for a telegraph form, just as you might +in a civilized place, didn't you? But this isn't +a civilized place, and the methods are not all +civilized. Now, here is the servant you rang for. +If you persist in carrying out your intention I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +shall lock you in this room, take the key, and tell +the landlord that you are a harmless lunatic, +under my medical supervision. I think I shall +not in that case lack for assistance in keeping you +within bounds."</p> + +<p>Kate glared at him, panting, for a moment. +Then, controlling her voice, she asked the +servant in French for some hot water. Having +done this, she slammed the door in the little +man's face, which was the only satisfaction she +got out of the incident. She was inclined to +remain sulking in the bedroom, but though the +spirit was willing the flesh was weak, and the +pangs of hunger drove her forth. Dr. Grayle +was awaiting her in the corridor, a watchdog, +patient and placid.</p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The missing three did no more aimless +sauntering after they had slipped round a corner +and eluded Kate Gardiner's curious eyes. Had +their business not been of life-and-death importance, +they would have felt like children escaped +from school; since the least imprudence might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +lose them the stake for which they played, and +Kate's presence had been a check and cause of +delay. Fortunately, it was not yet the hour of +<i>déjeuner</i>, even in Noumea, and they made up +for lost time by hastening to the Governor's +offices, which were in a white-painted, two-story +building of wood, with a verandah facing the +almost deserted street.</p> + +<p>It was Sir Roger Broom who had used his +influence in obtaining a special letter from the +Minister of Colonies to the Governor of New +Caledonia, and he now sent it in with his card, +and those of his friends, by a clerk. For a few +moments they waited, soldiers in gay uniforms, +gendarmes and convict messengers passing in +and out on various errands, all gazing with +surprised, if furtive, interest at the extraordinarily +beautiful girl in white. Presently the +Governor was ready to receive his guests, and +his turn came to be astonished by Virginia. +She was the first lady who had ever come to +Noumea, he said, on a journey of pleasure. +Ah, the American young ladies, they were +wonderful, amazing! He asked a few questions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +about the yacht, the trip they had had, and his +old friend the Minister of Colonies, then countersigned +the credentials for the party, and dashed +off a letter to the Director of the Penitentiary +Administration.</p> + +<p>It was upon the latter official that everything +depended. So far all was satisfactory; but if +the Director (who was supreme in authority +over the prison, not answerable even to the +Governor) chose to be ungracious, they might go +back whence they had come without even +attempting that bold stroke in the hope of which +they had paid this visit. They had dared, +however, show no signs of their consuming +anxiety. With smiling thanks they bade good-bye +to the Governor and went on, in the fitful +silence of suspense, to the Direction.</p> + +<p>Again the letters and cards were borne away +by a clerk. There was more waiting; and when +they were ushered into a large, cool, dusky +room, strangely still behind its heavy double +doors, Virginia was glad of the gloom, lest her +pallor should excite suspicion.</p> + +<p>Afterward Roger and George said to each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +other that if it had not been for Virginia they +believed the Director would have politely, but +firmly, refused to grant the special privileges +they craved. Others had received ordinary +permits to "view" the penitentiary establishment, +yet very few, indeed (save those who went +because they must), had been suffered by the +authorities to pass the prison gates. But what +Frenchman could refuse any favour in his power +to the all-conquering Virginia? The Director +would have been well within his rights, and could +not have been accused of discourtesy, if he +had allowed a certain short, concise sentence at +the left-hand corner of the official sheet of paper +which he signed, to remain. But instead he +scratched it out with two quick strokes of the +pen; and the doors of the prison and its cells +were practically thrown open.</p> + +<p>He, too, asked questions, and seemed wistfully +loth to part with these interesting visitors +from a far-away world, whose echoes he seldom +heard. He smiled indulgently when Virginia +fluently told the story prepared beforehand: +the book she and her brother had been com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>missioned +to write by a prominent American +publishing firm; how it was to be all about this +yachting trip, with Noumea as the <i>pièce de +resistance</i> of the story. They expected, George +Trent chimed in by saying, to stop on board +their yacht in the harbour for a day or two +perhaps, but (and he made the most of his +engaging Southern accent) what they particularly +wanted was to "do" the Ile Nou, which +all the books said was so "mighty" interesting.</p> + +<p>The Director obligingly scrawled a letter to +the Commandant of the prison in New Caledonia, +explained to his guests what they must +do, and cordially invited them to lunch with him. +The thought of eating was repulsive to Virginia; +but Roger telegraphed her a warning look, and +she knew that she must accept. It would not be +wise to let it be seen that they were in a hurry; +they were eccentric pleasure-seekers, sea-tourists; +to be in haste was to throw aside disguise.</p> + +<p>After <i>déjeuner</i>, which seemed interminable, +they were allowed to depart. So to a group of +white, gray-roofed buildings set in brilliant little +squares of garden—the offices of the executive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +police. Passing on, they reached a small wooden +quay, belonging to the penitential administration. +Men in ugly gray clothing, their faces shaded +with broad, ribbonless straw hats, were working +at loading a boat with large boxes, which they +carried to the quay from a truck on a miniature +local railway line. These men were directed in +their labour by other men in white; and Virginia +shivered all over, for this was her first sight of the +convicts. What if Maxime Dalahaide were among +these forlorn wretches who toiled and sweated +in the blazing sun, with no encouragement save +the rough exhortations of the white-clad surveillants +with revolvers on their hips? If he were +here, did any voice whisper to him of hope?</p> + +<p>The <i>canot</i> for the Ile Nou was to start almost +immediately. The credentials of the party were +examined at the <i>douanerie</i>, and they were permitted +to go on board. Twelve convicts were +the rowers. They sat under an awning which +protected them as well as the passengers from +the sun, but Virginia, glancing almost fearfully +at their faces, saw that their skins were tanned +to the colour of mahogany by exposure. Their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +features were, without one exception, marked +with the indefinable yet not-to-be-mistaken +stamp of criminality, and she breathed more +freely when she had assured herself that the +man they sought was not one of them.</p> + +<p>All they had to go upon was the vague information +derived from Madeleine Dalahaide, that her +brother was supposed to be on the Ile Nou. The +time had not come yet to ask the questions that +burnt their tongues; but it was coming nearer +now with each wide sweep of the convicts' oars.</p> + +<p>The Director had been thoughtful enough to +telegraph to the Ile Nou of the visitors' arrival, +and as the <i>canot</i> approached the quay of the +strange little settlement, an officer of the prison, +who had the appearance of a superior warder, +stepped forward, touching his white hat.</p> + +<p>Virginia felt, with a thickly beating heart, that +the long preface was finished, the first chapter of +the book about to begin. She looked at this +island of exile and punishment with an emotion +that was not curiosity, but which could be classified +by no other word. The Ile Nou was not to +the eye the terrible place of which she had so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +often dreamt. There were more low, white +houses, clustering cosily together or separated by +thick, dark trees, and there were shaded streets +and more blazing <i>flamboyant</i> flowers making +patches of red in the deep green. But beyond +the town rose a hill, and there the great prison +buildings stood out grimly against the cloudless +blue of the tropical sky.</p> + +<p>They landed. The warder begged them with +French politeness to give themselves the trouble +of accompanying him to the quarters of the +Commandant, who expected their visit.</p> + +<p>The programme of conspiracy was all planned; +each one's part had been carefully mapped out, +and a thousand times Virginia had gone through +the ordeal of this day in her mind. Yet now the +beating in her temples confused her thoughts. +She was afraid that she should forget, that she +should make some irretrievable blunder, and that +everything would be ruined by her fault. But +much might depend now upon a look or a gesture, +and she held herself in a vice of self-control, +fearing that her smile on greeting the courteous +old Commandant was suspiciously forced, her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +voice unnatural, or the look in her eyes a +betrayal of desperate anxiety.</p> + +<p>But the gallant Frenchman saw only the most +entrancing vision of a girl his eyes had ever +looked upon. Within the bounds of reason—which +meant in honour and within the regulations +of the establishment—he would have +done anything to win one of those distracting +smiles which brought into play two little round +dimples. He ordered his own carriage to take +his guests to the grim hill behind the town; he +sat by Virginia as they were driven up the white, +winding road; and when at last the convict +coachman drew up the horses at a great door +of black iron in the blank side of a high white +wall, it was he who helped her to alight.</p> + +<p>"You will be the only lady, not the wife or +daughter of an official of the place, who has ever +entered at this gate, mademoiselle," he remarked +as the key of the surveillant grated in the lock.</p> + +<p>The door opened, and Virginia passed through, +trembling, the Commandant at her side. They +were in a long, oddly-shaped courtyard. "The +place of execution," said her guide. "In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +early morning, at sunrise, a condemned man is +brought here to die by the guillotine. Through +that door yonder he comes, the priest walking by +his side. To-morrow there will be such an +execution. But I suppose you would scarcely +care to see that, mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" exclaimed Virginia, shuddering. +"I would die myself, sooner. What has he +done—this unfortunate one—that he must +suffer death?"</p> + +<p>"He attempted to escape——"</p> + +<p>"What—you kill them for that, if—they are +retaken?"</p> + +<p>"No; but wait, mademoiselle. I will tell you +the story. It may be of use as an anecdote for +the book you will write. This man who is to die +to-morrow morning, and who will not know that +his time has come until the knock at the door of +his cell when the hour strikes—this man and +another, who were imprisoned at the Isle of +Pines, stole a small open fishing-boat, and with +the branch of a tree for a mast and a shirt for a +sail, started out in the desperate hope of eventually +reaching Australia. But the alarm was soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +given, and they were pursued by such a <i>canot</i> as +that in which you came here, mademoiselle, from +Noumea. One of the fugitives was mad enough +to jump from the boat, scarcely knowing what he +did. In a moment he had ceased to live."</p> + +<p>"He was shot?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, mademoiselle. The waters here are +literally alive with sharks. Bathing even near +shore is dangerous. A little farther out—but +I will say no more. You grow pale."</p> + +<p>"That is nothing. And the other man—what +of him?"</p> + +<p>"He was captured; but he is a young, athletic +fellow, and in his fury at being retaken he +snatched a surveillant's revolver and shot him +dead. He was tried, condemned to death, and +to-morrow at sunrise, as I said, will expiate his +crime and folly."</p> + +<p>Virginia was very white now—almost as white +as the frock which she had chosen from her prettiest +for the subjugation of these men in authority.</p> + +<p>"What is the man's name?" she ventured to +ask, her voice sounding strange and metallic +in her own ears, her lips dry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>NUMBER 1280</h3> + + +<p>"The man is without a name," said the +Commandant. "He is a number. But +once he was known as Jean Fourneau."</p> + +<p>Virginia breathed again. "And the one who +was with him?"</p> + +<p>"The man eaten by the sharks? He was +called, in the world, Pierre Duval."</p> + +<p>The girl could hardly restrain a murmur of +the infinite relief she felt. But she dared show +no emotion. "I suppose you have all sorts +and conditions of men here?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"From the highest to the lowest."</p> + +<p>"Then there must be many interesting cases—quite +romances. Do tell us something about +a few of the best."</p> + +<p>"That is difficult. There are many cases +which might interest you; but they would shock +you as well."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I would trust you to choose. Have you +any young men of good family who, perhaps, +committed their crimes for love?"</p> + +<p>The Commandant smiled. "We have many +such. There is the man who is called the New +Caledonian Dreyfus—Chatelain—who sold +his country to please the woman he loved. He +is at Ducos. But perhaps the most notable +example of the type you desire is a young scion +of French and English aristocracy whom we +have here, on the Ile Nou. He is now +known as Number 1280; but a few years +ago he figured brilliantly in the great world +as Maxime Dalahaide. You may have heard +of him, mademoiselle."</p> + +<p>The words rang strangely in the girl's ears. +She "might have heard of him"! But her +presence of mind had not left her, as a few +moments ago she had feared it might, when it +should be needed most.</p> + +<p>She was simply carrying out her part of +the programme, and she knew that Roger +and George were watching her from behind +half-closed lids. If they could help her they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +would; but the time had not come for their +help yet.</p> + +<p>"I left America only a year ago," she +answered, "and one forgets things of this sort +when they happen very far away."</p> + +<p>"Naturally. But it was an uncommon case. +Maxime Dalahaide was condemned to death for +murdering a beautiful young actress, with +whom he was in love—jealousy alleged as the +cause. However, powerful influence saved him +from death and sent him to us. I do not know +that he was properly thankful."</p> + +<p>Virginia showed a little decorous interest, +such as a stranger might legitimately take in +the hero of such a tale. "This story ought +to make a splendid anecdote for our book," +she exclaimed. "Is the man handsome?"</p> + +<p>"You might not think so if you saw him now. +The costume of the <i>forçat</i> is not becoming. But +he is still quite young, between twenty-eight +and nine. You can see his portrait if you +like, mademoiselle, at the Bureau of Anthropometry, +where each convict's photograph +is taken, with every possible view of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +face, when he first becomes an inmate of +the prison."</p> + +<p>"I would rather see the man himself," answered +Virginia. "If you would <i>only</i> let my +brother and me have an interview with him; +think how it would help our book! Ah, monsieur, +that <i>would</i> be kind. I should never forget +your goodness in giving me such a chance."</p> + +<p>The gallant Commandant hesitated. But—the +permit in the possession of these three +favoured visitors was very explicit. They were +to have privileges scarcely ever granted before, +and he had therefore the best of excuses for +obliging the beautiful American girl.</p> + +<p>"Do say yes!" persuasively added Virginia.</p> + +<p>"I really think I may conscientiously do so," +replied the old Frenchman, delighted to please +the most radiant being he had seen for many +a long year. "Number 1280 has acted for +some time as secretary in one of the bureaux; +but another convict, displaced for Dalahaide +because of carelessness and inaccuracy, was +jealous of the favour shown the aristocrat (ah, +I assure you they know all about each other's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +affairs and circumstances here!), contrived to +make a rough knife out of a piece of flint, and +stabbed his rival in the back, narrowly missing +the lungs. As it was, the wound was a serious +one, and Dalahaide is in the hospital. The +would-be murderer is now undergoing punishment +in what we call the Black Cell."</p> + +<p>"The wound was not actually dangerous?" +Roger hastened to inquire, seeing that Virginia's +lips were white.</p> + +<p>"He ought not to be dangerously ill," said +the Commandant. "He is young, and quite +one of our athletes—or was. The life he had +led here, though not what he would choose, has +not been unhealthful. But the doctor, with +whom I have discussed his case, says that the +wish to recover is lacking. The man is hopeless. +He would rather die than live; and his physician +thinks it exceedingly likely that he will do so."</p> + +<p>"That is sad," said Sir Roger, his eyes still +on Virginia.</p> + +<p>The Commandant shrugged his shoulders. +"We are accustomed to sadness here," he +replied. "But the exile and degradation of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +Noumea are no doubt harder of endurance to a +man like Dalahaide—proud, sensitive, refined, +intellectual, accustomed to every luxury. He +was like a madman when he first came, four or +five years ago. Several times he attempted +escape and suicide. Then he became sullenly +despairing; but I began to take an interest in +him, believing that he was not at bottom such +a desperate character as the surveillants had +grown to consider him. I did what I could to +soften his lot, having him introduced to more +congenial work in the bureau; but this was not +until he had known three months in the Black +Cell. Some men lose their minds in the <i>Cachot +Noir</i>, though its horrors have been mitigated +of late years. But Dalahaide's brain did not +fail; and he has proved a valuable man at +secretarial work. Also during the plague, three +years ago, he volunteered as a nurse, and was +admirable. You shall see him in hospital, +since you wish it, and even talk with him; but +you must not leave New Caledonia with the +impression that all convicts are like this man. +Now we will finish the inspection of the prison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +here, and then my carriage shall drive us to the +hospital, which is at a little distance."</p> + +<p>How Virginia got through the next half-hour +she did not know. If she had dared, she would +have begged to go on at once to the hospital; +but she did not dare. It was necessary to submit +to the delay of being guided through the +prison, to be shown the galleries and the cells, +the Prétoire, and to hear patiently the explanation +of the Bertillon system. At last, however, +they were once more in the carriage which had +been kept waiting for them; but even then they +must still exercise patience, for a Disciplinary +Camp was on the road along which they must +pass, and to betray too much eagerness to reach +their journey's end (when avowedly they had +come to New Caledonia for information) would +have been dangerous. At the camp they must +perforce squander twenty or thirty minutes, +Virginia and George pretending to take notes +of what they saw and heard; and then they +turned westward. Before them stretched a +long avenue of strangely bent and sloping palms. +It was the avenue of the hospital.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>They drove down it to a stone archway, +glittering white in the sun, and saw beyond a +green and shaded garden, jewelled with gorgeous +flowers, and heavy with richly mingling +scents.</p> + +<p>"If Dalahaide is no worse to-day, we shall +probably find him in the garden here," said the +Commandant. "He must have read at least +half a dozen times an old copy of Dante which +I lent him; the books in the prison library are +not much to his taste."</p> + +<p>No one answered, not even Roger. In fact, +at the moment Roger was more anxious, perhaps, +than any other member of the party, for +he realized the existence of a certain danger +which Virginia and her brother had apparently +lost sight of, although long ago it had been +discussed by them all. It had also been provided +against; but the suggestion that Maxime +Dalahaide might be met here in the garden, +the thought that at any moment they might +come upon him suddenly and unexpectedly, +upset these prudent calculations.</p> + +<p>As Maxime and Roger had known each other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +five years ago, it had been decided that a meeting +must be avoided at first, lest in his surprise at +seeing a familiar face—like a ghost from +another world—the prisoner should cry out, +and involuntarily put those who watched upon +their guard. The three had planned among +themselves, when this day was still in the future, +that if they should succeed in their first step, +and gain access to Maxime Dalahaide, Roger +must keep in the background until his mind +had been prepared by Virginia and George +Trent for what was to come. The other two, +as strangers to him, could approach the prisoner +without risk. But they had expected to see him, +if at all, in some room or cell, to which certain +members of the party might be conducted by +request; while here, in this vast garden, with its +ambushes of trees and shrubs, any one of the +half-hidden gray figures which they could +distinguish in the green shadows might prove +to be Dalahaide.</p> + +<p>Roger did not know what to do. He might +offer to stop behind and wait in the carriage +outside the garden gates. But if he did this it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +would seem strange and even ungracious to the +Commandant, who was taking so much trouble +to entertain them, and to "seem strange" was +alone enough to constitute danger. He compromised, +keeping behind with George, while +Virginia walked ahead with the old Frenchman.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the garden stood the quadrangular +building of the hospital, the steep roof +forming broad verandahs. There were gray +figures sitting or lounging there also, but the +Commandant said that Number 1280 would not +be found among these, for he fled as much as +might be from the society of his fellow-convicts.</p> + +<p>They turned the corner of a shaded path and +came out under a green canopy made by four +large palms. A man lay underneath, his head +pillowed on his arm, his face upturned—a +man in the sordid prison gray. Virginia Beverly +grew giddy, and, brave as she had been so far, +for an instant she feared that she was going to +faint like an ordinary, stay-at-home girl. She +started, and caught at the arm of the Commandant, +who turned to her in concerned +surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One would think you had guessed that this +was our man," he said in a low voice, for the +convict, whose face was ghastly pale in the green +dusk, seemed to sleep.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," whispered Virginia. +"I stepped on a stone and twisted my foot. Is +this, then, the man we have come to find?"</p> + +<p>How well she knew that it was he! How +well she knew, though the terrible years had +changed the brave young face in the portrait +almost beyond the recognition of a stranger. +All the gay audacity was gone, therefore much +of the individuality which had distinguished it +for Virginia. The strong, clear features of the +man looked, as he lay there asleep, as if they +had been carved from old ivory; the lines were +sharpened, there were hollows in the cheeks +and under the black lines of the lashes. Even +in sleep the dark brows were drawn together in +a slight frown, and the clean-cut lips drooped +in unutterable melancholy. The figure, lying +on its back and extended along the grass, +appeared very tall, and lay so still that it might +have been the form of a dead man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>Roger, without seeing the sleeping face, +guessed by the abrupt stop and the low-spoken +words of the two in front that Maxime Dalahaide +was found. He drew back slightly, with +a meaning glance at George, who stepped forward +to join the others.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the black line of lashes trembled; +a pair of dark, tragic eyes, more like those of +Madeleine Dalahaide than the laughing ones +of the portrait, opened and looked straight into +Virginia's. For a few seconds their gaze +remained fixed, as if the white vision had been +a broken dream; then a deep flush spread over +the thin face of the young man, and he rose to +his feet.</p> + +<p>"This lady and her brother have come a +long way to see New Caledonia," said the +Commandant kindly. "They wish to talk to +you."</p> + +<p>Maxime Dalahaide bowed. Virginia saw that +he pressed his lips together, and that the muscles +of his face quivered. She guessed how he must +suffer at having to gratify—as he supposed—the +morbid curiosity of a girl, and it hurt her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +to think that she must be the one to give him +this added pain.</p> + +<p>She turned to the Commandant, and, with +a voice not quite steady, asked if she and her +brother might speak to the man alone. She +felt that she should be less embarrassed in her +questions, she said, if no one listened. With a +smile the old Frenchman consented, bowing +like a courtier, and joined Roger Broom, who +stood at a little distance out of sight of the +convict.</p> + +<p>"I thought there was no use embarrassing +the poor fellow with any more strangers," +Roger explained to the Commandant, as they +moved further away down the path by which +they had come. "After all, my place in this +expedition is only to take a few photographs, +wherever they are permitted"; and he touched +the camera, slung over his shoulder, of which +he had already made ostentatious use on several +occasions. "May I have a snapshot of the +hospital, with all those chaps on the verandahs? +Thanks; we must go a little to the right, then. +By Jove! what a lot of gray figures there are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +about. How do you make sure they can't +escape, if they choose, out here where they don't +seem to be guarded?"</p> + +<p>"It is only 'seem,'" retorted the Commandant, +laughing. "All these men are invalids; +we make short work of malingerers. +Very few could run a dozen yards without falling +down, and most of them are well contented +as they are. But, if any one should be mad +enough to attempt a dash for freedom, four or +five surveillants would be on him before he +could count twenty. They do not make themselves +conspicuous here, that is all."</p> + +<p>Sir Roger Broom looked across the eastern +wall of the hospital garden, over the green +expanse of the great lagoon, and thought much; +but he said nothing. Quietly he prepared to +take the suggested photograph, and the hand +that held the camera did not shake, though he +could guess of what, by this time, George Trent +and Virginia were talking with the convict +under the palms.</p> + +<p>When the Commandant had left them alone +with him, Maxime Dalahaide remained silent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +Virginia's beauty filled him—not with happy +worship of its perfection, but rather with an +overwhelming bitterness. He was a Thing, of +whom this exquisite, fresh young girl wished to +ask a few questions, so that she might go back +to her world, thousands of miles away, and say, +"Only fancy, I talked to one of the convicts—an +awful creature. He had murdered a woman, +but he was quite quiet, and, as my brother was +close beside me, I was not one bit afraid."</p> + +<p>Just because he was a Thing, with no right +to pride and self-respect, she could ask what +she pleased, and he would answer her; but she +must begin, not he.</p> + +<p>She did begin, yet so differently from the +cut-and-dried beginning which he had scornfully +expected, that a flash of vivid amazement swept +the hardness from the exile's face.</p> + +<p>"Be very careful," she said rapidly in English. +"Don't speak, don't show anything you may +feel. Perhaps we are watched. You are Maxime +Dalahaide. We haven't come here for +curiosity, as you think, but to save you. We +have come thousands of miles for that."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why?" It was as if the question fell from +his lips without volition. The man did not +believe his own ears. He thought that he must +have been seized with delirium.</p> + +<p>"Because we believe in you and because we +are friends of your sister's," Virginia answered. +"A man you once knew is with us—Roger +Broom. Do you remember?"</p> + +<p>"Roger Broom!" Maxime repeated dazedly. +"It is like an echo from the past. Yes—yes, I +remember."</p> + +<p>"It is through him that we have been able to +reach you. He is close by, but dared not let you +see him, until you had been warned. Now, we +must arrange everything in a few minutes for +your escape; the Commandant has been kind, +but he may not give us long together."</p> + +<p>"I think I must be dreaming," stammered +Maxime, all his bitterness forgotten. "I've +been ill. I don't understand things as quickly +as I used. Escape! You have come here to—help +me to escape. Yes, it is certainly a +dream. I shall wake up by and by!"</p> + +<p>"You will wake up free," said Virginia not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +daring to raise her voice above a low monotone. +"Free, on our yacht, that has brought us from +France to take you home."</p> + +<p>Suddenly a glaze of tears overspread Maxime +Dalahaide's dark eyes. "Home?" he echoed +wistfully. "Home! Ah, if it might be!"</p> + +<p>"It shall be," returned Virginia. "George, tell +him our plan. You can do it better than I."</p> + +<p>"The thing is to get you on board the yacht," +said Trent. "After that, you're all right. We +can show our heels to pretty well anything in +these parts."</p> + +<p>Dalahaide shook his head. "There are no +words to thank you for what you have done, and +would do for me," he answered. "But it is +impossible. Once I thought of escape. I tried +and failed, as others have tried and failed. After +the second time, they put me in the Black Cell, +and I saved myself from madness by calling to +memory all of Shakespeare that I had ever +learned. I don't say 'impossible' because I am +afraid of that again. I have passed beyond +fear of anything. What have I left to dread? I +know the worst; I have lived through the worst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +that can befall a man. But in that dreadful +blackness, where my very soul seemed to dissolve +in night, I realized that, even if I could +escape, how useless freedom would be if my +innocence were not proved. I could not go to +France or England. I should live a hunted +life. As well be an exile here as nearer home—better, +perhaps, now that the first bitterness +has passed."</p> + +<p>"You think this because you've been ill, and +your blood runs slow," said George Trent. "All +you need is to be strong again, and——"</p> + +<p>"Strong again!" echoed Maxime, with sorrowful +contempt. "I've been thanking heaven +that I hadn't strength enough left to care for anything. +It's true, as you say; the oil in my lamp +of life burns low, and so much the better for me. +What I want now is to get it all over as soon +as may be. You are kind—you are so good +to me that I am lost in wonder; yet even you +cannot give me a freedom worth having. Take +back my love to my sister, but tell her—tell +her that I am content to stay as I am."</p> + +<p>"Content to die, you mean!" cried Virginia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, you are ill indeed to feel like this. How +can you bear to stay here, when you have a +chance to be a free man—even if not a happy +man—to stay here, and let your enemy, who +sent you to this place, laugh and think how his +plot against you has succeeded?"</p> + +<p>The dreamy look of weary resignation on +Maxime Dalahaide's face changed to alertness. +"Why do you speak of an enemy, and a plot +against me?" he asked. "That poor girl was +murdered; but I have never thought that she +was killed because her murderer wished to +involve me. That part was an accident. Liane +Devereux——"</p> + +<p>"Is not dead," broke in Virginia. "She is +on our yacht now, in the harbour of Noumea. +When you come, and she sees you, she will +confess the whole plot."</p> + +<p>"But I saw her lying dead—a thousand +times that sight has been before my eyes."</p> + +<p>"It was not she. If you want to know all, to +fathom the whole mystery, and learn how to +prove your own innocence, you will not refuse +to do what we ask."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>Maxime's thin face no longer looked like a +carving in old ivory. The statue had come to +life. The spring of hope had begun to stir +in his veins. "If it were possible to prove it—at +this late day!" he exclaimed. "But even if +it were—you forget the tremendous difficulties +in the way of escape. How could I reach your +yacht? It could not come near enough to +shore here to pick me up; even a small boat +would be seen——"</p> + +<p>"Not at night," said Virginia.</p> + +<p>"Remember, it is moonlight. The night will +be like day. Long before a small boat could +reach the yacht from the beach she would be +followed, overtaken, and not only should I be +brought back, but I should have the misery of +knowing that I had been the cause of bringing +my brave friends into trouble. They would +fire upon us. If I were killed it would matter +little enough; but if you were to be shot——" +He spoke to George Trent, but his eyes moved +quickly to Virginia's face.</p> + +<p>"My sister would be waiting for us on board +the <i>Bella Cuba</i>," said Trent. "Roger Broom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +and I will take jolly good care of ourselves—and +of you, too, if you'll only give us a chance."</p> + +<p>"If you'd come here a month ago," sighed the +prisoner, "before I got this wound in my back! +Now I'm afraid it's too late. I've let myself +go. I thought I saw the one door of escape for +me opening—death; and instead of turning my +back I walked toward it. I've let my strength +down. I haven't eaten or slept much, and I +began to have a pleasant feeling of slipping +easily out with the tide. Now there's an incentive +to stop, the tide's too strong and I'm too +weak. I can't count on myself."</p> + +<p>"Count on us," said George. "We'll see +you through, you bet. And think of your +sister. We promised we'd take you back with +us. We can't go to her without you, after raising +her hopes. It would kill her." Trent glanced +at Virginia, as if expecting her to add encouraging +arguments to his; but she was silent, her +eyes alone appealing to Dalahaide. George +Trent was her half-brother, and had known her +all her life, but he felt the thrill of that look in +the girl's beautiful eyes. How much more,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +then, must Maxime Dalahaide have felt it, he +said to himself.</p> + +<p>"It is the risk for you I think of—if I fail," +the prisoner exclaimed. "If I had only myself +to consider I should hesitate no longer."</p> + +<p>"We have come a long, long way to you," +Virginia's eyes said; and her lips would have +added something had not George's hand fallen +suddenly in warning on her shoulder. "Somebody +is coming," he whispered. "For all our +sakes, don't fail us, Dalahaide. We shall look +for you to-night—there," and he nodded +toward the water. "Make your way to the +beach and hide among the rocks till you see our +little boat. Don't take to the water—remember +the sharks. If you're not there to-night, we'll +hang about till the next."</p> + +<p>"We'll wait till you come, if we wait a year," +said Virginia.</p> + +<p>There was time for no more. The Commandant, +with Roger Broom by his side, +appeared round the corner of the winding path +near by.</p> + +<p>"Well, mademoiselle, have we given you time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +to finish your interview, and has it been satisfactory?" +asked the old Frenchman good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"You have given us just enough time, and +it has been most satisfactory, thank you," the +girl answered. "I hope," she added, "to make +the very best use of it later." And again her +eyes met those of the statue that she had waked +to life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A CRY ACROSS THE WATER</h3> + + +<p>It was night in the harbour of Noumea; +a night of pitiless, white, revealing moonlight +which sharpened the black outline of every +shadow, and made the whitewashed wall of each +low house gleam like mother-o'-pearl. Had +there been no secret business on foot, Virginia +Beverly's beauty-loving soul would have been +on its knees in worship of the scene as she sat +on the deck of the yacht, which seemed not to +float in water, but to hang suspended in the +transparent, mingling azure of sea and sky. +To her the moon was an enemy, cruel and +terrible. She would have given her right hand +for a dark curtain cloud to be drawn across +that blazing lamp and the scintillating stars +reflected in the water like sequins shining through +blue gauze.</p> + +<p>Midnight was near, and the yellow lights of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +the town were fewer than they had been. The +quay was quiet and deserted, and the Ile Nou +was a black shape in the translucent glitter of +the water. On the <i>Bella Cuba</i> all was very still, +and each whisper of the little waves that lapped +against the side of the yacht came distinctly +to Virginia's ears.</p> + +<p>The Countess de Mattos had not appeared +at dinner, but had sent excuses, her head being +much worse. But it was Virginia's opinion that, +once out of sight of Noumea, the lady intended +to be convalescent. Kate Gardiner also was +in retirement, and had for once shown temper +even to Virginia; but Dr. Grayle's report of +the day was reassuring, and as Kate had had no +opportunity of doing harm, even if she had +wished it, she and her grievances were dismissed +from Virginia's mind in these supreme +moments.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were straining after a small electric +launch, which was already distant. Virginia +could not look away, and still she tried to persuade +herself that she could not see the little +black gliding thing distinctly, because, if it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +plainly visible to her, it must be so to other eyes +also—if eyes on shore were waking and watching +now.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the boat disappeared behind a +buttress of rock silhouetted on the silver track +of the moon, and at the same instant the yacht's +anchor began slowly to be hauled up.</p> + +<p>Virginia knew what that meant. To-night's +work was for Roger and George, not for her; +but she had each detail of the programme at +her fingers' ends—indeed, had helped to +arrange it. When the launch had gone a +certain distance from the <i>Bella Cuba</i>, on its +stealthy way toward the Ile Nou, the yacht's +captain—an Englishman, discreet and expert—had +orders to follow slowly. The start had +not been made earlier, because it was desirable +that town and prison should be asleep, and +the danger of discovery minimized. If the +yacht were seen moving in the night suspicion +would be aroused, for leaving the harbour of +Noumea is a perilous undertaking except +between sunrise and sunset; yet she must move, +and follow the boat like one of the great black<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +sharks swimming with grim expectancy behind +her, lest the little bark should be overtaken in +case of alarm and pursuit.</p> + +<p>No explanation had been given to Captain +Gorst, who neither needed nor desired any. +His orders were to follow the boat, and stand +in as near the Ile Nou as possible without +arousing attention on shore; there to wait until +the launch returned, or to approach still closer +to the island, if pursuit rendered it advisable. +These orders Virginia knew he would obey to +the letter; and she knew also, though no word +had been spoken to her on the subject, that the +little cannon, which had been silent since the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> had been a lightly armoured despatch-boat +in the American-Spanish War, were ready to +speak to-night, if worst came to worst.</p> + +<p>It was that vague "worst" that troubled +Virginia's soul as, almost soundlessly, the heart +of the <i>Bella Cuba</i> began to beat, and she glided +through the glimmering water. If only one +could know exactly where and how to expect +the blow, the thought that it might fall would +be more bearable, the girl felt. But one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +many things might happen to wreck their hopes; +and failure now probably meant failure forever.</p> + +<p>Maxime Dalahaide might be too ill to make +the attempt to-night, or he might be watched +in the act of making it. The men in the launch +might miss seeing him, even if he had contrived +to escape from the hospital and gain the beach. +Or his flight might be discovered, and the launch +only arrive near the shore in time for its occupants +to see him dragged back to the old life, +with all its past horrors, and many new ones +added by way of punishment. Possibly the +coral reefs and jagged rocks might prevent the +launch getting close to shore, and Maxime would +have to swim out to it. Then, there were the +sharks. Virginia had already seen two or three +to-day—hideous, black shapes swimming far +down below the surface of the clear water—and +she shuddered as she remembered the great +snouts and cold, evil eyes of the man-eaters. +What was that the Commandant had said in the +afternoon? "The sharks are the best guardians +the Ile Nou can have." Were those horrible +watch-dogs of the sea on the lookout now?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the same moment, the same thought was +in the minds of Roger Broom and George Trent, +as the little electric launch rounded the point +of rock and lost sight of the <i>Bella Cuba</i>. The +water, as they looked toward the Ile Nou, which +must be their destination, was a flood of molten +silver poured from the white-hot furnace of the +full moon. They knew how black the launch +must be on this sheet of radiance, how conspicuous +an object to watchful eyes on shore; +and though the glittering sheen destroyed the +transparent effects of the water here, they +guessed what gliding shapes were surely upon +their track, coldly awaiting disaster.</p> + +<p>Sitting in the boat they could not see the +hospital; not a light was visible in any prison +building; and they had the feeling that in any +one of a dozen great masses of shadow armed +surveillants might be hiding, to spring out upon +Maxime Dalahaide as he crept toward his +friends and far-off safety. There was no sound +except the crisp rustle of the water as the launch +cut through it; but as they entered the lagoon, +where among tall reeds the image of the moon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +lay unbroken like a fallen silver cup, a whispering +ran through the rushes, as if to pass the news +of their approach from ear to ear.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a tall figure rose up on a slight +eminence and waved its arms, then disappeared +again so quickly that it might almost have been +a fantastic shadow; but quickly as it had come +and gone, Roger and George knew that their +hope had not been in vain. Convict 1280 had +completed the first stage of his journey. He had +seen them coming to the rescue, and he had +given them the secret of his hiding-place.</p> + +<p>The two men were alone in the launch. Now, +without a word, Roger Broom headed it for the +point where the figure had appeared. There +was a strange confusion of emotions in his brain, +which still left it clear to act. Under his habitual +air of lazy indifference he hid strong feelings, +and at this moment they worked within him like +fermenting wine. In this adventure he was +playing for great stakes. Twice in the last +year had Virginia refused him; her love and +her beautiful self were all that Roger craved for +in the world, but he had meant never to ask<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +for them again, when this mad scheme of rescue +had been conceived. He had opposed it as +foolish and impossible; then Virginia had hinted +that, if he would join her in it, giving help and +advice, she would refuse him nothing. After +that day he had thrown himself into the adventure +heart and soul, saying little, but doing all +that man could do. Though his few words had +sometimes discouraged Virginia's ardent hopes, +he had doggedly meant to succeed if he had +to die in the supreme effort. He had put his +whole soul into the work, with no other thought +until to-day. Then—he had seen what George +Trent had seen; a certain look in Virginia's +eyes as they pleaded with Maxime Dalahaide +to free himself. Her lips had said: "Do this +for your sister's sake." But her eyes had said: +"Do it for mine." Never had such a light +shone in those beautiful eyes for Roger; never +would it so shine for him; and he knew it +well, with a dull, miserable sickening of the +heart, which was like a pinch from the hand +of Death.</p> + +<p>In a moment the whole face of the world had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +changed for him. He was a man of honour, +and he would go on along the path which he +had traced out for himself; but the wish to +succeed in his task for the sake of success was +murdered by that sweet light in a girl's eyes. +Something coldly calculating said to Roger +Broom that it would be a good thing for him if +Maxime failed to come to the rendezvous, on +that night or any other night; or, if, in case he +came, he should be retaken. Should this +happen, Virginia's implied promise need not +hold good, but Roger thought he knew her +generous heart well enough to be certain that +she would in the end reward him for what he +had tried to do, even though—not through +his fault—the fight had been in vain. On the +other hand, if he and George succeeded in saving +Dalahaide, in bringing Dalahaide to Virginia—but +Roger would not quite finish that thought +in his mind. Resolutely he turned his back +upon it, yet it grinned an evil, skeleton grin +over his shoulder, and he could not make his +ears deaf to the whisper that though he could +and would hold Virginia to the keeping of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +bargain, her heart would always have a holy of +holies shut away from him.</p> + +<p>Roger hated the cold Voice that explained +his heart to his head, and he did his best not to +listen. But all he could compass was not to let +himself be guided by its promptings. If he +had desired Dalahaide's escape as whole-heartedly +as before, he could have worked for it +no harder than he did; still, he experienced no +warmth of gladness at sight of the dark figure +silhouetted for an instant against a moonlit haze. +Trent was not close to him in the launch, and +yet somehow he felt the thrill of joyous relief +which shot through the younger man's body +at the signal, and envied it. But all was different +with George; he could afford to be single-minded. +Roger knew very well that George +was in love with Madeleine Dalahaide, and +that there was nothing he would not sacrifice +for the happiness of giving her back her brother.</p> + +<p>As Roger Broom wrestled with his own black +thoughts, the launch, which had hitherto slipped +swiftly toward its goal, dividing the rushes and +reeds of the lagoon, refused to move on. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +lush, green barricade was too thick to be cut +through by its clean bow and the force of its +powerful little electric motor.</p> + +<p>"It's no good," whispered George. "We +can't get on any farther. This is what I was +afraid of. He'll have to come out to us. Thank +goodness, if we can't get through, neither can +the sharks."</p> + +<p>"Where is he? Can you see him?" Roger +asked. And the Voice was loud in his ears +again.</p> + +<p>"No, I wish I could. I don't like to sing out. +This luck of ours so far is too good to last."</p> + +<p>"Stand up and wave your hand. Perhaps +he'll see and reply," said Roger.</p> + +<p>Somehow he wanted George to take the initiative +now. He was afraid of being unconsciously +guided by the Voice.</p> + +<p>George stood up and waved a handkerchief. +No figure rose in response, but as if in answer, +they heard a distant splashing in the water, and +then, following so quickly that it blurred the +impression of the first stealthy sound, came +the sharp explosion of a shot. Instantly the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +slumberous silence of the tropical night was +shattered by a savage confusion of noises. +Other shots were fired, a great bell began to +clang, another boomed a sullen echo, and from +far away spoke the deep, angry voice of a cannon.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! that's the cannon on board +that beastly steam tub of theirs!" cried George. +"Luckily for us it's a makeshift concern and no +gunboat; but it can catch us on our way back +to the yacht, and if it does, all's up."</p> + +<p>Roger did not answer. His ears were strained +for the splashing in the water, if still it might be +heard as an undertone beneath the distant din +of the alarm. The launch could not advance +a foot farther, if it were to save all three lives; +and it would take some time at best for Dalahaide +to wade, and swim, and fight his way to +them, among the tangling reeds. The escaping +prisoner was weak still from his recent wound; +no matter how high his courage might be now, +it could not in a moment repair the physical +waste which he had voluntarily allowed to go +on, courting the sole release he had then foreseen.</p> + +<p>The one chance left, now the alarm was given,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +lay in the hope that, though Dalahaide's flight +from the prison hospital had been discovered, +the direction he had chosen was not yet known. +But the lagoon was at least as likely a place for +the search to begin as any other; and then the +launch might have been seen moving across the +bright streak of the moon's track before it could +reach the shelter of the rocks on its way to the +lagoon. A few minutes at most, and the hounds +would be on the right scent.</p> + +<p>These things Roger told himself, but he had +not sat still to listen. After the first second of +straining attention, he sprang up, threw off his +coat and waistcoat, and kicked off his shoes.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to help him if I can," he said. +"His strength may fail, or some stray shark +may be a little cleverer than its fellows and find +its way through the rushes. Anyhow, here +goes; and if Dalahaide gets to you before me, +don't wait. Push out the best you can, and I'll +catch you up, swimming."</p> + +<p>There was no time for arguing or objecting, +even if it had been in Trent's mind to do either. +Since it was right for one to go, and Roger chose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +to be that one, he must stay; but, even for Maxime's +sake, and for Madeleine's, he could not, +he decided, leave Roger Broom to follow—for +there were the sharks. No, they three must +stand or fall together, whatever happened now.</p> + +<p>The lagoon, in the spot where Roger left the +launch, was too deep for wading, nor could he +swim there. Somehow—he scarcely knew how—he +seemed to tread water, his feet slipping +among the slimy tangled stems that were like +a network under the surface, a brackish taste +in his mouth, the rank, salt smell of seaweeds in +his nostrils, and his ears a soft, sly rustling +which might mean the disturbed protest of +a thousand little subterranean existences, or—the +pursuit of an enemy more deadly than any +on land.</p> + +<p>It was a harder task than he had thought; +still he persevered. "Dalahaide, where are you?" +he called.</p> + +<p>"Here!" came the answer, only a few yards +away. "I'm caught in something, and up to +my knees in mud. I think my wound's broken +out again. For heaven's sake, go back and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +let them take me. After all, what does it matter +for me? I'm done. A thousand times better +die than get you all into trouble."</p> + +<p>"You <i>all</i>!" Even in that moment Roger said +to himself that "all" meant Virginia. Dalahaide +was thinking of her. He would rather +die than she should be punished for this bold +attempt to break the law. But aloud Roger +cried out that he would go back with Maxime +or he would not go back at all, and cheering the +other, with death in his own heart, he struggled +along, half swimming, half wading, but always +moving on, how he hardly knew. Then at last +he saw a dark head, and a face, white in the moonlight, +floating seemingly on the reedy surface of +the lagoon, like a water lotus on its stem.</p> + +<p>Roger grasped a handful of slippery stems and +held out a strong left hand to the wounded man.</p> + +<p>"Take hold, and I'll pull you out," he said.</p> + +<p>The two hands met, one thin and white with +a prison pallor, the other brown and muscular +and dependable. They joined, and Roger held +on to the bunch of slippery stems so hard that +they cut into his fingers. Once he thought they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +were yielding, but at that instant Dalahaide +was lifted out of the mud in which he had sunk. +Roger caught him under the arm and held him +up. Scrambling, rustling, pushing, sinking, rising, +spitting out salt, brackish water, they struggled +back toward the launch.</p> + +<p>There it was, waiting, Trent crouching down, +scarcely breathing in his agony of impatience. +They saw him, and at the same time their heads +came into sight for him, among the tall, dark +spears of the rushes. In another moment +George in the launch and Roger in the water +were pulling and pushing Maxime, half fainting +now, up over the side of the swaying boat.</p> + +<p>As he tumbled in, limply, Roger saw a dark +stain on the wet, gray convict jacket. It was +black in the moonlight, but Roger knew it would +be red by day. The wound in his back had +broken out again, as he had thought; even if +they saved him now, it might only be to die. It +was the cold Voice that said this; and Roger +shuddered, yet half his nature welcomed the +suggestion. "I've done what I could, let him +die," was the answer that came. Quickly the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +little launch began to back out from the entanglement +of the rushes, and as soon as there was +room George turned her and sent her out like +an arrow from the lagoon to deeper, clearer +water. Beyond a certain point of rock the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> should lie by this time, and once on board +her all might yet be well, for she could easily +show her heels to anything that walked the sea +in these waters.</p> + +<p>They headed straight for the place where +they hoped to find the yacht waiting, and with +an exclamation Trent pointed to the sky, across +which floated a black, gauzy scarf of smoke.</p> + +<p>"Ripping old chap, Captain Gorst," chuckled +George. "That's his signal. Trust him to be +where he's wanted on time and a bit before."</p> + +<p>But Roger was silent. There was a thought +in his mind with which he could not darken +George's mood by speaking out. Sufficient +for the moment was the evil thereof.</p> + +<p>They were close to the jutting rock now, and +it seemed within ten minutes of safety. But +something shot into sight round the point, something +big, and black, and swift, with a gleam of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +fiery eyes and a belching stream of smoke +streaked with fire.</p> + +<p>"By thunder!" stammered George. "It's not +the <i>Cuba</i>. It's the Government boat, coming +down on us. We're trapped, sure as fate."</p> + +<p>The words rang in Maxime Dalahaide's ears +and reached his dimmed consciousness. The +danger was not for him alone, but for the others +who were risking everything to save him. It +was this thought which seemed to grip him, and +shake him into sudden animation. He sat up, +resting on one elbow, not even wincing at the +grinding pain that gnawed within the lips of +his re-opened wound.</p> + +<p>"Not trapped yet," he said. "Keep to the +right; to the right—not too far out. She +daren't come where we are, for she'd be ripped +to pieces on the reef, and she knows that."</p> + +<p>"Hark! They've spotted us. She's hailing!" +cried Roger Broom.</p> + +<p>"<i>Halte! halte!</i>" came harshly across the +moonlit space of water, as, obedient to Dalahaide's +quick hint, the course of the launch was +changed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>The three fugitives were mute, and again a +raucous cry broke the silence of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Halt, or we fire!"</p> + +<p>"They've two cannon," said Maxime. "I +was mad to bring this on you, my friends. If +they fire——"</p> + +<p>"Let them fire, and be hanged to them!" +grumbled George Trent. "Two can play at +that game. In heaven's name, where's the +yacht? Ah—you <i>would</i>, would you!"</p> + +<p>This in answer to a shot that, with a red +blaze and a loud report, came dancing across the +water, churning up spray and missing the +launch by a man's length.</p> + +<p>"Keep her going, George," said Roger as +quietly as was his wont. "Our hope's in speed +now, and dodging, till the <i>Bella Cuba</i> takes a +part in this game."</p> + +<p>As if the calling on her name had conjured +her like a spirit from the "vasty deep," the +graceful form of the yacht came into sight. +George, tingling with the joyous lust of the +battle, could not resist a hurrah; but his shout +was deadened by the din of another shot, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +then an answering roar from the <i>Bella Cuba</i>. +One of those cannon of hers had "paid for its +keep" at last. Now the yacht, and every one on +board her—to say nothing of the three who +wished to be on board—were in for a penny, +in for a pound.</p> + +<p>The act just committed was an offense against +law and justice (not always the same) and joined +hands with piracy. To be caught meant punishment +the most severe for all, possibly even international +complications. If the French prison-boat +sunk the yacht and the launch, and drowned +every soul concerned in this mad adventure, +she would be within her rights, and the fugitives +knew it well. The <i>Bella Cuba</i> had flung the +red rag into the face of the bull, and Roger +Broom and George Trent thought they saw Virginia's +hand in the unhesitating challenge. +Captain Gorst might have thought twice before +assuring himself that the time had come to obey +orders given in case of dire necessity; but once +would be enough for Virginia.</p> + +<p>"She's given herself away!" laughed George, +keeping the launch between the lagoon and an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +irregular line of dark horns which, rising just +above the shining surface of the water, marked +a group of coral reefs. "There won't be much +doubt in Johnny Crapaud's mind now as to +what part that tidy little craft's cast to play in +this show, eh? Hello-o!"</p> + +<p>Another blaze and a following roar drew the +exclamation; but before George had had time +to draw breath after it, he and Roger and Maxime +were all three in the water. The ball from +the little cannon of the prison-boat had done +its work better this time, striking the electric +launch on her nose and shattering her to pieces.</p> + +<p>George Trent was a brave man, but his first +thought was "Sharks!" and the horror of it +caught his throat with a sensation of nausea. +The instinct of self-preservation is strong in all +healthy men, and, though an instant later he +was ashamed on realizing it, the fear that +thrilled him was for himself. He expected, as +his momentarily scattered senses told him what +had happened and where he was, to feel huge +teeth, sharp as scythes, meet round his thigh +and cut off a leg as cleanly as a surgeon's knife.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>While he still quivered with this living horror, +he remembered that the danger was Roger's +and Maxime's as well as his, and manhood and +unselfishness came back. He forgot himself in +his fear for them, more especially for Maxime—poor +Maxime, who had suffered so much +that it would be hard indeed if he were to meet +a ghastly death in the very act of achieving +safety and freedom. Madeleine's beautiful, +tragic face rose, clear as a star, before his eyes, +and he knew that it would be reward enough for +him if he could give his life for the brother she +loved so well. If she should say afterward, +"Poor fellow, he died that you might live, +Maxime," he felt that the words and the gratitude +in the girl's heart would warm him even, +if his grave were to be under these dark waters +at the other end of the world.</p> + +<p>He had gone down at first, and a hundred +thoughts seemed to have spun themselves in his +head by the time he rose to the surface. Shaking +the water out of his eyes, he looked anxiously +round for Roger and Maxime. They were +nowhere to be seen, and a pang shot through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +George Trent's breast like a dagger of ice. +What if one or both of them had already met +the terrible fate which he had pictured for +himself?</p> + +<p>His whole soul was so concentrated upon this +fear that for a few seconds he was deaf and +blind to everything outside; but suddenly he +realized that the firing between the yacht and +the Government boat was still going on, a further +cannonade which woke strange echoes over the +water.</p> + +<p>"Roger—Dalahaide!" he called. No answer +came, but, as his eyes strained through the +haze of moonlight, a dark dot appeared on +the bright mirror of the sea, moving fast, and a +cry was raised which, though not loud, carried +clearly, and seemed to George Trent the most +terrible he had ever heard:</p> + +<p>"A shark—a shark!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>"ONCE ON BOARD THE LUGGER"</h3> + + +<p>It was Roger Broom's voice which sent +across the water that ominous shout so +appalling to Trent's ears. Mechanically +George swam toward the place where the +dark head had risen, but as he took his first +stroke a second head appeared beside the +other, then both went down together.</p> + +<p>That moment concentrated more of anguish +for George Trent than all the years of his past +life had held. He believed that both Roger +and Maxime had almost before his eyes suffered +the most hideous death possible to imagine, +and he knew that at any instant he might share +their fate. But that thought no longer shook +him as before. Since the others had died +so horribly it would be well that he should +die too. A moment of sharp agony, and all +would be over. Better so, since he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +not go back to Virginia or to Madeleine Dalahaide +alone.</p> + +<p>His eyes strained despairingly over the cruel +glitter of the rippling sea, with a cold, vague +feeling that he had reached the edge of the world, +and was looking over into the dim mystery of +the next. He was young and vigorous, and had +loved life for its own sake; but, with Roger and +Dalahaide both dead, there was no longer a full-blooded +craving for help to save himself in his +mind as he gazed toward the yacht and the +French boat. Instead he wondered with a sickly +curiosity how long it would be before the filthy +brutes, which had put an end to his companions, +would make a meal of him, and whether it would +hurt much, or if unconsciousness would come +soon. Mechanically he swam on, more or less in +the direction of the <i>Bella Cuba</i> and the French +boat, which were at close quarters now; and +perhaps there was a scarcely defined hope in his +heart that a stray shot might finish him before the +hideous "guardians of the Ile Nou" found their +chance.</p> + +<p>The state of his own brain and nerves became<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +a matter of cold surprise to him; the suspense +without fear, though tingling with physical +dread, and the capacity for separation of +emotions. He found himself thinking of Virginia, +and pitying her. This would break her +heart, he told himself. She would have a morbid +feeling that she was to blame for the disaster; +that she had caused the death of her brother +and cousin, and the other man so strangely +important in her life of late. He wished that +he might talk to her, and tell her not to mind, +because it was not in the least her fault, and +she had done nothing but good.</p> + +<p>Then he began to wonder why the yacht and +the French boat had ceased firing. The latter +had only two guns, while the <i>Bella Cuba</i> had +four, and, as he had said to Roger a few minutes +(or was it years?) ago, she was but a poor "makeshift," +rigged up more as a kind of "scarecrow" +for <i>forçats</i> meditating escape than for actual +service. Still, she must carry at least ten or +twelve rounds of ammunition. Could it be that +the little <i>Bella Cuba</i> had contrived to knock a +hole in her hull, and that her men must choose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +between beaching her immediately or having +her sink? It looked as if this explanation might +be the right one, for she was certainly retiring, +and that with haste. To beach she must go +round the point whence she had come in, +approaching the lagoon, and this she was doing, +the yacht having no more to say to her.</p> + +<p>"The Frenchies know what their sea-wolves +have done," George thought grimly, "and so +they can afford to let things slide and save +themselves. No good sending out a boat and +trying to pick up their man under the nose of +the enemy, for the poor fellow's gone where +neither friends nor foes can get him. The +episode is closed. And all the <i>Bella Cuba</i> +wanted was to put the prison boat out of the +running. There's no good being vindictive. +I could get to her now, if I liked—provided +those brutes would let me. But it's impossible—I +won't think of it. Afterward I should +loathe myself for being a coward and going +back to life without the others. I couldn't have +helped them—but it would seem as if I might +have, and didn't. Heavens! When is this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +going to end? I can't bear it long. The best +thing I could do would be to drown myself like +a man, and get it over before the worst can +happen."</p> + +<p>He flung up his arms, meaning to sink, and +wondering whether it would be really possible +for a strong swimmer deliberately to drown himself, +or whether instinct would keep on countermanding +the brain's orders, until exhaustion did +its work. One last look at the world he gave +before the plunge, and that look showed him a +thing which he could not believe. Between him +and the black horns of the outer reef he saw +once more two dark heads close together.</p> + +<p>"It can't be!" Trent said to himself; nevertheless, +instead of flinging away life, with all +his strength he struck out lustily toward those +floating dots in the water. Then, suddenly, +something cold and solid rubbed against his leg. +How the knowledge of what it was and what to +do came to him so quickly, and how he acted +upon that knowledge swiftly almost as light +moves, he could not have told; but he knew +that a shark was after him; he knew that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +must turn over on its back in the water before +the cavernous, fang-set jaws could crunch his +bone and flesh, and like a flash he dived. +Queerly, as he shot down through the water, +he thought again of something outside the +desperate need of self-preservation. "This is +what happened when I saw their heads go down +before and supposed it was all up with them +both!" he said to himself. "That's what they +are supposing about me now, if they're looking +my way. Well, we shall see. It's going to be a +race between this infernal brute and me. I'd bet +on him—but the dark horse sometimes gets in."</p> + +<p>After that he had no more consecutive +thoughts. Primitive instinct guided him, and +hope was the light which marked the goal. +The others were not dead yet, so he had a right +to his life, if he could keep it; and toward that +end he strained, swimming as he had never +swum before, diving, darting this way and that, +feeling rather than seeing which spot to avoid, +which to strive for. At last his foot touched rock. +He had reached that part of the jagged coral-reef +which rose out of the sea. He ceased to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +swim, and found that slipping, sliding, stumbling +on a surface, which felt to clinging hands +and feet as if coated with ice, and smeared with +soap, he could scramble up to a point above +water. He got to his knees, then to his feet, and +as he stood up, dripping and dizzy, a shout +came to him. Roger's voice again!—but no +longer sharp with horror and loathing. There +he stood on another low peak of the reef, and +Dalahaide was beside him, slimmer, taller, and +straighter than he, as the two figures were darkly +outlined against the light.</p> + +<p>They were safe, at least from the sharks; and +from the <i>Bella Cuba</i> a boat with four rowers was +swiftly approaching. The reaction of joy after +the resignation of despair was almost too great. +George Trent's throat contracted with a sob, +and there was a stinging of his eyelids which +was not caused by the salt of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he cried out, waving his hand to +the two men on the reef, and to the rowers in the +boat. While his shout still rang in the air a +<i>canot</i>, such as that in which they had crossed +from Noumea to the Ile Nou, manned by twelve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +rowers, leaped round the point of rock behind +which the French boat had disappeared, and +came straight as an arrow for the reef on which +the three men stood.</p> + +<p>Now it was a race once more for life and death. +The yacht's boat had the start, but those twenty-four +oars carried the <i>canot</i>, heavy as it was, far +faster through the water. The <i>Bella Cuba</i> could +not use her cannon lest she should destroy her +own friends, so nearly did the two boats cross +each other as both from, different directions, +sped toward the same goal.</p> + +<p>The yachtsmen's blood was up, and they +worked like heroes, but they were four to twelve. +The <i>canot</i> shot ahead and got the inside track. +The race, as a race, could now have but one end. +The <i>canot</i> was bound to be first at the spot where +the runaway <i>forçat</i> and one of his English friends +stood side by side out of reach of the hungry +sharks, but not beyond the grasp of justice. +The fugitives, who had fought so long with the +sea, were unarmed, while the four surveillants +in the <i>canot</i> had revolvers, and would either +recapture or kill.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Maxime Dalahaide spoke a word to his +companion; and, as if the triumph of the <i>canot</i> +over the yacht's boat had been a signal, the two +sprang from the shelf of the reef into the sea. +George Trent knew well what was in their minds; +they preferred to risk being food for sharks to +certain capture; and without hesitating for an +instant, George followed their example. If they +could swim under water to the yacht's boat before +the sharks took up the prison cause, all was not +yet lost, for the boat would do its best to dodge +the <i>canot</i> while the <i>Bella Cuba's</i> cannon seized +their chance to work once more.</p> + +<p>George kept under water as long as he could, +then came up to breathe and venture a glance +round. Crack! went a pistol-shot close to his +head, and he dived again; but not before he had +seen the yacht's boat not thirty yards off. How +near the <i>canot</i> lay he had not been able to inform +himself, but the narrow shave he had just had +gave him a hint that it could not be far distant. +He aimed for the boat as well as he could judge, +felt an ominous, cold touch, dived deeper for a +shark, forged ahead again, trying to forget the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +double danger, came up to breathe because he +must, and could have yelled for joy, if he had had +breath enough in his lungs, to see that either +Roger or Maxime was being pulled into the +yacht's boat, while a second head bobbed on the +water a couple of yards away. The air cracked +with revolver-shots, but George was not the +target now: the eyes of the surveillants were for +the fugitives nearest safety. Whether Roger or +Dalahaide were hit, George could not tell, but +he kept his head above water in sheer self-forgetfulness +until both had been hauled on +board. Then he dived again, and when he +rose to the surface he was close to the boat. +It was his turn to be helped over the side and +to become a target. Something whizzed past +his ear, leaving it hot and wet, and he had a +sudden burning pain in his left arm; but nothing +mattered, for there were Roger and Maxime, +and he was beside them. The rowers had set +to their work with a will once more, not to reach +the <i>Bella Cuba</i> with the best speed, but to dodge +from between her guns and the <i>canot</i>. Once she +could let her cannon speak, the <i>canot</i> was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +longer to be feared. Brave as the Frenchmen +were, clearly as they had right on their side, +from their point of view, they would have to +recognize that they were helpless, that the rest +of the battle was to the strong.</p> + +<p>A moment more, and one of the little cannon +roared a warning. She did not try to hit the +<i>canot</i>; the message she sent was but to say, +"Hands off, or take the consequences." And the +men of the <i>canot</i> understood. Not only did they +cease firing, but began to retire with leisurely +dignity toward the point which hid the disabled +prison boat.</p> + +<p>Now, suddenly, when all such peril was over, +the thought of that slimy, cold touch on his flesh, +and what it had meant, turned George Trent sick. +He did not see how he or his friends had escaped +the horror. If it were to come again he was sure +that escape would be impossible; and somehow +he knew, as if by prevision, that there would be +nights so long as he lived when he would dream +of that touch in the water, and wrench himself +awake, with sweat on his forehead and his hands +damp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Roger, are you all right, and Dalahaide, +too?" he asked, wondering at the weight he felt +on his chest and the effort it was to speak.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to Dalahaide, I am all right," +Roger answered. "If it hadn't been for his +quickness and presence of mind, twice I should +have been nabbed by a shark. Weak as he +was, he pulled me down for a dive that I should +have been too dazed to think of without him."</p> + +<p>"I have cause enough to know something of +these waters and their danger," Maxime said +slowly, as if he too found it an effort to speak. +"I was weak, yes, but strength comes of great +need, I suppose; and already I owed you so +much. I had to think and act quickly; besides, +it was for myself too."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven it's all over," exclaimed +Roger, with a great sigh. "We've a good +doctor on board. He'll know how to make you +fit once we have you there. And that will be +shortly now. See, here's the yacht! In ten +minutes you'll be in the stateroom that has been +ready for you ever since we left Mentone a few +hundred years ago, bound for New Caledonia."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, your passage was engaged from the +first," chuckled George, with an odd little catch +in his voice that would have been hysterical if he +had been a woman. "And I'll bet something +you'll like your quarters. Two lovely ladies took +a lot of trouble with them—your sister and +mine."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to say, or how to thank +you," stammered Maxime. "It goes so far +beyond words."</p> + +<p>"Just try to <i>live</i> your thanks, if you think +they're worth while. I reckon that's what our +two sisters would say on the subject. Don't let +there be any more talk about dying like there was +to-day, that's all, you know. And oh, by Jove! +doesn't it feel queer to be gabbling this way, +when you remember what we've just come out +of—those grinning brutes down there, with +their red mouths in their white shirt fronts, +so to speak. Ugh! I don't want to think +of it, but I'm hanged if I can help it. I say, +did those Johnnies' revolvers do any damage +here?"</p> + +<p>"Dalahaide got a bullet in his shoulder, as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +the wound in his back wasn't enough to remember +the place by," said Roger. "He says it's +nothing, and I hope that's the truth" (he actually +did hope it now, at least for the moment); +"as for me, I believe they've saved the yacht's +barber a little trouble in cutting my hair on the +left side, that's all; luckily no harm done to any +of our men."</p> + +<p>All these scraps of conversation had been flung +backward and forward inside five minutes. +Then they were at the yacht's side. Maxime, +forced to yield to his own weakness in the reaction +now, was being helped on board, the +others following.</p> + +<p>A slim, white figure, ethereal and spirit-like in +the sheen of the moon, was waiting to give them +welcome. Virginia stood on deck, weeping and +laughing, Dr. Grayle by her side.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven! Thank heaven!" she +sobbed at sight of Maxime. The cry was for +him, the look, the tears, the clasped hands, all +for him. Roger and George came together for +her in a second thought, and Roger knew; though +he was not surprised, because he had guessed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +her secret, such joy of success as even he, being +a man, had felt, was blotted out for him.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Down below, locked into their staterooms, +Lady Gardiner and the Countess de Mattos had +passed a strange and terrible hour, each in a +different way.</p> + +<p>To Kate there was little mystery, though +much fear. She had sulkily shut herself up, and, +not dreaming what was appointed for the night, +had finally dropped asleep, while meditating +reprisals for the bad treatment she had received +that day. But though her suspicions had not +gone as far as an actual rescue in dramatic +fashion, with the first shot from the prison boat +which woke her from a sound sleep, she divined +what was happening. Bounding from her +berth, while hardly yet awake, she darted to her +porthole, which was wide open. It faced the +wrong way to afford her a glimpse of what was +going on, but she could hear more firing at a +distance, doubtless at the prison on the Ile Nou, +the ringing of bells, and much tramping overhead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +on the deck of the yacht. She felt the throb of +the engine too, and though the <i>Bella Cuba</i> had +been lying quietly at anchor in the harbour +when Kate had fallen asleep, now she was moving +at a rapid rate through the water, which +gurgled past her sides.</p> + +<p>Kate had known, of course, that they had not +come thousands of miles for nothing, and the +moment she was certain that New Caledonia was +to be the <i>Bella Cuba's</i> destination she realized +that an attempt would be made to save Maxime +Dalahaide. She had been anxious to earn the +other half of the Marchese Loria's money, and +at the same time to pay Virginia and George +Trent for their secretiveness, by letting Loria +hear of their arrival, at least, even if she could +tell him no more. That desire had been +thwarted by Dr. Grayle, but Kate considered +the act merely postponed. Next time they +coaled—since they must coal somewhere before +long—she would certainly find a way of wiring +to Loria, and probably she would have something +much more definite to tell him, that was all. +Exactly what that "something" might be, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +been rather vague in her mind; but she +had thought that Virginia, George, and Roger +would most likely have found means to communicate +with Dalahaide and give him hope +for the future; perhaps they might even try to +put in his hands some means of escape, after +which the <i>Bella Cuba</i> would linger about in these +waters, out of sight of New Caledonia, until he +either succeeded in getting away or failed signally +to do so. This plan Kate had considered +not beyond the bounds of possibility; or (she had +told herself) Virginia, who was so enormously, +absurdly rich, might be counting upon bribing +some lesser prison authority to help the convict +to escape. So daring a girl, sure of the power of +beauty and wealth, and with millions of pounds +to play with, might have conceived such a scheme +and have the boldness to carry it out. She +could offer any bribe she liked, and—every +man was said to have his price. It was conceivable +now to Kate that Virginia and Madeleine +Dalahaide had had confidences together, and +that the mysterious locked stateroom had been +specially fitted up for the benefit of the prodigal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +It would be like Virginia to have made such a +wild plan, and to persuade Roger Broom +and George Trent to aid her in carrying it out; +yet Kate had not guessed to what desperate +lengths they would be ready to go. She had +forgotten about the yacht's cannon; but when +she heard the shot from the French boat she +suddenly remembered them, and wondered, +in great terror, whether they would be put +to use. She realized that the trio meant to +stop at nothing to gain their end and that +this end was to have Maxime Dalahaide +out of prison at any cost to themselves and +others.</p> + +<p>Into the midst of her confused deductions +broke the yell of a shot from one of the yacht's +guns. It was as if the <i>Bella Cuba</i> were alive +and had given a tiger-spring out of the water. +Kate shrieked with fear, and staggered away +from the porthole. Her first thought was to +run out of the stateroom and seek refuge somewhere—anywhere. +But, with her hand on +the bolt with which she had fastened the door, +she realized that she was as safe where she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +was as she could be elsewhere, in the dreadful +circumstances—perhaps safer. But she was in +deadly terror. As a roar from the French boat +was answered by another roar from the yacht, +which again shivered and leaped like a wounded +thing, her knees gave way under her, and she +half fell, half crouched on the floor of the stateroom, +shuddering and moaning. The danger +seemed as appalling, as hopeless to escape from, +as an earthquake which, go where you would, +might tear asunder the ground under your feet +and bury you alive.</p> + +<p>It was clear that the <i>Bella Cuba</i> and the +strange, ugly-looking steamboat she had seen in +the harbour, with its two unmasked cannon, were +waging fierce war upon one another. For all +that Lady Gardiner knew, Dalahaide was +already on board, and the prison boat was giving +chase; yet that could not be true, surely, +for suddenly the yacht's engines ceased to move; +it was as if her heart had stopped beating. +Had the <i>Bella Cuba</i> been struck? Was she +sinking? Even if not, one of those horrible +cannon-balls might come crashing into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +yacht's side at any moment, and every one on +board might be instantly killed.</p> + +<p>Kate knew not what to do; whether to remain +where she was, or to crawl out into the cabin +and try to find some one—even the hateful +doctor—who would tell her how great the +danger was, and what one must do to be saved +from it. She forgot all about Loria, and Dalahaide, +and her many grievances, and only knew +that she wished to be spared from death, no +matter whose schemes failed or succeeded, or +who else lived or died.</p> + +<p>The Countess de Mattos had not been asleep. +Her headache, perhaps, had kept her nerves at +high tension, and made rest impossible. As +she had confessed to Virginia early that morning, +on discovering the name of the next landing-place, +she did not like New Caledonia. The +thought of the place, and the secrets it must hold, +oppressed her. She wondered, with a kind of +disagreeable fascination which invariably forced +her weary mind back to the same subject, +whether the convicts' life was very terrible; +whether they lived long in this land of exile,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +or whether they were notoriously short-lived. +The climate must be trying, and then there +were countless hardships to endure—hardships +which must be less bearable to those who had +known luxury and refinements. She did not +like to dwell upon anything that was painful +or even sordid; and when memory persisted in +dragging before her reluctant eyes the dead +body of any particularly hateful scene in her +past, as a cat will sometimes obstinately lay +before its master a rat it has mangled, she was +in the habit of dulling her sensibility by drinking +a little absinthe in which some chlorodyne had +been dropped.</p> + +<p>When she travelled, she always carried two or +three bottles of the liquor with her, wrapped in +laces and cambric, in her luggage, for she had +grown used to it, and could hardly support life +without its soothing influence now. She was +careful not to take too much, however, for she +worshipped her own beauty; and absinthe was +an enemy to a woman's complexion.</p> + +<p>She felt to-night, lying in the harbour of +Noumea, as she had felt sometimes during a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +furious <i>sirocco</i> in Sicily—restless, unnerved, +fearful of some vague evil, though common sense +assured her that nothing of the kind she dimly +pictured could possibly happen. She remembered +uncomfortable things more vividly and +painfully than usual, too; and, at last, she could +deny herself the wished-for solace no longer. +She rose from her berth, trailing exquisite silk +and lace (for the woman must always frame +her beauty worthily, even for her own eyes +alone), poured out half a glass of absinthe, +dropped in her allowance of the drug, added +water, till the mixture looked like liquid opal, and +sipped the beverage with a kind of dainty greed.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes she had ceased to care +whether the <i>Bella Cuba</i> lay in the harbour of +Noumea or off Sydney Heads. What did it +matter? What harm could come?</p> + +<p>Presently, lying in her berth, dreamily staring +out at the moonlight through the open porthole, +her lovely arms pillowing her head, the Countess +became aware that the yacht was moving. So +they were getting out to sea again, she told herself. +A little while ago she would have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +delighted, as if at an escape, because, as she +had said, Noumea was hateful, and no place for +pleasure-seekers. But now that the absinthe and +chlorodyne soothed her nerves she was comparatively +indifferent whether they stopped or +steamed away. Nothing unpleasant had happened. +Of course not; why should it? She +had racked her nerves, and given herself a headache +all in vain. Still, it was good to know +that she would see no more of that terrible land +of beauty and despair.</p> + +<p>She shut her eyes comfortably, and was on the +way to the more welcome land of sleep when the +boom of the gun, which had wakened Lady +Gardiner, roused her from her lotus mood of soft +forgetfulness—the greatest joy which she could +ever know.</p> + +<p>Her brain was dazed with the liquor and the +drug she had taken, and she was utterly unable +to comprehend the tumult and confusion which +followed.</p> + +<p>Kate Gardiner had a clue to the mystery +which the Countess de Mattos did not possess. +The Portuguese beauty had no means of guessing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +what had brought the <i>Bella Cuba</i> to Noumea. +She had never heard any one on board speak +the name of Dalahaide, or that of any convict +imprisoned at New Caledonia, and the firing +between the yacht and the French boat suggested +nothing to her but horror.</p> + +<p>She, too, was afraid, half-stunned with fear, +and she was angry with herself now for having +taken the absinthe and chlorodyne, because they +prevented her from thinking clearly—the very +thing which, a short time ago, she had wished +not to do. At first she lay still, burying her head +in the pillows; then she murmured prayers to +more than one saint, for she was an ardent +Catholic; and at last, unable to bear the suspense +and isolation any longer, she threw open +the stateroom door and ran out into the cabin.</p> + +<p>No one was there; but above the sound of +trampling overhead she thought she could +distinguish voices, and Virginia Beverly's was +among them. If Virginia were on deck, the +Countess said in her mind, it would be well for +her to be there too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>VIRGINIA'S GREAT MOMENT</h3> + + +<p>She went up on deck, moving dazedly, with +a strange sense of unreality upon her, as if +she had somehow wandered into a cold, dim +world of dreams.</p> + +<p>The firing had ceased, and the yacht was no +longer in motion. The confused whirlwind of +brain-shaking events which revolved in her +memory might now have been a part of the +dream in which she was still entangled. The +Countess de Mattos's beautiful eyes swept the +moon-drenched scene for enlightenment, but +none came.</p> + +<p>They were not now in the harbour, that alone +was clear; but land was close, and black horns +of rock stood up out of the shining water as if +they had broken through a great sheet of looking-glass. +Across this bright, mirror-like surface a +small boat was being quickly rowed toward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +the yacht. It was very near now, and several dark +figures could be distinguished in it besides those +of the four rowers. Another boat, much larger, +with more than twice the number of oars, swiftly +rising and falling, was hurrying away in the direction +of a high, rocky point on the island itself.</p> + +<p>A chill premonition of evil fell upon the +woman's soul. It was like a heavy nightmare +weight that might only be felt, not seen, and +could not be shaken off. But the Countess de +Mattos had experienced this undefinable misery +before, when the reaction came after taking too +large a dose of chlorodyne with her "solace." +She hoped that it was merely this now—that it +was no real warning of trouble or threatening +danger.</p> + +<p>Virginia stood talking to Dr. Grayle and +gazing eagerly toward the advancing boat. +The Countess de Mattos glanced at the two wistfully, +longing to go to them and ask questions. +Yet something seemed to hold her back. It +was as if a whisper in her ear advised that there +were things it was better not to know. This +was ridiculous, of course. It was always more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +prudent to know about disagreeable things +before they could happen, and then sometimes +they could be prevented, or at least staved off +till one was more prepared to grapple with them. +But all the beautiful woman's prudence was in +abeyance to-night. The quality had not been +born in her, but acquired; which can never be +the same.</p> + +<p>She felt weak and unnerved, with a great longing +to cling to some one stronger and wiser than +herself. But there was no such person at hand +for her. These others had their own interests. +If they really cared for her at all it was because +she was ornamental, a thing of beauty which it +is pleasant to have within sight; and usually it +was very convenient to the Countess de Mattos +to be considered thus. Indeed, most of the +luxuries which she loved so much more dearly +than the necessities of life came through her +distinct value as an ornament. But now what +was ordinarily enough for her failed to satisfy. +She felt horribly alone in the world, as if she +had slipped upon some terrible ledge of rock +overhanging a sheer precipice, and there was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +one—no one on earth to help her back to safety. +Tears of self-pity rose hot in her eyes as she +stood, not far from Virginia and the doctor, +hesitating what to do.</p> + +<p>They were so absorbed in watching the +approach of the boat that they were unconscious +of her presence, and suddenly it began to fascinate +the Countess de Mattos also, as if it were +one of the discs which hypnotists give to their +patients. She, too, bent over the rail and gazed +at the boat as the rowers brought it nearer and +nearer, but she could not see the faces of its +occupants. For three or four minutes she stood +thus, and then the boat was under the yacht's +side and the men were coming up the ladder.</p> + +<p>The Countess moved nearer to Virginia and +Dr. Grayle. She no longer intended—for the +moment at least—to catechize them, but it +occurred to her that, by merely standing within +earshot while the others exchanged questions +and answers, the mystery of this night's alarming +work would be explained to her. Without +being seen by her hostess or the little doctor, +she was so close now that the trailing silk and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +lace of her <i>robe de chambre</i> was blown by the +light breeze against Virginia's white dress.</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven—thank heaven!" she heard +the girl exclaim as some one came on board. +The pair in front of her crowded so closely +toward this person that she could not see who it +was, and could only suppose that it must be +Sir Roger Broom or George Trent returning +from some strange adventure. Then, suddenly, +she saw the newcomer's face, with the moon +shining full upon it, chiselling it into the perfection +of a marble masterpiece of old, thrown up +by the sea from some long engulfed palace.</p> + +<p>She stared, incredulous, her breath in abeyance, +her heart stopped like a jarred clock. +Then, over Virginia's shoulder, a pair of dark +eyes found hers—eyes darkened with tragedy +while youth and joy should still have shone in +their untroubled depths.</p> + +<p>Ah, the awfulness of that instant, the ghastly +horror of it! Something in the woman's brain +seemed to snap, and, with a loud shriek that cut +the new-fallen silence as a jagged knife-blade of +lightning cuts the sky, she threw out her hands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +to shut away the sight and fell backward, fainting. +Virginia turned, and knew that her great +moment had come.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the Countess de Mattos came to herself +she awoke gazing straight upward at the stars, +which danced a strange, whirling measure as the +horizon rose and dipped with the swift forging of +the yacht. She was lying on the deck, her head +supported on something low and soft, and Dr. +Grayle bent over her, kneeling on one knee.</p> + +<p>"All right again?" he inquired cheerfully, in +his blunt way.</p> + +<p>She did not answer, for with desperate haste +she was collecting her thoughts, linking together +broken impressions. An awful thing had happened. +What? she asked herself. Then suddenly +the vision flashed back to her, and she +shuddered. Lowering her lids, so that the thick, +black fringe of lashes veiled her eyes, she +glanced anxiously about. Had it been a vision +and no more, or was it real, and should she have +to meet those accusing eyes again? As she +debated thus Virginia stepped forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think, Countess, that you will do now," +said Dr. Grayle. "There is a wounded man +below who needs my services, but refused them +until you should have recovered."</p> + +<p>"Oh, go—go!" murmured his patient in +irritable weakness.</p> + +<p>The little doctor got up, and as he walked +quickly away Virginia took his place.</p> + +<p>"Can I do anything for you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>The Countess shook her head. Her face +looked lined and haggard, despite its beauty, in +the bleaching light of the moon, and Virginia +was almost sorry for her. She could afford to +pity the woman now, she thought, for she had +triumphed. Her case was proved beyond all +doubt, and even Roger, who had heard the +scream of recognition and witnessed the fainting +fit, could no longer deny that the Countess de +Mattos and Liane Devereux were one. Virginia +would not strike a blow at a fallen enemy, +and, holding this woman in the hollow of her +hand, as she believed she did, she was ready to +give such help as could be given without injuring +the cause she served.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you like to go back to your stateroom?" +she went on. "You have had a great +shock, and——"</p> + +<p>The Countess sat up quickly, pushing her disordered +hair away from her eyes. "I don't +know what you mean by a shock," she said, +"unless you refer to the terrible cannonading. +That was enough, I should think, to frighten +the bravest. No wonder I fainted. And then, +seeing that ghastly man, dressed like a <i>forçat</i>, +all dripping wet, and stained red with blood, +was the last drop in the cup of fear. I cannot +think what horrors have been happening +to-night."</p> + +<p>All Virginia's pity was swept away. Her heart +hardened toward this tiger-woman.</p> + +<p>"Cannot you think?" she echoed bitterly. +"Then I will tell you. We have been rescuing +an innocent man, who for years has suffered +untold miseries for a crime never committed. +Thank heaven that his sufferings are ended at +last, for we have him on board this yacht, which +is carrying him away from New Caledonia at +about twenty knots an hour, and we have the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +proof with us which will establish his innocence +before many days have passed."</p> + +<p>"It is a crime for a <i>forçat</i> to evade his prison—a +crime to aid him," cried the Countess.</p> + +<p>"We are not afraid of the punishment," said +Virginia, hot, indignant blood springing to her +cheeks. "<i>We</i> are ready to face the consequences +of our own actions."</p> + +<p>The emphasis was an accusation, but the +Countess de Mattos did not wince under the +lash. Even a coward may be brave in a hand-to-hand +fight for life; and it was only physically +that she was a coward.</p> + +<p>"You are courageous," she said, almost +wholly mistress of herself now, "and, of course, +you know your own affairs best, dear girl. But +I am not so brave. This awful night has tried +me severely, and has come near to spoiling our so +pleasant trip. It has sickened me of the sea and +of yachting. I shall beg to be landed as soon as +convenient to you."</p> + +<p>"It will be convenient to us when you have +confessed everything in writing," Virginia flung +at her, stung into mercilessness by the woman's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +brazen defiance. "Then, and not before, you +may leave this yacht."</p> + +<p>The Countess de Mattos arose from her lowly +place as gracefully and with as much dignity as +such an act could be performed. While she +sat on the floor and Virginia towered over her, +the enemy had too much advantage of position. +The two were of one height, and, standing, they +faced each other like contending goddesses.</p> + +<p>"You speak in riddles," said the elder woman.</p> + +<p>"Riddles to which you have the key."</p> + +<p>"I do not know what you mean, except that +it seems to me it is your intention to be insolent."</p> + +<p>"In your code, perhaps, honesty is insolence. +But I do not wish to forget that, in a way, you +are my guest. I asked you to come for a purpose, +I admit; yet——"</p> + +<p>"Ah! you admit that. Possibly you will condescend +to inform me what your purpose was?"</p> + +<p>"My purpose was to make assurance doubly +sure. To-night I have done this."</p> + +<p>"Evidently you do not wish me to understand +you."</p> + +<p>"Say, rather, you do not wish to understand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +me. I think you must do so, in spite of yourself; +but lest you should not, I will tell you. I suspected +that you were the woman whom Maxime +Dalahaide was accused of murdering. Now I +<i>know</i> that you are not the Countess de Mattos, +but Liane Devereux!"</p> + +<p>The woman's green-gray eyes were like steel +in the moonlight. "Maxime Dalahaide; Liane +Devereux," she slowly repeated. "I never +heard these names."</p> + +<p>Virginia was struck dumb by the other's +effrontery, almost frightened by it. If this +terrible creature withdrew into a brazen fortress +of lies, who could tell how long a siege she might +be able to withstand? The girl had been astonished +and dismayed in the morning, when the +first sally of the attack had failed; but then her +strongest forces, her most deadly weapons, had +been still in reserve. Now they had been brought +against the enemy's defenses and—the walls +had not fallen; there was no sign of capitulation. +A cold misgiving began to stir in Virginia's +mind. Would it mean failure if the Countess +de Mattos obstinately refused to tell the truth?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>After all, she was only a girl, opposed to a +woman whose varied experience of thirty years +or more had endowed her with infinite resource. +Virginia's stricken silence gave the other a new +advantage.</p> + +<p>"As you have said yourself," icily began the +Countess once more, "you are my hostess. You +flattered me; you made me think that you were +my friend; you asked me on board your yacht, +and I came, trustingly, ignorant that, under some +wild mistake which even now I do not comprehend, +you plotted my betrayal. Why, it was a +Judas act!"</p> + +<p>"If I did evil, I did it that good might come," +said poor Virginia. "And it <i>shall</i> come. You +are Liane Devereux. <i>You</i> were guilty of the +'Judas act.' Maxime Dalahaide loved you; and +with what motive I don't yet know, but mean to +know, you betrayed him to a fate worse than +death. For that you deserve anything. Yes, I +kidnapped you. That's what Roger called it, +and I don't repent now. You are here on this +yacht with Maxime Dalahaide, and we are on +the open sea. Unless you jump overboard, you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +cannot get away from your atonement. Atonement—that +is the word. Oh, woman, woman—if +you <i>are</i> a woman and not a stone, think +what atonement would mean for you! You +must have had terrible moments, living with +remembrances like yours—a man who loved +you sent to a living grave. Now it is in your +power to make up to him—ever so little, perhaps, +but a thousand times better than nothing—for +the wrong you did. Do this—do it, and be +thankful all the rest of your life for the blessed +chance which heaven has sent you."</p> + +<p>The Countess laughed. "You change your +tone suddenly—from threats to an appeal. +You would make quite a good preacher, but your +eloquence can have no effect on my conscience, +as I have not the remotest idea what you are +talking about. I had let myself grow fond of +you, and I was grateful for all these lazy, pleasant +weeks, and for the money you lent me; but now +that I know what was underneath your seeming +kindness I am no more grateful, and I shall do +my best to punish you for the wicked trick you +have played upon me. As for attempting to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +prove that I am—what name did you give the +woman?—well, anybody except myself, you will +find it impossible. I have powerful friends who +would travel far to save me from any trouble. +You cannot keep me a prisoner on board this +yacht. You must touch again at land before +long, and then I shall go away and tell every +one what has happened on your <i>Bella Cuba</i>."</p> + +<p>"We shall see," said Virginia.</p> + +<p>"We <i>shall</i> see," echoed the Countess. "And +now I am going to my stateroom. Perhaps I +may hope to be free from persecution there."</p> + +<p>She swept away, looking gorgeously beautiful, +and as proud as a queen bent on holding her +crown against the people's will.</p> + +<p>Virginia stood still, watching her; and when +the tall, stately figure had disappeared, a crushing +sense of defeat fell upon the girl.</p> + +<p>Only a few moments ago, as time counted, she +had felt that, with Maxime Dalahaide's rescue, +she had every wish of her heart fulfilled. But +now she saw the position of affairs with changed +eyes. It was as different as a flower-decked ballroom +seen by the light of a thousand glittering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +candles, and again by sunrise when the candles +had burnt down and the flowers faded.</p> + +<p>Maxime was out of prison; there was that, at +all events, to be thankful for, and there was +nothing at New Caledonia which could even +attempt to give chase to the wicked little <i>Bella +Cuba</i>. Nevertheless, the French Government +had a long arm, and would not quietly let a convict +sentenced for life be snatched away without +making a grab to get him back again. Virginia +had known this from the first, but when Roger +had pointed the fact out to her as one of the +difficulties to be encountered, she had said in +the beginning: "If we have the luck to rescue +him we shall have the luck to hide him," and +afterward, when she had seen the Countess +de Mattos at Cairo, she had amended the prophecy +by saying: "If they catch us we shall be +able to prove his innocence."</p> + +<p>It had all seemed very simple, and she had been +impatient with Roger for bringing up so many +discouraging objections to her impulsively formed +plans. He had gone in with them at last, without, +however, pretending to be convinced, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +she had bribed him with a virtual promise of +marriage. He had done all that she had asked of +him, and more; and she would have to keep her +promise, but—had she accomplished enough that +was good for Maxime, to pay for the sacrifice? +It would be a sacrifice—a greater one than she +had known at first, greater than, somehow, she +had realized until to-day. She must pay the +price; and Maxime—what of him?</p> + +<p>If his innocence could not be proved, through +the dead woman miraculously come alive, he +could never, at best, go back to France; and as +the crime of which he was accused came under +the extradition treaty, he would be safe nowhere. +He must—as he himself had said—lead "a +hunted life," wherever he might be. Neither +money, nor influence, nor yearning sister-love, +nor—the love of friends who would give their +heart's blood to save him, could shield Maxime +Dalahaide from the sword of Damocles, ever +suspended, ever ready to fall.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the Marchese Loria received Lady +Gardiner's telegram from Sydney, he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +stunned. "Leaving here to-morrow," the message +ran; "destination unknown."</p> + +<p>Unknown to her the destination might be, but +it was not unknown to him. He was almost as +sure that the <i>Bella Cuba</i> was bound for New +Caledonia, as if Dr. Grayle had allowed Kate +Gardiner to send her desired word from prison-land; +and although he had constantly assured +himself that if Virginia did go there it could do +no harm, now that he was morally certain she +would go, he quivered with vague apprehension.</p> + +<p>At first, he could not force his mind to concentrate +itself upon the intricacies of the situation. +He walked up and down his room, like a caged +animal, trying to think how, if it were by moving +heaven and earth, he could prevent Virginia +Beverly and the convict Max Dalahaide from +coming together. Then, with the thought that +they might meet seething in his head, he would +stop abruptly and say to himself, as he had said +so often before: "Nonsense; you are a fool. +They cannot come together. There is everything +against it." Still, the root of fear was there, +and grew again as soon as burned away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + +<p>If he chose, he might send a warning to the +prison authorities at New Caledonia. He could +say that the <i>Bella Cuba</i> was a suspicious craft, +and ought not to be allowed in the harbour for a +single hour. But to do this, he would be +obliged either to proceed to Paris and give satisfactory +reasons why such proceedings should be +taken, or wire the warning message himself, +signing his own name. No other method would +be of any avail, as the governor of the prison +would pay no attention to an anonymous telegram, +and there was now no time to write a +letter. He would be obliged also to assert +positively that he knew the <i>Bella Cuba's</i> errand +to be treacherous; and, whether he went to +Paris, or telegraphed, through Sydney, to New +Caledonia, in either case Virginia was certain +to find out, later, what he had done. Such +secrets could not be successfully hidden, and +she would hate him for his interference. If there +was little hope for him now, there would be +none then.</p> + +<p>When his wits began to work he regarded the +situation from all points of view. He admitted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +the remote—extremely remote—possibility that +the party on the <i>Bella Cuba</i> might actually contemplate +a rescue. He would almost have been +ready to stake his life that, if such an attempt +were made, it would fail ignominiously, with +disaster to all concerned—perhaps death to +more than one. But—it <i>might</i> succeed. If it +did, what would happen?</p> + +<p>They would not dare to put back to Sydney +Heads. The yacht must be coaled and provisioned +somewhere. He consulted maps, and +saw that the most likely place for the <i>Bella Cuba</i> +to proceed on leaving New Caledonia was +Samoa. It seemed to him that she must go +there, in any case.</p> + +<p>Loria did not wish to appear as an active +enemy of Maxime Dalahaide's. It was largely +owing to his efforts on the prisoner's behalf that +Max had been saved from the guillotine, and all +the Dalahaides must have known that. Virginia, +no doubt, knew it too. But what was to +be done, if he were not to fling aside the cloak of +his reputation as a friend of that unfortunate +family? The spirit of high romance ran in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +Virginia Beverly's blood. She was capable of +marrying an escaped prisoner, and sharing his +miserable, hunted existence. Such a thing must +not be. Loria felt that it would be less bearable +to lose her through Max Dalahaide than through +any other man. He would rather see her Roger +Broom's wife than Maxime's, but he had not yet +given up all hope of having her for his own.</p> + +<p>He would have just time to go to Samoa and +meet the <i>Bella Cuba</i> there, if he started at once. +The yacht would not leave Sydney Heads till +next day, according to the news in the telegram. +Then it would take her ten days more to reach +New Caledonia. There she was sure to remain +for some hours, at the very least. If he, Loria, +caught a certain "greyhound of the sea" which +was sailing from Cherbourg for New York the +following morning, took a fast express from +New York for San Francisco, and then sailed +immediately for Samoa, he could not fail to +be in time for the <i>Bella Cuba</i>. But the important +thing was to find an excuse to +account for his being there when the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> arrived.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was not, luckily for his present plan, supposed +to know for what parts the yacht had been +bound; therefore, if he went to Samoa to visit his +friend the French Consul, who had once really +invited him to do so, even Virginia need not +suspect his motive. His opportune appearance +might pass merely as a rather odd coincidence.</p> + +<p>If the <i>Bella Cuba</i> took away a fugitive on +board, the authorities at New Caledonia would +not remain idle. They would at once wire to +Sydney of a convict's escape, and the telegram +would be sent on to Samoa from there. A +description of the yacht would be given, and +inquiries would be made. But those inquiries! +It was because of them that Loria was ready to +make so strong an effort to be there in time. +Without him, the fugitive from justice might be +allowed to escape, despite the extradition treaty. +With him, Loria thought that he saw a way to +make the detention of the prisoner sure, and that +without showing the hand he played.</p> + +<p>He had not lost many hours in indecision. As +soon as he had made up his mind what to do, he +wired to find out if there were still a berth to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +had on board the New York bound ship sailing +from Cherbourg next day. Even if he had been +forced to travel in the steerage he would have +gone, though he keenly disliked physical hardships; +but he was fortunate, and obtained a good +cabin for himself. As soon as this matter was +arranged he left for Cherbourg; and next day, +on board his ship, gazing across the tumbled +gray expanse of sea, he thought of Virginia on +her little yacht, and smiled. About this time, +perhaps, the <i>Bella Cuba</i> was steaming boldly +from Sydney Heads, bound for New Caledonia—on +what strange, desperate errand, who could +tell? The girl's heart was beating high with +hope, no doubt. How little she guessed that, +half across the world, a man was setting forth to +defeat her plans, even if they attained success!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>STAND AND DELIVER!</h3> + + +<p>The Marchese Loria had always been lucky +in games of chance. In this biggest +game of all Fortune still stood behind him and, +with a guiding finger, pointed out the cards +to play.</p> + +<p>There were no delays in his programme. His +ship arrived in port precisely at the appointed +hour. He was able to go on immediately to +San Francisco. There he was just in time to +catch a boat for Samoa. He wired to his +friend, Monsieur de Letz, the French Consul, +that he was coming, and received an enthusiastic +welcome. The Consul was a bachelor, +approaching middle age, was intensely bored +with the monotony of life on an island of the +Pacific, and was ravished with the chance of +entertaining a personage so brilliant in the great +far-away world as the Marchese Loria. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +had a charming house, and a good cook; some +wine also, and cigars of the best. Loria arrived +at dinner-time, and afterward, smoking and +talking in the moonlight on a broad verandah, +the guest led up to the question he was half +dying to ask.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard any exciting news lately?" +he airily inquired, in a tone that hovered between +pleasantry and mystery.</p> + +<p>"Does one ever hear exciting news in this +place?" groaned the French Consul. "Nothing +has happened for years. Nothing is ever +likely to happen again now that we have become +so dull and peaceful here."</p> + +<p>"No news of another visitor?"</p> + +<p>"Another visitor?"</p> + +<p>"A gentleman from New Caledonia."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu!</i> How did you know that?"</p> + +<p>"Is it then so difficult to know, <i>mon ami</i>?"</p> + +<p>"One hopes so. It is not good that these +things should leak out and reach the public ear. +The information is very private. The authorities +at home and abroad do all they can to keep +it dark, and yet it seems——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My ear isn't exactly the 'public ear,' as +I'll presently explain. But it is a fact, then, +that a convict has escaped from the Ile Nou, +and you have got word that he is likely to turn +up here on board a steam yacht?"</p> + +<p>"It is a fact. I see you have the whole story. +But how did you get it?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you that later. First, just a question +or two, if you don't mind, for I happen to be +interested in the affair. How long ago did the +fellow get away—or rather, when may the yacht, +the <i>Bella Cuba</i>, be expected here, if at all?"</p> + +<p>"She might come in to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Loria gave a long sigh. He was lying back in +a big easy-chair and sending out ring after ring +of blue smoke, which he watched, as they disappeared, +with half-shut eyes. One would have +fancied him the embodiment of happy laziness, +unless one had chanced to notice the +tension of the fingers which grasped an arm +of the chair.</p> + +<p>"What will happen when she does come in?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, trouble for me, and nothing to show +for it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"—with a sudden +change of tone.</p> + +<p>"All I could do, I have done; which is to +inform the Government authorities here that on +board the expected yacht is a runaway <i>forçat</i> +belonging to France, and ask that he be arrested +on the yacht's arrival."</p> + +<p>"And then?"</p> + +<p>"Then a boat will go out to meet this <i>Bella +Cuba</i> as she comes into the harbour, and she +will be requested to give up the man. Her +people will say that there's no such person there, +and refuse to let any one on board."</p> + +<p>"But surely you could detain the yacht and +search? The <i>Bella Cuba</i> comes from Sydney +and New Caledonia. If you had reason to +believe that there was a case of plague on board, +for instance, the yacht would be quarantined."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but if she were detained, and the convict +found on board, he couldn't be identified +by any one here. There has been no time for a +photograph to arrive from New Caledonia. He +won't be dressed like a convict; his hair will have +grown. I have only the description telegraphed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +His friends will take care he doesn't answer to +that. Even if the Government fellows here had +any pluck and wanted to attempt an arrest they +wouldn't dare, with no one to identify the <i>forçat</i>. +You see, the yacht will be flying the English or +American flag, and so——"</p> + +<p>"I can identify him."</p> + +<p>"You? There is a mystery then. I scented +it at your first words."</p> + +<p>"Scarcely a mystery. You have been very +good to answer my questions. Answer one +more now, and I'll explain everything. Suppose +I can put you in the way of identifying this +man, without chance of error; suppose I can +put you up to a trick for detaining the yacht, +is there any hope, if I proved to you it would be +for your own advantage, as well as of everybody +else concerned, that you could have the man +arrested, and sent back where he deserves to be?"</p> + +<p>The Frenchman hesitated. Then he said +slowly, and more gravely than he had yet spoken: +"Yes, I think I could."</p> + +<p>"That is well, for he is a fiend in human +shape, not fit to be at large. Worse than all,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +if he escapes, he is almost certain to ruin the +life of the woman I love, and end my hopes of +winning her."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu!</i> We must send him back to New +Caledonia, to spend the rest of his life in the +Black Cell!" enthusiastically exclaimed De Letz. +"But my curiosity is on the stretch. A moment +more unsatisfied, and it snaps."</p> + +<p>"It shall be satisfied on the instant. I'll tell +you the story in as few words as may be. You +remember the crime committed by this fellow—for +of course you know that, before he was +Convict 1280, he was Maxime Dalahaide?"</p> + +<p>"I know that. I know he is a murderer. +But it is eight years, you must recollect, since I +was in France, long before the thing happened. +I took no particular interest in the crime, as I +had never met the Dalahaides. He killed a +woman: so much I recall. You were acquainted +with him, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"To my sorrow. I thought he was my friend. +He was a traitor. I cared for his sister. She +loved and would have married me; but because +I knew too much about him and his evil ways,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +he did not want me in the family. He told the +girl and her parents lies. They believed them +and sent me away. He borrowed huge sums +of money of me, and never paid—never +meant to pay. Always he was my secret enemy, +yet when the world knew he was a murderer I +strained every nerve to save his life, for his +sister's sake. I did save it. But for every +one concerned it was better that he should be +removed where he could no longer strike at +society, and I could scarcely regret his fate. +Four years passed; I loved again, this time a +beautiful American girl, the most perfect creature +I have ever seen, and a great heiress. +Madeleine Dalahaide had learned to detest me. +She prejudiced this girl against me, and, not +satisfied with that, excited her romantic nature +to sympathy for the murderer, as a victim of +injustice. The <i>Bella Cuba</i> is this girl's yacht—Miss +Beverly's. She bought it in the hope +of rescuing Maxime Dalahaide, and if he can +escape, there is little doubt that she will put her +hand in his, red though it is with a detestable +crime. She must be saved from so ghastly a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +fate. But if she learns that she owes the failure +of her plans to me, she will hate me to the death, +and I shall lose all hope of her; whereas, if my +agency in this affair could be hidden from her +knowledge, the chances are that, if I could keep +my head, I might win back her heart, after it is +healed from its first disappointment. Help +me to accomplish this, De Letz, for the sake of +old times, and there's nothing you can ask of +me that I will not do. Italian though I am, +you know that my French cousins have powerful +political influence. They shall use it to the +utmost for you, and get you what post you +please. I promise it—and I never break a +promise to a friend."</p> + +<p>"You fire me with your own enthusiasm!" +cried De Letz. "We shall work the thing between +us. But if you, and you alone, can +identify this man, how will your part in the business +be kept dark?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you how. I have brought several +photographs of him, which I have always kept +within reach. These I will give to you, and you +can use them. If possible, I should, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +like to appear, not in the character of an enemy, +but that of a friend. You may think this a low +way of playing the game; but, you know, 'all +is fair in love and war.' I want Miss Beverly +to think I am here at this time by chance; that +I have tried to soften your heart toward Dalahaide, +and that I come with you, not as your +ally against her, but to offer her and her cause +what help I can. Of course, I shall fail in that +effort, and you will win; but the little comedy +will have brought me the girl's gratitude, which +is worth all the world at this ticklish stage of +the game. Will you aid me to play the part on +these lines?"</p> + +<p>De Letz laughed. "So, I am to be the villain +of the piece? Well, I do not mind. We +will stage the play realistically, and I——"</p> + +<p>"And you will never regret your rôle in it," +returned Loria.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Before the <i>Bella Cuba</i> left Mentone all probable +contingencies of the mission had been +foreseen, and as far as possible provided for,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +by Roger Broom, George Trent, and Virginia +Beverly, in council. They had talked over +what must be done in case of failure or success, +and the only event which Virginia had not +felt able to discuss had been the death of one or +more of the three men concerned in the rescue. +They knew that, if the <i>Bella Cuba</i> should be +lucky enough to get away from New Caledonia +with Max Dalahaide on board, the news of the +convict's escape would certainly reach the next +port at which they must touch, before they +could arrive there. Virginia's hope had been, +after meeting the Countess de Mattos, that the +woman's confession would exculpate Maxime, +and that the peace of his future would be +secured by the great <i>coup</i> of "kidnapping" her. +But now this glimpse of brightness seemed likely +to prove a mirage. Virginia was as sure as ever +that Manuela de Mattos was Liane Devereux; +even Roger Broom's contrary opinion had been +somewhat shaken by the woman's horrified +shriek at sight of Max Dalahaide's white face +and tragic eyes in the moonlight. But the +Countess had hardened once more into marble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +self-control, and Maxime, after an hour or two +on board the yacht, had fallen into a state +of fever and delirium. For the time being he +could do nothing to assist in proving her identity; +indeed, even if he had kept his senses, he +might not have been able to swear that she was +Liane Devereux, so many were the differences +of personality. Months might have to pass +before the truth of the strange conjecture could +be proved—if it could ever be proved—while +the Countess de Mattos remained entrenched +in her strong position as a much injured and +innocent lady.</p> + +<p>They could not count upon her, and were +forced to rely wholly upon the plan formed +before the beautiful Manuela had entered into +their calculations. On reaching Samoa it was +to be, as George Trent expressed it, a "game +of bluff." One hope of saving Max lay in the +fact that no photograph of him could have +arrived from New Caledonia; there were a hundred +chances to one that there would be no one +at Samoa who had ever seen him; he could not, +therefore, be positively identified, and as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +<i>Bella Cuba</i>, owned by an American girl, flew +the stars and stripes, it was not likely that the +authorities would care to invite trouble by +attempting to detain a yacht sailing under +American colours. It was well known to the +initiated also, that successful "evasions" from +the French penal settlements were hushed up +with nervous caution whenever possible and +that the news of even an attempted escape was +seldom printed in French papers. This was +another advantage for the guilty <i>Bella Cuba</i>. +It might be considered better to let one convict +go free, than precipitate an international complication, +a world-wide sensation, especially as +there was no one with a personal interest to +serve in recovering this particular prisoner.</p> + +<p>They steamed boldly on toward Samoa. The +morning that the island was sighted, Dr. Grayle +had pronounced Max Dalahaide better. The +delirium had passed. He was quiet, though +still very weak.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he wouldn't be able to confront +that wicked woman and accuse her to her face?" +asked Virginia of the little brown man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dr. Grayle shook his head. "Not yet," he +said. "Our motto must be forward, but not +too fast. He isn't fit yet for any strong excitement, +since we don't want to risk a relapse now +that he's getting on so well. I was rather +afraid the sight of all those souvenirs of the +past in his cabin would upset him when he +should be in a state of mind to recognize them, +but the effect has apparently been precisely +opposite. At first, before he entirely realized +things, and remembered where he was and +how he had got there, he seemed to think that +he was at home, and was continually talking +to his mother or sister, or calling for his father, +sometimes in English, sometimes in French. +Now he knows all, and when he heard how it was +your thought and his sister's to have so many +familiar objects surrounding him, to give an +atmosphere of home to the cabin prepared in +case of a rescue, the tears came to his eyes, +and he turned away his head on the pillow +to hide them from me. He believes that, even +in his unconsciousness, these things must have +made an impression upon his mind, and by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +their soothing influence drawn his thought +toward home, otherwise he must have raved +about the prison in his delirium, instead of +returning to old, happy days. So you see, Miss +Beverly, he has one more reason to thank you, +this poor fellow who has suffered so much, and +kept so brave and strong through all."</p> + +<p>Virginia had been pale of late, but she +flushed at these words. "You believe him +innocent, Dr. Grayle!" she exclaimed. "You +wouldn't speak of him like that unless it were so."</p> + +<p>"No one could have been with him as I have +these past few days, and not believe him innocent," +said the little doctor in his quiet voice. +"Sir Roger thinks as I do, too, now. You +will be glad to hear that."</p> + +<p>"I am glad," Virginia answered. But Roger +was not glad. Above all things he was just—sometimes +in spite of himself. He had helped +to nurse Max Dalahaide; he had changed his +opinion of him, and felt bound to say so; yet +he was not glad to change. He would have +preferred to go on believing Dalahaide a +guilty man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p> + +<p>Virginia had not the key to Roger's heart, +however, and she did not know that he had the +key to hers—to one hidden place there into +which she had hardly dared to look. She +would have kept it always locked, even from +herself, if she could; but because she knew that +there was something there to hide, she invited +Roger to go with her when Max sent word +through Dr. Grayle, begging to see his hostess. +She did not want Roger to be present when she +talked with Maxime Dalahaide for the first +time since his escape. She would have liked +to be alone with him, if that had been possible; +but for the very reason that the wish was so +strong in her heart, she denied it. Her cousin +Roger had risked his life to please her, and she +had a promise to keep. She meant to keep it; +and he had a right to be by her side when she +went to the man whom he had so nobly helped +to save.</p> + +<p>But Roger refused. "No, dear," he said. +"Soon we shall be in the harbour at Samoa. +There is plenty to do. I want to be on hand +with George to do it. Let Dr. Grayle take you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +to Maxime. He will know how long and how +much it is best for him to talk."</p> + +<p>"We will be in harbour so soon?" exclaimed +Virginia. "The Countess! She will try to get +away, you know."</p> + +<p>"She'll try in vain," responded Roger. "We +won't give her a boat."</p> + +<p>"But there'll be ships and boats in the harbour. +She may call for help, and make us +trouble."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to her," said Roger. "I don't think +we shall get much good out of detaining her; +but we've gone so far now, we may as well go +a little further."</p> + +<p>They were talking in the saloon, out of which +the cabins opened, but they had spoken in low +voices, guarding against being overheard. Nor +could they have been overheard, unless by some +one making a special effort to listen. Such an +effort the Countess de Mattos was making. +She had kept to her cabin since the eventful +night of the escape from New Caledonia, and +had demanded her meals and other attentions +with the air of an insulted queen claiming her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +just rights. She always bent herself eagerly +to listen when she heard the murmur of voices +in the saloon, especially if they seemed to be +suppressed. She did not now catch every word, +but she heard "the harbour of Samoa"; "soon +in"; "the Countess—try to get away"; "call +for help—make us trouble"; "I'll see to her"; +and she pressed her lips together in fierce anger, +her delicate nostrils quivering.</p> + +<p>From her porthole she had not seen the land +in sight, and had had no means of knowing that +the time for her to act was so near at hand. +Since the night of her terrible shock, she had +revolved many plans in her mind, but the only +one upon which she had definitely decided +was to leave the <i>Bella Cuba</i> at all costs, and as +soon as possible. Her nerves were not in a state +to stand an indefinite strain, and she realized +that she could not bear much more. Even with +the chlorodyne and absinthe she hardly slept +now, and she scarcely cared to project her +thoughts beyond the time of escape from the +hateful yacht.</p> + +<p>Now, she had one thing for which to thank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +Virginia Beverly; the suggestion that she should +call for help when the <i>Bella Cuba</i> had steamed +into the harbour of Samoa. At once her excitable +brain seized the picturesqueness of a dramatic +situation. She saw herself, effectively dressed, +rushing to the rail and hailing any passing ship +which might be nearest. Sir Roger Broom, +or her late friend George Trent, might try to +stop her, but their violence would be seen from +some other ship, and her cause against them +would be strengthened.</p> + +<p>Surely her appeals would not be ignored; +men, of whatever class or country, were never +blind to the distress of a woman as beautiful +as she. Yes, she would be rescued. The +story that she would tell must rouse indignation +against Virginia Beverly and her companions. +She herself had nothing to fear—nothing. +And the man on whose advice she had +spent years of exile would admire her more than +ever, when he knew what she had endured, +without breaking down. The end of her probation +had come. The reason for delay had +disappeared now, after all these years. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +would marry, he and she, and he would help +her to forget the past.</p> + +<p>Manuela's reflections did not cause her to +waste time. They were a mere accompaniment +to her rapid action. Virginia had said +they would soon be in the harbour. She must +prepare herself to leave the yacht, and get ready +to carry with her such things as were indispensable. +Hurriedly she threw off the <i>robe de +chambre</i> of silk and lace which she had been +wearing, and put on a charming dress, suitable +for travelling. The long outstanding account for +this <i>confection</i> had been paid with Virginia +Beverly's money; but that was a detail.</p> + +<p>When she was ready to go up on deck—which +she would do as soon as the yacht dropped +anchor—she took her jewels from the large +leather box where they were kept, and wrapping +everything in a soft silk scarf, she stuffed the +thick parcel into a handbag, which already held +several mysterious-looking bottles with the labels +carefully taken off. This bag was always locked, +except when the Countess was at her toilet; +then, for a brief time, the bottles came out,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +and a few tiny boxes and brushes; but she +never forgot to put them back into the bag +again, turn the key, and slip the latter on to the +gold key-ring which she wore on her chatelaine.</p> + +<p>The bag packed with jewels, as well as its +legitimate contents, Manuela turned her attention +to the larger luggage. This she could not +carry away with her, if she were gallantly +rescued from her sea-prison by a <i>coup d'état</i>; +but it would be as well to have the things which +she most valued ready to go later. She had +filled her cabin-box, and was in the act of locking it, +when the yacht's screw ceased to throb. +The <i>Bella Cuba</i> had stopped. Orders were +being shouted up above; and then came a +grinding sound as the anchor was slowly dropped. +The Countess de Mattos knew that they must +be in the harbour of Samoa. She flung open +the door of her cabin and stepped out into the +saloon. There sat George Trent, who, as she +appeared, looked up from a book which he was +reading, or seemed to read.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Countess," he said coolly, +rising and flinging away his book. "I'm glad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +you're better, but I don't think, now I see +you in the light, that you look well enough +to be out."</p> + +<p>"I was never ill," she answered haughtily—for +Virginia Beverly's brother could only be an +enemy.</p> + +<p>"It's mighty brave of you to try and keep up +like this," said George, "but that was a bad +attack of yours the other night. I can see +you're not fit yet. You'd better go back and +lie down while we coal. The blacks will be +flying around, you know, and you'll get them +in your lungs."</p> + +<p>"Let me pass," exclaimed the Countess, +making a rush to push by him and reach the +companionway.</p> + +<p>"I'd do a good deal for you, Countess, but +I can't do that," retorted George. "It's against +the doctor's orders."</p> + +<p>"How dare you!" she panted. "Oh, you +shall suffer for this!"</p> + +<p>"All I'm worried about now is that <i>you</i> don't +suffer. You really mustn't excite yourself. It's +not good, you know. It's as much as my place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +is worth to let you upstairs. I expect it would +be the best thing for your health to go and lie +down, but if you won't do that, why, I'll try +and entertain you here as well as I can."</p> + +<p>The beautiful woman looked the tall young +man full in the eyes, hers dilated and burning +with the impotent fury in her soul. She was +wise enough to see that he was not to be beguiled. +If he, like other men, had his price, +nothing that she could offer would pay it. He +did not mean to let her go up on deck, and it +would be as useless as undignified to attempt +carrying out her will with a high hand. If there +were any hope, it was in stratagem. Without +breaking another lance against the impenetrable +armour of his obstinacy, she turned her +back upon him, swept into her cabin, and shut +the door. Having done so—her little bag still +grasped in her hand—she flew to the porthole +and peered out. If a boat had been passing, +or a ship at anchor visible near by, she +would have screamed for help; but nothing +promising was to be seen for the moment.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Virginia had spent the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +heavenly half-hour of her life. She had been +so divinely happy that she had forgotten the +danger ahead. To sit beside Max Dalahaide, +to meet his eyes, tragic no longer, but bright +with passionate gratitude; to know that he was +out of danger, that he would live, and owe his +life to her and hers; to hear the thanks, spoken +stammeringly, but straight from his heart, filled +her with an ecstasy such as she had never +known. It was akin to pain, and yet it was +worth dying for, just to have felt it once.</p> + +<p>She was with him still when the yacht dropped +anchor.</p> + +<p>"This is Samoa?" he said, half rising on his +elbow, and a quick flush springing to his thin +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Virginia answered. "But there is +no danger. My cousin says they will dare nothing. +We shall have coaled in a couple of hours, +and then——"</p> + +<p>At this moment a sound of voices came +through the open porthole, which was on the +side of the yacht opposite to Manuela's.</p> + +<p>Some one in a boat was calling to some one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +on the deck of the <i>Bella Cuba</i>; and evidently +the boat was near.</p> + +<p>Virginia's sentence broke off. She forgot +what she had been saying, and sprang to her +feet, her heart in her throat. It was the Marchese +Loria's voice that she had heard.</p> + +<p>What could his presence here signify? Did +it mean unexpected disaster? Involuntarily her +frightened glance went to Maxime's face. Their +eyes met. She saw in his that he, too, had +recognized those once familiar tones.</p> + +<p>"I will go on deck," she said brokenly, trying +to control her voice. "I—when I can I +will come back again. And—of course, Dr. +Grayle, you will stay here."</p> + +<p>"You may trust me," said the little brown +man, with meaning in his words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE GAME OF BLUFF</h3> + + +<p>Roger Broom had seen the boat coming +from afar. Already the lighters were +alongside, and the process of coaling was about +to begin. This would be got through as soon +as possible, and necessary provisions bought +from the boats plying from the town with +fresh milk, butter, eggs, meat, fowls, and +green vegetables. But Roger knew well that, +expedite their business as they might, the +<i>Bella Cuba</i> would not steam out of the +harbour without a challenge from the law. +The only shock of surprise he experienced +at sight of the official-looking little craft, +making straight for the yacht, was in recognizing +the Marchese Loria, the last man he +had expected to see.</p> + +<p>As he stood on deck beside the quartermaster +near the rail, Loria hailed him by name, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +the boat came alongside, and the four rowers +shipped their dripping oars.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sir Roger, you are surprised to see me!" +the Marchese cried. "But, by our old friendship, +I hope you will let me come on board. +These gentlemen in the boat with me are the +United States Consul, Mr. Chandler; the French +Consul, Monsieur de Letz; and Herr Dr. Sauber, +the medical officer for the health of the port."</p> + +<p>"Speaking for Miss Beverly as well as myself, +we shall be very pleased to see you," said Roger. +"Herr Dr. Sauber's business with us it is easy +to guess, and he is prompt in carrying it out. +Mr. Chandler and Monsieur de Letz are, no +doubt, your friends, Marchese, who have come +with you to pay us a friendly visit. We shall +be delighted to entertain them on board as well +as we can during the dreary process of coaling."</p> + +<p>"I can't let you receive us on false pretenses, +sir," replied the United States Consul. "My +business and that of Monsieur de Letz is not +wholly friendly, unfortunately, although we +are both particularly anxious it should be carried +out in a friendly spirit. It is in this hope that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +certain formalities have been waived. It is, as +you know, your duty to receive Dr. Sauber on +board, and as you fly the American colours it is +your duty to receive me as the representative +of the authority of the United States."</p> + +<p>"Charmed, I'm sure, to see you in any +capacity," said Roger, his tone unchanged. +"Though what the authority of the United States +should have to do in procuring us the pleasure, +I——"</p> + +<p>"The authority of the United States supports +France, as it is bound to do, in accordance with +the extradition treaty, in demanding that you +give up the fugitive convict, 1280, who came on +board your yacht at New Caledonia."</p> + +<p>"We have no convict with us," retorted Roger.</p> + +<p>"In that case you cannot object to search +being made," said Monsieur de Letz.</p> + +<p>"We do most certainly object to being insulted," +Roger replied. "Mr. Chandler, the +owner of this yacht is an American lady, Miss +Beverly. I call upon you as her Consul to +protect her interests, not to sacrifice them."</p> + +<p>"Sir Roger," Loria broke in, before Chandler<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +could answer, "I beg once more that you will +let me come on board with the doctor as a friend. +I will explain why, when we can talk together. +Though I am with these gentlemen, their errand +is not mine."</p> + +<p>"The doctor I feel bound to receive," said +Roger. "But Miss Beverly, it seems to me, has +as much right to choose who her guests shall be +on board her own yacht as in her own house. If +she were here to speak for herself——"</p> + +<p>"She is here to speak for herself," said Virginia, +at his shoulder. "Marchese Loria, I +invite you to come on board. I invite also the +United States Consul, whose protection I claim. +But I do not choose to have other guests."</p> + +<p>"The health officer has a right to board us, +you know, Virginia," said Roger in a loud tone; +then close to her ear: "Hang it all! we are more +or less at their mercy. We can't get away +without coaling, and they know it. Our poor +little cannon are of no use to us here. We +can't afford to defy any of the powers interested; +they've got too many gunboats in the harbour. +Bluff is our game, and we've got to play it for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +all it's worth. But you're perfectly right about +the Consul. Only, if you don't want Loria, +you needn't——"</p> + +<p>"I do want him," Virginia hastily whispered—"for +a special reason. And I want to talk +to him alone. But for heaven's sake keep the +Frenchman off! Who knows what <i>coup</i> he +may be planning?"</p> + +<p>As if in answer, though he could not possibly +have heard, De Letz announced from the boat +that he did not wish to insist upon boarding the +yacht. He would trust his business in Mr. +Chandler's hands, since the lady preferred it. +This easy-going courtesy alarmed Virginia. +She felt instinctively that the enemy had a +strong trump with which to confound her +unexpectedly. Still, if she did not quite see +the enemy's game, at least they could not see +hers.</p> + +<p>The gangway was let down. Loria, Chandler, +and the medical officer of the port came on board. +Then the gangway was drawn up, though the +French Consul and the four oarsmen sat placidly +in the boat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>The purser, who was busy receiving stores, +was sent for, to be interviewed by the doctor. +Roger, standing by, gave half his attention to +the conversation between these two, and half +to the United States Consul, who plunged at +once into the subject of the escaped convict.</p> + +<p>Monsieur de Letz had informed him, he +announced, that if the fugitive were not given +up to justice by the American yacht, it would +be regarded by France as a direct and deliberate +affront. Meanwhile, the medical officer bombarded +the unfortunate purser with questions. +What ports had been visited? Where had the +passengers been taken on? None since Alexandria? +Humph! Alexandria was considered +an infected port at present. Any one ill on +board? No? Where, then, were the remaining +members of the party? In their cabins? +The doctor must ask, as a mere matter of form, +to see them.</p> + +<p>Roger Broom's lips were suddenly compressed. +So this was the game. He saw it all now. The +doctor was in the plot. He meant to detain the +yacht in quarantine. If he succeeded in doing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +this, Maxime Dalahaide was lost. Everything +else they had thought of, but not this.</p> + +<p>"May I speak with you alone, Miss Beverly?" +Loria had begun to plead, the instant he had +set foot on deck. "Believe me, it is partly for +your own sake, partly for the sake of others +whose welfare is dear to you, that I ask it."</p> + +<p>It was the thing for which Virginia had been +wishing. "Come down with me into the +saloon," she said.</p> + +<p>"Could we not speak here, at a little distance +from the others?" urged Loria, who knew that +the doctor intended to visit the cabins.</p> + +<p>"It is better below," the girl answered. She +was determined to be already in the saloon +before the others came down. "Come quickly, +and we can talk without being disturbed."</p> + +<p>There was nothing for Loria to do but to +obey.</p> + +<p>They went down the companionway; and +George Trent, on guard with his book near the +Countess de Mattos's cabin door, jumped up at +sight of Loria.</p> + +<p>"What, you here, Marchese?" he began.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +But Virginia cut him short with a look and +gesture both imploring and imperative.</p> + +<p>"Leave us, George, I beg," she said. "Later, +there will be time for explanations."</p> + +<p>Without a word, the young man bowed and +walked away. But he did not go farther than +his cabin. He wished to be at hand if he were +needed, as he might be, by and by.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the stateroom door stood +the Countess, half crouching, like a splendid +tigress ready to spring.</p> + +<p>"Marchese," George Trent had said. Who +was this Marchese? Could it be possible that +it was the one man of all others for whom her +heart had cried out? Had his soul, in some +mysterious, supernatural way, heard her soul +calling to him across the world? Had he +heard, and come to her here, to save her from +her enemies? In another moment she must +hear the voice of the newcomer whom George +had addressed as "Marchese," and then she +would know.</p> + +<p>Even as she told herself this, schooling her +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>impatience, the voice spoke. "Miss Beverly—Virginia," +it said brokenly, imploringly, "for +the love of heaven don't misjudge me. I came +with those men to-day, not to help them, but +to help you—if I can. You must know I +would give my life to serve you. My life, do I +say? I would give my soul. It was in ignorance +of what would happen that I visited Samoa. +The French Consul is an old school friend. He +told me everything—I mean, the news from +New Caledonia. He has photographs of Maxime. +I tried to get them away, without his +knowledge, but I didn't succeed. You must +not be embroiled further in this terrible affair. +The best thing is for you to give the poor fellow +up, and I swear to you that, for your sake, and +for his—even though I believe him guilty—I +will find some means of saving him. The +doctor has been promised all sorts of favours +if he will state that there is a suspicious case +of illness on board; a stateroom door locked +against him will be enough to raise suspicions +that you are hiding a case of plague. You can +do nothing. Unless you give Maxime up, and +it is seen that you have a clean bill of health,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +you will be detained indefinitely in quarantine. +Further advices will arrive from New Caledonia, +representations will be made to the authorities +here, it will become an international question, +and you will be forced to surrender the escaped +prisoner. Maxime will then be lost, for I +should be unable to help him, if things had +gone so far—the hue and cry would be too +furious. De Letz is determined to thwart +you, but he doesn't know that I am a secret +ally of your plans. Trust to me. Give Maxime +up while there is time, and you will never +repent it."</p> + +<p>"You make brave promises, Marchese," returned +Virginia. "But you do not name your +price. I suppose, like other men, you have +a price for what you say you can do?"</p> + +<p>"I make no conditions," answered Loria. +"It hurts me that you could think of it. All +I want is a little gratitude from you—ah, no, I +cannot say that is all I <i>want</i>. Only, it is all +I ask. What I want more than anything on +earth, more than anything which even Heaven +could give, is the treasure of your love. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +that, I could fight my way, and Maxime Dalahaide's +way, through the place of lost spirits, +and laugh at the tortures of Hades. I dare not +ask for that treasure now. Give me what you +can, that is all, and my life's blood is yours, for +I worship you, Virginia. I dream of you night +and day. If I cannot have you for my wife, +I shall go to my grave unmarried, and the +sooner the better. There's nothing but you +in the world; no other woman but you; there +never has been for me, and never will be."</p> + +<p>"It's false!" cried the voice of a woman, +husky with passion; and throwing open the +door of her cabin, the Countess de Mattos stood +on the threshold, not six feet distant from the +two in the saloon.</p> + +<p>Carried away on the tide of his very real love +for Virginia Beverly, whose pale, spiritualized +beauty had gone to his head like wine, the hot-blooded +Italian was at a disadvantage. Strength +had gone out of him in his appeal. Physically +and mentally he was spent.</p> + +<p>The passionate voice, the flaming eyes of the +woman suddenly seen in the doorway, struck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +him like a double blow aimed at a drowning +man. "Liane!" he cried, before he could +regain the self-mastery which meant all the +difference between life and death.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she flung at him in French, "I <i>am</i> +Liane—Liane Devereux. Come, every one, +and hear what I have to say. This man is a +traitor—traitorous friend and treacherous +lover!" She stopped for an instant, and threw +a glance round the saloon. Loria and Virginia +Beverly were no longer alone there. George +Trent, Sir Roger Broom, Kate Gardiner, and +two men who were strangers had suddenly +appeared as if by a conjuring trick. The +woman stood with her head held high, like some +magnificent wild creature of the forest at bay, +fearing nothing save loss of vengeance. She +was glad that all these people had come. The +more there were to hear the tale she meant to +tell, the more sure the stroke of her revenge. +Yes, she was glad, glad! And though she died +for it, under the knife of the guillotine, she +would ruin the man who had deceived her.</p> + +<p>"He pretended to love me," she went on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +"But now I know that he never did, for when +he vowed love and devotion his voice did not +once sound as I have heard it now, speaking +to that white-faced girl when he did not dream +I was near.</p> + +<p>"I am Liane Devereux, not a Portuguese +woman, not the Countess de Mattos, therefore +Maxime Dalahaide is not a murderer, since I +live. It was the Marchese Loria who arranged +everything—even my name, and credentials, +and proofs of my identity as Manuela de Mattos, +in case they were ever needed. Oh, there was +nothing neglected. But now I know that it +was not for my sake, as I thought, but to serve +his own ends, and I am willing to die to hold +him back from success.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you the whole story from the +beginning. Five years ago I was an actress in +Paris. I made two or three failures. A powerful +dramatic critic had vowed to drive me off +the stage. He had begun his work; and at +this perilous time in my career, just as I had +quarrelled with my manager, Maxime Dalahaide +fell in love with me. I thought he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +rich. It occurred to me that if I became his +wife I could leave the stage in a blaze of glory. +Besides, he was brilliant and handsome. I +was flattered by his admiration, and felt that it +would be easy to love him. I did all I could to +win an offer of marriage from him. When it +came I accepted. But soon after our engagement +his father lost a great deal of money. I +realized that Maxime would not be as good a +match as I had counted upon making. Still, +I did not throw him over; for by that time I +cared for his handsome face, and I was of far +too jealous a nature to risk throwing him into +the arms of another woman. If we parted, I +thought I knew to what woman he would turn. +There was an English girl singing at the Opera +Comique, whose name at one time had been +coupled with Maxime Dalahaide's. She had +a good voice and a pretty enough face, but she +would not have succeeded in Paris, people +whispered, if Maxime had not helped her. I +had spoken to him of this girl, and he had denied +caring for her. She was a very ordinary, +uninteresting creature, apart from her beauty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +he said; but she had been friendless and in +hard luck, and as he was half English himself, +he had done what he could to aid a lonely and +deserving young countrywoman, that was all. +Still, I was never sure that he was not deceiving +me. Altogether, in those days, I was unhappy. +The Marchese Loria, Maxime's best friend—as +I thought—was very sympathetic. He came +often to see me, both with Maxime and alone. +One day they quarrelled in my house. It was +Loria who began it. He accused Maxime +of prejudicing his sister Madeleine against him, +and Maxime admitted that, though he loved +Loria, he did not think he would made a good +husband, and did not wish him to marry Madeleine. +With a look of jealous hatred in his +eyes, which I have never forgotten, Loria cried +out that Maxime had always taken away from +him everything he wanted most—love of +friends and women, popularity, all that a man +values in life. Then, almost before Maxime +could answer to vow that never, consciously, +had he been Loria's rival or injured him in any +way, Loria begged forgiveness, said he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> +spoken in anger—that in his heart he did not +mean a word. So the quarrel—if quarrel +you could call it—was made up. But I +guessed then that Loria had never really loved +Maxime.</p> + +<p>"It was only a few days after this that I found +myself in great trouble with my creditors. Maxime +had had too many losses to help me much, +though he lent me two or three thousand francs. +I asked him to pawn my jewels, which were +worth a good deal, and to do it in his own name. +It was Loria who put this idea into my head. +He said that by this means I should prevent the +pawn-tickets from being seized by other +creditors. Late that very afternoon, when, +against his will, Maxime had taken my jewels, +the English girl, Olive Sinclair, came to my flat, +saying that she must talk to me of an affair of +great importance to us both. I was curious, +and my jealousy was up in arms. She was +admitted by my maid, who was just going out +for the whole evening, by my permission.</p> + +<p>"Olive Sinclair came in. We were alone +together in the flat. She began by saying that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +she was going to England by the late boat that +night, and that Maxime Dalahaide was going +with her. As soon as possible, the girl went +on, they would be married at a registrar's office, +and the marriage kept secret from his family +until she came of age the next year, when she +would inherit a fortune, which she should be +only too glad to share with her beloved Maxime. +She had heard, she said, that I went about boasting +everywhere of my engagement to Maxime +Dalahaide, and that she could bear it no longer, +so she had come to tell me the real truth, and +humble my pride. Perhaps I would not have +believed her if I had not known that Maxime +<i>did</i> intend to go to England that night. He had +told me that he wanted to see an uncle there +on business. At once his story seemed improbable. +I believed that the girl was telling me the +truth. I have always had a hot temper, which +often escapes beyond control. A wave of rage +rushed up to my head, and made a red flame +leap before my eyes. As the girl talked on, +smiling insolently, I struck her in my passion. +She staggered, and fell on the floor, her head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +pressed up against the fender in a curious way. +Dear heaven, I can see her now, lying there, +her eyes staring wide open, seeming to look at +me, her lips apart! She did not cry out or +move; and as I stood watching her, frightened +at what I had done, a few drops of blood began to +ooze from her mouth.</p> + +<p>"I went down on my knees, and shook her +by the shoulder, calling her name; but her +head fell on one side, as if she had been a horrid +dummy made of rags; and still her eyes were +staring and her blood-stained lips smiling that +foolish, awful smile. It was at this moment +that I heard a knocking at the door.</p> + +<p>"At first I kept quite still, dazed, not knowing +what I should do. But then I thought it +might be Maxime, who had changed his mind +about selling the jewels, and come back soon +to tell me. I was in the mood to see him at +whatever cost. I called through the door to +know who was there. Loria's voice answered. +I let him in, explained confusedly what had +happened, and begged him to bring the girl +back to consciousness. Five minutes later he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +told me that she was dead. In falling, and +striking against the fender, she had broken +her neck.</p> + +<p>"'What is to become of me?' I asked. 'I +did not mean to kill her, and yet—I am a +murderess. Will they send me to the guillotine +for this?'</p> + +<p>"'No, because I will save you,' Loria answered. +Then, quickly, he made me understand +the scheme that had come into his mind. +So cunning, so wonderfully thought out it was, +that I asked myself if he had somehow planned +all that had happened; if he had sent the girl to +me, and told her to say what she had said, +counting on my hot blood for some such sequel +as really followed. But I could not see any +motive for such plotting, and in a moment I +forgot my strange suspicions, in gratitude for +his offer to save me. Sometimes I had fancied +that, in spite of his wish to marry Madeleine +Dalahaide, he loved me; now he swore to me +the truth of this, and I was scarcely surprised. +He would give everything he had in the world +to save me, he said. What a fool I was to believe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> +him! All I had to do in return was to promise +that I would obey implicitly. Gladly I promised, +and I did not falter even when the full +horror of his plan was revealed. It was that +or a disgraceful, terrible death for me. Oh, I +would have done anything then to escape the +guillotine!</p> + +<p>"First of all he made me write a letter to +Maxime, telling him that I hated him and never +wished to see him again; that I loved another +man better. I did this gladly. That was +nothing. And Loria let me go out and send +the letter, while he began the awful work which +had to come next. I thanked him for that. I +had not nerve enough left to help much after +what I had gone through.</p> + +<p>"When I came back to the flat after sending +off the letter, Loria unlocked the door for me. +Already the worst was over.</p> + +<p>"His idea was for me to escape and let it +seem that <i>I</i> had been murdered. This could +be done, because Olive Sinclair would not be +missed. She had given up her rooms to leave +for England that night. In a bag hanging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +from her belt were her tickets for train and boat. +We were of much the same figure. Loria, in +speaking to me of her before, had mentioned +this slight resemblance. Her hair was brown, +while mine was red-gold. Hers would have +to be bleached, now that she lay dead. But +there was no great difficulty in that, for I +had the stuff in the house, as I used it in +very small quantities to give extra brightness +to mine.</p> + +<p>"While I had been gone Loria had fired shot +after shot into the poor dead face, from a +revolver, which he did not show me. Afterward, +when I was far away, I heard that the +weapon was Maxime's; but, honestly, I did not +think at the time that Maxime would be implicated +in this affair. I was half mad. I +thought only of myself, and of Loria's self-sacrifice. +Already I could have worshipped +him for what he was doing to save me.</p> + +<p>"He shot the hands, too, that they might +be shattered, for Olive Sinclair's hands were +not like mine; but before he did that, he +had slipped two or three of my rings, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +he had found on my dressing-table, upon the +dead fingers.</p> + +<p>"All this was finished when I dragged myself +home. But together we bleached the dark hair +till it was the colour of mine, and together we +dressed the body in my clothes, Loria having +removed the gown before he used the revolver. +Oh, the horror of that scene! It is part of my +punishment that I live it over often at night. +At last we arranged the shattered hands to look +as if the girl had flung them up to protect her +face from the murderer.</p> + +<p>"I put on her travelling dress, and her hat, +with a thick veil of my own. Meanwhile, a +knock had come at the door. I feared that the +shots had been heard, and that we would be +arrested. But Loria quieted me. He said the +revolver was small, and had made scarcely any +sound; that, as no one lived in the flat above +or just underneath, it was quite safe. We did +not answer the knock, though it came again and +again. But afterward, in the letter-box on the +door, there was a packet containing the money +which Maxime had got from the pawnbroker<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +for my jewels. That I took with me, and Loria +gave me more. Whether Maxime himself +brought the money, or sent it by messenger, +I did not know; but, afterward, the <i>concierge</i> +bore witness that he had passed into the house +before the murder must have taken place, and +gone out long afterward. And dimly I remembered, +in thinking of Loria as he had looked +in that dreadful hour, that he had worn a coat +and hat like Maxime's. How can I tell what +were the details of his scheme? But when +Maxime was accused of the murder, and Loria +made no effort to exonerate him, it took all my +faith in the Marchese as a lover to believe that +he was sacrificing his friend wholly for my sake. +As for me—why should I give myself up to +the guillotine for a man who would have betrayed +me for an Olive Sinclair—especially when +he was not condemned to death, but only to +imprisonment?</p> + +<p>"I went to England in Olive Sinclair's place. +Fortunately for me, she had no relatives. No +one asked questions, no one cared what had +become of her. She was not a celebrity, in spite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +of the way in which Maxime Dalahaide had +worked to help her. After a while I left England +for Portugal. Meanwhile I had dyed my hair, +and stained my complexion with a wonderful +clear olive stain which does not hurt the skin, +and shows the colour through. Here are the +things I use, in this bag. I keep it always +locked and ready to my hand.</p> + +<p>"Loria bought me a little land and an old +ruined house near Lisbon, belonging to an +ancient family, of whom the last member had +died. The title went with the land. It was +supposed that I was a distant cousin, with +money, and a sentiment of love for the old +place. But really I hated it. It was dull—deadly +dull. I travelled as much as possible, +and Loria had promised that at the end of the +five years he would marry me, saying always +that he loved me well; that if he had sinned +it was for love of me, and to save me. When +the world had forgotten the affair of Maxime +Dalahaide we would be married, and live in +countries where no one had heard the story, +and nothing would remind us of the past. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +forced myself to believe him, for he was my all—all +that was left to me in exile. But now +I know him for what he is. I would swear +that he planned everything from the beginning +to ruin Maxime Dalahaide. He here to +help his old enemy! No, it is he who must have +set the bloodhounds on his track. I fight under +Loria's banner no longer. He loves Virginia +Beverly. Now that she knows him as +he is, and what he has done for hatred, let +her put her hand in his if she will."</p> + +<p>The woman's voice fell from a shrill height +into silence. Her olive-stained face was ash-gray +with exhaustion. No one had interrupted, +or tried to check the fierce flood of the confession, +not even Loria. All had stood listening, +breathless; and Virginia had known that, +behind the door of his locked cabin, Maxime +Dalahaide must hear every clear-cadenced word +of fine, Parisian French.</p> + +<p>Loria had stood listening with the rest, a +sneer on his lips, though his eyes burned with +a deep fire. If he had taken a step, hands +would have been thrust out to stop him. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +he did not move except, in the midst of +Liane Devereux's story, to play nervously +with an old-fashioned ring of twisted, jewel-headed +serpents on the third finger of his +left hand.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the woman finished, he raised +the hand to his lips and seemed to bite the +finger with the ring. Then he dropped his +hand and looked at his accomplice with a +strained smile. But the smile froze; the lips +quivered into a slight grimace. His eyes, +glittering with agony, turned to Virginia.</p> + +<p>"I loved you," he said, and fell forward on +his face.</p> + +<p>"He has taken poison!" exclaimed Chandler, +the United States Consul. "It must have +been in that queer ring."</p> + +<p>He and Roger Broom and George Trent +and the German doctor pressed round the +prostrate figure, but the woman who had +denounced him was before them all. With a cry +she rushed to the fallen man, and, flinging herself +down, caught up the hand with the ring. +They saw what she meant to do, and would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> +have snatched her away, but already her lips +had touched the spot where his had been, and +found the same death.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The whole situation was changed by the unexpected +developments on board the <i>Bella Cuba</i>. +Dr. Sauber had relinquished, indeed, almost +forgotten, the clever plan by which the yacht +was to be detained. The French Consul, +Loria's host, was hurriedly brought on board, +to be dumbfounded by a recital of what had +happened. With Loria dead, and guilty, the +fugitive concealed on the <i>Bella Cuba</i> innocent, +De Letz's personal motive for detaining the +prisoner disappeared. His chivalry was fired +by Virginia's beauty and the brave part she had +played. In the end, instead of making difficulties +for the party, he consented to take charge +of his friend's body and that of Liane Devereux, +which latter duty was his by right, as consul +to the country from which she came. The +dead man and dead woman would be carried +ashore in the boat which had brought the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +four men out to the yacht; and De Letz would, +acting on the statement of those who had heard +the confession, make such representations to +France as would eventually obtain for Maxime +Dalahaide a free pardon with permission to +return to his own land. Meanwhile he (De +Letz) reiterated that it was as much his duty +as before to bring about the arrest of the +escaped convict, who had no more right to +break his prison bonds if innocent than if +he were guilty. To bring it about if possible! +But—<i>was</i> it possible? And the Frenchman +shrugged his shoulders, half smiling at Virginia. +Mr. Chandler advised him that, in the +present circumstances, it would be unwise to +make the attempt. De Letz was inclined +to agree, and, as Dr. Sauber had apparently +found a clean bill of health, the <i>Bella Cuba</i> +must take her own sweet way, rebel though +she was.</p> + +<p>So when the yacht had finished coaling she +steamed out of the harbour of Samoa with +Convict 1280 still on board.</p> + +<p>Virginia's desire was to make for America,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +and to send for Madeleine, who had been living +all this time with her aunt in an old Surrey +manor-house belonging to Roger Broom. The +brother and sister should stay at her house in +Virginia until Maxime was free to return to +France, and he would grow strong and well, +and everybody concerned would be happy. It +would be madness, she urged, for Maxime to +put himself in the power of French law until +such time as his innocence was officially +acknowledged.</p> + +<p>But Maxime thought otherwise. His innocence +had been declared, and would sooner +or later be acknowledged. The manly and +honourable thing to do was to trust to the +generosity of his adopted land. To France +he would go, and boldly throw himself upon +her mercy.</p> + +<p>"He is right, Virginia," said Roger, fearing +the while that secret jealousy influenced his +decision.</p> + +<p>"He is right," echoed George Trent, with no +hidden thoughts at all.</p> + +<p>Virginia held her peace, though her heart was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> +full; and the ultimate destination of the <i>Bella +Cuba</i> was France.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>France did not disappoint Maxime's trust, +but months passed before he was a free man. +Meantime hope had given him new life. His +sister was near him. Virginia Beverly was in +Paris with an elderly relative of Roger Broom's +as her chaperon-companion, instead of Kate +Gardiner. Though he was virtually a prisoner, +since the eye of the law was upon him, +and the voice of the law pronounced that he +should go so far and no farther, still he was +happy, so happy that he often awoke from +prison dreams, not daring to believe the present +reality.</p> + +<p>Then at last the day came when he was free. +Madeleine was staying with Virginia. He +would see them together. There was heaven +in the thought. George Trent was there, but +not Roger Broom. Roger had been called to +England on business, but he was returning +that evening.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p> + +<p>Never had there been such a dinner as that +which celebrated Maxime's release from the old +bonds. Virginia had taken a beautiful house +which had been to let furnished, near the Bois +de Boulogne.</p> + +<p>After the dinner the two girls with their brothers +went out into the garden, the old aunt, exhausted +with over-much joy, remaining indoors.</p> + +<p>Virginia knew what would come next, and +drew Madeleine away from the two young men +that George might have the chance of asking +Maxime for his sister. Five minutes later +Maxime was squeezing Madeleine's hand, and +telling her that no news could have made him +so happy. Then, somehow, the lovers +disappeared, and Virginia Beverly and Maxime +Dalahaide were alone together.</p> + +<p>"Everything good comes to us from you," +he said, his voice unsteady. "What can I do to +show you how I—how we worship you for +all you have done, all you have been?"</p> + +<p>"There is one thing you can do," Virginia +answered softly. "A favour to me. There is +a little gift I want to make to you, on this day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +of all others. I have been planning it, thinking +of it for a long time. Here is this paper. +Take it and read. You will see then what I +mean, and why I want it so much."</p> + +<p>It was a long, folded document of legal aspect +which she thrust into his hand, and in the blue +evening light he opened it. At sight of the first +words the blood leaped to his dark face, marble +no longer, but a man's face, young, handsome, +and virile. He looked from the paper to Virginia.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is a deed of gift!" he exclaimed. +"The château—no, Miss Beverly, you are +more than generous, but this cannot be. The +château is yours—I would rather it belonged +to you than to any one on earth, even myself—and +yours it must remain."</p> + +<p>"I bought it for you. It will break my heart if +you refuse," said Virginia, with tears in her voice.</p> + +<p>The sound of her pain smote him with anguish. +He lost his head and forgot the barrier +between them—that he was poor, with a dark +past and an uncertain future, that she was a +great heiress.</p> + +<p>"Break your heart!" he repeated. "My<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +darling, my angel, I would give all the blood in +mine for one smile from you. I never meant to +say this. I oughtn't to say it now, but—it +said itself. You must have known before. +You are the very soul of me, though I'm not +worthy to touch your dear hand. I couldn't +take the old home from you—don't you understand? +I couldn't live there again with this +love of you in my heart, for it would make it so +much the harder. I can't forget you; I would +rather die than forget you. This love is too +sweet to live without, but I know very well that +we can never be anything to each other, and my +plans are all made. As soon as Madeleine is +married I shall go out to Africa and try for luck +as other men have tried—and found it. It is +better for me to be far away from you——"</p> + +<p>"No, no, I love you!" cried Virginia. Then +putting him from her with a quick gesture: +"But it will be I who go far away from you. +I have no right to care. My cousin, Roger +Broom, will take me to England—anywhere—it +doesn't matter. I promised long ago to marry +him. In the winter perhaps——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the winter you and Max here will be +spending your honeymoon at the Château de la +Roche," said Roger's voice, with a hard cheerfulness. +"That old promise—why, I never meant +to hold you to it, dear. I don't take bribes, +and—I saw this coming long ago. I'm quite +content it should be so. You'll forgive me for +overhearing, won't you, girlie? I didn't mean +to give you such a surprise, but I'm not sorry +now. Give me your hand, Max, old man, and +you, Virginia. There! I'm glad it should be the +old cousin-guardian who joins them together."</p> + +<p>"You mean it, Roger?" panted Virginia.</p> + +<p>"Of course I mean it."</p> + +<p>The two hands joined under his. And the +man and the girl were too happy to read anything +save kindness in its nervous pressure.</p> + +<h2>THE END</h2> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Castle Of The Shadows, by +Alice Muriel Williamson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CASTLE OF THE SHADOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 19901-h.htm or 19901-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/9/0/19901/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Suzanne Shell, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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