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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby
+
+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: A Bid for Fortune
+       or Dr. Nikola's Vendetta
+
+Author: Guy Boothby
+
+Release Date: May 29, 2007 [EBook #21640]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BID FOR FORTUNE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Mary Meehan and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          A BID FOR FORTUNE
+
+                        DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
+
+                           By GUY BOOTHBY
+
+      Author of "Dr. Nikola," "The Beautiful White Devil," etc., etc.
+
+
+
+
+WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED
+LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO
+1918
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Again she turned her face from me."]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+Part I.
+
+PROLOGUE--Dr. Nikola
+
+       CHAPTER I. I determine to take a Holiday,--Sydney, and what Befel me
+                  there
+
+      CHAPTER II. London
+
+    CHAPTER III. I Visit my Relations
+
+     CHAPTER IV. I Save an Important Life
+
+      CHAPTER V. Mystery
+
+     CHAPTER VI. I Meet Dr. Nikola again
+
+    CHAPTER VII. Port Said, and what Befel us there
+
+   CHAPTER VIII. Our Imprisonment and Attempt at Escape
+
+     CHAPTER IX. Dr. Nikola permits us a Free Passage
+
+
+Part II.
+
+      CHAPTER I. We reach Australia, and the Result
+
+     CHAPTER II. On the Trail
+
+    CHAPTER III. Lord Beckenham's Story
+
+     CHAPTER IV. Following up a Clue
+
+      CHAPTER V. The Islands, and what we found there
+
+     CHAPTER VI. Conclusion
+
+
+
+
+A BID FOR FORTUNE
+
+
+
+
+_PART I_
+
+
+
+
+PROLOGUE
+
+DR. NIKOLA
+
+
+The manager of the new Imperial Restaurant on the Thames Embankment went
+into his luxurious private office and shut the door. Having done so, he
+first scratched his chin reflectively, and then took a letter from the
+drawer in which it had reposed for more than two months and perused it
+carefully. Though he was not aware of it, this was the thirtieth time he
+had read it since breakfast that morning. And yet he was not a whit
+nearer understanding it than he had been at the beginning. He turned it
+over and scrutinized the back, where not a sign of writing was to be
+seen; he held it up to the window, as if he might hope to discover
+something from the water-mark; but there was nothing in either of these
+places of a nature calculated to set his troubled mind at rest. Then he
+took a magnificent repeater watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced
+at the dial; the hands stood at half-past seven. He immediately threw
+the letter on the table, and as he did so his anxiety found relief in
+words.
+
+"It's really the most extraordinary affair I ever had to do with," he
+remarked. "And as I've been in the business just three-and-thirty years
+at eleven a.m. next Monday morning, I ought to know something about it.
+I only hope I've done right, that's all."
+
+As he spoke, the chief bookkeeper, who had the treble advantage of being
+tall, pretty, and just eight-and-twenty years of age, entered the room.
+She noticed the open letter and the look upon her chief's face, and her
+curiosity was proportionately excited.
+
+"You seem worried, Mr. McPherson," she said tenderly, as she put down
+the papers she had brought in for his signature.
+
+"You have just hit it, Miss O'Sullivan," he answered, pushing them
+farther on to the table. "I am worried about many things, but
+particularly about this letter."
+
+He handed the epistle to her, and she, being desirous of impressing him
+with her business capabilities, read it with ostentatious care. But it
+was noticeable that when she reached the signature she too turned back
+to the beginning, and then deliberately read it over again. The manager
+rose, crossed to the mantelpiece, and rang for the head waiter. Having
+relieved his feelings in this way, he seated himself again at his
+writing-table, put on his glasses, and stared at his companion, while
+waiting for her to speak.
+
+"It's very funny," she said. "Very funny indeed!"
+
+"It's the most extraordinary communication I have ever received," he
+replied with conviction. "You see it is written from Cuyaba, Brazil. The
+date is three months ago to a day. Now I have taken the trouble to find
+out where and what Cuyaba is."
+
+He made this confession with an air of conscious pride, and having done
+so, laid himself back in his chair, stuck his thumbs into the armholes
+of his waistcoat, and looked at his fair subordinate for approval. Nor
+was he destined to be disappointed. He was a bachelor in possession of a
+snug income, and she, besides being pretty, was a lady with a keen eye
+to the main chance.
+
+"And where _is_ Cuyaba?" she asked humbly.
+
+"Cuyaba," he replied, rolling his tongue with considerable relish round
+his unconscious mispronunciation of the name, "is a town almost on the
+western or Bolivian border of Brazil. It is of moderate size, is
+situated on the banks of the river Cuyaba, and is considerably connected
+with the famous Brazilian Diamond Fields."
+
+"And does the writer of this letter live there?"
+
+"I cannot say. He writes from there--that is enough for us."
+
+"And he orders dinner for four--here, in a private room overlooking the
+river, three months ahead--punctually at eight o'clock, gives you a list
+of the things he wants, and even arranges the decoration of the table.
+Says he has never seen either of his three friends before; that one of
+them hails from (here she consulted the letter again) Hang-chow, another
+from Bloemfontein, while the third resides, at present, in England. Each
+one is to present an ordinary visiting card with a red dot on it to the
+porter in the hall, and to be shown to the room at once. I don't
+understand it at all."
+
+The manager paused for a moment, and then said deliberately,--"Hang-chow
+is in China, Bloemfontein is in South Africa."
+
+"What a wonderful man you are, to be sure, Mr. McPherson! I never can
+_think_ how you manage to carry so much in your head."
+
+There spoke the true woman. And it was a move in the right direction,
+for the manager was susceptible to her gentle influence, as she had
+occasion to know.
+
+At this juncture the head waiter appeared upon the scene, and took up a
+position just inside the doorway, as if he were afraid of injuring the
+carpet by coming farther.
+
+"Is No. 22 ready, Williams?"
+
+"Quite ready, sir. The wine is on the ice, and cook tells me he'll be
+ready to dish punctual to the moment."
+
+"The letter says, 'no electric light; candles with red shades.' Have you
+put on those shades I got this morning?"
+
+"Just seen it done this very minute, sir."
+
+"And let me see, there was one other thing." He took the letter from the
+chief bookkeeper's hand and glanced at it. "Ah, yes, a porcelain saucer,
+and a small jug of new milk upon the mantelpiece. An extraordinary
+request, but has it been attended to?"
+
+"I put it there myself, sir."
+
+"Who wait?"
+
+"Jones, Edmunds, Brooks, and Tomkins."
+
+"Very good. Then I think that will do. Stay! You had better tell the
+hall porter to look out for three gentlemen presenting plain visiting
+cards with a little red spot on them. Let Brooks wait in the hall, and
+when they arrive tell him to show them straight up to the room."
+
+"It shall be done, sir."
+
+The head waiter left the room, and the manager stretched himself in his
+chair, yawned by way of showing his importance, and then said
+solemnly,--
+
+"I don't believe they'll any of them turn up; but if they do, this Dr.
+Nikola, whoever he may be, won't be able to find fault with my
+arrangements."
+
+Then, leaving the dusty high road of Business, he and his companion
+wandered in the shady bridle-paths of Love--to the end that when the
+chief bookkeeper returned to her own department she had forgotten the
+strange dinner party about to take place upstairs, and was busily
+engaged upon a calculation as to how she would look in white satin and
+orange blossoms, and, that settled, fell to wondering whether it was
+true, as Miss Joyce, a subordinate, had been heard to declare, that the
+manager had once shown himself partial to a certain widow with reputed
+savings and a share in an extensive egg and dairy business.
+
+At ten minutes to eight precisely a hansom drew up at the steps of the
+hotel. As soon as it stopped, an undersized gentleman, with a clean
+shaven countenance, a canonical corporation, and bow legs, dressed in a
+decidedly clerical garb, alighted. He paid and discharged his cabman,
+and then took from his ticket pocket an ordinary white visiting card,
+which he presented to the gold-laced individual who had opened the
+apron. The latter, having noted the red spot, called a waiter, and the
+reverend gentleman was immediately escorted upstairs.
+
+Hardly had the attendant time to return to his station in the hall,
+before a second cab made its appearance, closely followed by a third.
+Out of the second jumped a tall, active, well-built man of about thirty
+years of age. He was dressed in evening dress of the latest fashion, and
+to conceal it from the vulgar gaze, wore a large Inverness cape of heavy
+texture. He also in his turn handed a white card to the porter, and,
+having done so, proceeded into the hall, followed by the occupant of the
+last cab, who had closely copied his example. This individual was also
+in evening dress, but it was of a different stamp. It was old-fashioned
+and had seen much use. The wearer, too, was taller than the ordinary run
+of men, while it was noticeable that his hair was snow-white, and that
+his face was deeply pitted with smallpox. After disposing of their hats
+and coats in an ante-room, they reached room No. 22, where they found
+the gentleman in clerical costume pacing impatiently up and down.
+
+Left alone, the tallest of the trio, who for want of a better title we
+may call the Best Dressed Man, took out his watch, and having glanced at
+it, looked at his companions. "Gentlemen," he said, with a slight
+American accent, "it is three minutes to eight o'clock. My name is
+Eastover!"
+
+"I'm glad to hear it, for I'm most uncommonly hungry," said the next
+tallest, whom I have already described as being so marked by disease.
+"My name is Prendergast!"
+
+"We only wait for our friend and host," remarked the clerical gentleman,
+as if he felt he ought to take a share in the conversation, and then, as
+an afterthought, he continued, "My name is Baxter!"
+
+They shook hands all round with marked cordiality, seated themselves
+again, and took it in turns to examine the clock.
+
+"Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting our host before?" asked Mr.
+Baxter of Mr. Prendergast.
+
+"Never," replied that gentleman, with a shake of his head. "Perhaps Mr.
+Eastover has been more fortunate?"
+
+"Not I," was the brief rejoinder. "I've had to do with him off and on
+for longer than I care to reckon, but I've never set eyes on him up to
+date."
+
+"And where may he have been the first time you heard from him?"
+
+"In Nashville, Tennessee," said Eastover. "After that, Tahupapa, New
+Zealand; after that, Papeete, in the Society Islands; then Pekin, China.
+And you?"
+
+"First time, Brussels; second, Monte Video; third, Mandalay, and then
+the Gold Coast, Africa. It's your turn, Mr. Baxter."
+
+The clergyman glanced at the timepiece. It was exactly eight o'clock.
+"First time, Cabul, Afghanistan; second, Nijni Novgorod, Russia; third,
+Wilcannia, Darling River, Australia; fourth, Valparaiso, Chili; fifth,
+Nagasaki, Japan."
+
+"He is evidently a great traveller and a most mysterious person."
+
+"He is more than that," said Eastover with conviction; "he is late for
+dinner!"
+
+Prendergast looked at his watch.
+
+"That clock is two minutes fast. Hark, there goes Big Ben! Eight
+exactly."
+
+As he spoke the door was thrown open and a voice announced "Dr. Nikola."
+
+The three men sprang to their feet simultaneously, with exclamations of
+astonishment, as the man they had been discussing made his appearance.
+
+It would take more time than I can spare the subject to give you an
+adequate and inclusive description of the person who entered the room at
+that moment. In stature he was slightly above the ordinary, his
+shoulders were broad, his limbs perfectly shaped and plainly muscular,
+but very slim. His head, which was magnificently set upon his shoulders,
+was adorned with a profusion of glossy black hair; his face was
+destitute of beard or moustache, and was of oval shape and handsome
+moulding; while his skin was of a dark olive hue, a colour which
+harmonized well with his piercing black eyes and pearly teeth. His hands
+and feet were small, and the greatest dandy must have admitted that he
+was irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the
+puritanical. In age he might have been anything from eight-and-twenty to
+forty; in reality he was thirty-three. He advanced into the room and
+walked with out-stretched hand directly across to where Eastover was
+standing by the fireplace.
+
+"Mr. Eastover, I feel certain," he said, fixing his glittering eyes upon
+the man he addressed, and allowing a curious smile to play upon his
+face.
+
+"That is my name, Dr. Nikola," the other answered with evident surprise.
+"But how on earth can you distinguish me from your other guests?"
+
+"Ah! it would surprise you if you knew. And Mr. Prendergast, and Mr.
+Baxter. This is delightful; I hope I am not late. We had a collision in
+the Channel this morning, and I was almost afraid I might not be up to
+time. Dinner seems ready; shall we sit down to it?" They seated
+themselves, and the meal commenced. The Imperial Restaurant has earned
+an enviable reputation for doing things well, and the dinner that night
+did not in any way detract from its lustre. But, delightful as it all
+was, it was noticeable that the three guests paid more attention to
+their host than to his excellent _menu_. As they had said before his
+arrival, they had all had dealings with him for several years, but what
+those dealings were they were careful not to describe. It was more than
+possible that they hardly liked to remember them themselves.
+
+When coffee had been served and the servants had withdrawn, Dr. Nikola
+rose from the table, and went across to the massive sideboard. On it
+stood a basket of very curious shape and workmanship. This he opened,
+and as he did so, to the astonishment of his guests, an enormous cat, as
+black as his master's coat, leaped out on to the floor. The reason for
+the saucer and jug of milk became evident.
+
+Seating himself at the table again, the host followed the example of his
+guests and lit a cigar, blowing a cloud of smoke luxuriously through his
+delicately chiselled nostrils. His eyes wandered round the cornice of
+the room, took in the pictures and decorations, and then came down to
+meet the faces of his companions. As they did so, the black cat, having
+finished its meal, sprang on to his shoulder to crouch there, watching
+the three men through the curling smoke drift with its green blinking,
+fiendish eyes. Dr. Nikola smiled as he noticed the effect the animal had
+upon his guests.
+
+"Now shall we get to business?" he said briskly.
+
+The others almost simultaneously knocked the ashes off their cigars and
+brought themselves to attention. Dr. Nikola's dainty, languid manner
+seemed to drop from him like a cloak, his eyes brightened, and his
+voice, when he spoke, was clean cut as chiselled silver.
+
+"You are doubtless anxious to be informed why I summoned you from all
+parts of the globe to meet me here to-night? And it is very natural you
+should be. But then, from what you know of me, you should not be
+surprised at anything I do."
+
+His voice dropped back into its old tone of gentle languor. He drew in a
+great breath of smoke and then sent it slowly out from his lips again.
+His eyes were half closed, and he drummed with one finger on the table
+edge. The cat looked through the smoke at the three men, and it seemed
+to them that he grew every moment larger and more ferocious. Presently
+his owner took him from his perch, and seating him on his knee fell to
+stroking his fur, from head to tail, with his long slim fingers. It was
+as if he were drawing inspiration for some deadly mischief from the
+uncanny beast.
+
+"To preface what I have to say to you, let me tell you that this is by
+far the most important business for which I have ever required your
+help. (Three slow strokes down the centre of the back, and one round
+each ear.) When it first came into my mind I was at a loss who to trust
+in the matter. I thought of Vendon, but I found Vendon was dead. I
+thought of Brownlow, but Brownlow was no longer faithful. (Two strokes
+down the back and two on the throat.) Then bit by bit I remembered you.
+I was in Brazil at the time. So I sent for you. You came. So far so
+good."
+
+He rose, and crossed over to the fireplace. As he went the cat crawled
+back to its original position on his shoulder. Then his voice changed
+once more to its former business-like tone.
+
+"I am not going to tell you very much about it. But from what I do tell
+you, you will be able to gather a great deal and imagine the rest. To
+begin with, there is a man living in this world to-day who has done me a
+great and lasting injury. What that injury is is no concern of yours.
+You would not understand if I told you. So we'll leave that out of the
+question. He is immensely rich. His cheque for £300,000 would be
+honoured by his bank at any minute. Obviously he is a power. He has had
+reason to know that I am pitting my wits against his, and he flatters
+himself that so far he has got the better of me. That is because I am
+drawing him on. I am maturing a plan which will make him a poor and a
+very miserable man at one and the same time. If that scheme succeeds,
+and I am satisfied with the way you three men have performed the parts I
+shall call on you to play in it, I shall pay to each of you the sum of
+£10,000. If it doesn't succeed, then you will each receive a thousand
+and your expenses. Do you follow me?"
+
+It was evident from their faces that they hung upon his every word.
+
+"But, remember, I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While
+you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are
+trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are--pardon the
+expression--unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is
+more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying
+out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for
+my plans!"
+
+He sat down again and took a paper from his pocket. Having perused it,
+he turned to Eastover.
+
+"You will leave at once--that is to say, by the boat on Wednesday--for
+Sydney. You will book your passage to-morrow morning, first thing, and
+join her in Plymouth. You will meet me to-morrow evening at an address I
+will send you, and receive your final instructions. Good-night."
+
+Seeing that he was expected to go, Eastover rose, shook hands, and left
+the room without a word. He was too astonished to hesitate or to say
+anything.
+
+Nikola took another letter from his pocket and turned to Prendergast.
+"_You_ will go down to Dover to-night, cross to Paris to-morrow morning,
+and leave this letter personally at the address you will find written on
+it. On Thursday, at half-past two precisely, you will deliver me an
+answer in the porch at Charing Cross. You will find sufficient money in
+that envelope to pay all your expenses. Now go!"
+
+"At half-past two you shall have your answer. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night."
+
+When Prendergast had left the room, Dr. Nikola lit another cigar and
+turned his attentions to Mr. Baxter.
+
+"Six months ago, Mr. Baxter, I found for you a situation as tutor to the
+young Marquis of Beckenham. You still hold it, I suppose?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Is the father well disposed towards you?"
+
+"In every way. I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. That
+was one of your instructions."
+
+"Yes, yes! But I was not certain that you would succeed. If the old man
+is anything like what he was when I last met him he must still be a
+difficult person to deal with. Does the boy like you?"
+
+"I hope so."
+
+"Have you brought me his photograph as I directed?"
+
+"I have. Here it is."
+
+Baxter took a photograph from his pocket and handed it across the table.
+
+"Good. You have done very well, Mr. Baxter. I am pleased with you.
+To-morrow morning you will go back to Yorkshire----"
+
+"I beg your pardon, Bournemouth. His Grace owns a house near
+Bournemouth, which he occupies during the summer months."
+
+"Very well--then to-morrow morning you will go back to Bournemouth and
+continue to ingratiate yourself with father and son. You will also begin
+to implant in the boy's mind a desire for travel. Don't let him become
+aware that his desire has its source in you--but do not fail to foster
+it all you can. I will communicate with you further in a day or two. Now
+go."
+
+Baxter in his turn left the room. The door closed. Dr. Nikola picked up
+the photograph and studied it.
+
+"The likeness is unmistakable--or it ought to be. My friend, my very
+dear friend, Wetherell, my toils are closing on you. My arrangements are
+perfecting themselves admirably. Presently, when all is complete, I
+shall press the lever, the machinery will be set in motion, and you will
+find yourself being slowly but surely ground into powder. Then you will
+hand over what I want, and be sorry you thought fit to baulk Dr.
+Nikola!"
+
+He rang the bell and ordered his bill. This duty discharged, he placed
+the cat back in its prison, shut the lid, descended with the basket to
+the hall, and called a hansom. The porter inquired to what address he
+should order the cabman to drive. Dr. Nikola did not reply for a moment,
+then he said, as if he had been thinking something out: "The _Green
+Sailor_ public-house, East India Dock Road."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+I DETERMINE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY.--SYDNEY, AND WHAT BEFEL ME THERE
+
+
+First and foremost, my name, age, description, and occupation, as they
+say in the _Police Gazette_. Richard Hatteras, at your service, commonly
+called Dick, of Thursday Island, North Queensland, pearler, copra
+merchant, _bêche-de-mer_ and tortoiseshell dealer, and South Sea trader
+generally. Eight-and-twenty years of age, neither particularly
+good-looking nor, if some people are to be believed, particularly
+amiable, six feet two in my stockings, and forty-six inches round the
+chest; strong as a Hakodate wrestler, and perfectly willing at any
+moment to pay ten pounds sterling to the man who can put me on my back.
+
+And big shame to me if I were not so strong, considering the free,
+open-air, devil-may-care life I've led. Why, I was doing man's work at
+an age when most boys are wondering when they're going to be taken out
+of knickerbockers. I'd been half round the world before I was fifteen,
+and had been wrecked twice and marooned once before my beard showed
+signs of sprouting. My father was an Englishman, not very much profit to
+himself, so he used to say, but of a kindly disposition, and the best
+husband to my mother, during their short married life, that any woman
+could possibly have desired. She, poor soul, died of fever in the
+Philippines the year I was born, and he went to the bottom in the
+schooner _Helen of Troy_, a degree west of the Line Islands, within six
+months of her decease; struck the tail end of a cyclone, it was thought,
+and went down, lock, stock, and barrel, leaving only one man to tell the
+tale. So I lost father and mother in the same twelve months, and that
+being so, when I put my cabbage-tree on my head it covered, as far as I
+knew, all my family in the world.
+
+Any way you look at it, it's calculated to give you a turn; at fifteen
+years of age, to know that there's not a living soul on the face of
+God's globe that you can take by the hand and call relation. That old
+saying about "blood being thicker than water" is a pretty true one, I
+reckon: friends may be kind--they were so to me--but after all they're
+not the same thing, nor can they be, as your own kith and kin.
+
+However, I had to look my trouble in the face, and stand up to it as a
+man should, and I suppose this kept me from brooding over my loss as
+much as I should otherwise have done. At any rate, ten days after the
+news reached me, I had shipped aboard the _Little Emily_, trading
+schooner, for Papeete, booked for five years among the islands, where I
+was to learn to water copra, to cook my balances, and to lay the
+foundation of the strange adventures that I am going to tell you about.
+
+After my time expired and I had served my Trading Company on half the
+mudbanks of the Pacific, I returned to Australia and went up inside the
+Great Barrier Reef to Somerset--the pearling station that had just come
+into existence on Cape York. They were good days there then, before all
+the new-fangled laws that now regulate the pearling trade had come into
+force; days when a man could do almost as he liked among the islands in
+those seas. I don't know how other folk liked it, but the life just
+suited me--so much so that when Somerset proved inconvenient and the
+settlement shifted across to Thursday, I went with it, and, what was
+more to the point, with money enough at my back to fit myself out with a
+brand-new lugger and full crew, so that I could go pearling on my own
+account.
+
+For many years I went at it head down, and this brings me up to four
+years ago, when I was a grown man, the owner of a house, two luggers,
+and as good a diving plant as any man could wish to possess. What was
+more, just before this I had put some money into a mining concern on the
+mainland, which had, contrary to most ventures of the sort, turned up
+trumps, giving me as my share the nice round sum of £5,000. With all
+this wealth at my back, and having been in harness for a greater number
+of years on end than I cared to count, I made up my mind to take a
+holiday and go home to England to see the place where my father was
+born, and had lived his early life (I found the name of it written in
+the fly-leaf of an old Latin book he left me), and to have a look at a
+country I'd heard so much about, but never thought to set my foot upon.
+
+Accordingly I packed my traps, let my house, sold my luggers and gear,
+intending to buy new ones when I returned, said good-bye to my friends
+and shipmates, and set off to join an Orient liner in Sydney. You will
+see from this that I intended doing the thing in style! And why not? I'd
+got more money to my hand to play with than most of the swells who
+patronize the first saloon; I had earned it honestly, and was resolved
+to enjoy myself with it to the top of my bent.
+
+I reached Sydney a week before the boat was advertised to sail, but I
+didn't fret much about that. There's plenty to see and do in such a big
+place, and when a man's been shut away from theatres and amusements for
+years at a stretch, he can put in his time pretty well looking about
+him. All the same, not knowing a soul in the place, I must confess there
+were moments when I did think regretfully of the little island hidden
+away up north under the wing of New Guinea, of the luggers dancing to
+the breeze in the harbour, and the warm welcome that always awaited me
+among my friends in the saloons. Take my word for it, there's something
+in even being a leader on a small island. Anyway, it's better than being
+a deadbeat in a big city like Sydney, where nobody knows you, and your
+next-door neighbour wouldn't miss you if he never saw or heard of you
+again.
+
+I used to think of these things as I marched about the streets looking
+in at shop windows, or took excursions up and down the harbour. There's
+no place like Sydney Harbour in the wide, wide world for beauty, and
+before I'd been there a week I was familiar with every part of it.
+Still, it would have been _more_ enjoyable, as I hinted just now, if I
+had had a friend to tour about with me; and by the same token I'm doing
+one man an injustice.
+
+There was _one_ fellow, I remember, who did offer to show me round: I
+fell across him in a saloon in George Street. He was tall and handsome,
+and as spic and span as a new pin till you came to look under the
+surface. When he entered the bar he winked at the girl who was serving
+me, and as soon as I'd finished my drink asked me to take another with
+him. Seeing what his little game was, and wanting to teach him a lesson,
+I lured him on by consenting. I drank with him, and then he drank with
+me.
+
+"Been long in Sydney?" he inquired casually, as he stroked his fair
+moustache.
+
+"Just come in," was my reply.
+
+"Don't you find it dull work going about alone?" he inquired. "I shall
+never forget my first week of it."
+
+"You're about right," I answered. "It is dull! I don't know a soul, bar
+my banker and lawyer."
+
+"Dear me!" (more curling of the moustache). "If I can be of any service
+to you while you're here, I hope you'll command me. I believe we're both
+Englishmen, eh?"
+
+"It's very good of you," I replied modestly, affecting to be overcome by
+his condescension. "I'm just off to lunch. I am staying at the _Quebec_.
+Is it far enough for a hansom?" As he was about to answer, a lawyer,
+with whom I had done a little business the day before, walked into the
+room. I turned to my patronising friend and said, "Will you excuse me
+for one moment? I want to speak to this gentleman."
+
+He was still all graciousness.
+
+"I'll call a hansom and wait for you in it."
+
+When he had left the saloon I spoke to the new arrival. He had noticed
+the man I had been talking to, and was kind enough to warn me against
+him.
+
+"That man," he said, "bears a very bad reputation. He makes it his trade
+to meet new arrivals from England--weak-brained young pigeons with
+money. He shows them round Sydney, and plucks them so clean that, when
+they leave his hands, in nine cases out of ten, they haven't a feather
+left to fly with. You ought not, with your experience of rough
+customers, to be taken in by him."
+
+"Nor am I," I replied. "I am going to teach him a lesson. Come with me."
+
+Arm in arm we walked into the street, watched by Mr. Hawk from his seat
+in the cab. When we got there we stood for a moment chatting, and then
+strolled together down the pavement. Next moment I heard the cab coming
+along after us, and my friend hailing me in his silkiest tones; but
+though I looked him full in the face I pretended not to know him. Seeing
+this he drove past us--pulled up a little farther down and sprang out to
+wait for me.
+
+"I was almost afraid I had missed you," he began, as we came up with
+him. "Perhaps as it is such a fine day you would rather walk than ride?"
+
+"I beg your pardon," I answered. "I'm really afraid you have the
+advantage of me."
+
+"But you have asked me to lunch with you at the _Quebec_. You told me to
+call a hansom."
+
+"Pardon me again! but you are really mistaken. I said I was going to
+lunch at the _Quebec_, and asked you if it was far enough to be worth
+while taking a hansom. That is your hansom, not mine. If you don't
+require it any longer, I should advise you to pay the man and let him
+go."
+
+"You are a swindler, sir. I refuse to pay the cabman. It is your
+hansom."
+
+I took a step closer to my fine gentleman, and, looking him full in the
+face, said as quietly as possible, for I didn't want all the street to
+hear:
+
+"Mr. _Dorunda_ Dodson, let this be a lesson to you. Perhaps you'll think
+twice next time before you try your little games on me!"
+
+He stepped back as if he had been shot, hesitated a moment, and then
+jumped into his cab and drove off in the opposite direction. When he had
+gone I looked at my astonished companion.
+
+"Well, now," he ejaculated at last, "how on earth did you manage that?"
+
+"Very easily," I replied. "I happened to remember having met that
+gentleman up in our part of the world when he was in a very awkward
+position--very awkward. By his action just now I should say that he has
+not forgotten the circumstance any more than I have."
+
+That was the first of the only two adventures of any importance I met
+with during my stay in New South Wales. And there's not much in that, I
+fancy I can hear you saying. Well, that may be so, I don't deny it, but
+it was nevertheless through that that I became mixed up with the folk
+who figure in this book, and indeed it was to that very circumstance,
+and that alone, I owe my connection with the queer story I have set
+myself to tell. And this is how it came about.
+
+Three days before the steamer sailed, and about four o'clock in the
+afternoon, I chanced to be walking down Castlereagh Street, wondering
+what on earth I should do with myself until dinner-time, when I saw
+approaching me the very man whose discomfiture I have just described.
+Being probably occupied planning the plucking of some unfortunate new
+chum, he did not see me. And as I had no desire to meet him again, after
+what had passed between us, I crossed the road and meandered off in a
+different direction, eventually finding myself located on a seat in the
+Domain, lighting a cigarette and looking down over a broad expanse of
+harbour.
+
+One thought led to another, and so I sat on and on long after dusk had
+fallen, never stirring until a circumstance occurred on a neighbouring
+path that attracted my attention. A young and well-dressed lady was
+pursuing her way in my direction, evidently intending to leave the park
+by the entrance I had used to come into it. But unfortunately for her,
+at the junction of two paths to my right, three of Sydney's typical
+larrikins were engaged in earnest conversation. They had observed the
+girl coming towards them, and were evidently preparing some plan for
+accosting her. When she was only about fifty yards away, two of them
+walked to a distance, leaving the third and biggest ruffian to waylay
+her. He did so, but without success; she passed him and continued her
+walk at increased speed.
+
+The man thereupon quickened his pace, and, secure in the knowledge that
+he was unobserved, again accosted her. Again she tried to escape him,
+but this time he would not leave her. What was worse, his two friends
+were now blocking the path in front. She looked to right and left, and
+was evidently uncertain what to do. Then, seeing escape was hopeless,
+she stopped, took out her purse, and gave it to the man who had first
+spoken to her. Thinking this was going too far, I jumped up and went
+quickly across the turf towards them. My footsteps made no sound on the
+soft grass, and as they were too much occupied in examining what she had
+given them, they did not notice my approach.
+
+"You scoundrels!" I said, when I had come up with them. "What do you
+mean by stopping this lady? Let her go instantly; and you, my friend,
+just hand over that purse."
+
+The man addressed looked at me as if he were taking my measure, and were
+wondering what sort of chance he'd have against me in a fight. But I
+suppose my height must have rather scared him, for he changed his tone
+and began to whine.
+
+"I haven't got the lady's purse, s'help me, I ain't! I was only a asking
+of 'er the time!"
+
+"Hand over that purse!" I said sternly, approaching a step nearer to
+him.
+
+One of the others here intervened,--"Let's stowch 'im, Dog! There ain't
+a copper in sight!"
+
+With that they began to close upon me. But, as the saying goes, "I'd
+been there before." I'd not been knocking about the rough side of the
+world for fifteen years without learning how to take care of myself.
+When they had had about enough of it, which was most likely more than
+they had bargained for, I took the purse and went to where the innocent
+cause of it all was standing. She was looking very white and scared, but
+she plucked up sufficient courage to thank me prettily.
+
+I can see her now, standing there looking into my face with big tears in
+her pretty blue eyes. She was a girl of about twenty-one or two years of
+age--tall, but slenderly built, with a sweet oval face, bright brown
+hair, and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life. She was
+dressed in some dark green material, wore a fawn jacket, and, because
+the afternoon was cold, had a boa of marten fur round her neck. I can
+remember also that her hat was of some flimsy make, with lace and
+glittering spear points in it, and that the whole structure was
+surmounted by two bows, one of black ribbon, the other of salmon pink.
+
+"Oh, how can I thank you?" she began, when I had come up with her. "But
+for your appearance I don't know what those men might not have done to
+me."
+
+"I was very glad that I _was_ there to help you," I replied, looking
+into her face with more admiration for its warm young beauty than
+perhaps I ought to have shown. "Here is your purse. I hope you will find
+its contents safe. At the same time will you let me give you a little
+piece of advice. From what I have seen this afternoon this is evidently
+not the sort of place for a young lady to be walking in alone and after
+dark. I don't think I would risk it again if I were you."
+
+She looked at me for a moment and then said:
+
+"You are quite right. I have only myself to thank for my misfortune. I
+met a friend and walked across the green with her; I was on my way back
+to my carriage--which is waiting for me outside--when I met those men.
+However, I can promise you that it will not happen again. I am leaving
+Sydney in a day or two."
+
+Somehow, when I heard that, I began to feel glad I was booked to leave
+the place too. But of course I didn't tell her so.
+
+"May I see you safely to your carriage?" I said at last. "Those fellows
+may still be hanging about on the chance of overtaking you."
+
+Her courage must have come back to her, for she looked up into my face
+with a smile.
+
+"I don't think they will be rude to me again, after the lesson you have
+given them. But if you will walk with me I shall be very grateful."
+
+Side by side we proceeded down the path, through the gates and out into
+the street. A neat brougham was drawn up alongside the kerb, and towards
+this she made her way. I opened the door and held it for her to get in.
+But before she did so she turned to me and stretched out her little
+hand.
+
+"Will you tell me your name, that I may know to whom I am indebted?"
+
+"My name is Hatteras. Richard Hatteras, of Thursday Island, Torres
+Straits. I am staying at the _Quebec_."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Hatteras, again and again. I shall always be grateful to
+you for your gallantry!"
+
+This was attaching too much importance to such a simple action, and I
+was about to tell her so, when she spoke again: "I think I ought to let
+you know who I am. My name is Wetherell, and my father is the Colonial
+Secretary. I'm sure he will be quite as grateful to you as I am.
+Good-bye."
+
+She seemed to forget that we had already shaken hands, for she extended
+her own a second time. I took it and tried to say something polite, but
+she stepped into her carriage and shut the door before I could think of
+anything, and next moment she was being whirled away up the street.
+
+Now old fogies and disappointed spinsters can say what they please about
+love at first sight. I'm not a romantic sort of person--far from it--the
+sort of life I had hitherto led was not of a nature calculated to foster
+a belief in that sort of thing. But if I wasn't over head and ears in
+love when I resumed my walk that evening, well, I've never known what
+the passion is.
+
+A daintier, prettier, sweeter little angel surely never walked the earth
+than the girl I had just been permitted the opportunity of rescuing, and
+from that moment forward I found my thoughts constantly reverting to
+her. I seemed to retain the soft pressure of her fingers in mine for
+hours afterwards, and as a proof of the perturbed state of my feelings I
+may add that I congratulated myself warmly on having worn that day my
+new and fashionable Sydney suit, instead of the garments in which I had
+travelled down from Torres Straits, and which I had hitherto considered
+quite good enough for even high days and holidays. That she herself
+would remember me for more than an hour never struck me as being likely.
+
+Next morning I donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up,
+and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets.
+What reason I had for thinking I should is more than I can tell you, but
+at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George
+Street a carriage passed me, and in it sat the girl whose fair image had
+exercised such an effect upon my mind. That she saw and recognized me
+was evidenced by the gracious bow and smile with which she favoured me.
+Then she passed out of sight, and it was a wonder that that minute
+didn't see the end of my career, for I stood like one in a dream looking
+in the direction in which she had gone, and it was not until two carts
+and a brewer's wagon had nearly run me down that I realized it would be
+safer for me to pursue my meditations on the side walk.
+
+I got back to my hotel by lunch-time, and during the progress of that
+meal a brilliant idea struck me. Supposing I plucked up courage and
+called? Why not? It would be only a polite action to inquire if she were
+any the worse for her fright. The thought was no sooner born in my brain
+than I was eager to be off. But it was too early for such a formal
+business, so I had to cool my heels in the hall for an hour. Then,
+hailing a hansom and inquiring the direction of their residence, I drove
+off to Potts Point. The house was the last in the street--an imposing
+mansion standing in well-laid-out grounds. The butler answered my ring,
+and in response to my inquiry dashed my hopes to the ground by informing
+me that Miss Wetherell was out.
+
+"She's very busy, you see, at present, sir. She and the master leave for
+England on Friday in the _Orizaba_."
+
+"What!" I cried, almost forgetting myself in my astonishment. "You don't
+mean to say that Miss Wetherell goes to England in the _Orizaba_?"
+
+"I do, sir. And I do hear she's goin' 'ome to be presented at Court,
+sir!"
+
+"Ah! Thank you. Will you give her my card, and say that I hope she is
+none the worse for her fright last evening?"
+
+He took the card, and a substantial tip with it, and I went back to my
+cab in the seventh heaven of delight. I was to be shipmates with this
+lovely creature! For four weeks or more I should be able to see her
+every day! It seemed almost too good to be true. Instinctively I began
+to make all sorts of plans and preparations. Who knew but what--but
+stay, we must bring ourselves up here with a round turn, or we shall be
+anticipating what's to come.
+
+To make a long story short--for it must be remembered that what I am
+telling you is only the prelude to all the extraordinary things that
+will have to be told later on--the day of sailing came. I went down to
+the boat on the morning of her departure, and got my baggage safely
+stowed away in my cabin before the rush set in.
+
+About three o'clock we hove our anchor and steamed slowly down the Bay.
+I had been below when the Wetherells arrived on board, so the young lady
+had not yet become aware of my presence. Whether she would betray any
+astonishment when she did find out was beyond my power to tell; at any
+rate, I know that I was by a long way the happiest man aboard the boat
+that day. However, I was not to be kept long in suspense. Before we had
+reached the Heads it was all settled, and satisfactorily so. I was
+standing on the promenade deck, just abaft the main saloon entrance,
+watching the panorama spread out before me, when I heard a voice I
+recognized only too well say behind me:
+
+"Good-bye to you, dear old Sydney. Great things will have happened when
+I set eyes on you again."
+
+Little did she know how prophetic were her words. As she spoke I turned
+and confronted her. For a moment she was overwhelmed with surprise,
+then, stretching out her hand, she said:
+
+"Really, Mr. Hatteras, this is most wonderful. You are the last person I
+expected to meet on board."
+
+"And perhaps," I replied, "I might with justice say the same of you."
+
+She turned to a tall, white-bearded man beside her.
+
+"Papa, I must introduce you to Mr. Hatteras. You will remember I told
+you how kind Mr. Hatteras was when those larrikins were rude to me in
+the Domain."
+
+"I am sincerely obliged to you, Mr. Hatteras," he said, holding out his
+hand and shaking mine heartily. "My daughter did tell me, and I called
+yesterday at your hotel to thank you personally, but you were
+unfortunately not at home. Are you visiting Europe?"
+
+"Yes; I'm going home for a short visit to see the place where my father
+was born."
+
+"Are you then, like myself, an Australian native? I mean, of course, as
+you know, colonial born?" asked Miss Wetherell with a little laugh. The
+idea of her calling herself an Australian native in any other sense! The
+very notion seemed preposterous.
+
+"I was born at sea, a degree and a half south of Mauritius," I answered;
+"so I don't know what you would call me. I hope you have comfortable
+cabins?"
+
+"Very. We have made two or three voyages in this boat before, and we
+always take the same places. And now, papa, we must really go and see
+where poor Miss Thompson is. We are beginning to feel the swell, and
+she'll be wanting to go below. Good-bye for the present."
+
+I raised my cap and watched her walk away down the deck, balancing
+herself as if she had been accustomed to a heaving plank all her life.
+Then I turned to watch the fast receding shore, and to my own thoughts,
+which were none of the saddest, I can assure you. For it must be
+confessed here--and why should I deny it?--that I was in love from the
+soles of my deck shoes to the cap upon my head. But as to the chance,
+that I, a humble pearler, would stand with one of Sydney's most
+beautiful daughters--why, that's another matter, and one that, for the
+present, I was anxious to keep behind me.
+
+Within the week we had left Adelaide behind us, and four days later
+Albany was also a thing of the past. By the time we had cleared the
+Lewin we had all settled down to our life aboard ship, the bad sailors
+were beginning to appear on deck again, and the medium voyagers to make
+various excuses for their absences from meals. One thing was evident,
+that Miss Wetherell was the belle of the ship. Everybody paid her
+attention, from the skipper down to the humblest deck hand. And this
+being so, I prudently kept out of the way, for I had no desire to be
+thought to presume on our previous acquaintance. Whether she noticed
+this I cannot tell, but at any rate her manner to me when we _did_ speak
+was more cordial than I had any right or reason to expect it would be.
+Seeing this, there were not wanting people on board who scoffed and
+sneered at the idea of the Colonial Secretary's daughter noticing so
+humble a person as myself, and when it became known what my exact social
+position was, I promise you these malicious whisperings did not cease.
+
+One evening, two or three days after we had left Colombo behind us, I
+was standing at the rails on the promenade deck a little abaft the
+smoking-room entrance, when Miss Wetherell came up and took her place
+beside me. She looked very dainty and sweet in her evening dress, and I
+felt, if I had known her better, I should have liked to tell her so.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," said she, when we had discussed the weather and the
+sunset, "I have been thinking lately that you desire to avoid me."
+
+"Heaven forbid! Miss Wetherell," I hastened to reply. "What on earth put
+such a notion into your head?"
+
+"All the same I believe it to be true. Now, why do you do it?"
+
+"I have not admitted that I do do it. But, perhaps, if I do seem to deny
+myself the pleasure of being with you as much as some other people I
+could mention, it is only because I fail to see what possible enjoyment
+you can derive from my society."
+
+"That is a very pretty speech," she answered, smiling, "but it does not
+tell me what I want to know."
+
+"And what is it that you want to know, my dear young lady?"
+
+"I want to know why you are so much changed towards me. At first we got
+on splendidly--you used to tell me of your life in Torres Straits, of
+your trading ventures in the Southern Seas, and even of your hopes for
+the future. Now, however, all that is changed. It is, 'Good-morning,
+Miss Wetherell,' 'Good-evening, Miss Wetherell,' and that is all. I must
+own I don't like such treatment."
+
+"I must crave your pardon--but----"
+
+"No, we won't have any 'buts.' If you want to be forgiven, you must come
+and talk to me as you used to do. You will like the rest of the people
+I'm sure when you get to know them. They are very kind to me."
+
+"And you think I shall like them for that reason?"
+
+"No, no. How silly you are. But I do so want you to be friendly."
+
+After that there was nothing for it but for me to push myself into a
+circle where I had the best reasons for knowing that I was not wanted.
+However, it had its good side: I saw more of Miss Wetherell; so much
+more indeed that I began to notice that her father did not quite approve
+of it. But, whatever he may have thought, he said nothing to me on the
+subject.
+
+A fortnight or so later we were at Aden, leaving that barren rock about
+four o'clock, and entering the Red Sea the same evening. The Suez Canal
+passed through, and Port Said behind us, we were in the Mediterranean,
+and for the first time in my life I stood in Europe.
+
+At Naples the Wetherells were to say good-bye to the boat, and continue
+the rest of their journey home across the Continent. As the hour of
+separation approached, I must confess I began to dread it more and more.
+And somehow, I fancy, _she_ was not quite as happy as she used to be.
+You will probably ask what grounds I had for believing that a girl like
+Miss Wetherell would take any interest in a man like myself; and it is a
+question I can no more answer than I can fly. And yet, when I came to
+think it all out, I was not without my hopes.
+
+We were to reach port the following morning. The night was very still,
+the water almost unruffled. Somehow it came about that Miss Wetherell
+and I found ourselves together in the same sheltered spot where she had
+spoken to me on the occasion referred to before. The stars in the east
+were paling, preparatory to the rising of the moon. I glanced at my
+companion as she leant against the rails scanning the quiet sea, and
+noticed the sweet wistfulness of her expression. Then, suddenly, a great
+desire came over me to tell her of my love. Surely, even if she could
+not return it, there would be no harm in letting her know how I felt
+towards her. For this reason I drew a little closer to her.
+
+"And so. Miss Wetherell," I said, "to-morrow we are to say good-bye;
+never, perhaps, to meet again."
+
+"Oh, no, Mr. Hatteras," she answered, "we won't say that. Surely we
+shall see something of each other somewhere. The world is very tiny
+after all."
+
+"To those who desire to avoid each other, perhaps, but for those who
+wish to _find_ it is still too large."
+
+"Well, then, we must hope for the best. Who knows but that we may run
+across each other in London. I think it is very probable."
+
+"And will that meeting be altogether distasteful to you?" I asked, quite
+expecting that she would answer with her usual frankness. But to my
+surprise she did not speak, only turned half away from me. Had I
+offended her?
+
+"Miss Wetherell, pray forgive my rudeness," I said hastily. "I ought to
+have known I had no right to ask you such a question."
+
+"And why shouldn't you?" she replied, this time turning her sweet face
+towards me. "No, I will tell you frankly, I should very much like to see
+you again."
+
+With that all the blood in my body seemed to rush to my head. Could I be
+dreaming? Or had she really said she would like to see me again? I would
+try my luck now whatever came of it.
+
+"You cannot think how pleasant our intercourse has been to me," I said.
+"And now I have to go back to my lonely, miserable existence again."
+
+"But you should not say that; you have your work in life!"
+
+"Yes, but what is that to me when I have no one to work for? Can you
+conceive anything more awful than my loneliness? Remember, as far as I
+know I am absolutely without kith and kin. There is not a single soul to
+care for me in the whole world--not one to whom my death would be a
+matter of the least concern."
+
+"Oh, don't--don't say that!" Her voice faltered so that I turned from
+the sea and contemplated her.
+
+"It is true, Miss Wetherell, bitterly true."
+
+"It is not true. It cannot be true!"
+
+"If only I could think it would be some little matter of concern to you
+I should go back to my work with a happier heart."
+
+Again she turned her face from me. My arm lay beside hers upon the
+bulwarks, and I could feel that she was trembling. Brutal though it may
+seem to say so, this gave me fresh courage. I said slowly, bending my
+face a little towards her:
+
+"Would it affect you, Phyllis?"
+
+One little hand fell from the bulwarks to her side, and I took
+possession of it. She did not appear to have heard my question, so I
+repeated it. Then her head went down upon the bulwarks, but not before I
+had caught the whispered "yes" that escaped her lips.
+
+Before she could guess what was going to happen, I had taken her in my
+arms and smothered her face with kisses. Nor did she offer any
+resistance. I knew the whole truth now. She was mine, she loved
+me--me--me--me! The whole world seemed to re-echo the news, the very sea
+to ring with it, and just as I learned from her own dear lips the story
+of her love, the great moon rose as if to listen. Can you imagine my
+happiness, my delight? She was mine, this lovely girl, my very own!
+bound to me by all the bonds of love. Oh, happy hour! Oh, sweet delight!
+I pressed her to my heart again and again. She looked into my face and
+then away from me, her sweet eyes suffused with tears, then suddenly her
+expression changed. I turned to see what ailed her, and to my
+discomfiture discovered her father stalking along the silent deck
+towards us.
+
+Whispering to her to leave us, she sped away, and I was left alone with
+her angry parent. That he _was_ angry I judged from his face; nor was I
+wrong in my conjecture.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said severely, "pray what does this mean? How is it
+that I find you in this undignified position with my daughter?"
+
+"Mr. Wetherell," I answered, "I can see that an explanation is due to
+you. Just before you came up I was courageous enough to tell your
+daughter that I loved her. She has been generous enough to inform me
+that she returns my affection. And now the best course for me to pursue
+is to ask your permission to make her my wife."
+
+"You presume, sir, upon the service you rendered my daughter in Sydney.
+I did not think you would follow it up in this fashion."
+
+"Your daughter is free to love whom she pleases, I take it," I said, my
+temper getting a little the better of my judgment. "She has been good
+enough to promise to marry me--if I can obtain your permission. Have you
+any objection to raise?"
+
+"Only one, and that one is insuperable! Understand me, I forbid it once
+and for all! In every particular--without hope of change--I forbid it!"
+
+"As you must see it is a matter which affects the happiness of two
+lives, I feel sure you will be good enough to tell me your reasons?"
+
+"I must decline any discussion on the matter at all. You have my answer,
+I forbid it!"
+
+"This is to be final, then? I am to understand that you are not to be
+brought to change your mind by any actions of mine?"
+
+"No, sir, I am not! What I have said is irrevocable. The idea is not to
+be thought of for a moment. And while I am on this subject let me tell
+you that your conduct towards my daughter on board this ship has been
+very distasteful to me. I have the honour to wish you a very
+good-evening."
+
+"Stay, Mr. Wetherell," I said, as he turned to go. "You have been kind
+enough to favour me with your views. Now I will give you mine. Your
+daughter loves me. I am an honest and an industrious man, and I love her
+with my whole heart and soul. I tell you now, and though you decline to
+treat me with proper fairness, I give you warning that I intend to marry
+her if she will still have me--with your consent or without it!"
+
+"You are insolent, sir."
+
+"I assure you I have no desire to be. I endeavour to remember that you
+are her father, though I must own you lack her sense of what is fair and
+right."
+
+"I will not discuss the question any further with you. You know my
+absolute decision. Good-night!"
+
+With anger and happiness struggling in my breast for the mastery, I
+paced that deck for hours. My heart swelled with joy at the knowledge
+that my darling loved me, but it sank like lead when I considered the
+difficulties which threatened us if her father persisted in his present
+determination. At last, just as eight bells was striking (twelve
+o'clock), I went below to my cabin. My fellow-passenger was fast
+asleep--a fact which I was grateful for when I discovered propped
+against my bottle-rack a tiny envelope with my name upon it. Tearing it
+open I read the following:--
+
+     "MY OWN DEAREST,--
+
+     "My father has just informed me of his interview with you. I cannot
+     understand it or ascribe a reason for it. But whatever happens,
+     remember that I will be your wife, and the wife of no other.
+
+     "May God bless and keep you always.
+     "Your own,
+     "PHYLLIS.
+
+     "P.S.--Before we leave the ship you must let me know your address
+     in London."
+
+With such a letter under my pillow, can it be doubted that my dreams
+were good? Little I guessed the accumulation of troubles to which this
+little unpleasantness with Mr. Wetherell was destined to be the prelude!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+LONDON
+
+
+Now that I come to think the matter out, I don't know that I could give
+you any definite idea of what my first impressions of London were. One
+thing at least is certain, I had never had experience of anything
+approaching such a city before, and, between ourselves, I can't say that
+I ever want to again. The constant rush and roar of traffic, the crowds
+of people jostling each other on the pavements, the happiness and the
+misery, the riches and the poverty, all mixed up together in one jumble,
+like good and bad fruit in a basket, fairly took my breath away; and
+when I went down, that first afternoon, and saw the Park in all its
+summer glory, my amazement may be better imagined than described.
+
+I could have watched the carriages, horsemen, and promenaders for hours
+on end without any sense of weariness. And when a bystander, seeing that
+I was a stranger, took compassion upon my ignorance and condescended to
+point out to me the various celebrities present, my pleasure was
+complete. There certainly is no place like London for show and glitter,
+I'll grant you that; but all the same I'd no more think of taking up my
+permanent abode in it than I'd try to cross the Atlantic in a Chinese
+sampan.
+
+Having before I left Sydney been recommended to a quiet hotel in a
+neighbourhood near the Strand, convenient both for sight-seeing and
+business, I had my luggage conveyed thither, and prepared to make myself
+comfortable for a time. Every day I waited eagerly for a letter from my
+sweetheart, the more impatiently because its non-arrival convinced me
+that they had not yet arrived in London. As it turned out, they had
+delayed their departure from Naples for two days, and had spent another
+three in Florence, two in Rome, and a day and a half in Paris.
+
+One morning, however, my faithful watch over the letter rack, which was
+already becoming a standing joke in the hotel, was rewarded. An envelope
+bearing an English stamp and postmark, and addressed in a handwriting as
+familiar to me as my own, stared me in the face. To take it out and
+break the seal was the work of a moment. It was only a matter of a few
+lines, but it brought me news that raised me to the seventh heaven of
+delight.
+
+Mr. and Miss Wetherell had arrived in London the previous afternoon,
+they were staying at the _Hôtel Métropole_, would leave town for the
+country at the end of the week, but in the meantime, if I wished to see
+her, my sweetheart would be in the entrance hall of the British Museum
+the following morning at eleven o'clock.
+
+How I conducted myself in the interval between my receipt of the letter
+and the time of the appointment, I have not the least remembrance; I
+know, however, that half-past ten, on the following morning, found me
+pacing up and down the street before that venerable pile, scanning with
+eager eyes every conveyance that approached me. The minutes dragged by
+with intolerable slowness, but at length the time arrived.
+
+A kindly church clock in the neighbourhood struck the hour, and others
+all round it immediately took up the tale. Before the last stroke had
+died away a hansom turned towards the gates from Bury Street, and in it,
+looking the picture of health and beauty, sat the girl who, I had good
+reason to know, was more than all the world to me. To attract her
+attention and signal to the driver to pull up was the work of a second,
+and a minute later I had helped her to alight, and we were strolling
+together across the square towards the building.
+
+"Ah, Dick," she said, with a roguish smile, "you don't know what trouble
+I had to get away this morning. Papa had a dozen places he wished me to
+go to with him. But when I told him that I had some very important
+business of my own to attend to before I could go calling, he was kind
+enough to let me off."
+
+"I'll be bound he thought you meant business with a dressmaker," I
+laughingly replied, determined to show her that I was not unversed in
+the ways of women.
+
+"I'm afraid he did," she answered, blushing, "and I feel horribly
+guilty. But my heart told me I must see you at once, whatever happened."
+
+Could any man desire a prettier speech than that? If so, I was not that
+man. We were inside the building by this time, ascending the great
+staircase.
+
+As we entered the room at the top of the stairs, I thought it a good
+opportunity to ask the question I had been longing to put to her.
+
+"Phyllis, my sweetheart," I said, with a tremor in my voice, "it is a
+fortnight now since I spoke to you. You have had plenty of time to
+consider our position. Have you regretted giving me your love?"
+
+We came to a standstill, and leant over a case together, but what it
+contained I'm sure I haven't the very vaguest idea.
+
+She looked up into my face with a sweet smile.
+
+"Not for one single instant, Dick! Having once given you my love, is it
+likely I should want it back again?"
+
+"I don't know. Somehow I can't discover sufficient reason for your
+giving it to me at all."
+
+"Well, be sure I'm not going to tell you. You might grow conceited.
+Isn't it sufficient that I _do_ love you, and that I am not going to
+give you up, whatever happens?"
+
+"More than sufficient," I answered solemnly. "But, Phyllis, don't you
+think I can induce your father to relent? Surely as a good parent he
+must be anxious to promote your happiness at any cost to himself?"
+
+"I can't understand it at all. He has been so devoted to me all my life
+that his conduct now is quite inexplicable. Never once has he denied me
+anything I really set my heart upon, and he always promised me that I
+should be allowed to marry whomsoever I pleased, provided he was a good
+and honourable man, and one of whom he could in any way approve. And you
+are all that, Dick, or I shouldn't have loved you, I know."
+
+"I don't think I'm any worse than the ordinary run of men, dearest, if I
+am no better. At any rate I love you with a true and honourable love.
+But don't you think he will come round in time?"
+
+"I'm almost afraid not. He referred to it only yesterday, and seemed
+quite angry that I should have dared to entertain any thought of you
+after what he said to me on board ship. It was the first time in my life
+he ever spoke to me in such a tone, and I felt it keenly. No, Dick,
+there is something behind it all that I cannot understand. Some mystery
+that I would give anything to fathom. Papa has not been himself ever
+since we started for England. Indeed, his very reason for coming at all
+is an enigma to me. And now that he _is_ here, he seems in continual
+dread of meeting somebody--but who that somebody is, and why my father,
+who has the name and reputation of being such a courageous, determined,
+honourable man, should be afraid, is a thing I cannot understand."
+
+"It's all very mysterious and unfortunate. But surely something can be
+done? Don't you think if I were to see him again, and put the matter
+more plainly before him, something might be arranged?"
+
+"It would be worse than useless at present, I fear. No, you must just
+leave it to me, and I'll do my best to talk him round. Ever since my
+mother died I have been as his right hand, and it will be strange if he
+does not listen to me and see reason in the end."
+
+Seeing who it was that would plead with him I did not doubt it.
+
+By this time we had wandered through many rooms and now found ourselves
+in the Egyptian Department, surrounded by embalmed dead folk and queer
+objects of all sorts and descriptions. There was something almost
+startling about our love-making in such a place, among these men and
+women, whose wooings had been conducted in a country so widely different
+to ours, and in an age that was dead and gone over two thousand years
+ere we were born. I spoke of this to Phyllis. She laughed and gave a
+little shiver.
+
+"I wonder," she said, looking down on the swathed-up figure of a
+princess of the royal house of Egypt, lying stretched out in the case
+beside which we sat, "if this great lady, who lies so still and silent
+now, had any trouble with her love affair?"
+
+"Perhaps she had more than one beau to her string, and not being allowed
+to have one took the other," I answered; "though from what we can see of
+her now she doesn't look as if she were ever capable of exercising much
+fascination, does she?"
+
+As I spoke I looked from the case to the girl and compared the
+swaddled-up figure with the healthy, living, lovely creature by my side.
+But I hadn't much time for comparison. My sweetheart had taken her watch
+from her pocket and was glancing at the dial.
+
+"A quarter to twelve!" she cried in alarm, "Oh, Dick, I must be going. I
+promised to meet papa at twelve, and I must not keep him waiting."
+
+She rose and was about to pull on her gloves. But before she had time to
+do so I had taken a little case from my pocket and opened it. When she
+saw what it contained she could not help a little womanly cry of
+delight.
+
+"Oh, Dick! you naughty, extravagant boy!"
+
+"Why, dearest? Why naughty or extravagant to give the woman I love a
+little token of my affection?" As I spoke I slipped the ring over her
+pretty ringer and raised the hand to my lips.
+
+"Will you try," I said, "whenever you look at that ring, to remember
+that the man who gave it to you loves you with his whole heart and soul,
+and will count no trouble too great, or no exertion too hard, to make
+you happy?"
+
+"I will remember," she said solemnly, and when I looked I saw that tears
+stood in her eyes. She brushed them hastily away, and after an interlude
+which it hardly becomes me to mention here, we went down the stairs
+again and out into the street, almost in silence.
+
+Having called a cab, I placed her in it and nervously asked the question
+that had been sometime upon my mind:--"When shall I see you again?"
+
+"I cannot tell," she answered. "Perhaps next week. But I'll let you
+know. In the meantime don't despair; all will come right yet. Good-bye."
+
+"Good-bye and God bless you!"
+
+Having seen the last of her I wandered slowly down the pavement towards
+Oxford Street, then turning to my left hand, made my way citywards. My
+mind was full of my interview with the sweet girl who had just left me,
+and I wandered on and on, wrapped in my own thoughts, until I found
+myself in a quarter of London into which I had never hitherto
+penetrated. The streets were narrow, and, as if to be in keeping with
+the general air of gloom, the shops were small and their wares of a
+peculiarly sordid nature.
+
+A church clock somewhere in the neighbourhood struck "One," and as I was
+beginning to feel hungry, and knew myself to be a long way from my
+hotel, I cast about me for a lunching-place. But it was some time before
+I encountered the class of restaurant I wanted. When I did it was
+situated at the corner of two streets, carried a foreign name over the
+door, and, though considerably the worse for wear, presented a cleaner
+appearance than any other I had as yet experienced.
+
+Pushing the door open I entered. An unmistakable Frenchman, whose
+appearance, however, betokened long residence in England, stood behind a
+narrow counter polishing an absinthe glass. He bowed politely and asked
+my business.
+
+"Can I have lunch?" I asked.
+
+"Oui, monsieur! Cer-tain-lee. If monsieur will walk upstairs I will take
+his order."
+
+Waving his hand in the direction of a staircase in the corner of the
+shop he again bowed elaborately, while I, following the direction he
+indicated, proceeded to the room above. It was long and lofty, commanded
+an excellent view of both thoroughfares, and was furnished with a few
+inferior pictures, half a dozen small marble-top tables, and four times
+as many chairs.
+
+When I entered three men were in occupation. Two were playing chess at a
+side table, while the third, who had evidently no connection with them,
+was watching the game from a distance, at the same time pretending to be
+absorbed in his paper. Seating myself at a table near the door, I
+examined the bill of fare, selected my lunch, and in order to amuse
+myself while it was preparing, fell to scrutinizing my companions.
+
+Of the chess-players, one was a big, burly fellow, with enormous arms,
+protruding rheumy eyes, a florid complexion, and a voluminous red beard.
+His opponent was of a much smaller build, with pale features, a tiny
+moustache, and watery blue eyes. He wore a _pince-nez_, and from the
+length of his hair and a dab of crimson lake upon his shirt cuff, I
+argued him an artist.
+
+Leaving the chess-players, my eyes lighted on the stranger on the other
+side. He was more interesting in every way. Indeed, I was surprised to
+see a man of his stamp in the house at all. He was tall and slim, but
+exquisitely formed, and plainly the possessor of enormous strength. His
+head, if only from a phrenological point of view, was a magnificent one,
+crowned with a wealth of jet-black hair. His eyes were dark as night,
+and glittered like those of a snake. His complexion was of a decidedly
+olive hue, though, as he sat in the shadow of the corner, it was
+difficult to tell this at first sight.
+
+But what most fascinated me about this curious individual was the
+interest he was taking in the game the other men were playing. He kept
+his eyes fixed upon the board, looked anxiously from one to the other as
+a move trembled in the balance, smiled sardonically when his desires
+were realized, and sighed almost aloud when a mistake was made.
+
+Every moment I expected his anxiety or disappointment to find vent in
+words, but he always managed to control himself. When he became excited
+I noticed that his whole body quivered under its influence, and once
+when the smaller of the players made an injudicious move a look flew
+into his face that was full of such malignant intensity that I'll own I
+was influenced by it. What effect it would have had upon the innocent
+cause of it all, had he seen it, I should have been sorry to conjecture.
+
+Just as my lunch made its appearance the game reached a conclusion, and
+the taller of the two players, having made a remark in German, rose to
+leave. It was evident that the smaller man had won, and in an excess of
+pride, to which I gathered his nature was not altogether a stranger, he
+looked round the room as if in defiance.
+
+Doing so, his eyes met those of the man in the corner. I glanced from
+one to the other, but my gaze rested longest on the face of the smaller
+man. So fascinated did he seem to be by the other's stare that his eyes
+became set and stony. It was just as if he were being mesmerized. The
+person he looked at rose, approached him, sat down at the table and
+began to arrange the men on the board. Then he looked up again.
+
+"May I have the pleasure of giving you a game?" he asked in excellent
+English, bowing slightly as he spoke, and moving a pawn with his long
+white fingers.
+
+The little man found voice enough to murmur an appropriate reply, and
+they began their game, while I turned to my lunch. But, in spite of
+myself, I found my eyes continually reverting to what was happening at
+the other table. And, indeed, it was a curious sight I saw there. The
+tall man had thrown himself into the business of the game, heart and
+soul. He half sat, half crouched over the board, reminding me of a hawk
+hovering over a poultry yard.
+
+His eyes were riveted first on the men before him and then on his
+opponent--his long fingers twitched and twined over each move, and
+seemed as if they would never release their hold. Not once did he speak,
+but his attitude was more expressive than any words.
+
+The effect on the little man, his companion, was overwhelming. He was
+quite unable to do anything, but sat huddled up in his chair as if
+terrified by his demoniacal companion. The result even a child might
+have foreseen. The tall man won, and the little man, only too glad to
+have come out of the ordeal with a whole skin, seized his hat and, with
+a half-uttered apology, darted from the room.
+
+For a moment or two his extraordinary opponent sat playing with the
+chessmen. Then he looked across at me and without hesitation said,
+accompanying his remark with a curious smile, for which I could not at
+all account:--"I think you will agree with me that the limitations of
+the fool are the birth gifts of the wise!"
+
+Not knowing what reply to make to this singular assertion, I wisely held
+my tongue. This brought about a change in his demeanour; he rose from
+his seat, and came across to where I sat. Seating himself in a chair
+directly opposite me, he folded his hands in his lap, after the manner
+of a demure old spinster, and, having looked at me earnestly, said with
+an almost indescribable sweetness of tone:--
+
+"I think you will allow, Mr. Hatteras, that half the world is born for
+the other half to prey upon!"
+
+For a moment I was too much astonished to speak; how on earth had he
+become aware of my name? I stumbled out some sort of reply, which
+evidently did not impress him very much, for he began again:--
+
+"Our friend who has just left us will most certainly be one of those
+preyed upon. I pity him because he will not have the smallest grain of
+pleasure in his life. You, Mr. Hatteras, on the other hand, will,
+unwittingly, be in the other camp. Circumstances will arrange that for
+you. Some have, of course, no desire to prey; but necessity forces it on
+them. Yourself, for instance. Some only prey when they are quite sure
+there will be no manner of risk. Our German friend who played the
+previous game is an example. Others, again, never lose an opportunity.
+Candidly speaking, to which class should you imagine I belong?"
+
+He smiled as he put the question, and, his thin lips parting, I could
+just catch the glitter of the short teeth with which his mouth was
+furnished. For the third time since I had made his acquaintance I did
+not know which way to answer. However, I made a shot and said something.
+
+"I really know nothing about you," I answered. "But from your kindness
+in giving our artist friend a game, and now in allowing me the benefit
+of your conversation, I should say you only prey upon your fellow-men
+when dire extremity drives you to it."
+
+"And you would be wrong. I am of the last class I mentioned. There is
+only one sport of any interest to me in life, and that is the
+opportunity of making capital out of my fellow humans. You see, I am
+candid with you, Mr. Hatteras!"
+
+"Pray excuse me. But you know my name! As I have never, to my knowledge,
+set eyes on you before, would you mind telling me how you became
+acquainted with it?"
+
+"With every pleasure. But before I do so I think it only fair to tell
+you that you will not believe my explanation. And yet it _should_
+convince you. At any rate we'll try. In your right-hand top waistcoat
+pocket you have three cards." Here he leant his head on his hands and
+shut his eyes. "One is crinkled and torn, but it has written on it, in
+pencil, the name of Edward Braithwaite, Macquarrie Street, Sydney. I
+presume the name is Braithwaite, but the _t_ and _e_ are almost
+illegible. The second is rather a high-sounding one--the Hon. Sylvester
+Wetherell, Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales; and the third is, I
+take it, your own, Richard Hatteras. Am I right?"
+
+I put my fingers in my pocket, and drew out what it contained--a
+half-sovereign, a shilling, a small piece of pencil, and three cards.
+The first, a well-worn piece of pasteboard, bore, surely enough, the
+name of Edward Braithwaite, and was that of the solicitor with whom I
+transacted my business in Sydney; the second was given me by my
+sweetheart's father the day before we left Australia; and the third was
+certainly my own.
+
+Was this witchcraft or only some clever conjuring trick? I asked myself
+the question, but could give it no satisfactory answer. At any rate you
+may be sure it did not lessen my respect for my singular companion.
+
+"Ah! I am right, then!" he cried exultingly. "Isn't it strange how the
+love of being right remains with us, when we think we have safely
+combated every other self-conceit. Well, Mr. Hatteras, I am very pleased
+to have made your acquaintance. Somehow I think we are destined to meet
+again--where I cannot say. At any rate, let us hope that that meeting
+will be as pleasant and successful as this has been."
+
+But I hardly heard what he said. I was still puzzling my brains over his
+extraordinary conjuring trick--for trick I am convinced it was. He had
+risen and was slowly drawing on his gloves when I spoke.
+
+"I have been thinking over those cards," I said, "and I am considerably
+puzzled. How on earth did you know they were there?"
+
+"If I told you, you would have no more faith in my powers. So with your
+permission I will assume the virtue of modesty. Call it a conjuring
+trick, if you like. Many curious things are hidden under that
+comprehensive term. But that is neither here nor there. Before I go
+would you like to see one more?"
+
+"Very much, indeed, if it's as good as the last!"
+
+In the window stood a large glass dish, half full of water, and having a
+dark brown fly paper floating on the surface. He brought it across to
+the table at which I sat, and having drained the water into a jug near
+by, left the paper sticking to the bottom.
+
+This done, he took a tiny leather case from his pocket and a small
+bottle out of that again. From this bottle he poured a few drops of some
+highly pungent liquid on to the paper, with the result that it grew
+black as ink and threw off a tiny vapour, which licked the edges of the
+bowl and curled upwards in a faint spiral column.
+
+"There, Mr. Hatteras, this is a--well, a trick--I learned from an old
+woman in Benares. It is a better one than the last and will repay your
+interest. If you will look on that paper for a moment, and try to
+concentrate your attention, you will see something that will, I think,
+astonish you."
+
+Hardly believing that I should see anything at all I looked. But for
+some seconds without success. My scepticism, however, soon left me. At
+first I saw only the coarse grain of the paper and the thin vapour
+rising from it. Then the knowledge that I was gazing into a dish
+vanished. I forget my companion and the previous conjuring trick. I saw
+only a picture opening out before me--that of a handsomely furnished
+room, in which was a girl sitting in an easy chair crying as if her
+heart were breaking. The room I had never seen before, but the girl I
+should have known among a thousand. _She was Phyllis, my sweetheart!_
+
+I looked and looked, and as I gazed at her, I heard her call my name.
+"Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!" Instantly I sprang to my feet, meaning to
+cross the room to her. Next moment I became aware of a loud crash. The
+scene vanished, my senses came back to me; and to my astonishment I
+found myself standing alongside the overturned restaurant table. The
+glass dish lay on the floor, shattered into a thousand fragments. My
+friend, the conjuror, had disappeared.
+
+Having righted the table again, I went downstairs and explained my
+misfortune. When I had paid my bill I took my departure, more troubled
+in mind than I cared to confess. That it was only what he had called it,
+a conjuring trick, I felt I ought to be certain, but still it was clever
+and uncanny enough to render me very uncomfortable.
+
+In vain I tried to drive the remembrance of the scene I had witnessed
+from my brain, but it would not be dispelled. At length, to satisfy
+myself, I resolved that if the memory of it remained with me so vividly
+in the morning I would take the bull by the horns and call at the
+_Métropole_ to make inquiries.
+
+I returned to my hotel in time for dinner, but still I could not rid
+myself of the feeling that some calamity was approaching. Having sent my
+meal away almost untouched, I called a hansom and drove to the nearest
+theatre, but the picture of Phyllis crying and calling for me in vain
+kept me company throughout the performance, and brought me home more
+miserable at the end than I had started. All night long I dreamed of it,
+seeing the same picture again and again, and hearing the same despairing
+cry, "Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!"
+
+In the morning there was only one thing to be done. Accordingly, after
+breakfast I set off to make sure that nothing was the matter. On the way
+I tried to reason with myself. I asked how it was that I, Dick Hatteras,
+a man who thought he knew the world so well, should have been so
+impressed with a bit of wizardry as to be willing to risk making a fool
+of myself before the two last people in the world I wanted to think me
+one. Once I almost determined to turn back, but while the intention held
+me the picture rose again before my mind's eye, and on I went more
+resolved to solve the mystery.
+
+Arriving at the hotel, a gorgeously caparisoned porter, who stood on the
+steps, said in response to my inquiry:--
+
+_"They've left, sir. Started yesterday afternoon, quite suddenly, for
+Paris, on their way back to Australia!"_
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+I VISIT MY RELATIONS
+
+
+For the moment I could hardly believe my ears. Gone? Why had they gone?
+What could have induced them to leave England so suddenly? I questioned
+the hall porter on the subject, but he could tell me nothing save that
+they had departed for Paris the previous day, intending to proceed
+across the Continent in order to catch the first Australian boat at
+Naples.
+
+Feeling that I should only look ridiculous if I stayed questioning the
+man any longer, I pressed a tip into his hand and went slowly back to my
+own hotel to try and think it all out. But though I devoted some hours
+to it, I could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. The one vital point
+remained and was not to be disputed--they were gone. But the mail that
+evening brought me enlightenment in the shape of a letter, written in
+London and posted in Dover. It ran as follows:--
+
+     "MONDAY AFTERNOON.
+
+     "MY OWN DEAREST.--Something terrible has happened to papa!
+     I cannot tell you what, because I do not know myself. He went out
+     this morning in the best of health and spirits, and returned half an
+     hour ago trembling like a leaf and white as a sheet. He had only
+     strength enough left to reach a chair in my sitting-room before he
+     fainted dead away. When he came to himself again he said, 'Tell
+     your maid to pack at once. There is not a moment to lose. We start
+     for Paris this evening to catch the next boat leaving Naples for
+     Australia.' I said, 'But papa!' 'Not a word,' he answered. 'I have
+     seen somebody this morning whose presence renders it impossible for
+     us to remain an instant longer in England. Go and pack at once,
+     unless you wish my death to lie at your door.' After that I could,
+     of course, say nothing. I have packed and now, in half an hour, we
+     leave England again. If I could only see you to say good-bye; but
+     that, too, is impossible. I cannot tell what it all means, but that
+     it is very serious business that takes us away so suddenly I feel
+     convinced. My father seems frightened to remain in London a minute
+     longer than he can help. He even stands at the window as I write,
+     earnestly scrutinizing everybody who enters the hotel. And now, my
+     own----"
+
+But what follows, the reiterations of her affection, her vows to be true
+to me, etc., etc., could have no possible interest for any one save
+lovers.
+
+I sat like one stunned. All enjoyment seemed suddenly to have gone out
+of life for me. I could only sit twirling the paper in my hand and
+picturing the train flying remorselessly across France, bearing away
+from me the girl I loved better than all the world. I went down to the
+Park, but the scene there had no longer any interest in my eyes. I went
+later on to a theatre, but I found no enjoyment in the piece performed.
+London had suddenly become distasteful to me. I felt I must get out of
+it; but where could I go? Every place was alike in my present humour.
+Then one of the original motives of my journey rose before me, and I
+determined to act on the suggestion.
+
+Next morning I accordingly set off for Hampshire to try, if possible, to
+find my father's old home. What sort of a place it would turn out to be
+I had not the very remotest idea.
+
+Leaving the train at Lyndhurst Road--for the village I was in search of
+was situated in the heart of the New Forest--I hired a ramshackle
+conveyance from the nearest innkeeper and started off for it. The man
+who drove me had lived in the neighbourhood, so he found early occasion
+to inform me, all his seventy odd years, and it struck him as a humorous
+circumstance that he had never in his life been even as far as
+Southampton, a matter of only ten minutes by rail.
+
+We had travelled a matter of two miles when it struck me to ask my
+charioteer about the place to which we were proceeding. It was within
+the bounds of possibility, I thought, that he might once have known my
+father. I determined to try him. So waiting till we had passed a load of
+hay coming along the lane, I put the question to him.
+
+To my surprise, he had no sooner heard the name than he became as
+excited as it was possible for him to be.
+
+"Hatteras!" he cried. "Be ye a Hatteras? Well, well, now, dearie me,
+who'd ha' thought it!"
+
+"Do you know the name so well, then?"
+
+"Ay! ay! I know the name well enough; who doesn't in these parts? There
+was the old Squire and Lady Margaret when first I remember. Then Squire
+Jasper and his son, the captain, as was killed in the mutiny in foreign
+parts--and Master James----"
+
+"James--that was my father's name. James Dymoke Hatteras."
+
+"You Master James' son--you don't say! Well! well! Now to think of that
+too! Him that ran away from home after words with the Squire, and went
+to foreign parts. Who'd have thought it! Sir William will be right down
+glad to see ye, I'll be bound."
+
+"Sir William, and who's Sir William?"
+
+"He's the only one left now, sir. Lives up at the House. Ah, dear! ah,
+dear! There's been a power o' trouble in the family these years past."
+
+By this time the aspect of the country was changing. We had left the
+lane behind us, ascended a short hill, and were now descending it again
+through what looked to my eyes more like a stately private avenue than a
+public road. Beautiful elms reared themselves on either hand and
+intermingled their branches overhead; while before us, through a gap in
+the foliage, we could just distinguish the winding river, with the
+thatched roofs of the village, of which we had come in search, lining
+its banks, and the old grey tower of the church keeping watch and ward
+over all.
+
+There was to my mind something indescribably peaceful and even sad about
+that view, a mute sympathy with the Past that I could hardly account
+for, seeing that I was Colonial born and bred. For the first time since
+my arrival in England the real beauty of the place came home upon me. I
+felt as if I could have looked for ever on that quiet and peaceful spot.
+
+When we reached the bottom of the hill, and had turned the corner, a
+broad, well-made stone bridge confronted us. On the other side of this
+was an old-fashioned country inn, with its signboard dangling from the
+house front, and opposite it again a dilapidated cottage lolling beside
+two iron gates. The gates were eight feet or more in height, made of
+finely wrought iron, and supported by big stone posts, on the top of
+which two stone animals--griffins, I believe they are called--holding
+shields in their claws, looked down on passers-by in ferocious grandeur.
+From behind the gates an avenue wound and disappeared into the wood.
+
+Without consulting me, my old charioteer drove into the inn yard, and,
+having thrown the reins to an ostler, descended from the vehicle. I
+followed his example, and then inquired the name of the place inside the
+gates. My guide, philosopher, and friend looked at me rather queerly for
+a second or two, and then recollecting that I was a stranger to the
+place, said:--
+
+"That be the Hall I was telling 'ee about. That's where Sir William
+lives!"
+
+"Then that's where my father was born?"
+
+He nodded his head, and as he did so I noticed that the ostler stopped
+his work of unharnessing the horse, and looked at me in rather a
+surprised fashion.
+
+"Well, that being so," I said, taking my stick from the trap, and
+preparing to stroll off, "I'm just going to investigate a bit. You bring
+yourself to an anchor in yonder, and don't stir till I come for you
+again."
+
+He took himself into the inn without more ado, and I crossed the road
+towards the gates. They were locked, but the little entrance by the
+tumble-down cottage stood open, and passing through this I started up
+the drive. It was a perfect afternoon; the sunshine straggled in through
+the leafy canopy overhead and danced upon my path. To the right were the
+thick fastnesses of the preserves; while on my left, across the meadows
+I could discern the sparkle of water on a weir. I must have proceeded
+for nearly a mile through the wood before I caught sight of the house.
+Then, what a strange experience was mine.
+
+Leaving the shelter of the trees, I opened on to as beautiful a park as
+the mind of man could imagine. A herd of deer were grazing quietly just
+before me, a woodman was eating his dinner in the shadow of an oak; but
+it was not upon deer or woodman that I looked, but at the house that
+stared at me across the undulating sea of grass. It was a noble
+building, of grey stone, in shape almost square, with many curious
+buttresses and angles. The drive ran up to it with a grand sweep, and
+upon the green that fronted it some big trees reared their stately
+heads. In my time I'd heard a lot of talk about the stately homes of
+England, but this was the first time I had ever set eyes on one. And to
+think that this was my father's birthplace, the house where my ancestors
+had lived for centuries! I could only stand and stare at it in sheer
+amazement.
+
+You see, my father had always been a very silent man, and though he used
+sometimes to tell us yarns about scrapes he'd got into as a boy, and how
+his father was a very stern man, and had sent him to a public school,
+because his tutor found him unmanageable, we never thought that he'd
+been anything very much.
+
+To tell the truth, I felt a bit doubtful as to what I'd better do.
+Somehow I was rather nervous about going up to the house and introducing
+myself as a member of the family without any credentials to back my
+assertion up; and yet, on the other hand, I did not want to go away and
+have it always rankling in my mind that I'd seen the old place and been
+afraid to go inside. My mind once made up, however, off I went, crossed
+the park, and made towards the front door. On nearer approach, I
+discovered that everything showed the same neglect I had noticed at the
+lodge. The drive was overgrown with weeds; no carriage seemed to have
+passed along it for ages. Shutters enclosed many of the windows, and
+where they did not, not one but several of the panes were broken.
+Entering the great stone porch, in which it would have been possible to
+seat a score of people, I pulled the antique door-bell, and waited,
+while the peal re-echoed down the corridors, for the curtain to go up on
+the next scene.
+
+Presently I heard footsteps approaching. A key turned in the lock, and
+the great door swung open. An old man, whose years could hardly have
+totalled less than seventy, stood before me, dressed in a suit of solemn
+black, almost green with age. He inquired my business in a wheezy
+whisper. I asked if Sir William Hatteras were at home. Informing me that
+he would find out, he left me to ruminate on the queerness of my
+position. In five minutes or so he returned, and signed to me to follow.
+
+The hall was in keeping with the outside of the building, lofty and
+imposing. The floor was of oak, almost black with age, the walls were
+beautifully wainscoted and carved, and here and there tall armoured
+figures looked down upon me in disdainful silence. But the crowning
+glory of all was the magnificent staircase that ran up from the centre.
+It was wide enough and strong enough to have taken a coach and four, the
+pillars that supported it were exquisitely carved, as were the banisters
+and rails. Half-way up was a sort of landing, from which again the
+stairs branched off to right and left.
+
+Above this landing-place, and throwing a stream of coloured light down
+into the hall, was a magnificent stained-glass window, and on a lozenge
+in the centre of it the arms that had so much puzzled me on the gateway.
+A nobler hall no one could wish to possess, but brooding over it was the
+same air of poverty and neglect I had noticed all about the place. By
+the time I had taken in these things, my guide had reached a door at the
+farther end. He bade me enter, and I did so, to find a tall, elderly man
+of stern aspect awaiting my coming.
+
+He, like his servant, was dressed entirely in black, with the exception
+of a white tie, which gave his figure a semi-clerical appearance. His
+face was long and somewhat pinched, his chin and upper lip were shaven,
+and his snow-white, close-cropped whiskers ran in two straight lines
+from his jaw up to a level with his piercing, hawk-like eyes. He would
+probably have been about seventy-five years of age, but he did not carry
+it well. In a low, monotonous voice he bade me welcome, and pointed to a
+chair, himself remaining standing.
+
+"My servant tells me you say your name is Hatteras?" he began.
+
+"That is so," I replied. "My father was James Dymoke Hatteras."
+
+He looked at me very sternly for almost a minute, not for a second
+betraying the slightest sign of surprise. Then putting his hands
+together, finger tip to finger tip, as I discovered later was his
+invariable habit while flunking, he said solemnly:----
+
+"James was my younger brother. He misconducted himself gravely in
+England and was sent abroad. After a brief career of spendthrift
+extravagance in Australia, we never heard of him again. You may be his
+son, but then, on the other hand, of course, you may not. I have no
+means of judging."
+
+"I give you my word," I answered, a little nettled by his speech and the
+insinuation contained in it; "but if you want further proof, I've got a
+Latin book in my portmanteau with my father's name upon the fly-leaf,
+and an inscription in his own writing setting forth that it was given by
+him to me."
+
+"A Catullus?"
+
+"Exactly! a Catullus."
+
+"Then I'll have to trouble you to return it to me at your earliest
+convenience. The book is my property: I paid eighteenpence for it on the
+3rd of July, 1833, in the shop of John Burns, Fleet Street, London. My
+brother took it from me a week later, and I have not been able to afford
+myself another copy since."
+
+"You admit then that the book is evidence of my father's identity?"
+
+"I admit nothing. What do you want with me? What do you come here for?
+You must see for yourself that I am too poor to be of any service to
+you, and I have long since lost any public interest I may once have
+possessed."
+
+"I want neither one nor the other. I am home from Australia on a trip,
+and I have a sufficient competence to render me independent of any one."
+
+"Ah! That puts a different complexion on the matter. You say you hail
+from Australia? And what may you have been doing there?"
+
+"Gold-mining--pearling--trading!"
+
+He came a step closer, and as he did so I noticed that his face had
+assumed a look of indescribable cunning, that was evidently intended to
+be of an ingratiating nature. He spoke in little jerks, pressing his
+fingers together between each sentence.
+
+"Gold-mining! Ah! And pearling! Well, well! And you have been fortunate
+in your ventures?"
+
+"Very!" I replied, having by this time determined on my line of action.
+"I daresay my cheque for ten thousand pounds would not be dishonoured."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds! Ten thousand pounds! Dear me, dear me!"
+
+He shuffled up and down the dingy room, all the time looking at me out
+of the corners of his eyes, as if to make sure that I was telling him
+the truth.
+
+"Come, come, uncle," I said, resolving to bring him to his bearings
+without further waste of time. "This is not a very genial welcome!"
+
+"Well, well, you mustn't expect too much, my boy! You see for yourself
+the position I'm in. The old place is shut up, going to rack and ruin.
+Poverty is staring me in the face; I am cheated by everybody. Robbed
+right and left, not knowing which way to turn. But I'll not be put upon.
+They may call me what they please, but they can't get blood out of a
+stone. Can they! Answer me that, now!"
+
+This speech showed me everything as plain as a pikestaff. I mean, of
+course, the reason of the deserted and neglected house, and his
+extraordinary reception of myself. I rose to my feet.
+
+"Well, uncle--for my uncle you certainly are, whatever you may say to
+the contrary--I must be going. I'm sorry to find you like this, and from
+what you tell me I couldn't think of worrying you with my society! I
+want to see the old church and have a talk with the parson, and then I
+shall go off never to trouble you again."
+
+He immediately became almost fulsome in his effort to detain me. "No,
+no! You mustn't go like that. It's not hospitable. Besides, you mustn't
+talk with parson. He's a bad lot, is parson--a hard man with a cruel
+tongue. Says terrible things about me, does parson. But I'll be even
+with him yet. Don't speak to him, laddie, for the honour of the family.
+Now ye'll stay and take lunch with me?--potluck, of course--I'm too poor
+to give ye much of a meal; and in the meantime I'll show ye the house
+and estate."
+
+This was just what I wanted, though I did not look forward to the
+prospect of lunch in his company.
+
+With trembling hands he took down an old-fashioned hat from a peg and
+turned towards the door. When we had passed through it he carefully
+locked it and dropped the key into his breeches' pocket. Then he led the
+way upstairs by the beautiful oak staircase I had so much admired on
+entering the house.
+
+When we reached the first landing, which was of noble proportions and
+must have contained upon its walls nearly a hundred family portraits all
+coated with the dust of years, he approached a door and threw it open. A
+feeble light straggled in through the closed shutters, and revealed an
+almost empty room. In the centre stood a large canopied bed, of antique
+design. The walls were wainscoted, and the massive chimney-piece was
+carved with heraldic designs. I inquired what room this might be.
+
+"This is where all our family were born," he answered. "'Twas here your
+father first saw the light of day."
+
+I looked at it with a new interest. It seemed hard to believe that this
+was the birthplace of my own father, the man whom I remembered so well
+in a place and life so widely different. My companion noticed the look
+upon my face, and, I suppose, felt constrained to say something. "Ah!
+James!" he said sorrowfully, "ye were always a giddy, roving lad. I
+remember ye well." (He passed his hand across his eyes, to brush away a
+tear, I thought, but his next speech disabused me of any such notion.)
+"I remember that but a day or two before ye went ye blooded my nose in
+the orchard, and the very morning ye decamped ye borrowed half a crown
+of me, and never paid it back."
+
+A sudden something prompted me to put my hand in my pocket. I took out
+half a crown, and handed it to him without a word. He took it, looked at
+it longingly, put it in his pocket, took it out again, ruminated a
+moment, and then reluctantly handed it back to me.
+
+"Nay, nay! my laddie, keep your money, keep your money. Ye can send me
+the Catullus." Then to himself, unconscious that he was speaking his
+thoughts aloud: "It was a good edition, and I have no doubt would bring
+five shillings any day."
+
+From one room we passed into another, and yet another. They were all
+alike--shut up, dust-ridden, and forsaken. And yet with it all what a
+noble place it was--one which any man might be proud to call his own.
+And to think that it was all going to rack and ruin because of the
+miserly nature of its owner. In the course of our ramble I discovered
+that he kept but two servants, the old man who had admitted me to his
+presence, and his wife, who, as that peculiar phrase has it, cooked and
+did for him. I discovered later that he had not paid either of them
+wages for some years past, and that they only stayed on with him because
+they were too poor and proud to seek shelter elsewhere.
+
+When we had inspected the house we left it by a side door, and crossed a
+courtyard to the stables. There the desolation was, perhaps, even more
+marked than in the house. The great clock on the tower above the main
+building had stopped at a quarter to ten on some long-forgotten day, and
+a spider now ran his web from hand to hand. At our feet, between the
+stones, grass grew luxuriantly, thick moss covered the coping of the
+well, the doors were almost off their hinges, and rats scuttled through
+the empty loose boxes at our approach. So large was the place, that
+thirty horses might have found a lodging comfortably, and as far as I
+could gather, there was room for half as many vehicles in the
+coach-houses that stood on either side. The intense quiet was only
+broken by the cawing of the rooks in the giant elms overhead, the
+squeaking of the rats, and the low grumbling of my uncle's voice as he
+pointed out the ruin that was creeping over everything.
+
+Before we had finished our inspection it was lunch time, and we returned
+to the house. The meal was served in the same room in which I had made
+my relative's acquaintance an hour before. It consisted, I discovered,
+of two meagre mutton chops and some homemade bread and cheese, plain and
+substantial fare enough in its way, but hardly the sort one would expect
+from the owner of such a house. For a beverage, water was placed before
+us, but I could see that my host was deliberating as to whether he
+should stretch his generosity a point or two further.
+
+Presently he rose, and with a muttered apology left the room, to return
+five minutes later carrying a small bottle carefully in his hand. This,
+with much deliberation and sighing, he opened. It proved to be claret,
+and he poured out a glassful for me. As I was not prepared for so much
+liberality, I thought something must be behind it, and in this I was not
+mistaken.
+
+"Nephew," said he after a while, "was it ten thousand pounds you
+mentioned as your fortune?"
+
+I nodded. He looked at me slyly and cleared his throat to gain time for
+reflection. Then seeing that I had emptied my glass, he refilled it with
+another scarce concealed sigh, and sat back in his chair.
+
+"And I understand you to say you are quite alone in the world, my boy?"
+
+"Quite! Until I met you this morning I was unaware that I had a single
+relative on earth. Have I any more connections?"
+
+"Not a soul--only Gwendoline."
+
+"Gwendoline! and who may Gwendoline be?"
+
+"My daughter--your cousin. My only child! Would you like to see her?"
+
+"I had no idea you had a daughter. Of course I should like to see her!"
+
+He left the table and rang the bell. The ancient man-servant answered
+the summons.
+
+"Tell you wife to bring Miss Gwendoline to us."
+
+"Miss Gwendoline here, sir? You do not mean it sure-lie, sir?"
+
+"Numbskull! numbskull! numbskull!" cried the old fellow in an ecstasy of
+fury that seemed to spring up as suddenly as a squall does between the
+islands, "bring her or I'll be the death of you."
+
+Without further remonstrance the old man left the room, and I demanded
+an explanation.
+
+"Good servant, but an impudent rascal, sir!" he said. "Of course you
+must see my daughter, my beautiful daughter, Gwendoline. He's afraid
+you'll frighten her, I suppose! Ha! ha! Frighten my bashful, pretty one.
+Ha! ha!"
+
+Anything so supremely devilish as the dried-up mirth of this old fellow
+it would be difficult to imagine. His very laugh seemed as if it had to
+crack in his throat before it could pass his lips. What would his
+daughter be like, living in such a house, with such companions? While I
+was wondering, I heard footsteps in the corridor, and then an old woman
+entered and curtsied respectfully. My host rose and went over to the
+fireplace, where he stood with his hands behind his back and the same
+devilish grin upon his face.
+
+"Well, where is my daughter?"
+
+"Sir, do you really mean it?"
+
+"Of course I mean it. Where is she?"
+
+In answer the old lady went to the door and called to some one in the
+hall.
+
+"Come in, dearie. It's all right. Come in, do'ee now, that's a little
+dear."
+
+But the girl made no sign of entering, and at last the old woman had to
+go out and draw her in. And then--but I hardly know how to write it. How
+shall I give you a proper description of the--_thing_ that entered.
+
+She--if _she_ it could be called--was about three feet high, dressed in
+a shapeless print costume. Her hair stood and hung in a tangled mass
+upon her head, her eyes were too large for her face, and to complete the
+horrible effect, a great patch of beard grew on one cheek, and descended
+almost to a level with her chin. Her features were all awry, and now and
+again she uttered little moans that were more like those of a wild beast
+than of a human being. In spite of the old woman's endeavours to make
+her do so, she would not venture from her side, but stood slobbering and
+moaning in the half dark of the doorway.
+
+It was a ghastly sight, one that nearly turned me sick with loathing.
+But the worst part of it all was the inhuman merriment of her father.
+
+"There, there!" he cried; "had ever man such a lovely daughter? Isn't
+she a beauty? Isn't she fit to be a prince's bride? Isn't she fit to be
+the heiress of all this place? Won't the young dukes be asking her hand
+in marriage? Oh, you beauty! You--but there, take her away--take her
+away, I say, before I do her mischief."
+
+The words had no sooner left his mouth than the old woman seized her
+charge and bundled her out of the room, moaning as before. I can tell
+you there was at least one person in that apartment who was heartily
+glad to be rid of her.
+
+When the door had closed upon them my host came back to his seat, and
+with another sigh refilled my glass. I wondered what was coming next. It
+was not long, however, before I found out.
+
+"Now you know everything," he said. "You have seen my home, you have
+seen my poverty, and you have seen my daughter. What do you think of it
+all?"
+
+"I don't know what to think."
+
+"Well, then, I'll tell you. That child wants doctors; that child wants
+proper attendance. She can get neither here. I am too poor to help her
+in any way. You're rich by your own telling. I have to-day taken you
+into the bosom of my family, recognized you without doubting your
+assertions. Will you help me? Will you give me one thousand pounds
+towards settling that child in life? With that amount it could be
+managed."
+
+"Will I what?" I cried in utter amazement--dumbfounded by his impudence.
+
+"Will you settle one thousand pounds upon her, to keep her out of her
+grave?"
+
+"Not one penny!" I cried: "and, what's more, you miserable, miserly old
+wretch, I'll give you a bit of my mind."
+
+And thereupon I did! Such a talking to as I suppose the old fellow had
+never had in his life before, and one he'd not be likely to forget in a
+hurry. He sat all the time, white with fury, his eyes blazing, and his
+fingers quivering with impotent rage. When I had done he ordered me out
+of his house. I took him at his word, seized my hat, and strode across
+the hall through the front door, and out into the open air.
+
+But I was not to leave the home of my ancestors without a parting shot.
+As I closed the front door behind me I heard a window go up, and on
+looking round there was the old fellow shaking his fist at me.
+
+"Leave my house--leave my park!" he cried in a shrill falsetto, "or I'll
+send for the constable to turn you off. Bah! You came to steal. You're
+no nephew of mine; I disown you! You're a common cheat--a swindler--an
+impostor! Go!"
+
+I took him at his word, and went. Leaving the park, I walked straight
+across to the rectory, and inquired if I might see the clergyman. To him
+I told my tale, and, among other things, asked if anything could be done
+for the child--my cousin. He only shook his head.
+
+"I fear it is hopeless, Mr. Hatteras," the clergyman said. "The old
+gentleman is a terrible character, and as he owns half the village, and
+every acre of the land hereabouts, we all live in fear and trembling of
+him. We have no shadow of a claim upon the child, and unless we can
+prove that he actually ill-treats it, I'm sorry to say I think there is
+nothing to be done."
+
+So ended my first meeting with my father's family.
+
+From the rectory I returned to my inn. What should I do now? London was
+worse than a desert to me now that my sweetheart was gone from it, and
+every other place seemed as bad. Then an advertisement on the wall of
+the bar parlour caught my eye:
+
+     "FOR SALE OR HIRE,
+     THE YACHT, _ENCHANTRESS_.
+     Ten Tons.
+     Apply, SCREW & MATCHEM,
+     Bournemouth."
+
+It was just the very thing. I was pining for a breath of sea air again.
+It was perfect weather for a cruise. I would go to Bournemouth, inspect
+the yacht at once, and, if she suited me, take her for a month or so. My
+mind once made up, I hunted up my Jehu and set off for the train, never
+dreaming that by so doing I was taking the second step in that important
+chain of events that was to affect all the future of my life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+I SAVE AN IMPORTANT LIFE
+
+
+I travelled to Bournemouth by a fast train, and immediately on arrival
+made my way to the office of Messrs. Screw & Matchem, with a view to
+instituting inquiries regarding the yacht they had advertised for hire.
+It was with the senior partner I transacted my business; a shrewd but
+pleasant gentleman.
+
+Upon my making known my business to him, he brought me a photograph of
+the craft in question, and certainly a nice handy boat she looked. She
+had been built, he went on to inform me, for a young nobleman, who had
+made two very considerable excursions in her before he had been
+compelled to fly the country, and was only three years old. I learned
+also that she was lying in Poole harbour, but he was good enough to say
+that if I wished to see her she should be brought round to Bournemouth
+the following morning, when I could inspect her at my leisure. As this
+arrangement was one that exactly suited me, I closed with it there and
+then, and thanking Mr. Matchem for his courtesy, betook myself to my
+hotel. Having dined, I spent the evening upon the pier--the first of its
+kind I had ever seen--listened to the band and diverted myself with
+thoughts of her to whom I had plighted my troth, and whose unexpected
+departure from England had been such a sudden and bitter disappointment
+to me.
+
+Next morning, faithful to promise, the _Enchantress_ sailed into the bay
+and came to an anchor within a biscuit throw of the pier. Chartering a
+dinghy, I pulled myself off to her, and stepped aboard. An old man and a
+boy were engaged washing down, and to them I introduced myself and
+business. Then for half an hour I devoted myself to overhauling her
+thoroughly. She was a nice enough little craft, well set up, and from
+her run looked as if she might possess a fair turn of speed; the gear
+was in excellent order, and this was accounted for when the old man told
+me she had been repaired and thoroughly overhauled that selfsame year.
+
+Having satisfied myself on a few other minor points, I pulled ashore and
+again went up through the gardens to the agents' office. Mr. Matchem was
+delighted to hear that I liked the yacht well enough to think of hiring
+her at their own price (a rather excessive one, I must admit), and, I
+don't doubt, would have supplied me with a villa in Bournemouth, and a
+yachting box in the Isle of Wight, also on their own terms, had I felt
+inclined to furnish them with the necessary order. But fortunately I was
+able to withstand their temptations, and having given them my cheque for
+the requisite amount, went off to make arrangements, and to engage a
+crew.
+
+Before nightfall I had secured the services of a handy lad in place of
+the old man who had brought the boat round from Poole, and was in a
+position to put to sea. Accordingly next morning I weighed anchor for a
+trip round the Isle of Wight. Before we had brought the Needles abeam I
+had convinced myself that the boat was an excellent sailer, and when the
+first day's cruise was over I had no reason to repent having hired her.
+
+Not having anything to hurry me, and only a small boy and my own
+thoughts to keep me company, I took my time; remained two days in the
+Solent, sailed round the island, put in a day at Ventnor, and so back to
+Bournemouth. Then, after a day ashore, I picked up a nice breeze and ran
+down to Torquay to spend another week, sailing slowly back along the
+coast, touching at various ports, and returning eventually to the place
+I had first hailed from.
+
+In relating these trifling incidents it is not my wish to bore my
+readers, but to work up gradually to that strange meeting to which they
+were the prelude. Now that I can look back in cold blood upon the
+circumstances that brought it about, and reflect how narrowly I escaped
+missing the one event which was destined to change my whole life, I can
+hardly realize that I attached such small importance to it at the time.
+Somehow I have always been a firm believer in Fate, and indeed it would
+be strange, all things considered, if I were not. For when a man has
+passed through so many extraordinary adventures as I have, and not only
+come out of them unharmed, but happier and a great deal more fortunate
+than he has really any right to be, he may claim the privilege, I think,
+of saying he knows something about his subject.
+
+And, mind you, I date it all back to that visit to the old home, and to
+my uncle's strange reception of me, for had I not gone down into the
+country I should never have quarrelled with him, and if I had not
+quarrelled with him I should not have gone back to the inn in such a
+dudgeon, and in that case I should probably have left the place without
+a visit to the bar, never have seen the advertisement, visited
+Bournemouth, hired the yacht or--but there, I must stop. You must work
+out the rest for yourself when you have heard my story.
+
+The morning after my third return to Bournemouth I was up by daybreak,
+and had my breakfast, and was ready to set off on a cruise across the
+bay, before the sun was a hand's breadth above the horizon. It was as
+perfect a morning as any man could wish to see. A faint breeze just
+blurred the surface of the water, tiny waves danced in the sunshine, and
+my barkie nodded to them as if she were anxious to be off. The town
+ashore lay very quiet and peaceful, and so still was the air that the
+cries of a few white gulls could be heard quite distinctly, though they
+were half a mile or more away. Having hove anchor, we tacked slowly
+across the bay, passed the pier-head, and steered for Old Harry Rock and
+Swanage Bay. My crew was for'ard, and I had possession of the tiller.
+
+As we went about between Canford Cliffs and Alum Chine, something moving
+in the water ahead of me attracted my attention. We were too far off to
+make out exactly what it might be, and it was not until five minutes
+later, when we were close abreast of it, that I discovered it to be a
+bather. The foolish fellow had ventured farther out than was prudent,
+had struck a strong current, and was now being washed swiftly out to
+sea. But for the splashing he made to show his whereabouts, I should in
+all probability not have seen him, and in that case his fate would have
+been sealed. As it was, when we came up with him he was quite exhausted.
+
+Heaving my craft to, I leapt into the dinghy, and pulled towards him,
+but before I could reach the spot he had sunk. At first I thought he was
+gone for good and all, but in a few seconds he rose again. Then,
+grabbing him by the hair, I passed an arm under each of his, and dragged
+him unconscious into the boat. In less than three minutes we were
+alongside the yacht again, and with my crew's assistance I got him
+aboard. Fortunately a day or two before I had had the forethought to
+purchase some brandy for use in case of need, and my Thursday Island
+experiences having taught me exactly what was best to be done under such
+circumstances, it was not long before I had brought him back to
+consciousness.
+
+In appearance he was a handsome young fellow, well set up, and possibly
+nineteen or twenty years of age. When I had given him a stiff nobbler of
+brandy to stop the chattering of his teeth, I asked him how he came to
+be so far from shore.
+
+"I am considered a very good swimmer," he replied, "and often come out
+as far as this, but to-day I think I must have got into a strong outward
+current, and certainly but for your providential assistance I should
+never have reached home alive."
+
+"You have had a very narrow escape," I answered, "but thank goodness
+you're none the worse for it. Now, what's the best thing to be done?
+Turn back, I suppose, and set you ashore."
+
+"But what a lot of trouble I'm putting you to."
+
+"Nonsense! I've nothing to do, and I count myself very fortunate in
+having been able to render you this small assistance. The breeze is
+freshening, and it won't take us any time to get back. Where do you
+live?"
+
+"To the left there! That house standing back upon the cliff. I don't
+know how to express my gratitude."
+
+"Just keep that till I ask you for it; and now, as we've got a twenty
+minutes' sail before us, the best thing for you to do would be to slip
+into a spare suit of my things. They'll keep you warm, and you can
+return them to my hotel when you get ashore."
+
+I sang out to the boy to come aft and take the tiller, while I escorted
+my guest below into the little box of a cabin, and gave him a rig out.
+Considering I am six feet two, and he was only five feet eight, the
+things were a trifle large for him; but when he was dressed I couldn't
+help thinking what a handsome, well-built, aristocratic-looking young
+fellow he was. The work of fitting him out accomplished, we returned to
+the deck. The breeze was freshening, and the little hooker was ploughing
+her way through it, nose down, as if she knew that under the
+circumstances her best was expected of her.
+
+"Are you a stranger in Bournemouth?" my companion asked, as I took the
+tiller again.
+
+"Almost," I answered. "I've only been in England three weeks. I'm home
+from Australia."
+
+"Australia! Really! Oh, I should so much like to go out there."
+
+His voice was very soft and low, more like a girl's than a boy's, and I
+noticed that he had none of the mannerisms of a man--at least, not of
+one who has seen much of the world.
+
+"Yes, Australia's as good a place as any other for the man who goes out
+there to work," I said. "But somehow you don't look to me like a chap
+that is used to what is called roughing it. Pardon my bluntness."
+
+"Well, you see, I've never had much chance. My father is considered by
+many a very peculiar man. He has strange ideas about me, and so you see
+I've never been allowed to mix with other people. But I'm stronger than
+you'd think, and I shall be twenty in October next."
+
+"If you don't mind telling me, what is your name?"
+
+"I suppose there can be no harm in letting you know it. I was told if
+ever I met any one and they asked me, not to tell them. But since you
+saved my life it would be ungrateful not to let you know. I am the
+Marquis of Beckenham."
+
+"Is that so? Then your father is the Duke of Glenbarth?"
+
+"Yes. Do you know him?"
+
+"Never set eyes on him in my life, but I heard him spoken of the other
+day."
+
+I did not add that it was Mr. Matchem who, during my conversation with
+him, had referred to his Grace, nor did I think it well to say that he
+had designated him the "Mad Duke." And so the boy I had saved from
+drowning was the young Marquis of Beckenham. Well, I was moving in good
+society with a vengeance. This boy was the first nobleman I had ever
+clapped eyes on, though I knew the Count de Panuroff well enough in
+Thursday Island. But then foreign Counts, and shady ones at that, ought
+not to reckon, perhaps.
+
+"But you don't mean to tell me," I said at length, "that you've got no
+friends? Don't you ever see any one at all?"
+
+"No, I am not allowed to. My father thinks it better not. And as he does
+not wish it, of course I have nothing left but to obey. I must own,
+however, I should like to see the world--to go along voyage to
+Australia, for instance."
+
+"But how do you put in your time? You must have a very dull life of it."
+
+"Oh, no! You see, I have never known anything else, and then I have
+always the future to look forward to. As it is now, I bathe every
+morning, I have my yacht, I ride about the park, I have my studies, and
+I have a tutor who tells me wonderful stories of the world."
+
+"Oh, your tutor has been about, has he?"
+
+"Dear me, yes! He was a missionary in the South Sea Islands, and has
+seen some very stirring adventures."
+
+"A missionary in the South Seas, eh? Perhaps I know him."
+
+"Were you ever in those seas?"
+
+"Why, I've spent almost all my life there."
+
+"Were you a missionary?"
+
+"You bet not. The missionaries and my friends don't cotton to one
+another."
+
+"But they are such good men!"
+
+"That may be. Still, as I say, we don't somehow cotton. I'd like to set
+my eyes upon your tutor."
+
+"Well, you will. I think I see him on the beach now. I expect he has
+been wondering what has become of me. I've never been out so long
+before."
+
+"Well, you're close home now, and as safe as eggs in a basket."
+
+Another minute brought us into as shallow water as I cared to go.
+Accordingly, heaving to, I brought the dinghy alongside, and we got into
+her. Then casting off, I pulled my lord ashore. A small, clean-shaven,
+parsonish-looking man, with the regulation white choker, stood by the
+water waiting for us. As I beached the boat he came forward and said:
+
+"My lord, we have been very anxious about you. We feared you had met
+with an accident."
+
+"I have been very nearly drowned, Mr. Baxter. Had it not been for this
+gentleman's prompt assistance I should never have reached home again."
+
+"You should really be more careful, my lord. I have warned you before.
+Your father has been nearly beside himself with anxiety about you!"
+
+"Eh?" said I to myself. "Somehow this does not sound quite right.
+Anyhow, Mr. Baxter, I've seen your figure-head somewhere before--but you
+were not a missionary then, I'll take my affidavit."
+
+Turning to me, my young lord held out his hand.
+
+"You have never told me your name," he said almost reproachfully.
+
+"Dick Hatteras," I answered, "and very much at your service."
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I shall never forget what you have done for me. That I am
+most grateful to you I hope you will believe. I know that I owe you my
+life."
+
+Here the tutor's voice chipped in again, as I thought, rather
+impatiently. "Come, come, my lord. This delay will not do. Your father
+will be growing still more nervous about you. We must be getting home!"
+
+Then they went off up the cliff path together, and I returned to my
+boat.
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I said to myself again as I pulled off to the yacht, "I
+want to know where I've seen your face before. I've taken a sudden
+dislike to you. I don't trust you; and if your employer's the man they
+say he is, well, he won't either."
+
+Then, having brought the dinghy alongside, I made the painter fast,
+clambered aboard, and we stood out of the bay once more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+MYSTERY
+
+
+The following morning I was sitting in my room at the hotel idly
+scanning the _Standard_, and wondering in what way I should employ
+myself until the time arrived for me to board the yacht, when I heard a
+carriage roll up to the door. On looking out I discovered a gorgeous
+landau, drawn by a pair of fine thoroughbreds, and resplendent with much
+gilded and crested harness, standing before the steps. A footman had
+already opened the door, and I was at the window just in time to see a
+tall, soldierly man alight from it. To my astonishment, two minutes
+later a waiter entered my room and announced "His Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth." It was the owner of the carriage and the father of my young
+friend, if by such a title I might designate the Marquis of Beckenham.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I presume?" said he.
+
+"Yes, that is my name. I am honoured by your visit. Won't you sit down?"
+
+"Thank you."
+
+He paused for a moment, and then continued:
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I have to offer you an apology. I should have called upon
+you yesterday to express the gratitude I feel to you for having saved
+the life of my son, but I was unavoidably prevented."
+
+"I beg you will not mention it," I said. "His lordship thanked me
+sufficiently himself. And after all, when you look at it, it was not
+very much to do. I would, however, venture one little suggestion. Is it
+wise to let him swim so far unaccompanied by a boat? The same thing
+might happen to him on another occasion, and no one be near enough to
+render him any assistance."
+
+"He will not attempt so much again. He has learned a lesson from this
+experience. And now, Mr. Hatteras, I trust you will forgive what I am
+about to say. My son has told me that you have just arrived in England
+from Australia. Is there any way I can be of service to you? If there
+is, and you will acquaint me with it, you will be conferring a great
+favour upon me."
+
+"I thank your Grace," I replied--I hope with some little touch of
+dignity--"it is very kind of you, but I could not think of such a thing.
+But, stay, there is one service, perhaps you _could_ do me."
+
+"I am delighted to hear it, sir. And what may it be?"
+
+"Your son's tutor, Mr. Baxter! His face is strangely familiar to me. I
+have seen him somewhere before, but I cannot recall where. Could you
+tell me anything of his history?"
+
+"Very little, I fear, save that he seems a worthy and painstaking man,
+an excellent scholar, and very capable in his management of young men. I
+received excellent references with him, but of his past history I know
+very little. I believe, however, that he was a missionary in the South
+Seas for some time, and that he was afterwards for many years in India.
+I'm sorry I cannot tell you more about him since you are interested in
+him."
+
+"I've met him somewhere, I'm certain. His face haunts me. But to return
+to your son--I hope he is none the worse for his adventure?"
+
+"Not at all, thank you. Owing to the system I have adopted in his
+education, the lad is seldom ailing."
+
+"Pardon my introducing the subject. But do you think it is quite wise to
+keep a youth so ignorant of the world? I am perhaps rather presumptuous,
+but I cannot help feeling that such a fine young fellow would be all the
+better for a few companions."
+
+"You hit me on rather a tender spot, Mr. Hatteras. But, as you have been
+frank with me, I will be frank with you. I am one of those strange
+beings who govern their lives by theories. I was brought up by my
+father, I must tell you, in a fashion totally different from that I am
+employing with my son. I feel now that I was allowed a dangerous amount
+of license. And what was the result? I mixed with every one, was
+pampered and flattered far beyond what was good for me, derived a false
+notion of my own importance, and when I came to man's estate was, to all
+intents and purposes, quite unprepared and unfitted to undertake the
+duties and responsibilities of my position.
+
+"Fortunately I had the wit to see where the fault lay, and there and
+then I resolved that if ever I were blessed with a son, I would conduct
+his education on far different lines. My boy has not met a dozen
+strangers in his life. His education has been my tenderest care. His
+position, his duties towards his fellow-men, the responsibilities of his
+rank, have always been kept rigorously before him. He has been brought
+up to understand that to be a Duke is not to be a titled nonentity or a
+pampered _roué_, but to be one whom Providence has blessed with an
+opportunity of benefiting and watching over the welfare of those less
+fortunate than himself in the world's good gifts.
+
+"He has no exaggerated idea of his own importance; a humbler lad, I feel
+justified in saying, you would nowhere find. He has been educated
+thoroughly, and he has all the best traditions of his race kept
+continually before his eyes. But you must not imagine, Mr. Hatteras,
+that because he has not mixed with the world he is ignorant of its
+temptations. He may not have come into personal contact with them, but
+he has been warned against their insidious influences, and I shall trust
+to his personal pride and good instincts to help him to withstand them
+when he has to encounter them himself. Now, what do you think of my plan
+for making a nobleman?"
+
+"A very good one, with such a youth as your son, I should think, your
+Grace; but I would like to make one more suggestion, if you would allow
+me?"
+
+"And that is?"
+
+"That you should let him travel before he settles down. Choose some fit
+person to accompany him. Let him have introductions to good people
+abroad, and let him use them; then he will derive different impressions
+from different countries, view men and women from different standpoints,
+and enter gradually into the great world and station which he is some
+day to adorn."
+
+"I had thought of that myself, and his tutor has lately spoken to me a
+good deal upon the subject. I must own it is an idea that commends
+itself strongly to me. I will think it over. And now, sir, I must wish
+you good-day. You will not let me thank you, as I should have wished,
+for the service you have rendered my house, but, believe me, I am none
+the less grateful. By the way, your name is not a common one. May I ask
+if you have any relatives in this county?"
+
+"Only one at present, I fancy--my father's brother, Sir William
+Hatteras, of Murdlestone, in the New Forest."
+
+"Ah! I never met him. I knew his brother James very well in my younger
+days. But he got into sad trouble, poor fellow, and was obliged to fly
+the country."
+
+"You are speaking of my father. You knew him?"
+
+"Knew him? indeed, I did. And a better fellow never stepped; but, like
+most of us in those days, too wild--much too wild! And so you are
+James's son? Well, well! This is indeed a strange coincidence. But, dear
+me, I am forgetting; I must beg your pardon for speaking so candidly of
+your father."
+
+"No offence, I'm sure."
+
+"And pray tell me where my old friend is now?"
+
+"Dead, your Grace! He was drowned at sea."
+
+The worthy old gentleman seemed really distressed at this news. He shook
+his head, and I heard him murmur: "Poor Jim! Poor Jim!"
+
+Then, turning to me again, he took my hand.
+
+"This makes our bond a doubly strong one. You must let me see more of
+you! How long do you propose remaining in England?"
+
+"Not very much longer, I fear. I am already beginning to hunger for the
+South again."
+
+"Well, you must not go before you have paid us a visit. Remember we
+shall always be pleased to see you. You know our house, I think, on the
+cliff. Good-day, sir, good-day."
+
+So saying, the old gentleman accompanied me downstairs to his carriage,
+and, shaking me warmly by the hand, departed. Again I had cause to
+ponder on the strangeness of the fate that had led me to
+Hampshire--first to the village where my father was born, and then to
+Bournemouth, where by saving this young man's life I had made a firm
+friend of a man who again had known my father. By such small
+coincidences are the currents of our lives diverted.
+
+That same afternoon, while tacking slowly down the bay, I met the
+Marquis. He was pulling himself in a small skiff, and when he saw me he
+made haste to come alongside and hitch on. At first I wondered whether
+it would not be against his father's wishes that he should enter into
+conversation with such a worldly person as myself. But he evidently saw
+what was passing in my mind, and banished all doubts by saying:
+
+"I have been on the look-out for you, Mr. Hatteras. My father has given
+me permission to cultivate your acquaintance, if you will allow me."
+
+"I shall be very pleased," I answered. "Won't you come aboard and have a
+chat? I'm not going out of the bay this afternoon."
+
+He clambered over the side and seated himself in the well, clear of the
+boom, as nice-looking and pleasant a young fellow as any man could wish
+to set eyes on.
+
+"You can't imagine how I've been thinking over all you told me the other
+day," he began when we were fairly on our way. "I want you to tell me
+more about Australia and the life you lead out there, if you will."
+
+"I'll tell you all I can with pleasure," I answered. "But you ought to
+go and see the places and things for yourself. That's better than any
+telling. I wish I could take you up and carry you off with me now; away
+down to where you can make out the green islands peeping out of the
+water to port and starboard, like bits of the Garden of Eden gone astray
+and floated out to sea. I'd like you to smell the breezes that come off
+from them towards evening, to hear the 'trades' whistling overhead, and
+the thunder of the surf upon the reef. Or at another time to get inside
+that selfsame reef and look down through the still, transparent water,
+at the rainbow-coloured fish dashing among the coral boulders, in and
+out of the most beautiful fairy grottos the brain of man can conceive."
+
+"Oh, it must be lovely! And to think that I may live my life and never
+see these wonders. Please go on; what else can you tell me?"
+
+"What more do you want to hear? There is the pick of every sort of life
+for you out there. Would you know what real excitement is? Then I shall
+take you to a new gold rush. To begin with, you must imagine yourself
+setting off for the field, with your trusty mate marching step by step
+beside you, pick and shovel on your shoulders, and both resolved to make
+your fortunes in the twinkling of an eye. When you get there, there's
+the digger crowd, composed of every nationality. There's the warden and
+his staff, the police officers, the shanty keepers, the blacks, and
+dogs.
+
+"There's the tented valley stretching away to right and left of you,
+with the constant roar of sluice boxes and cradles, the creak of
+windlasses, and the perpetual noise of human voices. There's the
+excitement of pegging out your claim and sinking your first shaft,
+wondering all the time whether it will turn up trumps or nothing.
+There's the honest, manly labour from dawn to dusk. And then, when
+daylight fails, and the lamps begin to sparkle over the field, songs
+drift up the hillside from the drinking shanties in the valley, and you
+and your mate weigh up your day's returns, and, having done so, turn
+into your blankets to dream of the monster nugget you intend to find
+upon the morrow. Isn't that real life for you?"
+
+He did not answer, but there was a sparkle in his eyes which told me I
+was understood.
+
+"Then if you want other sorts of enterprise, there is Thursday Island,
+where I hail from, with its extraordinary people. Let us suppose
+ourselves wandering down the Front at nightfall, past the Kanaka
+billiard saloons and the Chinese stores, into, say, the _Hotel of All
+Nations_. Who is that handsome, dark, mysterious fellow, smoking a
+cigarette and idly flirting with the pretty bar girl? _You_ don't know
+him, but I do! There's indeed a history for you. You didn't notice,
+perhaps, that rakish schooner that came to anchor in the bay early in
+the forenoon. What lines she had! Well, that was his craft. To-morrow
+she'll be gone, it is whispered, to try for pearl in prohibited Dutch
+waters. Can't you imagine her slinking round the islands, watching for
+the patrolling gunboat, and ready, directly she has passed, to slip into
+the bay, skim it of its shell, and put to sea again. Sometimes they're
+chased."
+
+"What then?"
+
+"Well, a clean pair of heels or trouble with the authorities, and
+possibly a year in a Dutch prison before you're brought to trial! Or
+would you do a pearling trip in less exciting but more honest fashion?
+Would you ship aboard a lugger with five good companions, and go
+a-cruising down the New Guinea coast, working hard all day long, and
+lying out on deck at night, smoking and listening to the lip-lap of the
+water against the counter, or spinning yarns of all the world?"
+
+"What else?"
+
+"Why, what more do you want? Do you hanker after a cruise aboard a
+stinking _bêche-de-mer_ boat inside the Barrier Reef, or a run with the
+sandalwood cutters or tortoiseshell gatherers to New Guinea; or do you
+want to go ashore again and try an overlanding trip half across the
+continent, riding behind your cattle all day long, and standing your
+watch at night under dripping boughs, your teeth chattering in your
+head, waiting for the bulls to break, while every moment you expect to
+hear the Bunyip calling in that lonely water-hole beyond the fringe of
+Mulga scrub?"
+
+"You make me almost mad with longing."
+
+"And yet, somehow, it doesn't seem so fine when you're at it. It's when
+you come to look back upon it all from a distance of twelve thousand
+miles that you feel its real charm. Then it calls to you to return in
+every rustle of the leaves ashore, in the blue of the sky above, in the
+ripple of the waves upon the beach. And it eats into your heart, so that
+you begin to think you will never be happy till you're back in the old
+tumultuous devil-may-care existence again."
+
+"What a life you've led! And how much more to be envied it seems than
+the dull monotony of our existence here in sleepy old England."
+
+"Don't you believe it. If you wanted to change I could tell you of
+dozens of men, living exactly the sort of life I've described, who would
+only too willingly oblige you. No, no! Believe me, you've got chances of
+doing things we could never dream of. Do them, then, and let the other
+go. But all the same, I think you ought to see more of the world I've
+told you of before you settle down. In fact, I hinted as much to your
+father only yesterday."
+
+"He said that you had spoken of it to him. Oh, how I wish he would let
+me go!"
+
+"Somehow, d'you know, I think he will."
+
+I put the cutter over on another tack, and we went crashing back through
+the blue water towards the pier. The strains of the band came faintly
+off to us. I had enjoyed my sail, for I had taken a great fancy to this
+bright young fellow sitting by my side. I felt I should like to have
+finished the education his father had so gallantly begun. There was
+something irresistibly attractive about him, so modest, so unassuming,
+and yet so straightforward and gentlemanly.
+
+Dropping him opposite the bathing machines, I went on to my own
+anchorage on the other side of the pier. Then I pulled myself ashore and
+went up to the town. I had forgotten to write an important letter that
+morning, and as it was essential that the business should be attended to
+at once, to repair my carelessness, I crossed the public gardens and
+went through the gardens to the post office to send a telegram.
+
+I must tell you here that since my meeting with Mr. Baxter, the young
+Marquis's tutor, I had been thinking a great deal about him, and the
+more I thought the more certain I became that we had met before. To tell
+the truth, a great distrust of the man was upon me. It was one of those
+peculiar antipathies that no one can explain. I did not like his face,
+and I felt sure that he did not boast any too much love for me.
+
+As my thoughts were still occupied with him, my astonishment may be
+imagined, on arriving at the building, at meeting him face to face upon
+the steps. He seemed much put out at seeing me, and hummed and hawed
+over his "Good-afternoon" for all the world as if I had caught him in
+the middle of some guilty action.
+
+Returning his salutation, I entered the building and looked about me for
+a desk at which to write my wire. There was only one vacant, and I
+noticed that the pencil suspended on the string was still swinging to
+and fro as it had been dropped. Now Baxter had only just left the
+building, so there could be no possible doubt that it was he who had
+last used the stand. I pulled the form towards me and prepared to write.
+But as I did so I noticed that the previous writer had pressed so hard
+upon his pencil that he had left the exact impression of his message
+plainly visible upon the pad. It ran as follows:
+
+     "LETTER RECEIVED. YOU OMMITTED REVEREDN. THE TRAIN IS LAID, BUT A
+     NEW ELEMENT OF DANGER HAS ARISEN."
+
+It was addressed to "Nikola, _Green Sailor Hotel_, East India Dock Road,
+London," and was signed "Nineveh."
+
+The message was so curious that I looked at it again, and the longer I
+looked the more certain I became that Baxter was the sender. Partly
+because its wording interested me, and partly for another reason which
+will become apparent later on, I inked the message over, tore it from
+the pad, and placed it carefully in my pocket-book. One thing at least
+was certain, and that was, if Baxter _were_ the sender, there was
+something underhand going on. If he were not, well, then there could be
+no possible harm in my keeping the form as a little souvenir of a rather
+curious experience.
+
+I wrote my own message, and having paid for it left the office. But I
+was not destined to have the society of my own thoughts for long. Hardly
+had I reached the Invalids' Walk before I felt my arm touched. To my
+supreme astonishment I found myself again confronted by Mr. Baxter. He
+was now perfectly calm and greeted me with extraordinary civility.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I believe," he said. "I think I had the pleasure of
+meeting you on the sands a few days ago. What a beautiful day it is,
+isn't it? Are you proceeding this way? Yes? Then perhaps I may be
+permitted the honour of walking a short distance with you."
+
+"With pleasure," I replied. "I am going up the cliff to my hotel, and I
+shall be glad of your company. I think we met in the telegraph office
+just now."
+
+"In the post office, I think. I had occasion to go in there to register
+a letter."
+
+His speech struck me as remarkable. My observation was so trivial that
+it hardly needed an answer, and yet not only did he vouchsafe me one,
+but he corrected my statement and volunteered a further one on his own
+account. What reason could he have for wanting to make me understand
+that he had gone in there to post a letter? What would it have mattered
+to me if he _had_ been there, as I suggested, to send a telegram?
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I thought to myself, "I've got a sort of conviction that
+you're not the man you pretend to be, and what's more I'd like to bet a
+shilling to a halfpenny that, if the truth were only known, you're our
+mysterious friend Nineveh."
+
+We walked for some distance in silence. Presently my companion began to
+talk again--this time, however, in a new strain, and perhaps with a
+little more caution.
+
+"You have been a great traveller, I understand."
+
+"A fairly great one, Mr. Baxter. You also, I am told, have seen
+something of the world."
+
+"A little--very little."
+
+"The South Seas, I believe. D'you know Papeete?"
+
+"I have been there."
+
+"D'you know New Guinea at all?"
+
+"No. I was never near it. I am better acquainted with the Far
+East--China, Japan, etc."
+
+Suddenly something, I shall never be able to tell what, prompted me to
+say:
+
+"And the Andamans?"
+
+The effect on my companion was as sudden as it was extraordinary. For a
+moment he staggered on the path like a drunken man; his face grew ashen
+pale, and he had to give utterance to a hoarse choking sound before he
+could get out a word. Then he said:
+
+"No--no--you are quite mistaken, I assure you. I never knew the
+Andamans."
+
+Now, on the Andamans, as all the world knows, are located the Indian
+penal establishments, and noting his behaviour, I became more and more
+convinced in my own mind that there was some mystery about Mr. Baxter
+that had yet to be explained. I had still a trump card to play.
+
+"I'm afraid you are not very well, Mr. Baxter," I said at length.
+"Perhaps the heat is too much for you, or we are walking too fast? This
+is my hotel. Won't you come inside and take a glass of wine or something
+to revive you?"
+
+He nodded his head eagerly. Large drops of perspiration stood on his
+forehead, and I saw that he was quite unstrung. "I am not well--not at
+all well."
+
+As soon as we reached the smoking-room I rang for two brandies and
+sodas. When they arrived he drank his off almost at a gulp, and in a few
+seconds was pretty well himself again.
+
+"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Hatteras," he said. "I think we must
+have walked up the hill a little too fast for my strength. Now, I must
+be going back to the town. I find I have forgotten something."
+
+Almost by instinct I guessed his errand. He was going to despatch
+another telegram. Resolved to try the effect of one parting shot, I
+said:
+
+"Perhaps you do not happen to be going near the telegraph office again?
+If you are, should I be taxing your kindness too much if I asked you to
+leave a message there for me? I find _I_ have forgotten one."
+
+He bowed and simply said: "With much pleasure."
+
+He pronounced it "pleesure," and as he said it he licked his lips in his
+usual self-satisfied fashion. I wondered how he would conduct himself
+when he saw the message I was going to write.
+
+Taking a form from a table near where I sat, I wrote the following:
+
+     "John Nicholson,
+     "_Langham Hotel_, London.
+
+     "The train is laid, but a new danger has arisen.
+
+     "HATTERAS."
+
+Blotting it carefully, I gave it into his hands, at the same time asking
+him to read it, lest my writing should not be decipherable and any
+question might be asked concerning it. As he read I watched his face
+intently. Never shall I forget the expression that swept over it. I had
+scored a complete victory. The shaft went home. But only for an instant.
+With wonderful alacrity he recovered himself and, shaking me feebly by
+the hand, bade me good-bye, promising to see that my message was
+properly delivered. When he had gone I laid myself back in my chair for
+a good think. The situation was a peculiar one in every way. If he were
+up to some devilry I had probably warned him. If not, why had he
+betrayed himself so openly?
+
+Half an hour later an answer to my first telegram arrived, and, such is
+the working of Fate, it necessitated my immediate return to London. I
+had been thinking of going for some days past, but had put it off. Now
+it was decided for me.
+
+As I did not know whether I should return to Bournemouth, I determined
+to call upon the Marquis to bid him good-bye. Accordingly I set off for
+the house.
+
+Now if Burke may be believed, the Duke of Glenbarth possesses houses in
+half the counties of the kingdom; but I am told his seaside residence
+takes precedence of them all in his affections. Standing well out on the
+cliffs, it commands a lovely view of the bay--looks toward the Purbeck
+Hills on the right, and the Isle of Wight and Hengistbury Head on the
+left. The house itself, as far as I could see, left nothing to be
+desired, and the grounds had been beautified in the highest form of
+landscape gardening.
+
+I found my friend and his father in a summer-house upon the lawn. Both
+appeared unaffectedly glad to see me, and equally sorry to hear that I
+had come to bid them good bye. Mr. Baxter was not visible, and it was
+with no little surprise I learned that he, too, was contemplating a trip
+to the metropolis.
+
+"I hope, if ever you visit Bournemouth again, you will come and see us,"
+said the Duke as I rose to leave.
+
+"Thank you," said I, "and I hope if ever your son visits Australia you
+will permit me to be of some service to him."
+
+"You are very kind. I will bear your offer in mind."
+
+Shaking hands with them both, I bade them good-bye, and went out through
+the gate.
+
+But I was not to escape without an interview with my clerical friend
+after all. As I left the grounds and turned into the public road I saw a
+man emerge from a little wicket gate some fifty yards or so further down
+the hedge. From the way he made his appearance, it was obvious he had
+been waiting for me to leave the house.
+
+It was, certainly enough, my old friend Baxter. As I came up with him he
+said, with the same sanctimonious grin that usually encircled his mouth
+playing round it now:
+
+"A nice evening for a stroll, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+"A very nice evening, as you say, Mr. Baxter."
+
+"May I intrude myself upon your privacy for five minutes?"
+
+"With pleasure. What is your business?"
+
+"Of small concern to you, sir, but of immense importance to me. Mr.
+Hatteras, I have it in my mind that you do not like me."
+
+"I hope I have not given you cause to think so. Pray what can have put
+such a notion into your head?"
+
+I half hoped that he would make some allusion to the telegram he had
+despatched for me that morning, but he was far too cunning for that. He
+looked me over and over out of his small ferrety eyes before he replied:
+
+"I cannot tell you why I think so, Mr. Hatteras, but instinct generally
+makes us aware when we are not quite all we might be to other people.
+Forgive me for speaking in this way to you, but you must surely see how
+much it means to me to be on good terms with friends of my employer's
+family."
+
+"You are surely not afraid lest I should prejudice the Duke against
+you?"
+
+"Not afraid, Mr. Hatteras! I have too much faith in your sense of
+justice to believe that you would willingly deprive me of my means of
+livelihood--for of course that is what it would mean in plain English."
+
+"Then you need have no fear. I have just said good-bye to them. I am
+going away to-morrow, and it is improbable that I shall ever see either
+of them again."
+
+"You are leaving for Australia?"
+
+"Very shortly, I think."
+
+"I am much obliged to you for the generous way you have treated me. I
+shall never forget your kindness."
+
+"Pray don't mention it. Is that all you have to say to me? Then
+good-evening!"
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+He turned back, and I continued my way along the cliff, reflecting on
+the curious interview I had just passed through. If the truth must be
+known, I was quite at a loss to understand what he meant by it! Why had
+he asked that question about Australia? Was it only chance that had led
+him to put it, or was it done designedly, and for some reason connected
+with that mysterious "train" mentioned in his telegram?
+
+I was to find out later, and only too thoroughly!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+I MEET DR. NIKOLA AGAIN
+
+
+It is strange with what ease, rapidity, and apparent unconsciousness the
+average man jumps from crisis to crisis in that strange medley he is
+accustomed so flippantly to call His Life. It was so in my case. For two
+days after my return from Bournemouth I was completely immersed in the
+toils of Hatton Garden, had no thought above the sale of pearls and the
+fluctuations in the price of shell; yet, notwithstanding all this, the
+afternoon of the third day found me kicking my heels on the pavement of
+Trafalgar Square, my mind quite made up, my passage booked, and my
+ticket for Australia stowed away in my waistcoat pocket.
+
+As I stood there the grim, stone faces of the lions above me were
+somehow seen obscurely, Nelson's monument was equally unregarded, for my
+thoughts were far away with my mind's eye, following an ocean
+mail-steamer as she threaded her tortuous way between the Heads and
+along the placid waters of Sydney Harbour.
+
+So wrapped up was I in the folds of this agreeable reverie, that when I
+felt a heavy hand upon my shoulder and heard a masculine voice say
+joyfully in my ear, "Dick Hatteras, or I'm a Dutchman," I started as if
+I had been shot.
+
+Brief as was the time given me for reflection, it was long enough for
+that voice to conjure up a complete scene in my mind. The last time I
+had heard it was on the bridge of the steamer _Yarraman_, lying in the
+land-locked harbour of Cairns, on the Eastern Queensland coast; a
+canoeful of darkies were jabbering alongside, and a cargo of bananas was
+being shipped aboard.
+
+I turned and held out my hand. "Jim Percival!" I cried, with as much
+pleasure as astonishment. "How on earth does it come about that you are
+here?"
+
+"Arrived three days ago," the good-looking young fellow replied. "We're
+lying in the River just off the West India Docks. The old man kept us at
+it like galley slaves till I began to think we should never get the
+cargo out. Been up to the office this morning, coming back saw you
+standing here looking as if you were thinking of something ten thousand
+miles away. I tell you I nearly jumped out of my skin with astonishment,
+thought there couldn't be two men with the same face and build, so
+smacked you on the back, discovered I was right, and here we are. Now
+spin your yarn. But stay, let's first find a more convenient place than
+this."
+
+We strolled down the Strand together, and at last had the good fortune
+to discover a "house of call" that met with even his critical approval.
+Here I narrated as much of my doings since we had last met, as I thought
+would satisfy his curiosity. My meeting with that mysterious individual
+at the French restaurant and my suspicions of Baxter particularly amused
+him.
+
+"What a rum beggar you are, to be sure!" was his disconcerting criticism
+when I had finished. "What earthly reason have you for thinking that
+this chap, Baxter, has any designs upon your young swell, Beckenham, or
+whatever his name may be?"
+
+"What makes you stand by to shorten sail, when you see a suspicious look
+about the sky? Instinct, isn't it?"
+
+"That's a poor way out of the argument."
+
+"Well, at any rate, time will show how far I'm right or wrong; though I
+don't suppose I shall hear any more of the affair, as I return to
+Australia in the _Saratoga_ on Friday next."
+
+"And what are you going to do now?"
+
+"I haven't the remotest idea. My business is completed, and I'm just
+kicking my heels in idleness till Friday comes and it is time for me to
+set off."
+
+"Then I have it. You'll just come along down to the docks with me; I'm
+due back at the old hooker at five sharp. You'll dine with us--pot luck,
+of course. Your old friend Riley is still chief officer; I'm second;
+young Cleary, whom you remember as apprentice, is now third; and, if I'm
+not very much mistaken, we'll find old Donald Maclean aboard too,
+tinkering away at his beloved engines. I don't believe that fellow could
+take a holiday away from his thrust blocks and piston rods if he were
+paid to. We'll have a palaver about old times, and I'll put you ashore
+myself when you want to go. There, what do you say?"
+
+"I'm your man," said I, jumping at his offer with an alacrity which must
+have been flattering to him.
+
+The truth was, I was delighted to have secured some sort of
+companionship, for London, despite its multitudinous places of
+amusement, and its five millions of inhabitants, is but a dismal
+caravanserai to be left alone in. Moreover, the _Yarraman_'s officers
+and I were old friends, and, if the truth must be told, my heart yearned
+for the sight of a ship and a talk about days gone by.
+
+Accordingly, we made our way to the docks.
+
+The _Yarraman_, travel-stained, and bearing on her weather-beaten plates
+evidences of the continuous tramp-like life she had led, lay well out in
+the stream. Having chartered a waterman, we were put on board, and I had
+the satisfaction of renewing my acquaintance with the chief officer,
+Riley, at the yawning mouth of the for'ard hatch. The whilom apprentice,
+Cleary, now raised to the dignity of third officer, grinned a welcome to
+me from among the disordered raffle of the fo'c's'le head, while that
+excellent artificer, Maclean, oil-can and spanner in hand, greeted me
+affectionately in Gaelic from the entrance to the engine-room. The
+skipper was ashore, so I seated myself on the steps leading to the
+hurricane deck, and felt at home immediately.
+
+Upon the circumstances attending that reunion there is no necessity for
+me to dwell. Suffice it that we dined in the deserted saloon, and
+adjourned later to my friend Percival's cabin in the alley way just
+for'ard of the engine-room, where several bottles of Scotch whisky, a
+strange collection of glass ware, and an assortment of excellent cigars,
+were produced. Percival and Cleary, being the juniors, ensconced
+themselves on the top bunk; Maclean (who had been induced to abandon his
+machinery in honour of our meeting) was given the washhand-stand. Riley
+took the cushioned locker in the corner, while I, as their guest, was
+permitted the luxury of a canvas-backed deck chair, the initials on the
+back of which were not those of its present owner. At first the
+conversation was circumscribed, and embraced Plimsoll, the attractions
+of London, and the decline in the price of freight; but, as the contents
+of the second bottle waned, speech became more unfettered, and the talk
+drifted into channels and latitudes widely different. Circumstances
+connected with bygone days were recalled; the faces of friends long
+hidden in the mists of time were brought again to mind; anecdotes
+illustrative of various types of maritime character succeeded to each
+other in brisk succession, till Maclean, without warning, finding his
+voice, burst into incongruous melody. One song suggested another; a
+banjo was produced, and tuned to the noise of clinking glasses; and
+every moment the atmosphere grew thicker.
+
+How long this concert would have lasted I cannot say, but I remember,
+after the third repetition of the chorus of the sea-chanty that might
+have been heard a mile away, glancing at my watch and discovering to my
+astonishment that it was past ten o'clock. Then rising to my feet I
+resisted all temptations to stay the night, and reminded my friend
+Percival of his promise to put me ashore again. He was true to his word,
+and five minutes later we were shoving off from the ship's side amid the
+valedictions of my hosts. I have a recollection to this day of the face
+of the chief engineer gazing sadly down upon me from the bulwarks, while
+his quavering voice asserted the fact, in dolorous tones, that
+
+    "Aft hae I rov'd by bonny Doon,
+        To see the rose and woodbine twine;
+    And ilka bird sang o' its luve,
+        And fondly sae did I o' mine."
+
+With this amorous farewell still ringing in my ears I landed at
+Limehouse Pier, and bidding my friend good-bye betook myself by the
+circuitous route of Emmett and Ropemaker Streets and Church Row to that
+aristocratic thoroughfare known as the East India Dock Road.
+
+The night was dark and a thick rain was falling, presenting the
+mean-looking houses, muddy road, and foot-stained pavements in an aspect
+that was even more depressing than was usual to them. Despite the
+inclemency of the weather and the lateness of the hour, however, the
+street was crowded; blackguard men and foul-mouthed women, such a class
+as I had never in all my experience of rough folk encountered before,
+jostled each other on the pavements with scant ceremony; costermongers
+cried their wares, small boys dashed in and out of the crowd at top
+speed, and flaring gin palaces took in and threw out continuous streams
+of victims.
+
+For some minutes I stood watching this melancholy picture, contrasting
+it with others in my mind. Then turning to my left hand I pursued my way
+in the direction I imagined the Stepney railway station to lie. It was
+not pleasant walking, but I was interested in the life about me--the
+people, the shops, the costermongers' barrows, and I might even say the
+public-houses.
+
+I had not made my way more than a hundred yards along the street when an
+incident occurred that was destined to bring with it a train of highly
+important circumstances. As I crossed the entrance to a small side
+street, the door of an ill-looking tavern was suddenly thrust open and
+the body of a man was propelled from it, with a considerable amount of
+violence, directly into my arms. Having no desire to act as his support
+I pushed him from me, and as I did so glanced at the door through which
+he had come. Upon the glass was a picture, presumably nautical, and
+under it this legend, "The Green Sailor." In a flash Bournemouth post
+office rose before my mind's eye, the startled face of Baxter on the
+door-step, the swinging pencil on the telegraph stand, and the imprint
+of the mysterious message addressed to "Nikola, _Green Sailor Hotel_,
+East India Dock Road." So complete was my astonishment that at first I
+could do nothing but stand stupidly staring at it, then my curiosity
+asserted itself and, seeking the private entrance, I stepped inside. A
+short passage conducted me to a small and evil-smelling room abutting on
+the bar. On the popular side of the counter the place was crowded; in
+the chamber where I found myself I was the sole customer. A small table
+stood in the centre, and round this two or three chairs were ranged,
+while several pugnacious prints lent an air of decoration to the walls.
+
+On the other side, to the left of that through which I had entered, a
+curtained doorway hinted at a similar room beyond. A small but
+heavily-built man, whom I rightly judged to be the landlord, was busily
+engaged with an assistant, dispensing liquor at the counter, but when I
+rapped upon the table he forsook his customers, and came to learn my
+wishes. I called for a glass of whisky, and seated myself at the table
+preparatory to commencing my inquiries as to the existence of Baxter's
+mysterious friend. But at the moment that I was putting my first
+question the door behind the half-drawn curtain, which must have been
+insecurely fastened, opened about an inch, and a voice greeted my ears
+that brought me up all standing with surprise. _It was the voice of
+Baxter himself._
+
+"I assure you," he was saying, "it was desperate work from beginning to
+end, and I was never so relieved in my life as when I discovered that he
+had really come to say good-bye."
+
+At this juncture one of them must have realized that the door was open,
+for I heard some one rise from his chair and come towards it. Acting
+under the influence of a curiosity, which was as baneful to himself as
+it was fortunate for me, before closing it he opened the door wider and
+looked into the room where I sat. It was Baxter, and if I live to be an
+hundred I shall not forget the expression on his face as his eyes fell
+upon me.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras!" he gasped, clutching at the wall.
+
+Resolved to take him at a disadvantage, I rushed towards him and shook
+him warmly by the hand, at the same time noticing that he had discarded
+his clerical costume. It was too late now for him to pretend that he did
+not know me, and as I had taken the precaution to place my foot against
+it, it was equally impossible for him to shut the door. Seeing this he
+felt compelled to surrender, and I will do him the justice to admit that
+he did it with as good a grace as possible.
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I said, "this is the last place I should have expected to
+meet you in. May I come in and sit down?"
+
+Without giving him time to reply I entered the room, resolved to see who
+his companion might be. Of course, in my own mind I had quite settled
+that it was the person to whom he had telegraphed from Bournemouth--in
+other words Nikola. But who was Nikola? And had I ever seen him before?
+
+My curiosity was destined to be satisfied, and in a most unexpected
+fashion. For there, sitting at the table, a half-smoked cigarette
+between his fingers, and his face turned towards me, was the man whom I
+had seen playing chess in the restaurant, the man who had told me my
+name by the cards in my pocket, and the man who had warned me in such a
+mysterious fashion about my sweetheart's departure. He was Baxter's
+correspondent! He was Nikola!
+
+Whatever my surprise may have been, he was not in the least
+disconcerted, but rose calmly from his seat and proffered me his hand,
+saying as he did so:
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras. I am delighted to see you, and still more
+pleased to learn that you and my worthy old friend, Baxter, have met
+before. Won't you sit down?"
+
+I seated myself on a chair at the further end of the table; Baxter
+meanwhile looked from one to the other of us as if uncertain whether to
+go or stay. Presently, however, he seemed to make up his mind, and
+advancing towards Nikola, said, with an earnestness that I could see was
+assumed for the purpose of putting me off the scent:
+
+"And so I cannot induce you, Dr. Nikola, to fit out an expedition for
+the work I have named?"
+
+"If I had five thousand pounds to throw away," replied Nikola, "I might
+think of it, Mr. Baxter, but as I haven't you must understand that it is
+impossible." Then seeing that the other was anxious to be going, he
+continued, "Must you be off? then good-night."
+
+Baxter shook hands with us both with laboured cordiality, and having
+done so slunk from the room. When the door closed upon him Nikola turned
+to me.
+
+"There must be some fascination about a missionary's life after all," he
+said. "My old tutor, Baxter, as you are aware, has a comfortable
+position with the young Marquis of Beckenham, which, if he conducts
+himself properly, may lead to something really worth having in the
+future, and yet here he is anxious to surrender it in order to go back
+to his work in New Guinea, to his hard life, insufficient food, and
+almost certain death."
+
+"He was in New Guinea then?"
+
+"Five years--so he tells me."
+
+"Are you certain of that?"
+
+"Absolutely!"
+
+"Then all I can say is that, in spite of his cloth, Mr. Baxter does not
+always tell the truth."
+
+"I am sorry you should think that. Pray what reason have you for saying
+so?"
+
+"Simply because in a conversation I had with him at Bournemouth he
+deliberately informed me that he had never been near New Guinea in his
+life."
+
+"You must have misunderstood him. However, that has nothing to do with
+us. Let us turn to a pleasanter subject."
+
+He rang the bell, and the landlord having answered it, ordered more
+refreshment. When it arrived he lit another cigarette, and leaning back
+in his chair glanced at me through half-closed eyes.
+
+Then occurred one of the most curious and weird circumstances connected
+with this meeting. Hardly had he laid himself back in his chair before I
+heard a faint scratching against the table leg, and next moment an
+enormous cat, black as the Pit of Tophet, sprang with a bound upon the
+table and stood there steadfastly regarding me, its eyes flashing and
+its back arched. I have seen cats without number, Chinese, Persian,
+Manx, the Australian wild cat, and the English tabby, but never in the
+whole course of my existence such another as that owned by Dr. Nikola.
+When it had regarded me with its evil eyes for nearly a minute, it
+stepped daintily across to its master, and rubbed itself backwards and
+forwards against his arm, then to my astonishment it clambered up on to
+his shoulder and again gave me the benefit of its fixed attention. Dr.
+Nikola must have observed the amazement depicted in my face, for he
+smiled in a curious fashion, and coaxing the beast down into his lap
+fell to stroking its fur with his long, white fingers. It was as uncanny
+a performance as ever I had the privilege of witnessing.
+
+"And so, Mr. Hatteras," he said slowly, "you are thinking of leaving
+us?"
+
+"I am," I replied, with a little start of natural astonishment. "But how
+did you know it?"
+
+"After the conjuring tricks--we agreed to call them conjuring tricks, I
+think--I showed you a week or two ago, I wonder that you should ask such
+a question. You have the ticket in your pocket even now."
+
+All the time he had been speaking his extraordinary eyes had never left
+my face; they seemed to be reading my very soul, and his cat ably
+seconded his efforts.
+
+"By the way, I should like to ask you a few questions about those self
+same conjuring tricks," I said. "Do you know you gave me a most peculiar
+warning?"
+
+"I am very glad to hear it; I hope you profited by it."
+
+"It cost me a good deal of uneasiness, if that's any consolation to you.
+I want to know how you did it?"
+
+"My fame as a wizard would soon evaporate if I revealed my methods," he
+answered, still looking steadfastly at me. "However, I will give you
+another exhibition of my powers. In fact, another warning. Have you
+confidence enough in me to accept it?"
+
+"I'll wait and see what it is first," I replied cautiously, trying to
+remove my eyes from his.
+
+"Well, my warning to you is this--you intend to sail in the _Saratoga_
+for Australia on Friday next, don't you? Well, then, don't go; as you
+love your life, don't go!"
+
+"Good gracious! and why on earth not?" I cried.
+
+He stared fixedly at me for more than half a minute before he answered.
+There was no escaping those dreadful eyes, and the regular sweep of
+those long white fingers on the cat's black fur seemed to send a cold
+shiver right down my spine. Bit by bit I began to feel a curious
+sensation of dizziness creeping over me.
+
+"Because you will _not_ go. You cannot go. I forbid you to go."
+
+I roused myself with an effort, and sprang to my feet, crying as I did
+so:
+
+"And what right have _you_ to forbid me to do anything? I'll go on
+Friday, come what may. And I'd like to see the man who will prevent me."
+
+Though he must have realized that his attempt to hypnotize me (for
+attempt it certainly was) had proved a failure, he was not in the least
+disconcerted.
+
+"My dear fellow," he murmured gently, knocking off the ash of his
+cigarette against the table edge as he did so, "no one is seeking to
+prevent you. I gave you, at your own request--you will do me the justice
+to admit that--a little piece of advice. If you do not care to follow
+it, that is your concern, not mine; but pray do not blame me. Must you
+really go now? Then good-night, and good-bye, for I don't suppose I
+shall see you this side of the Line again."
+
+I took his proffered hand, and wished him good-night. Having done so, I
+left the house, heartily glad to have said good-bye to the only man in
+my life whom I have really feared.
+
+When in the train, on my way back to town, I came to review the meeting
+in the _Green Sailor_, I found myself face to face with a series of
+problems very difficult to work out. How had Nikola first learned my
+name? How had he heard of the Wetherells? Was he the mysterious person
+his meeting with whom had driven Wetherell out of England? Why had
+Baxter telegraphed to him that "the train was laid"? Was I the new
+danger that had arisen? How had Baxter come to be at the _Green Sailor_,
+in non-clerical costume? Why had he been so disturbed at my entry? Why
+had Nikola invented such a lame excuse to account for his presence
+there? Why had he warned me not to sail in the _Saratoga_? and, above
+all, why had he resorted to hypnotism to secure his ends?
+
+I asked myself these questions, but one by one I failed to answer them
+to my satisfaction. Whatever other conclusion I might have come to,
+however, one thing at least was certain: that was, that my original
+supposition was a correct one. There was a tremendous mystery somewhere.
+Whether or not I was to lose my interest in it after Friday remained to
+be seen.
+
+It was nearly twelve o'clock by the time I entered my hotel; but late as
+it was I found time to examine the letter rack. It contained two
+envelopes bearing my name, and taking them out I carried them with me to
+my room. One, to my delight, bore the postmark of Port Said, and was
+addressed in my sweetheart's handwriting. You may guess how eagerly I
+tore it open, and with what avidity I devoured its contents. From it I
+gathered that they had arrived at the entrance of the Suez Canal safely;
+that her father had recovered his spirits more and more with every mile
+that separated him from Europe. He was now almost himself again, she
+said, but still refused with characteristic determination to entertain
+the smallest notion of myself as a son-in-law. But Phyllis herself did
+not despair of being able to talk him round. Then came a paragraph which
+struck me as being so peculiar as to warrant my reproducing it here:
+
+"The passengers, what we have seen of them, appear to be, with one
+exception, a nice enough set of people. That exception, however, is
+intolerable; his name is Prendergast, and his personal appearance is as
+objectionable as his behaviour is extraordinary; his hair is snow-white,
+and his face is deeply pitted with smallpox. This is, of course, not his
+fault, but it seems somehow to aggravate the distaste I have for him.
+Unfortunately we were thrown into his company in Naples, and since then
+the creature has so far presumed upon that introduction, that he
+scarcely leaves me alone for a moment. Papa does not seem to mind him so
+much, but I thank goodness that, as he leaves the boat in Port Said, the
+rest of the voyage will be performed without him."
+
+The remainder of the letter had no concern for any one but myself, so I
+do not give it. Having read it I folded it up and put it in my pocket,
+feeling that if I had been on board the boat I should in all probability
+have allowed Mr. Prendergast to understand that his attentions were
+distasteful and not in the least required. If I could only have foreseen
+that within a fortnight I was to be enjoying the doubtful pleasure of
+that very gentleman's society, under circumstances as important as life
+and death, I don't doubt I should have thought still more strongly on
+the subject.
+
+The handwriting of the second envelope was bold, full of character, but
+quite unknown to me. I opened it with a little feeling of curiosity, and
+glanced at the signature, "Beckenham." It ran as follows:--
+
+     "West Cliff, Bournemouth,
+     "Tuesday Evening.
+
+     "MY DEAR MR. HATTERAS,
+
+     "I have great and wonderful news to tell you! This week has proved
+     an extraordinarily eventful one for me, for what do you think? My
+     father has suddenly decided that I shall travel. All the details
+     have been settled in a great hurry. You will understand this when I
+     tell you that Mr. Baxter and I sail for Sydney in the steamship
+     _Saratoga_ next week. My father telegraphed to Mr. Baxter, who is
+     in London, to book our passages and to choose our cabins this
+     morning. I can only say that my greatest wish is that you were
+     coming with us. Is it so impossible? Cannot you make your
+     arrangements fit in? We shall travel overland to Naples and join
+     the boat there. This is Mr. Baxter's proposition, and you may be
+     sure, considering what I shall see _en route_, I have no objection
+     to urge against it. Our tour will be an extensive one. We visit
+     Australia and New Zealand, go thence to Honolulu, thence to San
+     Francisco, returning, across the United States, _via_ Canada, to
+     Liverpool.
+
+     "You may imagine how excited I am at the prospect, and as I feel
+     that I owe a great measure of my good fortune to you, I want to be
+     the first to acquaint you of it.
+
+     "Yours ever sincerely,
+     "BECKENHAM."
+
+I read the letter through a second time, and then sat down on my bed to
+think it out. One thing was self-evident. I knew now how Nikola had
+become aware that I was going to sail in the mail boat on Friday; Baxter
+had seen my name in the passenger list, and had informed him.
+
+I undressed and went to bed, but not to sleep. I had a problem to work
+out, and a more than usually difficult one it was. Here was the young
+Marquis of Beckenham, I told myself, only son of his father, heir to a
+great name and enormous estates, induced to travel by my
+representations. There was a conspiracy afoot in which, I could not help
+feeling certain, the young man was in some way involved. And yet I had
+no right to be certain about it after all, for my suspicions at best
+were only conjectures. Now the question was whether I ought to warn the
+Duke or not? If I did I might be frightening him without cause, and
+might stop his son's journey; and if I did not, and things went
+wrong--well, in that case, I should be the innocent means of bringing a
+great and lasting sorrow upon his house. Hour after hour I turned this
+question over and over in my mind, uncertain how to act. The clocks
+chimed their monotonous round, the noises died down and rose again in
+the streets, and daylight found me only just come to a decision. I would
+_not_ tell them; but at the same time I would make doubly sure that I
+sailed aboard that ship myself, and that throughout the voyage I was by
+the young man's side to guard him from ill.
+
+Breakfast time came, and I rose from my bed wearied with thought. Even a
+bath failed to restore my spirits. I went downstairs and, crossing the
+hall again, examined the rack. Another letter awaited me. I passed into
+the dining-room and, seating myself at my table, ordered breakfast.
+Having done so, I turned to my correspondence. Fate seemed to pursue me.
+On this occasion the letter was from the lad's father, the Duke of
+Glenbarth himself, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "Sandridge Castle, Bournemouth,
+     "Wednesday.
+
+     "DEAR MR. HATTERAS,
+
+     "My son tells me he has acquainted you with the news of his
+     departure for Australia next week. I don't doubt this will cause
+     you some little surprise; but it has been brought about by a
+     curious combination of circumstances. Two days ago I received a
+     letter from my old friend, the Earl of Amberley, who, as you know,
+     has for the past few years been Governor of the colony of New South
+     Wales, telling me that his term of office will expire in four
+     months. Though he has not seen my boy since the latter was two
+     years old, I am anxious that he should be at the head of affairs
+     when he visits the colony. Hence this haste. I should have liked
+     nothing better than to have accompanied him myself, but business of
+     the utmost importance detains me in England. I am, however, sending
+     Mr. Baxter with him, with powerful credentials, and if it should be
+     in your power to do anything to assist them you will be adding
+     materially to the debt of gratitude I already owe you.
+
+     "Believe me, my dear Mr. Hatteras, to be,
+
+     "Very truly yours,
+     "GLENBARTH."
+
+My breakfast finished, I answered both these letters, informed my
+friends of my contemplated departure by the same steamer, and promised
+that I would do all that lay in my power to ensure both the young
+traveller's pleasure and his safety. For the rest of the morning I was
+occupied inditing a letter to my sweetheart, informing her of my return
+to the Colonies, and telling her all my adventures since her departure.
+
+The afternoon was spent in saying good-bye to the few business friends I
+had made in London, and in the evening I went for the last time to a
+theatre.
+
+Five minutes to eleven o'clock next morning found me at Waterloo sitting
+in a first-class compartment of the West of England express, bound for
+Plymouth and Australia. Though the platform was crowded to excess I had
+the carriage so far to myself, and was about to congratulate myself on
+my good fortune, when a porter appeared on the scene, and deposited a
+bag in the opposite corner. A moment later, and just as the train was in
+motion, a man jumped in the carriage, tipped the servant, and then
+placed a basket upon the rack. The train was half-way out of the station
+before he turned round, and my suspicions were confirmed. _It was Dr.
+Nikola!_
+
+Though he must have known who his companion was, he affected great
+surprise. "Mr. Hatteras," he cried, "I think this is the most
+extraordinary coincidence I have ever experienced in my life."
+
+"Why so?" I asked. "You knew I was going to Plymouth to-day, and one
+moment's reflection must have told you, that as my boat sails at eight,
+I would be certain to take the morning express, which lands me there at
+five. Should I be indiscreet if I asked where you may be going?"
+
+"Like yourself, I am also visiting Plymouth," he answered, taking the
+basket, before mentioned, down from the rack, and drawing a French novel
+from his coat pocket. "I expect an old Indian friend home by the mail
+boat that arrives to-night. I am going down to meet him."
+
+I felt relieved to hear that he was not thinking of sailing in the
+_Saratoga_, and after a few polite commonplaces, we both lapsed into
+silence. I was too suspicious, and he was too wary, to appear over
+friendly. Clapham, Wimbledon, Surbiton, came and went. Weybridge and
+Woking flashed by at lightning speed, and even Basingstoke was reached
+before we spoke again. That station behind us, Dr. Nikola took the
+basket before mentioned on his knee, and opened it. When he had done so,
+the same enormous black cat, whose acquaintance I had made in the East
+India Dock Road, stepped proudly forth. In the daylight the brute looked
+even larger and certainly fiercer than before. I felt I should have
+liked nothing better than to have taken it by the tail and hurled it out
+of the window. Nikola, on the other hand, seemed to entertain for it the
+most extraordinary affection.
+
+Now such was this marvellous man's power of fascination that by the time
+we reached Andover Junction his conversation had roused me quite out of
+myself, had made me forget my previous distrust of him, and enabled me
+to tell myself that this railway journey was one of the most enjoyable I
+had ever undertaken.
+
+In Salisbury we took luncheon baskets on board, with, two bottles of
+champagne, for which my companion, in spite of my vigorous protest,
+would insist upon paying.
+
+As the train rolled along the charming valley, in which lie the
+miniature towns of Wilton, Dinton, and Tisbury, we pledged each other in
+right good fellowship, and by the time Exeter was reached were friendly
+enough to have journeyed round the world together.
+
+Exeter behind us, I began to feel drowsy, and presently was fast asleep.
+
+I remember no more of that ill-fated journey; nor, indeed, have I any
+recollection of anything at all, until I woke up in Room No. 37 of the
+_Ship and Vulture Hotel_ in Plymouth.
+
+The sunshine was streaming in through the slats of the Venetian blinds,
+and a portly gentleman, with a rosy face, and grey hair, was standing by
+my bedside, holding my wrist in his hand, and calmly scrutinizing me. A
+nurse in hospital dress stood beside him.
+
+"I think he'll do now," he said to her as he rubbed his plump hands
+together; "but I'll look round in the course of the afternoon."
+
+"One moment," I said feebly, for I found I was too weak to speak above a
+whisper. "Would you mind telling me where I am, and what is the matter
+with me?"
+
+"I should very much like to be able to do so," was the doctor's reply.
+"My opinion is, if you want me to be candid, that you have been drugged
+and well-nigh poisoned by a remarkably clever chemist. But what the drug
+and poison were, and who administered it to you, and the motive for
+doing so, is more than I can tell you. From what I can learn from the
+hotel proprietors, you were brought here from the railway station in a
+cab last night by a gentleman who happened to find you in the carriage
+in which you travelled down from London. You were in such a curious
+condition that I was sent for and this nurse procured. Now you know all
+about it."
+
+"What day did you say this is?"
+
+"Saturday, to be sure."
+
+"Saturday!" I cried. "You don't mean that! Then, by Jove, I've missed
+the _Saratoga_ after all. Here, let me get up! And tell them downstairs
+to send for the Inspector of Police. I have got to get to the bottom of
+this."
+
+I sat up in bed, but was only too glad to lie down. I looked at the
+doctor.
+
+"How long before you can have me fit to travel?"
+
+"Give yourself three days' rest and quiet," he replied, "and we'll see
+what we can do."
+
+"Three days? And two days and a half to cross the Continent, that's five
+and a half--say six days. Good! I'll catch the boat in Naples, and then,
+Dr. Nikola, if you're aboard, as I suspect, I advise you to look out."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PORT SAID, AND WHAT BEFEL US THERE
+
+
+Fortunately for me my arrangements fitted in exactly, so that at one
+thirty p.m., on the seventh day after my fatal meeting with Dr. Nikola
+in the West of England express, I had crossed the Continent, and stood
+looking out on the blue waters of Naples Bay. To my right was the hill
+of San Martino, behind me that of Capo di Monte, while in the distance,
+to the southward, rose the cloud-tipped summit of Vesuvius. The journey
+from London is generally considered, I believe, a long and wearisome
+one; it certainly proved so to me, for it must be remembered that my
+mind was impatient of every delay, while my bodily health was not as yet
+recovered.
+
+The first thing to be done on arrival at the terminus was to discover a
+quiet hotel; a place where I could rest and recoup during the heat of
+the day, and, what was perhaps more important, where I should run no
+risk of meeting with Dr. Nikola or his satellites. I had originally
+intended calling at the office of the steamship company in order to
+explain the reason of my not joining the boat in Plymouth, planning
+afterwards to cast about me, among the various hotels, for the Marquis
+of Beckenham and Mr. Baxter. But, on second thoughts, I saw the wisdom
+of abandoning both these courses.
+
+Nor for the same reason did I feel inclined to board the steamer, which
+I could see lying out in the harbour, until darkness had fallen. I
+ascertained, however, that she was due to sail at midnight, and that the
+mails were already being got aboard.
+
+Almost exactly as eight o'clock was striking, I mounted the gangway, and
+strolled down the promenade deck to the first saloon entrance; then
+calling a steward to my assistance, I had my baggage conveyed to my
+cabin, where I set to work arranging my little knicknacks, and making
+myself comfortable for the voyage that lay before us. So far I had seen
+nothing of my friends, and, on making inquiries, I discovered that they
+had not yet come aboard. Indeed, they did not do so until the last boat
+had discharged its burden at the gangway. Then I met Lord Beckenham on
+the promenade deck, and unaffected was the young man's delight at seeing
+me.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he cried, running forward to greet me with out-stretched
+hand, "this was all that was wanting to make my happiness complete. I
+_am_ glad to see you. I hope your cabin is near ours."
+
+"I'm on the port side just abaft the pantry," I answered, shaking him by
+the hand. "But tell me about yourself. I expect you had a pleasant
+journey across the Continent."
+
+"Delightful!" was his reply. "We stayed a day in Paris, and another in
+Rome, and since we have been here we have been rushing about seeing
+everything, like a regulation pair of British tourists."
+
+At this moment Mr. Baxter, who had been looking after the luggage, I
+suppose, made his appearance, and greeted me with more cordiality than I
+had expected him to show. To my intense surprise, however, he allowed no
+sign of astonishment to escape him at my having joined the boat after
+all. But a few minutes later, as we were approaching the companion
+steps, he said:--"I understood from his lordship, Mr. Hatteras, that you
+were to embark at Plymouth; was I mistaken, therefore, when I thought I
+saw you coming off with your luggage this evening?"
+
+"No, you were not mistaken," I answered, being able now to account for
+this lack of surprise. "I came across the Continent like yourselves, and
+only joined the vessel a couple of hours ago."
+
+Here the Marquis chimed in, and diverted the conversation into another
+channel.
+
+"Where is everybody?" he asked, when Mr. Baxter had left us and gone
+below. "There are a lot of names on the passenger list, and yet I see
+nobody about!"
+
+"They are all in bed," I answered. "It is getting late, you see, and, if
+I am not mistaken, we shall be under way in a few minutes."
+
+"Then, I think, if you'll excuse me for a few moments, I'll go below to
+my cabin. I expect Mr. Baxter will be wondering where I am."
+
+When he had left me I turned to the bulwarks and stood looking across
+the water at the gleaming lights ashore. One by one the boats alongside
+pushed off, and from the sounds that came from for'ard, I gathered that
+the anchor was being got aboard. Five minutes later we had swung round
+to our course and were facing for the open sea. For the first mile or so
+my thoughts chased each other in rapid succession. You must remember
+that it was in Naples I had learnt that my darling loved me, and it was
+in Naples now that I was bidding good-bye to Europe and to all the
+strange events that had befallen me there. I leant upon the rail, looked
+at the fast receding country in our wake, at old Vesuvius, fire-capped,
+away to port, at the Great Bear swinging in the heavens to the nor'ard,
+and then thought of the Southern Cross which, before many weeks were
+passed, would be lifting its head above our bows to welcome me back to
+the sunny land and to the girl I loved so well. Somehow I felt glad that
+the trip to England was over, and that I was on my way home at last.
+
+The steamer ploughed her almost silent course, and three-quarters of an
+hour later we were abreast of Capri. As I was looking at it, Lord
+Beckenham came down the deck and stood beside me. His first speech told
+me that he was still under the influence of his excitement; indeed, he
+spoke in rapturous terms of the enjoyment he expected to derive from his
+tour.
+
+"Are you sure you will be a good sailor?" I asked.
+
+"Oh, I have no fear of that," he answered confidently. "As you know, I
+have been out in my boat in some pretty rough weather and never felt in
+the least ill, so I don't think it is likely that I shall begin to be a
+bad sailor on a vessel the size of the _Saratoga_. By the way, when are
+we due to reach Port Said?"
+
+"Next Thursday afternoon, I believe, if all goes well."
+
+"Will you let me go ashore with you if you go? I don't want to bother
+you, but after all you have told me about the place, I should like to
+see it in your company."
+
+"I'll take you with pleasure," I answered, "provided Mr. Baxter gives
+his consent. I suppose we must regard him as skipper."
+
+"Oh, I don't think we need fear his refusing. He is very good-natured,
+you know, and lets me have my own way a good deal."
+
+"Where is he now?"
+
+"Down below, asleep. He has had a lot of running about to-day, and
+thought he would turn in before we got under way. I think I had better
+be going now. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night," I answered, and he left me again.
+
+When I was alone I returned to my thoughts of Phyllis and the future,
+and as soon as my pipe was finished, went below to my bunk. My berth
+mate I had discovered earlier in the evening was a portly English
+merchant of the old school, who was visiting his agents in Australia;
+and, from the violence of his snores, I should judge had not much
+trouble on his mind. Fortunately mine was the lower bunk, and, when I
+had undressed, I turned into it to sleep like a top until roused by the
+bath-room steward at half-past seven next morning. After a good bathe I
+went back to my cabin and set to work to dress. My companion by this
+time was awake, but evidently not much inclined for conversation. His
+usual jovial face, it struck me, was not as rosy as when I had made his
+acquaintance the night before, and I judged that his good spirits were
+more than half assumed.
+
+All this time a smart sea was running, and, I must own, the _Saratoga_
+was rolling abominably.
+
+"A very good morning to you, my dear sir," my cabin mate said, with an
+air of enjoyment his pallid face belied, as I entered the berth. "Pray
+how do you feel to-day?"
+
+"In first-class form, and as hungry as a hunter."
+
+He laid himself back on his pillow with a remark that sounded very much
+like "Oh dear," and thereafter I was suffered to shave and complete my
+toilet in silence. Having done so I put on my cap and went on deck.
+
+It was indeed a glorious morning; bright sunshine streamed upon the
+decks, the sea was a perfect blue, and so clear was the air that, miles
+distant though it was from us, the Italian coast-line could be plainly
+discerned above the port bulwarks. By this time I had cross-examined the
+chief steward, and satisfied myself that Nikola was not aboard. His
+absence puzzled me considerably. Was it possible that I could have been
+mistaken in the whole affair, and that Baxter's motives were honest
+after all? But in that case why had Nikola drugged me? And why had he
+warned me against sailing in the _Saratoga_? The better to think it out
+I set myself for a vigorous tramp round the hurricane deck, and was
+still revolving the matter in my mind, when, on turning the corner by
+the smoking-room entrance, I found myself face to face with Baxter
+himself. As soon as he saw me, he came smiling towards me, holding out
+his hand.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Hatteras," he said briskly; "what a delightful
+morning it is, to be sure. You cannot tell how much I am enjoying it.
+The sea air seems to have made a new man of me already."
+
+"I am glad to hear it. And pray how is your charge?" I asked, more
+puzzled than ever by this display of affability.
+
+"Not at all well, I am sorry to say."
+
+"Not well? You don't surely mean to say that he is sea-sick?"
+
+"I'm sorry to say I do. He was perfectly well until he got out of his
+bunk half an hour ago. Then a sudden, but violent, fit of nausea seized
+him, and drove him back to bed again."
+
+"I am very sorry to hear it, I hope he will be better soon. He would
+have been one of the last men I should have expected to be bowled over.
+Are you coming for a turn round?"
+
+"I shall feel honoured," he answered, and thereupon we set off, step for
+step, for a constitutional round the deck. By the time we had finished
+it was nine o'clock, and the saloon gong had sounded for breakfast.
+
+The meal over, I repaired to the Marquis's cabin, and having knocked,
+was bidden enter. I found my lord in bed, retching violently; his
+complexion was the colour of zinc, his hands were cold and clammy, and
+after every spasm his face streamed with perspiration.
+
+"I am indeed sorry to see you like this," I said, bending over him. "How
+do you feel now?"
+
+"Very bad, indeed!" he answered, with a groan. "I cannot understand it
+at all. Before I got out of bed this morning I felt as well as possible.
+Then Mr. Baxter was kind enough to bring me a cup of coffee, and within
+five minutes of drinking it, I was obliged to go back to bed feeling
+hopelessly sick and miserable."
+
+"Well, you must try and get round as soon as you can, and come on deck;
+there's a splendid breeze blowing, and you'll find that will clear the
+sickness out of you before you know where you are."
+
+But his only reply was another awful fit of sickness, that made as if it
+would tear his chest asunder. While he was under the influence of it,
+his tutor entered, and set about ministering to him with a care and
+fatherly tenderness that even deceived me. I can see things more plainly
+now, on looking back at them, than I could then, but I must own that
+Baxter's behaviour towards the boy that morning was of a kind that would
+have hoodwinked the very Master of All Lies himself. I could easily
+understand now how this man had come to have such an influence over the
+kindly-natured Duke of Glenbarth, who, when all was said and done, could
+have had but small experience of men of Baxter's type.
+
+Seeing that, instead of helping, I was only in the way, I expressed a
+hope that the patient would soon be himself again, and returned to the
+deck.
+
+Luncheon came, and still Lord Beckenham was unable to leave his berth.
+In the evening he was no better. The following morning he was, if
+anything, stronger; but towards mid-day, just as he was thinking of
+getting up, his nausea returned upon him, and he was obliged to postpone
+the attempt. On Wednesday there was no improvement, and, indeed, it was
+not until Thursday afternoon, when the low-lying coast of Port Said was
+showing above the sea-line, that he felt in any way fit to leave his
+bunk. In all my experience of sea-sickness I had never known a more
+extraordinary case.
+
+It was almost dark before we dropped our anchor off the town, and as
+soon as we were at a standstill I went below to my friend's cabin. He
+was sitting on the locker fully dressed.
+
+"Port Said," I announced. "Now, how do you feel about going ashore?
+Personally, I don't think you had better try it."
+
+"Oh! but I want to go. I have been looking forward to it so much. I am
+much stronger than I was, believe me, and Mr. Baxter doesn't think it
+could possibly hurt me."
+
+"If you don't tire yourself too much," that gentleman put in.
+
+"Very well, then," I said. "In that case I'm your man. There are plenty
+of boats alongside, so we'll have no difficulty about getting there.
+Won't you come, too, Mr. Baxter?"
+
+"I think not, thank you," he answered. "Port Said is not a place of
+which I am very fond."
+
+"In that case I think we had better be going," I said, turning to his
+lordship.
+
+We made our way on deck, and, after a little chaffering, secured a boat,
+in which we were pulled ashore. Having arrived there, we were
+immediately beset by the usual crowd of beggars and donkey boys, but,
+withstanding their importunities, we turned into the Rue de Commerce and
+made our way inland. To my companion the crowded streets, the diversity
+of nationalities and costume, and the strange variety of shops and
+wares, were matters of absorbing interest. This will be the better
+understood when it is remembered that, poor though Port Said is in
+orientalism, it was nevertheless the first Eastern port he had
+encountered. We had both a few purchases to make, and this business
+satisfactorily accomplished, we started off to see the sights.
+
+Passing out of the Rue de Commerce, our attention was attracted by a
+lame young beggar who, leaning on his crutches, blocked our way while he
+recited his dismal catalogue of woes. Our guide bade him be off, and
+indeed I was not sorry to be rid of him, but I could see, by glancing at
+his face, that my companion had taken his case more seriously. In fact,
+we had not proceeded more than twenty yards before he asked me to wait a
+moment for him, and taking to his heels ran back to the spot where we
+had left him. When he rejoined us I said:--"You don't mean to say that
+you gave that rascal money?"
+
+"Only half a sovereign," he answered. "Perhaps you didn't hear the
+pitiful story he told us? His father is dead, and now, if it were not
+for his begging, his mother and five young sisters would all be
+starving."
+
+I asked our guide if he knew the man, and whether his tale were true.
+
+"No, monsieur," he replied promptly, "it is all one big lie. His father
+is in the jail, and, if she had her rights, his mother would be there
+too."
+
+Not another word was said on the subject, but I could see that the boy's
+generous heart had been hurt. How little he guessed the effect that
+outburst of generosity was to have upon us later on!
+
+At our guide's suggestion, we passed from the commercial, through the
+European quarter, to a large mosque situated in Arab Town. It was a long
+walk, but we were promised that we should see something there that would
+amply compensate us for any trouble we might be put to to reach it. This
+turned out to be the case, but hardly in the fashion he had predicted.
+
+The mosque was certainly a fine building, and at the time of our visit
+was thronged with worshippers. They knelt in two long lines, reaching
+from end to end, their feet were bare, and their heads turned towards
+the east. By our guide's instructions we removed our boots at the
+entrance, but fortunately took the precaution of carrying them into the
+building with us. From the main hall we passed into a smaller one, where
+a number of Egyptian standards, relics of the war of '82, were unrolled
+for our inspection. While we were examining them, our guide, who had for
+a moment left us, returned with a scared face to inform us that there
+were a number of English tourists in the mosque who had refused to take
+their boots off, and were evidently bent on making trouble. As he spoke
+the ominous hum of angry voices drifted in to us, increasing in volume
+as we listened. Our guide pricked up his ears and looked anxiously at
+the door.
+
+"There will be trouble directly," he said solemnly, "if those young men
+do not behave themselves. If messieurs will be guided by me, they will
+be going. I can show them a backway out."
+
+For a moment I felt inclined to follow his advice, but Beckenham's next
+speech decided me to stay.
+
+"You will not go away and leave those stupid fellows to be killed?" he
+said, moving towards the door into the mosque proper. "However foolish
+they may have been, they are still our countrymen, and whatever happens
+we ought to stand by them."
+
+"If you think so, of course we will, but remember it may cost us our
+lives. You still want to stay? Very good, then, come along, but stick
+close to me."
+
+We left the small ante-room, in which we had been examining the flags,
+and passed back into the main hall. Here an extraordinary scene
+presented itself.
+
+In the furthest corner, completely hemmed in by a crowd of furious
+Arabs, were three young Englishmen, whose faces plainly showed how well
+they understood the dangerous position into which their own impudence
+and folly had enticed them.
+
+Elbowing our way through the crowd, we reached their side, and
+immediately called upon them to push their way towards the big doors;
+but before this man[oe]uvre could be executed, some one had given an
+order in Arabic, and we were all borne back against the wall.
+
+"There is no help for it!" I cried to the biggest of the strangers. "We
+must fight our way out. Choose your men and come along."
+
+So saying, I gave the man nearest me one under the jaw to remember me
+by, which laid him on his back, and then, having room to use my arms,
+sent down another to keep him company. All this time my companions were
+not idle, and to my surprise I saw the young Marquis laying about him
+with a science that I had to own afterwards did credit to his education.
+Our assailants evidently did not expect to meet with this resistance,
+for they gave way and began to back towards the door. One or two of them
+drew knives, but the space was too cramped for them to do much harm with
+them.
+
+"One more rush," I cried, "and we'll turn them out."
+
+We made the rush, and next moment the doors were closed and barred on
+the last of them. This done, we paused to consider our position. True we
+had driven the enemy from the citadel, but then, unless we could find a
+means of escape, we ourselves were equally prisoners in it. What was to
+be done?
+
+Leaving three of our party to guard the doors, the remainder searched
+the adjoining rooms for a means of escape; but though we were
+unsuccessful in our attempt to find an exit, we did what was the next
+best thing to do, discovered our cowardly guide in a corner, skulking in
+a curious sort of cupboard.
+
+By the time we had proved to him that the enemy were really driven out,
+and that we had possession of the mosque, he recovered his wits a
+little, and managed, after hearing our promise to throw him to the mob
+outside unless he discovered a means of escape for us, to cudgel his
+brains and announce that he knew of one.
+
+No sooner did we hear this, than we resolved to profit by it. The mob
+outside was growing every moment more impatient, and from the clang of
+steel-shod rifle butts on the stone steps we came to the conclusion that
+the services of a force of soldiery had been called in. The situation
+was critical, and twice imperious demands were made upon us to open the
+door. But, as may be supposed, this we did not feel inclined to do.
+
+"Now, for your way out," I said, taking our trembling guide, whose face
+seemed to blanch whiter and whiter with every knock upon the door, by
+the shoulders, and giving him a preliminary shake. "Mind what you're
+about, and remember, if you lead us into any trap, I'll wring your
+miserable neck, assure as you're alive. Go ahead."
+
+Collecting our boots and shoes, which, throughout the tumult, had been
+lying scattered about upon the floor, we passed into the ante-room, and
+put them on. Then creeping softly out by another door, we reached a
+small courtyard in the rear, surrounded on all sides by high walls. Our
+way, so our guide informed us, lay over one of these. But how we were to
+surmount them was a puzzle, for the lowest scaling place was at least
+twelve feet high. However, the business had to be done, and, what was
+more to the point, done quickly.
+
+Calling the strongest of the tourists, who were by this time all quite
+sober, to my side, I bade him stoop down as if he were playing
+leap-frog; then, mounting his back myself, I stood upright, and
+stretched my arms above my head. To my delight my fingers reached to
+within a few inches of the top of the wall.
+
+"Stand as steady as you can," I whispered, "for I'm going to jump."
+
+I did so, and clutched the edge. When I had pulled myself to the top I
+was so completely exhausted as to be unable to do anything for more than
+a minute. Then I whispered to another man to climb upon the first man's
+back, and stretch his hands up to mine. He did so, and I pulled him up
+beside me. The guide came next, then the other tourist, then Lord
+Beckenham. After which I took off and lowered my coat to the man who had
+stood for us all, and having done so, took a firm grip of the wall with
+my legs, and dragged him up as I had done the others. It had been a
+longer business than I liked, and every moment, while we were about it,
+I expected to hear the cries of the mob inside the mosque, and to find
+them pouring into the yard to prevent our escape. The bolts on the door,
+however, must have possessed greater strength than we gave them credit
+for. At any rate, they did not give way.
+
+When we were all safely on the wall, I asked the guide in which
+direction we should now proceed; he pointed to the adjoining roofs, and
+in Indian file, and with the stealthiness of cats, we accordingly crept
+across them.
+
+The third house surmounted, we found ourselves overlooking a narrow
+alley, into which we first peered carefully, and, having discovered that
+no one was about, eventually dropped.
+
+"Now," said the guide, as soon as we were down, "we must run along here,
+and turn to the left."
+
+We did so, to find ourselves in a broader street, which eventually
+brought us out into the thoroughfare through which we had passed to
+reach the mosque.
+
+Having got our bearings now, we headed for the harbour, or at least for
+that part of the town with which I was best acquainted, as fast as our
+legs would carry us. But, startling as they had been, we had not yet
+done with adventures for the night.
+
+Once in the security of the gaslit streets, we said good-bye to the men
+who had got us into all the trouble, and having come to terms with our
+guide, packed him off and proceeded upon our way alone.
+
+Five minutes later the streaming lights of an open doorway brought us to
+a standstill, and one glance told us we were looking into the Casino.
+The noise of the roulette tables greeted our ears, and as we had still
+plenty of time, and my companion was not tired, I thought it a good
+opportunity to show him another phase of the seamy side of life.
+
+But before I say anything about that I must chronicle a curious
+circumstance. As we were entering the building, something made me look
+round. To my intense astonishment I saw, or believed I saw, Dr. Nikola
+standing in the street, regarding me. Bidding my companion remain where
+he was for a moment, I dashed out again and ran towards the place where
+I had seen the figure. But I was too late. If it were Dr. Nikola, he had
+vanished as suddenly as he had come. I hunted here, there, and
+everywhere, in doorways, under verandahs, and down lanes, but it was no
+use, not a trace of him could I discover. So abandoning my search, I
+returned to the Casino. Beckenham was waiting for me, and together we
+entered the building.
+
+The room was packed, and consequently all the tables were crowded, but
+as we did not intend playing, this was a matter of small concern to us.
+We were more interested in the players than the game. And, indeed, the
+expressions on the faces around us were extraordinary. The effect on the
+young man by my side was peculiar. He looked from face to face, as if he
+were observing the peculiarities of some strange animals. I watched him,
+and then I saw his expression suddenly change.
+
+Following the direction of his eyes, I observed a young man putting down
+his stake upon the board. His face was hidden from me, but by taking a
+step to the right I could command it. It was none other than the young
+cripple who had represented his parents to be in such poverty-stricken
+circumstances; the same young man whom Beckenham had assisted so
+generously only two hours before. As we looked, he staked his last coin,
+and that being lost, turned to leave the building. To do this, it was
+necessary that he should pass close by where we stood. Then his eyes met
+those of his benefactor, and with a look of what might almost have been
+shame upon his face, he slunk down the steps and from the building.
+
+"Come, let us get out of this place," cried my companion impatiently, "I
+believe I should go mad if I stayed here long."
+
+Thereupon we passed out into the street, and without further ado
+proceeded in the direction in which I imagined the _Saratoga_ to lie. A
+youth requested, in broken English, to be permitted the honour of
+piloting us, but feeling confident of being able to find my way I
+declined his services. For fully a quarter of an hour we plodded on,
+until I began to wonder why the harbour did not heave in sight. It was a
+queer part of the town we found ourselves in; the houses were
+perceptibly meaner and the streets narrower. At last I felt bound to
+confess that I was out of my reckoning, and did not know where we were.
+
+"What are we to do?" asked my lord, looking at his watch. "It's twenty
+minutes to eleven, and I promised Mr. Baxter I would not be later than
+the hour."
+
+"What an idiot I was not to take that guide!"
+
+The words were hardly out of my mouth before that personage appeared
+round the corner and came towards us. I hailed his coming with too much
+delight to notice the expression of malignant satisfaction on his face,
+and gave him the name of the vessel we desired to find. He appeared to
+understand, and the next moment we were marching off in an exactly
+contrary direction.
+
+We must have walked for at least ten minutes without speaking a word.
+
+From one small and dirty street we turned into another and broader one.
+By this time not a soul was to be seen, only a vagrant dog or two lying
+asleep in the road. In this portion of the town gas lamps were at a
+discount, consequently more than half the streets lay in deep shadow.
+Our guide walked ahead, we followed half-a-dozen paces or so behind him.
+I remember noticing a Greek cognomen upon a sign board, and recalling a
+similar name in Thursday Island, when something very much resembling a
+thin cord touched my nose and fell over my chin. Before I could put my
+hand up to it it had begun to tighten round my throat. Just at the same
+moment I heard my companion utter a sharp cry, and after that I remember
+no more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+OUR IMPRISONMENT AND ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE
+
+
+For what length of time I lay unconscious after hearing Beckenham's cry,
+and feeling the cord tighten round my throat, as narrated in the
+preceding chapter, I have not the remotest idea; I only know that when
+my senses returned to me again I found myself in complete darkness. The
+cord was gone from my neck, it is true, but something was still
+encircling it in a highly unpleasant fashion. On putting my hand up to
+it, to my intense astonishment, I discovered it to be a collar of iron,
+padlocked at the side, and communicating with a wall at the back by
+means of a stout chain fixed in a ring, which again was attached to a
+swivel.
+
+This ominous discovery set me hunting about to find out where I was, and
+for a clue as to what these things might mean. That I was in a room was
+evident from the fact that, by putting my hands behind me, I could touch
+two walls forming a corner. But in what part of the town such room might
+be was beyond my telling. One thing was evident, however, the walls were
+of brick, unplastered and quite innocent of paper.
+
+As not a ray of light relieved the darkness I put my hand into my ticket
+pocket, where I was accustomed to carry matches, and finding that my
+captors had not deprived me of them, lit one and looked about me. It was
+a dismal scene that little gleam illumined. The room in which I was
+confined was a small one, being only about ten feet long by eight wide,
+while, if I had been able to stand upright, I might have raised my hand
+to within two or three inches of the ceiling. In the furthest left-hand
+corner was a door, while in the wall on the right, but hopelessly beyond
+my reach, was a low window almost completely boarded up. I had no
+opportunity of seeing more, for by the time I had realized these facts
+the match had burnt down to my fingers. I blew it out and hastened to
+light another.
+
+Just as I did so a low moan reached my ear. It came from the further end
+of the room. Again I held the match aloft; this time to discover a
+huddled-up figure in the corner opposite the door. One glance at it told
+me that it was none other than my young friend the Marquis of Beckenham.
+He was evidently still unconscious, for though I called him twice by
+name, he did not answer, but continued in the same position, moaning
+softly as before. I had only time for a hurried glance at him before my
+last match burned down to my fingers, and had to be extinguished. With
+the departure of the light a return of faintness seized me, and I fell
+back into my corner, if not quite insensible, certainly unconscious of
+the immediate awkwardness of our position.
+
+It was daylight when my power of thinking returned to me, and long
+shafts of sunshine were percolating into us through the chinks in the
+boards upon the window. To my dismay the room looked even smaller and
+dingier than when I had examined it by the light of my match some hours
+before. The young Marquis lay unconscious in his corner just as I had
+last seen him, but with the widening light I discovered that his curious
+posture was due more to extraneous circumstances than to his own
+weakness, for I could see that he was fastened to the wall by a similar
+collar to my own.
+
+I took out my watch, which had not been taken from me as I might have
+expected, and examined the dial. It wanted five minutes of six o'clock.
+So putting it back into my pocket, I set myself for the second time to
+try and discover where we were. By reason of my position and the chain
+that bound me, this could only be done by listening, so I shut my eyes
+and put all my being into my ears. For some moments no sound rewarded my
+attention. Then a cock in a neighbouring yard on my right crowed
+lustily, a dog on my left barked, and a moment later I heard the faint
+sound of some one coming along the street. The pedestrian, whoever he
+might be, was approaching from the right hand, and, what was still more
+important, my trained ear informed me that he was lame of one leg, and
+walked with crutches. Closer and closer he came. But to my surprise he
+did not pass the window; indeed, I noticed that when he came level with
+it the sound was completely lost to me. This told me two things: one,
+that the window, which was boarded up, did not look into the main
+thoroughfare; the other, that the street itself ran along on the far
+side of the very wall to which my chain was attached.
+
+As I arrived at the knowledge of this fact, Beckenham opened his eyes;
+he sat up as well as his chain would permit, and gazed about him in a
+dazed fashion. Then his right hand went up to the iron collar enclosing
+his neck, and when he had realized what it meant he appeared even more
+mystified than before. He seemed to doze again for a minute or so, then
+his eyes opened, and as they did so they fell upon me, and his
+perplexity found relief in words.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said, in a voice like that of a man talking in his
+sleep, "where are we and what on earth does this chain mean?"
+
+"You ask me something that I want to know myself," I answered. "I cannot
+tell you where we are, except that we are in Port Said. But if you want
+to know what I think it means, well, I think it means treachery. How do
+you feel now?"
+
+"Very sick indeed, and my head aches horribly. But I can't understand it
+at all. What do you mean by saying that it is treachery?"
+
+This was the one question of all others I had been dreading, for I could
+not help feeling that when all was said and done I was bitterly to
+blame. However, unpleasant or not, the explanation had to be got
+through, and without delay.
+
+"Lord Beckenham," I began, sitting upright and clasping my hands round
+my knees, "this is a pretty bad business for me. I haven't the
+reputation of being a coward, but I'll own I feel pretty rocky and mean
+when I see you sitting there on the floor with that iron collar round
+your neck and that chain holding you to the wall, and know that it's, in
+a measure, all my stupid, blundering folly that has brought it about."
+
+"Oh, don't say that, Mr. Hatteras!" was the young man's generous reply.
+"For whatever or whoever may be to blame for it, I'm sure you're not."
+
+"That's because you don't know everything, my lord. Wait till you have
+heard what I have to tell you before you give me such complete
+absolution."
+
+"I'm not going to blame you whatever you may tell me; but please go on!"
+
+There and then I set to work and told him all that had happened to me
+since my arrival in London; informed him of my meeting with Nikola, of
+Wetherell's hasty departure for Australia, of my distrust for Baxter,
+described the telegram incident and Baxter's curious behaviour
+afterwards, narrated my subsequent meeting with the two men in the
+_Green Sailor Hotel_, described my journey to Plymouth, and finished
+with the catastrophe that had happened to me there.
+
+"Now you see," I said in conclusion, "why I regard myself as being so
+much to blame."
+
+"Excuse me," he answered, "but I cannot say that I see it in the same
+light at all."
+
+"I'm afraid I must be more explicit then. In the first place you must
+understand that, without a shadow of a doubt, Baxter was chosen for your
+tutor by Nikola, whose agent he undoubtedly is, for a specific purpose.
+Now what do you think that purpose was? You don't know? To induce your
+father to let you travel, to be sure. You ask why they should want you
+to travel? We'll come to that directly. Their plan is succeeding
+admirably, when I come upon the scene and, like the great blundering
+idiot I am, must needs set to work unconsciously to assist them in their
+nefarious designs. Your father eventually consents, and it is arranged
+that you shall set off for Australia at once. Then it is discovered that
+I am going to leave in the same boat. This does not suit Nikola's plans
+at all, so he determines to prevent my sailing with you. By a happy
+chance he is unsuccessful, and I follow and join the boat in Naples.
+Good gracious! I see something else now."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"Simply this. I could not help thinking at the time that your bout of
+sea-sickness between Naples and this infernal place was extraordinary.
+Well, if I'm not very much mistaken, _you were physicked, and it was
+Baxter's doing_."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"Ah! That's yet to be discovered. But you may bet your bottom dollar it
+was some part of their devilish conspiracy. I'm as certain of that as
+that we are here now. Now here's another point. Do you remember my
+running out of the Casino last night? Well, that was because I saw
+Nikola standing in the roadway."
+
+"Are you certain? How could he have got here? And what could his reasons
+be for watching us?"
+
+"Why, can't you see? To find out how his plot is succeeding, to be
+sure."
+
+"And that brings us back to our original question--what is that plot?"
+
+"That's rather more difficult to answer! But if you ask my candid
+opinion I should say nothing more nor less than to make you prisoner and
+blackmail your father for a ransom."
+
+For some few minutes neither of us spoke. The outlook seemed too
+hopeless for words, and the Marquis was still too weak to keep up an
+animated conversation for any length of time. He sat leaning his head on
+his hand. But presently he looked up again. "My poor father!" he said.
+"What a state he will be in!"
+
+"And what worries me more," I answered, "is how he will regret ever
+having listened to my advice. What a dolt I was not to have told him of
+my suspicions."
+
+"You must not blame yourself for that. I am sure my father would hold
+you as innocent as I do. Now let us consider our position. In the first
+place, where are we, do you think? In the second, is there any possible
+chance of escape?"
+
+"To the first my answer is, 'don't know'; to the second, 'can't say.' I
+have discovered one thing, however, and that is that the street does not
+lie outside that window, but runs along on the other side of this wall
+behind me. The window, I suspect, looks out on to some sort of a
+courtyard. But unfortunately that information is not much use to us, as
+we can neither of us move away from where we are placed."
+
+"Is there no other way?"
+
+"Not one, as far as I can tell. Can you see anything on your side?"
+
+"Nothing at all, unless we could get at the door. But what's that
+sticking out of the wall near your feet?"
+
+To get a better view of it I stooped as much as I was able. "It looks
+like a pipe."
+
+The end of a pipe it certainly was, and sticking out into the room, but
+where it led to, and why it had been cut off in this peculiar fashion,
+were two questions I could no more answer than I could fly.
+
+"Does it run out into the street, do you think?" was Beckenham's
+immediate query. "If so, you might manage to call through it to some
+passer-by, and ask him to obtain assistance for us!"
+
+"A splendid notion if I could get my mouth anywhere within a foot of it,
+but as this chain will not permit me to do that, it might as well be a
+hundred miles off. It's as much as I can do to touch it with my
+fingers."
+
+"Do you think if you had a stick you could push a piece of paper
+through? We might write a message."
+
+"Possibly, but there's another drawback to that. I haven't the necessary
+piece of stick."
+
+"Here is a stiff piece of straw; try that."
+
+He harpooned a piece of straw, about eight inches long, across the room
+towards me, and, when I had received it, I thrust it carefully into the
+pipe. A disappointment, however, was in store for us.
+
+"It's no use," I reported sorrowfully, as I threw the straw away. "It
+has an elbow half-way down, and that would prevent any message from
+being pushed through."
+
+"Then we must try to discover some other plan. Don't lose heart!"
+
+"Hush! I hear somebody coming."
+
+True enough a heavy footfall was approaching down the passage. It
+stopped at the door of the room in which we were confined, and a key was
+inserted in the lock. Next moment the door swung open and a tall man
+entered the room. A ray of sunlight, penetrating between the boards that
+covered the window, fell upon him, and showed us that his hair was white
+and that his face was deeply pitted with smallpox marks. Now, where had
+I met or heard of a man with those two peculiarities before? Ah! I
+remembered!
+
+He stood for a moment in the doorway looking about him, and then
+strolled into the centre of the room.
+
+"Good-morning, gentlemen," he said, with an airy condescension that
+stung like an insult; "I trust you have no fault to find with the
+lodging our poor hospitality is able to afford you."
+
+"Mr. Prendergast," I answered, determined to try him with the name of
+the man mentioned by my sweetheart in her letter. "What does this mean?
+Why have we been made prisoners like this? I demand to be released at
+once. You will have to answer to our consul for this detention."
+
+For a brief space he appeared to be dumbfounded by my knowledge of his
+name. But he soon recovered himself and leaned his back against the
+wall, looking us both carefully over before he answered.
+
+"I shall be only too pleased," he said sneeringly, "but if you'll allow
+me to say so, I don't think we need trouble about explanations yet
+awhile."
+
+"Pray, what do you mean by that?"
+
+"Exactly what I say; as you are likely to be our guests for some
+considerable time to come, there will be no need for explanation."
+
+"You mean to keep us prisoners, then, do you? Very well, Mr.
+Prendergast, be assured of this, when I _do_ get loose I'll make you
+feel the weight of my arm."
+
+"I think it's very probable there will be a fight if ever we do meet,"
+he answered, coolly taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
+"And it's my impression you'd be a man worth fighting, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+"If you think my father will let me remain here very long you're much
+mistaken," said Beckenham. "And as for the ransom you expect him to pay,
+I don't somehow fancy you'll get a halfpenny."
+
+At the mention of the word "ransom" I noticed that a new and queer
+expression came into our captor's face. He did not reply, however,
+except to utter his usual irritating laugh. Having done so he went to
+the door and called something in Arabic. In answer a gigantic negro made
+his appearance, bearing in his hands a tray on which were set two basins
+of food and two large mugs of water. These were placed before us, and
+Prendergast bade us, if we were hungry, fall to.
+
+"You must not imagine that we wish to starve you," he said. "Food will
+be served to you twice a day. And if you want it, you can even be
+supplied with spirits and tobacco. Now, before I go, one word of advice.
+Don't indulge in any idea of escape. Communication with the outside
+world is absolutely impossible, and you will find that those collars and
+chains will stand a good strain before they will give way. If you behave
+yourselves you will be well looked after; but if you attempt any larks
+you will be confined in different rooms, and there will be a radical
+change in our behaviour."
+
+So saying he left the room, taking the precaution to lock the door
+carefully behind him.
+
+When we were once more alone, a long silence fell upon us. It would be
+idle for me to say that the generous behaviour of the young Marquis with
+regard to my share in this wretched business had set my mind at rest.
+But if it had not done that it had at least served to intensify another
+resolution. Come what might, I told myself, I would find a way of
+escape, and he should be returned to his father safe and sound, if it
+cost me my life to do it. But how _were_, we to escape? We could not
+move from our places on account of the chains that secured us to the
+walls, and, though I put all my whole strength into it, I found I could
+not dislodge the staple a hundredth part of an inch from its
+holding-place.
+
+The morning wore slowly on, mid-day came and went, the afternoon dragged
+its dismal length, and still there was no change in our position.
+Towards sundown the same gigantic negro entered the room again, bringing
+us our evening meal. When he left we were locked up for the night, with
+only the contemplation of our woes, and the companionship of the
+multitudes of mice that scampered about the floor, to enliven us.
+
+The events of the next seven days are hardly worth chronicling, unless
+it is to state that every morning at daylight the same cock crew and the
+same dog barked, while at six o'clock the same cripple invariably made
+his way down the street behind me. At eight o'clock almost to the
+minute, breakfast was served to us, and, just as punctually, the evening
+meal made its appearance as the sun was declining behind the opposite
+house-top. Not again did we see any sign of Mr. Prendergast, and though
+times out of number I tugged at my chain I was never a whit nearer
+loosening it than I had been on the first occasion. One after another
+plans of escape were proposed, discussed, and invariably rejected as
+impracticable. So another week passed and another, until we had been
+imprisoned in that loathsome place not less than twenty days. By the end
+of that time, as may be supposed, we were as desperate as men could well
+be. I must, however, admit that anything like the patience and pluck of
+my companion under such circumstances I had never in my life met with
+before.
+
+One fact had repeatedly struck me as significant, and that was the
+circumstance that every morning between six and half-past, as already
+narrated, the same cripple went down the street; and in connexion with
+this, within the last few days of the time, a curious coincidence had
+revealed itself to me. From the tapping of his crutches on the stones I
+discovered that while one was shod with iron, the other was not. Now
+where and when had I noticed that peculiarity in a cripple before? That
+I had observed it somewhere I felt certain. For nearly half the day I
+turned this over and over in my mind, and then, in the middle of our
+evening meal, enlightenment came to me. I remembered the man whose
+piteous tale had so much affected Beckenham on the day of our arrival,
+and the sound his crutches made upon the pavement as he left us. If my
+surmise proved correct, and we could only manage to communicate with
+him, here was a golden opportunity. But how were we to do this? We
+discussed it, and discussed it, times out of number, but in vain. That
+he must be stopped on his way down the street need not to be argued at
+all. In what way, however, could this be done? The window was out of the
+question, the door was not to be thought of; in that case the only
+communicating place would be the small pipe by my side. But as I have
+already pointed out, by reason of the elbow it would be clearly
+impossible to force a message through it. All day we devoted ourselves
+to attempts to solve what seemed a hopeless difficulty. Then like a
+flash a brilliant inspiration burst upon me.
+
+"By Jove, I have it!" I said, taking care to whisper lest any one might
+be listening at the door. "We must manage by hook or crook to catch a
+mouse _and let him carry our appeal for help to the outside world_."
+
+"A magnificent idea! If we can catch one I do believe you've saved us!"
+
+But to catch a mouse was easier said than done. Though the room was
+alive with them they were so nimble and so cunning, that, try how we
+would, we could not lay hold of one. But at length my efforts were
+rewarded, and after a little struggle I held my precious captive in my
+hand. By this time another idea had come to me. If we wanted to bring
+Nikola and his gang to justice, and to discover their reason for
+hatching this plot against us, it would not do to ask the public at
+large for help--and I must own, in spite of our long imprisonment, I was
+weak enough to feel a curiosity as to their motive. No! It must be to
+the beggar who passed the house every morning that we must appeal.
+
+"This letter concerns you more than me," I said to my fellow-prisoner.
+"Have you a lead pencil in your pocket?"
+
+He had, and immediately threw it across to me. Then, taking a small
+piece of paper from my pocket, I set myself to compose the following in
+French and English, assisted by my companion:--
+
+"If this should meet the eye of the individual to whom a young
+Englishman gave half a sovereign in charity three weeks ago, he is
+implored to assist one who assisted him, and who has been imprisoned
+ever since that day in the room with the blank wall facing the street
+and the boarded-up window on the right-hand side. To do this he must
+obtain a small file and discover a way to convey it into the room by
+means of the small pipe leading through the blank wall into the street;
+perhaps if this could be dislodged it might be pushed in through the
+aperture thus made. On receipt of the file an English five-pound note
+will be conveyed to him in the same way as this letter, and another if
+secrecy is observed and those in the house escape."
+
+This important epistle had hardly been concocted before the door was
+unlocked and our dusky servitor entered with the evening meal. He had
+long since abandoned his first habit of bringing us our food in separate
+receptacles, but conveyed it to us now in the saucepan in which it was
+cooked, dividing it thence into our basins. These latter, it may be
+interesting to state, had not been washed since our arrival.
+
+All the time that our jailer was in the room I held my trembling
+prisoner in my hand, clinging to him as to the one thing which connected
+us with liberty. But the door had no sooner closed upon him than I had
+tilted out my food upon the floor and converted my basin into a trap.
+
+It may be guessed how long that night seemed to us, and with what
+trembling eagerness we awaited the first signs of breaking day. Directly
+it was light I took off and unravelled one of my socks. The thread thus
+obtained I doubled, and having done this, secured one end of it to the
+note, which I had rolled into a small compass, attaching the other to my
+captive mouse's hind leg. Then we set ourselves to wait for six o'clock.
+The hour came; and minute after minute went by before we heard in the
+distance the tapping of the crutches on the stones. Little by little the
+sound grew louder, and then fainter, and when I judged he was nearly at
+my back, I stooped and thrust our curious messenger into the pipe. Then
+we sat down to await the result.
+
+As the mouse, only too glad to escape, ran into the aperture, the
+thread, on which our very lives depended, swiftly followed, dragging its
+message after it. Minutes went by; half an hour; an hour; and then the
+remainder of the day; and still nothing came to tell us that our appeal
+had been successful.
+
+That night I caught another mouse, wrote the letter again, and at six
+o'clock next morning once more despatched it on its journey. Another day
+went by without reply. That night we caught another, and at six-o'clock
+next morning sent it off; a third, and even a fourth, followed, but
+still without success. By this time the mice were almost impossible to
+catch, but our wits were sharpened by despair, and we managed to hit
+upon a method that eventually secured for us a plentiful supply. For the
+sixth time the letter was written and despatched at the moment the
+footsteps were coming down the street. Once more the tiny animal crawled
+into the pipe, and once more the message disappeared upon its journey.
+
+Another day was spent in anxious waiting, but this time we were not
+destined to be disappointed. About eight o'clock that night, just as we
+were giving up hope, I detected a faint noise near my feet; it was for
+all the world as if some one were forcing a stick through a hole in a
+brick wall. I informed Beckenham of the fact in a whisper, and then put
+my head down to listen. Yes, there was the sound again. Oh, if only I
+had a match! But it was no use wishing for what was impossible, so I put
+my hand down to the pipe. _It was moving!_ It turned in my hand, moved
+to and fro for a brief space and then disappeared from my grasp
+entirely; next moment it had left the room. A few seconds later
+something cold was thrust into my hand, _and from its rough edge I knew
+it to be a file_. I drew it out as if it were made of gold and thrust it
+into my pocket. A piece of string was attached to it, and the reason of
+this I was at first at some loss to account for. But a moment's
+reflection told me that it was to assist in the fulfilment of our share
+of the bargain. So, taking a five-pound note from the secret pocket in
+which I carried my paper money, I tied the string to it, and it was
+instantly withdrawn. A minute could not have elapsed before I was at
+work upon the staple of my collar, and in less than half an hour it was
+filed through and the iron was off my neck.
+
+If I tried for a year I could not make you understand what a relief it
+was to me to stand upright. I stretched myself again and again, and then
+crossed the room on tip-toe in the dark to where the Marquis lay.
+
+"You are free," he whispered, clutching and shaking my hand. "Oh, thank
+God!"
+
+"Hush! Put down your head and let me get to work upon your collar before
+you say anything more."
+
+As I was able this time to get at my work standing up, it was not very
+long before Beckenham was as free as I was. He rose to his feet with a
+great sigh of relief, and we shook hands warmly in the dark.
+
+"Now," I said, leading him towards the door, "we will make our escape,
+and I pity the man who attempts to stop us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+DR. NIKOLA PERMITS US A FREE PASSAGE
+
+
+The old saying, "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched," is
+as good a warning as any I know. For if we had not been so completely
+occupied filing through the staples of our collars we should not have
+omitted to take into consideration the fact that, even when we should
+have removed the chains that bound us, we would still be prisoners in
+the room. I'm very much afraid, however, even had we remembered this
+point, we should only have considered it of minor importance and one to
+be easily overcome. As it was, the unwelcome fact remained that the door
+_was_ locked, and, what was worse, that the lock itself had, for
+security's sake, been placed on the outside, so that there was no chance
+of our being able to pick it, even had our accomplishments lain in that
+direction.
+
+"Try the window," whispered Beckenham, in answer to the heavy sigh which
+followed my last discovery.
+
+Accordingly we crossed the room, and I put my hands upon one of the
+boards and pulled. But I might as well have tried to tow a troopship
+with a piece of cotton, for all the satisfactory result I got; the
+planks were trebly screwed to the window frame, and each in turn defied
+me. When I was tired Beckenham put his strength to it, but even our
+united efforts were of no avail, and, panting and exhausted, we were at
+length obliged to give it up as hopeless.
+
+"This is a pretty fix we've got ourselves into," I said as soon as I had
+recovered sufficient breath to speak. "How on earth are we to escape?"
+
+"I can't say, unless we manage to burst that door and fight our way out.
+I wonder if that could be done."
+
+"First, let's look at the door."
+
+We crossed the room again, and I examined the door carefully. It was not
+a very strong one; but I was sufficient of a carpenter to know that it
+would withstand a good deal of pressure before it would give way.
+
+"I've a good mind to try it," I said; "but in that case, remember, it
+will probably mean a hand-to-hand fight on the other side, and, unarmed
+and weak as we are, we shall be pretty sure to get the worst of it."
+
+"Never mind that," my intrepid companion replied, with a confidence in
+his voice that I was very far from feeling. "In for a penny, in for a
+pound; even if we're killed it couldn't be worse than being buried
+alive."
+
+"That's so, and if fighting's your idea, I'm your man," I answered. "Let
+me first take my bearings, and then I'll see what I can do against it.
+You get out of the way, but be sure to stand by to rush the passage
+directly the door goes."
+
+Again I felt the door and wall in order that I might be sure where it
+lay, and having done so crossed the room. My heart was beating like a
+Nasmyth hammer, and it was nearly a minute before I could pull myself
+together sufficiently for my rush. Then summoning every muscle in my
+body to my assistance, I dashed across and at it with all the strength
+my frame was capable of. Considering the darkness of the room, my
+steering was not so bad, for my shoulder caught the door just above its
+centre; there was a great crash--a noise of breaking timbers--and amid a
+shower of splinters and general _débris_ I fell headlong through into
+the passage. By the time it would have taken me to count five, Beckenham
+was beside me helping me to rise.
+
+"Now stand by for big trouble!" I said, rubbing my shoulder, and every
+moment expecting to see a door open and a crowd of Prendergast's
+ruffians come rushing out. "We shall have them on us in a minute."
+
+But to our intense astonishment it was all dead silence. Not a sound of
+any single kind, save our excited breathing, greeted our ears. We might
+have broken into an empty house for all we knew the difference.
+
+For nearly five minutes we stood, side by side, waiting for the battle
+which did not come.
+
+"What on earth does it mean?" I asked my companion. "That crash of mine
+was loud enough to wake the dead. Can they have deserted the place,
+think you, and left us to starve?"
+
+"I can't make it out any more than you can," he answered. "But don't you
+think we'd better take advantage of their not coming to find a way out?"
+
+"Of course. One of us had better creep down the passage and discover how
+the land lies. As I'm the stronger, I'll go. You wait here."
+
+I crept along the passage, treading cautiously as a cat, for I knew that
+both our lives depended on it. Though it could not have been more than
+sixty feet, it seemed of interminable length, and was as black as night.
+Not a glimmer of light, however faint, met my eyes.
+
+On and on I stole, expecting every moment to be pounced upon and seized;
+but no such fate awaited me. If, however, our jailers did not appear,
+another danger was in store for me.
+
+In the middle of my walk my feet suddenly went from under me, and I
+found myself falling I knew not where. In reality it was only a drop of
+about three feet down a short flight of steps. Such a noise as my fall
+made, however, was surely never heard, but still no sound came. Then
+Beckenham fumbled his way cautiously down the steps to my side, and
+whispered an inquiry as to what had happened. I told him in as few words
+as possible, and then struggled to my feet again.
+
+Just as I did so my eyes detected a faint glimmer of light low down on
+the floor ahead of us. From its position it evidently emanated from the
+doorway of a room.
+
+"Oh! if we only had a match," I whispered.
+
+"It's no good wishing," said Beckenham. "What do you advise?"
+
+"It's difficult to say," I answered; "but I should think we'd better
+listen at that door and try to discover if there is any one inside. If
+there is, and he is alone, we must steal in upon him, let him see that
+we are desperate, and, willy-nilly, force him to show us a way out. It's
+ten chances to one, if we go on prowling about here, we shall stumble
+upon the whole nest of them--then we'll be caught like rats in a trap.
+What do you think?"
+
+"I agree with you. Go on."
+
+Without further ado we crept towards the light, which, as I expected,
+came from under a door, and listened. Some one was plainly moving about
+inside; but though we waited for what seemed a quarter of an hour, but
+must in reality have been less than a minute and a half, we could hear
+no voices.
+
+"Whoever he is, he's alone--that's certain," whispered my companion.
+"Open the door softly, and we'll creep in upon him."
+
+In answer, and little by little, a cold shiver running down my back lest
+it should creak and so give warning to the person within, I turned the
+handle, pushed open the door, and we looked inside. Then--but, my
+gracious! if I live to be a thousand I shall never forget the sight that
+met my eyes.
+
+The room itself was a long and low one: its measurements possibly sixty
+feet by fifteen. The roof--for there was no ceiling--was of wood,
+crossed by heavy rafters, and much begrimed with dirt and smoke. The
+floor was of some highly polished wood closely resembling oak, and was
+completely bare. But the shape and construction of the room itself were
+as nothing compared with the strangeness of its furniture and occupants.
+Words would fail me if I tried to give you a true and accurate
+description of it. I only know that, strong man as I was, and used to
+the horrors of life and death, what I saw before me then made my blood
+run cold and my flesh creep as it had never done before.
+
+To begin with, round the walls were arranged, at regular intervals, more
+than a dozen enormous bottles, each of which contained what looked, to
+me, only too much like human specimens pickled in some light-coloured
+fluid resembling spirits of wine. Between these gigantic but more than
+horrible receptacles were numberless smaller ones, holding other and
+even more dreadful remains; while on pedestals and stands, bolt upright
+and reclining, were skeletons of men, monkeys, and quite a hundred sorts
+of animals. The intervening spaces were filled with skulls, bones, and
+the apparatus for every kind of murder known to the fertile brain of
+man. There were European rifles, revolvers, bayonets, and swords;
+Italian stilettos, Turkish scimitars, Greek knives, Central African
+spears and poisoned arrows, Zulu knobkerries, Afghan yataghans, Malay
+krises, Sumatra blow-pipes, Chinese dirks, New Guinea head-catching
+implements, Australian spears and boomerangs, Polynesian stone hatchets,
+and numerous other weapons the names of which I cannot now remember.
+Mixed up with them were implements for every sort of wizardry known to
+the superstitious; from old-fashioned English love charms to African Obi
+sticks, from spiritualistic planchettes to the most horrible of Fijian
+death potions.
+
+In the centre of the wall, opposite to where we stood, was a large
+fireplace of the fashion usually met with in old English manor-houses,
+and on either side of it a figure that nearly turned me sick with
+horror. That on the right hand was apparently a native of Northern
+India, if one might judge by his dress and complexion. He sat on the
+floor in a constrained attitude, accounted for by the fact that his
+head, which was at least three times too big for his body, was so heavy
+as to require an iron tripod with a ring or collar in the top of it to
+keep it from overbalancing him and bringing him to the floor. To add to
+the horror of this awful head, it was quite bald; the skin was drawn
+tensely over the bones, and upon this veins stood out as large as
+macaroni stems.
+
+On the other side of the hearth was a creature half-ape and
+half-man--the like of which I remember once to have seen in a museum of
+monstrosities in Sydney, where, if my memory serves me, he was described
+upon the catalogue as a Burmese monkey-boy. He was chained to the wall
+in somewhat the same fashion as we had been, and was chattering and
+scratching for all the world like a monkey in a Zoo.
+
+But, horrible as these things were, the greatest surprise of all was yet
+to come. For, standing at the heavy oaken table in the centre of the
+room, was a man I should have known anywhere if I had been permitted
+half a glance at him. _It was Dr. Nikola._
+
+When we entered he was busily occupied with a scalpel, dissecting an
+animal strangely resembling a monkey. On the table, and watching the
+work upon which his master was engaged, sat his constant companion, the
+same fiendish black cat I have mentioned elsewhere; while at the end
+nearest us, standing on tip-toe, the better to see what was going on,
+was an albino dwarf, scarcely more than two feet eight inches high. So
+stealthily, however, had our approach been made, and so carefully had I
+opened the door, that we were well into the room before our appearance
+was discovered, and also before I had realized into whose presence we
+had stumbled. Then my foot touched a board that creaked, and Dr. Nikola
+looked up from the work upon which he was engaged.
+
+His pale, thin face did not show the slightest sign of surprise as he
+said, in his usual placid tone,--
+
+"So you have managed to escape from your room, gentlemen. Well, and pray
+what do you want?"
+
+For a moment I was so much overcome with surprise that my tongue refused
+to perform its office. Then I said, advancing towards him as I spoke,
+closely followed by the Marquis,--
+
+"So, Dr. Nikola, we have met at last!"
+
+"At last, Mr. Hatteras, as you say," this singular being replied, still
+without showing a sign of either interest or embarrassment. "All things
+considered, I suppose you would deem me ironical if I ventured to say
+that I am pleased to see you about again. However, don't let me keep you
+standing; won't you sit down? My lord, let me offer you a chair."
+
+All this time we were edging up alongside the table, and I was making
+ready for a rush at him. But he was not to be taken off his guard. His
+extraordinary eyes had been watching me intently, taking in my every
+movement; and a curious effect they had upon me.
+
+"Dr. Nikola," I said, "the game is up. You beat me last time; but now
+you must own I come out on top. Don't utter a word or call for
+assistance--if you do you're a dead man. Now drop that knife you hold in
+your hand, and show us the way out!"
+
+The Marquis was on his right, I was on his left, and we were close upon
+him as I spoke. Still he showed no sign of fear, though he must have
+known the danger of his position. But his eyes glowed in his head like
+living coals.
+
+You will ask why we did not rush at him? Well, if I am obliged to own
+it, I must--the truth was, such was the power that emanated from this
+extraordinary man, that though we both knew the crucial moment of our
+enterprise had arrived, while his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us
+could stir an inch. When he spoke his voice seemed to cut like a knife.
+
+"So you think my game is up, Mr. Hatteras, do you? I'm afraid once more
+I must differ from you. Look behind you."
+
+I did so, and that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped.
+Leaning against the door, watching us with cruel, yet smiling eyes, was
+our old enemy Prendergast, revolver in hand. Just behind me were two
+powerful Soudanese, while near the Marquis was a man looking like a
+Greek--and a very stalwart Greek at that. Observing our discomfiture,
+Nikola seated himself in a big chair near the fireplace and folded his
+hands in the curious fashion I have before described; as he did so his
+black cat sprang to his shoulder and sat there watching us all. Dr.
+Nikola was the first to speak.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said, with devilish clearness and deliberation, "you
+should really know me better by this time than to think you could outwit
+me so easily. Is my reputation after all so small? And, while I think of
+it, pray let me have the pleasure of returning to you your five pound
+note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers, were they
+not?" As he spoke he handed me the selfsame Bank of England note I had
+despatched through the pipe that very evening in payment for the file;
+then he shook from a box he had taken from the chimney-piece all the
+communications I had written imploring assistance from the outside
+world. To properly estimate my chagrin and astonishment would be very
+difficult. I could only sit and stare, first at the money and then at
+the letters, in blankest amazement. So we had not been rescued by the
+cripple after all. Was it possible that while we had been so busy
+arranging our escape we had in reality been all the time under the
+closest surveillance? If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
+would account for the silence with which my attack upon the door had
+been received. Now we were in an even worse position than before. I
+looked at Beckenham, but his head was down and his right hand was
+picking idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for what was
+coming next.
+
+In sheer despair I turned to Nikola. "Since you have outwitted us again,
+Dr. Nikola, do not play with us--tell us straight out what our fate is
+to be."
+
+"If it means going back to that room again," said Beckenham, in a voice
+I hardly recognized, "I would far rather die and be done with it."
+
+"Do not fear, my lord, you shall not die," Nikola said, turning to him
+with a bow. "Believe me, you will live to enjoy many happier hours than
+those you have been compelled to spend under my roof!"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+The doctor did not answer for nearly a moment; then he took what looked
+to me suspiciously like a cablegram form from his pocket and carefully
+examined it. Having done so, he said quietly,----
+
+"Gentlemen, you ask what I mean? Well, I mean this--if you wish to leave
+this house this very minute, you are free to do so on one condition!"
+
+"And that condition is?"
+
+"That you allow yourselves to be blindfolded in this room and conducted
+by my servants to the harbour side. I must furthermore ask your words of
+honour that you will not seek to remove your bandages until you are
+given permission to do so. Do you agree to this?"
+
+Needless to say we both signified our assent.
+
+This free permission to leave the house was a second surprise, and one
+for which we were totally unprepared.
+
+"Then let it be so. Believe me, my lord Marquis, and you, Mr. Hatteras,
+it is with the utmost pleasure I restore your liberty to you again!"
+
+He made a sign to Prendergast, who instantly stepped forward. But I had
+something to say before we were removed.
+
+"One word first, Dr. Nikola. You have----"
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, if you will be guided by me, you will keep a silent
+tongue in your head. Let well alone. Take warning by the proverb, and
+beware how you disturb a sleeping dog. Why I have acted as I have done
+towards you, you may some day learn; in the meantime rest assured it was
+from no idle motive. Now take me at my word, and go while you have the
+chance. I may change my mind in a moment, and then----"
+
+He stopped and did not say any more. At a sign, Prendergast clapped a
+thick bandage over my eyes, while another man did the same for
+Beckenham; a man on either side of me took my arms, and next moment we
+had passed out of the room, and before I could have counted fifty were
+in the cool air of the street.
+
+How long we were walking, after leaving the house, I could not say, but
+at last our escort called a halt. Prendergast was evidently in command,
+for he said,--
+
+"Gentlemen, before we leave you, you will renew your words of honour not
+to remove your bandages for five full minutes?"
+
+We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released; a
+moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The minutes went slowly
+by. Presently Beckenham said,--
+
+"How long do you think we've been standing here?"
+
+"Nearly the stipulated time, I should fancy," I answered. "However, we'd
+better give them a little longer, to avoid any chance of mistake."
+
+Again a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my bandage, to find
+Beckenham doing the same.
+
+"They're gone, and we're free again," he cried. "Hurrah!"
+
+We shook hands warmly on our escape, and having done so looked about us.
+A ship's bell out in the stream chimed half an hour after midnight, and
+a precious dark night it was. A number of vessels were to be seen, and
+from the noise that came from them it was evident they were busy
+coaling.
+
+"What's to be done now?" asked Beckenham.
+
+"Find an hotel, I think," I answered; "get a good night's rest, and
+first thing in the morning hunt up our consul and the steamship
+authorities."
+
+"Come along, then. Let's look for a place. I noticed one that should
+suit us close to where we came ashore that day."
+
+Five minutes' walking brought us to the house we sought. The proprietor
+was not very fastidious, and whatever he may have thought of our
+appearances he took us in without demur. A bath and a good meal
+followed, and then after a thorough overhauling of all the details
+connected with our imprisonment we turned into bed, resolved to thrash
+it out upon the morrow.
+
+Next morning, true to our arrangement, as soon as breakfast was over, I
+set off for the steamship company's office, leaving the Marquis behind
+me at the hotel for reasons which had begun to commend themselves to me,
+and which will be quite apparent to you.
+
+I found the _Saratoga's_ agent hard at work in his private office. He
+was a tall, thin man, slightly bald, wearing a pair of heavy gold
+pince-nez, and very slow and deliberate in speech.
+
+"I beg your pardon," he began, when I had taken possession of his
+proffered chair, "but did I understand my clerk to say that your name
+was Hatteras?"
+
+"That is my name," I answered. "I was a passenger in the _Saratoga_ for
+Australia three weeks ago, but had the misfortune to be left behind when
+she sailed."
+
+"Ah! I remember the circumstances thoroughly," he said. "The young
+Marquis of Beckenham went ashore with you, I think, and came within an
+ace of being also left behind."
+
+"Within an ace!" I cried; "but he _was_ left behind."
+
+"No, no! there you are mistaken," was the astounding reply; "he _would_
+have been left behind had not his tutor and I gone ashore at the last
+moment to look for him and found him wandering about on the outskirts of
+Arab Town. I don't remember ever to have seen a man more angry than the
+tutor was, and no wonder, for they only just got out to the boat again
+as the gangway was being hauled aboard."
+
+"Then you mean to tell me that the Marquis went on to Australia after
+all!" I cried. "And pray how did this interesting young gentleman
+explain the fact of his losing sight of me?"
+
+"He lost you in a crowd, he said," the agent continued. "It was a most
+extraordinary business altogether."
+
+It certainly was, and even more extraordinary than he imagined. I could
+hardly believe my ears. The world seemed to be turned upside down. I was
+so bewildered that I stumbled out a few lame inquiries about the next
+boat sailing for Australia, and what would be done with my baggage, and
+then made my way as best I could out of the office. Hastening back to
+the hotel, I told my story from beginning to end to my astonished
+companion, who sat on his bed listening open-mouthed. When I had
+finished he said feebly,--"But what does it all mean? Tell me that! What
+does it mean?"
+
+"It means," I answered, "that our notion about Nikola's abducting us in
+order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong, and, if you ask me,
+I should say not half picturesque enough. No, no! this mystery is a
+bigger one by a hundred times than even we expected, and there are more
+men in it than those we have yet seen. It remains with you to say
+whether you will assist in the attempt to unravel it or not."
+
+"What do you mean by saying it remains with me? Do I understand that you
+intend following it up?"
+
+"Of course I do. Nikola and Baxter between them have completely done
+me--now I'm going to do my best to do them. By Jove!"
+
+"What is it now?"
+
+"I see it all as plain as a pikestaff. I understand exactly now why
+Baxter came for you, why he telegraphed that the train was laid, why I
+was drugged in Plymouth, why you were sea-sick between Naples and this
+place, and why we were both kidnapped!"
+
+"Then explain, for mercy's sake!"
+
+"I will. See here. In the first place, remember your father's peculiar
+education of yourself. If you consider that, you will see that you are
+the only young nobleman of high rank whose face is not well known to his
+brother peers. That being so, Nikola wants to procure you for some
+purpose of his own in Australia. Your father advertises for a tutor; he
+sends one of his agents--Baxter--to secure the position. Baxter, at
+Nikola's instruction, puts into your head a desire for travel. You
+pester your father for the necessary permission. Just as this is granted
+I come upon the scene. Baxter suspects me. He telegraphs to Nikola 'The
+train is laid,' which means that he has begun to sow the seeds of a
+desire for travel, when a third party steps in--in other words, I am the
+new danger that has arisen. He arranges your sailing, and all promises
+to go well. Then Dr. Nikola finds out I intend going in the same boat.
+He tries to prevent me; and I--by Jove! I see another thing. Why did
+Baxter suggest that you should cross the Continent and join the boat at
+Naples? Why, simply because if you had started from Plymouth you would
+soon have got over your sickness, if you had ever been ill at all, and
+in that case the passengers would have become thoroughly familiar with
+your face by the time you reached Port Said. That would never have done,
+so he takes you to Naples, drugs you next morning--for you must remember
+you were ill after the coffee he gave you--and by that means kept you
+ill and confined to your cabin throughout the entire passage to Port
+Said. Then he persuades you to go ashore with me. You do so, with what
+result you know. Presently he begins to bewail your non-return, invites
+the agent to help in the search. They set off, and eventually find you
+near the Arab quarter. You must remember that neither the agent, the
+captain, nor the passengers have seen you, save at night, so the
+substitute, who is certain to have been well chosen and schooled for the
+part he is to play, is not detected. Then the boat goes on her way,
+while we are left behind languishing in durance vile."
+
+"What do you advise me to do? Remember, Baxter has letters to the
+different Governors from my father."
+
+"I know what I should do myself!"
+
+"Go to the consul and get him to warn the authorities in Australia, I
+suppose?"
+
+"No. That would do little or no good--remember, they've got three weeks'
+start of us."
+
+"Then what shall we do? I'm in your hands entirely, and whatever you
+advise I promise you I'll do."
+
+"If I were you I should doff my title, take another name, and set sail
+with me for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet place and
+set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to defeat their little game,
+whatever it may be. Are you prepared for so much excitement as that?"
+
+"Of course I am. Come what may, I'll go with you, and there's my hand on
+it."
+
+"Then we'll catch the next boat--not a mail-steamer--that sails for an
+Australian port, and once ashore there we'll set the ball a-rolling with
+a vengeance."
+
+"That scoundrel Baxter! I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I
+should like to punish him."
+
+"Well, if they've not flown by the time we reach Australia, you'll
+probably be able to gratify your wish. It's Nikola, however, I want."
+
+Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned the Doctor's name. So to change the
+subject I said,----
+
+"I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care to accompany me?"
+
+"Where are you going?" he asked.
+
+"I'm going to try and find the house where we were shut up," I answered.
+"I want to be able to locate it for future reference, if necessary."
+
+"Is it safe to go near it, do you think?"
+
+"In broad daylight, yes! But, just to make sure, we'll buy a couple of
+revolvers on the way. And, what's more, if it becomes necessary, we'll
+use them."
+
+"Come along, then."
+
+With that we left our hotel and set off in the direction of the Casino,
+stopping, however, on the way to make the purchases above referred to.
+
+We passed down one thoroughfare and up another, and at last reached the
+spot where I had commented on the sign-boards, and where we had been
+garrotted. Surely the house must be near at hand now? But though we
+hunted high and low, up one street and down another, not a single trace
+of any building answering the description of the one we wanted could we
+discover. At last, after nearly an hour's search, we were obliged to
+give it up, and return to our hotel, unsuccessful.
+
+As we finished lunch a large steamer made her appearance in the harbour,
+and brought up opposite the town. When we questioned our landlord, who
+was an authority on the subject, he informed us that she was the s.s.
+_Pescadore_, of Hull, bound to Melbourne.
+
+Hearing this we immediately chartered a boat, pulled off to her, and
+interviewed the captain. As good luck would have it, he had room for a
+couple of passengers. We therefore paid the passage money, went ashore
+again and provided ourselves with a few necessaries, rejoined her, and
+shortly before nightfall steamed into the Canal. Port Said was a thing
+of the past. Our eventful journey was resumed--what was the end of it
+all to be?
+
+
+
+
+_PART II_
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+WE REACH AUSTRALIA, AND THE RESULT
+
+
+The _Pescadore_, if she was slow, was certainly sure, and so the
+thirty-sixth day after our departure from Port Said, as recorded in the
+previous chapter, she landed us safe and sound at Williamstown, which,
+as all the Australian world knows, is one of the principal railway
+termini, and within an hour's journey of Melbourne. Throughout the
+voyage nothing occurred worth chronicling, if I except the curious
+behaviour of Lord Beckenham, who, for the first week or so, seemed sunk
+in a deep lethargy, from which neither chaff nor sympathy could rouse
+him. From morning till night he mooned aimlessly about the decks, had
+visibly to pull himself together to answer such questions as might be
+addressed to him, and never by any chance sustained a conversation
+beyond a few odd sentences. To such a pitch did this depression at last
+bring him that, the day after we left Aden, I felt it my duty to take
+him to task and to try to bully or coax him out of it.
+
+"Come," I said, "I want to know what's the matter with you. You've been
+giving us all the miserables lately, and from the look of your face at
+the present moment I'm inclined to believe it's going to continue. Out
+with it! Are you homesick, or has the monotony of this voyage been too
+much for you?"
+
+He looked into my face rather anxiously, I thought, and then said: "Mr.
+Hatteras, I'm afraid you'll think me an awful idiot when I _do_ tell
+you, but the truth is I've got Dr. Nikola's face on my brain, and do
+what I will I cannot rid myself of it. Those great, searching eyes, as
+we saw them in that terrible room, have got on my nerves, and I can
+think of nothing else. They haunt me night and day!"
+
+"Oh, that's all fancy!" I cried. "Why on earth should you be frightened
+of him? Nikola, in spite of his demoniacal cleverness, is only a man,
+and even then you may consider that we've seen the last of him. So cheer
+up, take as much exercise as you possibly can, and believe me, you'll
+soon forget all about him."
+
+But it was no use arguing with him. Nikola had had an effect upon the
+youth that was little short of marvellous, and it was not until we had
+well turned the Leuwin, and were safely in Australian waters, that he in
+any way recovered his former spirits.
+
+And here, lest you should give me credit for a bravery I did not
+possess, I must own that I was more than a little afraid of another
+meeting with Nikola, myself. I had had four opportunities afforded me of
+judging of his cleverness--once in the restaurant off Oxford Street,
+once in the _Green Sailor_ public-house in the East India Dock Road,
+once in the West of England express, and lastly, in the house in Port
+Said. I had no desire, therefore, to come to close quarters with him
+again.
+
+Arriving in Melbourne we caught the afternoon express for Sydney,
+reaching that city the following morning a little after breakfast. By
+the time we had arrived at our destination we had held many
+consultations over our future, and the result was a decision to look for
+a quiet hotel on the outskirts of the city, and then to attempt to
+discover what the mystery, in which we had been so deeply involved,
+might mean. The merits of all the various suburbs were severally
+discussed, though I knew but little about them, and the Marquis less.
+Paramatta, Penrith, Woolahra, Balmain, and even many of the bays and
+harbours, received attention, until we decided on the last named as the
+most likely place to answer our purpose.
+
+This settled, we crossed Darling harbour, and, after a little hunting
+about, discovered a small but comfortable hotel situated in a side
+street, called the _General Officer_. Here we booked rooms, deposited
+our meagre baggage, and having installed ourselves, sat down and
+discussed the situation.
+
+"So this is Sydney," said Beckenham, stretching himself out comfortably
+upon the sofa as he spoke. "And now that we've got here, what's to be
+done first?"
+
+"Have lunch," I answered promptly.
+
+"And then?" he continued.
+
+"Hunt up the public library and take a glimpse of the _Morning Herald's_
+back numbers. They will tell us a good deal, though not all we want to
+know. Then we'll make a few inquiries. To-morrow morning I shall ask you
+to excuse me for a couple of hours. But in the afternoon we ought to
+have acquired sufficient information to enable us to make a definite
+start."
+
+"Then let's have lunch at once and be off. I'm all eagerness to get to
+work."
+
+We accordingly ordered lunch, and, when it was finished, set off in
+search of a public library. Having found it--and it was not a very
+difficult matter--we sought the reading room and made for a stand of
+_Sydney Morning Heralds_ in the corner. Somehow I felt as certain of
+finding what I wanted there as any man could possibly be, and as it
+happened I was not disappointed. On the second page, beneath a heading
+in bold type, was a long report of a horse show, held the previous
+afternoon, at which it appeared a large vice-regal and fashionable party
+were present. The list included His Excellency the Governor and the
+Countess of Amberley, the Ladies Maud and Ermyntrude, their daughters,
+the Marquis of Beckenham, Captain Barrenden, an aide-de-camp, and Mr.
+Baxter. In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own, so shaken was it
+with excitement, I called Beckenham to my side and pointed out to him
+his name. He stared, looked away, then stared again, hardly able to
+believe his eyes.
+
+"What does it mean?" he whispered, just as he had done in Port Said.
+"What does it mean?"
+
+I led him out of the building before I answered, and then clapped him on
+the shoulder. "It means, my boy," I said, "that there's been a hitch in
+their arrangements, and that we're not too late to circumvent them after
+all."
+
+"But where do you think they are staying--these two scoundrels?"
+
+"At Government House, to be sure. Didn't you see that the report said,
+'The Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
+Government House, including the Marquis of Beckenham,' etc.?"
+
+"Then let us go to Government House at once and unmask them. That is our
+bounden duty to society."
+
+"Then all I can say is, if it is our duty to society, society will have
+to wait. No, no! We must find out first what their little game is. That
+once decided, the unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't
+you understand?"
+
+"I am afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you're right."
+
+By this time we were back again at the ferry. It was not time for the
+boat to start, so while we waited we amused ourselves staring at the
+placards pasted about on the wharf hoardings. Then a large theatrical
+poster caught my eye and drew me towards it. It announced a grand
+vice-regal "command" night at one of the principal theatres for that
+very evening, and further set forth the fact that the most noble the
+Marquis of Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company.
+
+"Here we are," I called to my companion, who was at a little distance.
+"We'll certainly go to this. The Marquis of Beckenham shall honour it
+with his patronage and presence after all."
+
+We went back to our hotel for dinner, and as soon as it was eaten
+returned to the city to seek the theatre.
+
+When we entered it the building was crowded, and the arrival of the
+Government House party was momentarily expected. Presently the Governor
+and a brilliant party entered the vice-regal box. You may be sure of all
+that vast concourse of people there were none who stared harder then
+Beckenham and myself. And it was certainly enough to make any man stare,
+for there, sitting on her ladyship's right hand, faultlessly dressed,
+was the exact image of the young man by my side. The likeness was so
+extraordinary that for a moment I could hardly believe that Beckenham
+had not left me to go up and take his seat there. And if I was struck by
+the resemblance, you may be sure that he was a dozen times more so.
+Indeed, his bewilderment was most comical, and must have struck those
+people round us, who were watching, as something altogether
+extraordinary. I looked again, and could just discern behind the front
+row the smug, self-satisfied face of the tutor Baxter. Then the play
+commenced, and we were compelled to turn and give it our attention.
+
+Here I must stop to chronicle one circumstance that throughout the day
+had struck me as peculiar. When our vessel arrived at Williamstown, it
+so happened that we had travelled up in the train to Melbourne with a
+tall, handsome, well-dressed man of about thirty years of age. Whether
+he, like ourselves, was a new arrival in the Colony, and only passing
+through Melbourne, I cannot say; at any rate he went on to Sydney in the
+mail train with us. Then we lost sight of him, only to find him standing
+near the public library when we had emerged from it that afternoon, and
+now here he was sitting in the stalls of the theatre not half a dozen
+chairs from us. Whether this continual companionship was designed or
+only accidental, I could not of course say, but I must own that I did
+not like the look of it. Could it be possible, I asked myself, that
+Nikola, learning our departure for Australia in the _Pescadore_, had
+cabled from Port Said to this man to watch us?
+
+The performance over, we left the theatre, and set off for the ferry,
+only reaching it just as the boat was casting off. As it was I had to
+jump for it, and on reaching the deck should have fallen in a heap but
+for a helping hand that was stretched out to me. I looked up to tender
+my thanks, when to my surprise I discovered that my benefactor was none
+other than the man to whom I have just been referring. His surprise was
+even greater than mine, and muttering something about "a close shave,"
+he turned and walked quickly aft. My mind was now made up, and I
+accordingly reported my discovery to Beckenham, pointing out the man and
+warning him to watch for him when he was abroad without me. This he
+promised to do.
+
+Next morning I donned my best attire (my luggage having safely arrived),
+and shortly before eleven o'clock bade Beckenham good-bye and betook
+myself to Potts Point to call upon the Wetherells.
+
+It would be impossible for me to say with what varied emotions I trod
+that well-remembered street, crossed the garden, and approached the
+ponderous front door, which somehow had always seemed to me so typical
+of Mr. Wetherell himself. The same butler who had opened the door to me
+on the previous occasion opened it now, and when I asked if Miss
+Wetherell were at home, he gravely answered, "Yes, sir," and invited me
+to enter.
+
+I was shown into the drawing-room--a large double chamber beautifully
+furnished and possessing an elegantly painted ceiling--while the butler
+went in search of his mistress. A few moments later I heard a light
+footstep outside, a hand was placed upon the handle of the door, and
+before I could have counted ten, Phyllis--my Phyllis!--was in the room
+and in my arms! Over the next five minutes, gentle reader, we will draw
+a curtain with your kind permission. If you have ever met your
+sweetheart after an absence of several months, you will readily
+understand why!
+
+When we had become rational again I led her to a sofa, and, seating
+myself beside her, asked if her father had in any way relented. At this
+she looked very unhappy, and for a moment I thought was going to burst
+into tears.
+
+"Why! What is the matter, Phyllis, my darling?" I cried in sincere
+alarm. "What is troubling you?"
+
+"Oh, I am so unhappy," she replied. "Dick, there is a gentleman in
+Sydney now to whom papa has taken an enormous fancy, and he is exerting
+all his influence over me to induce me to marry him."
+
+"The deuce he is, and pray who may----" but I got no farther in my
+inquiries, for at that moment I caught the sound of a footstep in the
+hall, and next moment Mr. Wetherell opened the door. He remained for a
+brief period looking from one to the other of us without speaking, then
+he advanced, saying, "Mr. Hatteras, please be so good as to tell me when
+this persecution will cease? Am I not even to be free of you in my own
+house. Flesh and blood won't stand it, I tell you, sir--won't stand it!
+You pursued my daughter to England in a most ungentlemanly fashion, and
+now you have followed her out here again."
+
+"Just as I shall continue to follow her all my life, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied warmly, "wherever you may take her. I told you on board the
+_Orizaba_, months ago, that I loved her: well, I love her ten thousand
+times more now. She loves me--won't you hear her tell you so? Why then
+should you endeavour to keep us apart?"
+
+"Because an alliance with you, sir, is distasteful to me in every
+possible way. I have other views for my daughter, you must learn." Here
+Phyllis could keep silence no longer, and broke in with--"If you mean by
+that that you will force me into this hateful marriage with a man I
+despise, papa, you are mistaken. I will marry no one but Mr. Hatteras,
+and so I warn you."
+
+"Silence, Miss! How dare you adopt that tone with me! You will do as I
+wish in this and all other matters, and so we'll have no more talk about
+it. Now, Mr. Hatteras, you have heard what I have to say, and I warn you
+that, if you persist in this conduct, I'll see if something can't be
+found in the law to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, if you show yourself in
+my grounds again, I'll have my servants throw you out into the street!
+Good-day."
+
+Unjust as his conduct was to me, there was nothing for it but to submit,
+so picking up my hat I bade poor little frightened Phyllis farewell, and
+went towards the door. But before taking my departure I was determined
+to have one final shot at her irascible parent, so I said, "Mr.
+Wetherell, I have warned you before, and I do so again: your daughter
+loves me, and, come what may, I will make her my wife. She is her own
+mistress, and you cannot force her into marrying any one against her
+will. Neither can you prevent her marrying me if she wishes it. You will
+be sorry some day that you have behaved like this to me."
+
+But the only answer he vouchsafed was a stormy one. "Leave my house this
+instant," he said. "Not another word, sir, or I'll call my servants to
+my assistance!"
+
+The stately old butler opened the front door for me, and assuming as
+dignified an air as was possible, I went down the drive and passed out
+into the street.
+
+When I reached home again Beckenham was out, for which I was not sorry,
+as I wanted to have a good quiet think by myself. So lighting a cigar, I
+pulled a chair into the verandah and fell to work. But I could make
+nothing of the situation, save that, by my interview this morning, my
+position with the father was, if possible, rendered even more hopeless
+than before. Who was this more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use my
+going to him and--but no, that was clearly impossible. Could I induce
+Phyllis to run away with me? That was possible, of course, but I rather
+doubted if she would care to take such an extreme step until every other
+means had proved unsuccessful. Then what was to be done? I began to wish
+that Beckenham would return in order that we might consult together.
+
+Half an hour later our lunch was ready, but still no sign came of the
+youth. Where could he have got to? I waited an hour and then fell to
+work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign--four, five, and even six.
+By this time I was in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
+the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's trusting
+good nature. Then and there I resolved, if he did not return before
+half-past seven, to set off for the nearest police-station and have a
+search made for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round, and
+when, at the time stated, he had not appeared, I donned my hat and,
+inquiring the way, set off for the home of the law.
+
+On arriving there and stating my business I was immediately conducted to
+the inspector in charge, who questioned me very closely as to
+Beckenham's appearance, age, profession, etc. Having done this, he
+said:--
+
+"But what reason have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
+been done away with? He has only been absent from his abode, according
+to your statement, about eight or nine hours."
+
+"Simply because," I answered, "I have the best of reasons for knowing
+that ever since his arrival in Australia he has been shadowed. This
+morning he said he would only go for a short stroll before lunch, and I
+am positively certain, knowing my anxiety about him, he would not have
+remained away so long of his own accord without communicating with me."
+
+"Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowing?"
+
+"My friend is heir to an enormous property in England. Perhaps that may
+assist you in discovering one?"
+
+"Very possibly. But still I am inclined to think you are a little hasty
+in coming to so terrible a conclusion, Mr. ----?"
+
+"Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the _General Officer Hotel_ in
+Palgrave Street."
+
+"Well, Mr. Hatteras, if I were you I would go back to your hotel. You
+will probably find your friend there eating his dinner and thinking
+about instituting a search for you. If, however, he has not turned up,
+and does not do so by to-morrow morning, call here again and report the
+matter, and I will give you every assistance."
+
+Thanking him for his courtesy I left the station and walked quickly back
+to the hotel, hoping to find Beckenham safely returned and at his
+dinner. But when the landlady met me in the verandah, and asked if I had
+any news of my friend, I realized that a disappointment was in store for
+me. By this time the excitement and worry were getting too much for me.
+What with Nikola, the spy, Beckenham, Phyllis, the unknown lover, and
+old Mr. Wetherell, I had more than enough to keep my brain occupied. I
+sat down on a chair on the verandah with a sigh and reviewed the whole
+case. Nine o'clock struck by the time my reverie was finished. Just as I
+did so a newspaper boy came down the street lustily crying his wares. To
+divert my mind from its unpleasant thoughts, I called him up and bought
+an _Evening Mercury_. Having done so I passed into my sitting-room to
+read it. The first, second, and third pages held nothing of much
+interest to me, but on the fourth was an item which was astonishing
+enough to almost make my hair stand on end. It ran as follows:
+
+     IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH LIFE.
+
+     We have it on the very best authority that an engagement will
+     shortly be announced between a certain illustrious young nobleman,
+     now a visitor in our city, and the beautiful daughter of one of
+     Sydney's most prominent politicians, who has lately returned from a
+     visit to England. The _Evening Mercury_ tenders the young couple
+     their sincerest congratulations.
+
+_Could this be the solution of the whole mystery?_ Could it be that the
+engagement of Baxter, the telegram, the idea of travel, the drugging,
+the imprisonment in Port Said, the substitution of the false marquis,
+were all means to this end? Was is possible that this man, who was
+masquerading as a man of title, was to marry Phyllis (for there could be
+no possible doubt as to the person to whom that paragraph referred)? The
+very thought of such a thing was not to be endured.
+
+There must be no delay now, I told myself, in revealing all I knew. The
+villains must be unmasked this very night. Wetherell should know all as
+soon as I could tell him. As I came to this conclusion I crushed my
+paper into my pocket and set off, without a moment's delay, for Potts
+Point. The night was dark, and now a thick drizzle was falling.
+
+Though it really did not take me very long, it seemed an eternity before
+I reached the house and rang the bell. The butler opened the door, and
+was evidently surprised to see me. "Is Mr. Wetherell at home?" I asked.
+
+For a moment he looked doubtful as to what he should say, then
+compromising matters, answered that he would see.
+
+"I know what that means," I said in reply. "Mr. Wetherell is in, but you
+don't think he'll see me. But he must! I have news for him of the very
+utmost importance. Will you tell him that?"
+
+He left me and went along the hall and upstairs. Presently he returned,
+shaking his head.
+
+"I am very sorry, sir, but Mr. Wetherell's answer is, if you have
+anything to tell him you must put it in writing; he cannot see you."
+
+"But he must! In this case I can accept no refusal. Tell him, will you,
+that the matter upon which I wish to speak to him has nothing whatsoever
+to do with the request I made to him this morning. I pledge him my word
+on that."
+
+Again the butler departed, and once more I was left to cool my heels in
+the portico. When he returned it was with a smile upon his face. "Mr.
+Wetherell will be glad if you will step this way, sir."
+
+I followed him along the hall and up the massive stone staircase.
+Arriving at the top he opened a door on the left-hand side and announced
+"Mr. Hatteras."
+
+I found Mr. Wetherell seated in a low chair opposite the fire, and from
+the fact that his right foot was resting on a sort of small trestle, I
+argued that he was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout.
+
+"Be good enough to take a chair, Mr. Hatteras," he said, when the door
+had been closed. "I must own I am quite at a loss to understand what you
+can have to tell me of so much importance as to bring you to my house at
+this time of night."
+
+"I think I shall be able to satisfy you on that score, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied, taking the _Evening Mercury_ from my pocket and smoothing it
+out. "In the first place, will you be good enough to tell me if there is
+any truth in the inference contained in that paragraph."
+
+I handed the paper to him and pointed to the lines in question. Having
+put on his glasses he examined it carefully. "I am sorry they should
+have made it public so soon, I must admit," he said. "But I don't deny
+that there is a considerable amount of truth in what that paragraph
+reports."
+
+"You mean by that that you intend to try and marry Phyllis to the
+Marquis of Beckenham?"
+
+"The young man has paid her a very considerable amount of attention ever
+since he arrived in the colony, and only last week he did me the honour
+of confiding his views to me. You see I am candid with you."
+
+"I thank you for it. I, too, will be candid with you. Mr. Wetherell, you
+may set your mind at rest at once, this marriage will never take place!"
+
+"And pray be so good as to tell me your reason for such a statement?"
+
+"If you want it bluntly, because the young man now staying at Government
+House is no more the Marquis of Beckenham than I am. He is a fraud, an
+impostor, a cheat of the first water, put up to play his part by one of
+the cleverest scoundrels unhung."
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, this is really going too far. I can quite understand your
+being jealous of his lordship, but I cannot understand your having the
+audacity to bring such a foolish charge against him. I, for one, must
+decline to listen to it. If he had been the fraud you make him out, how
+would his tutor have got those letters from his Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth? Do you imagine his Excellency the Governor, who has known the
+family all his life, would not have discovered him ere this? No, no,
+sir! It won't do! If you think so, who has schooled him so cleverly? Who
+has pulled the strings so wonderfully?"
+
+"Why, Nikola, to be sure!"
+
+Had I clapped a revolver to the old gentleman's head, or had the walls
+opened and Nikola himself stepped into the room, a greater effect of
+terror and consternation could not have been produced in the old
+gentleman's face than did those five simple words. He fell back in his
+chair gasping for breath, his complexion became ashen in its pallor, and
+for a moment his whole nervous system seemed unstrung. I sprang to his
+assistance, thinking he was going to have a fit, but he waived me off,
+and when he had recovered himself sufficiently to speak, said
+hoarsely--"What do you know of Dr. Nikola? Tell me, for God's
+sake!--what do you know of him? Quick, quick!"
+
+Thereupon I set to work and told him my story, from the day of my
+arrival in Sydney from Thursday Island up to the moment of my reaching
+his house, described my meeting and acquaintance with the real
+Beckenham, and all the events consequent upon it. He listened, with an
+awful terror growing in his face, and when I had finished my narrative
+with the disappearance of my friend he nearly choked.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he gasped, "will you swear this is the truth you are
+telling me?"
+
+"I solemnly swear it," I answered. "And will do so in public when and
+where you please."
+
+"Then before I do anything else I will beg your pardon for my conduct to
+you. You have taken a noble revenge. I cannot thank you sufficiently.
+But there is not a moment to lose. My daughter is at a ball at
+Government House at the present moment. I should have accompanied her,
+but my gout would not permit me. Will you oblige me by ringing that
+bell?"
+
+I rang the bell as requested, and then asked what he intended doing.
+
+"Going off to his Excellency at once, gout or no gout, and telling him
+what you have told me. If it is as you have said, we must catch these
+scoundrels and rescue your friend without an instant's delay!"
+
+Half an hour later we were at Government House waiting in his
+Excellency's study for an interview. The music of the orchestra in the
+ball-room came faintly in to us, and when Lord Amberley entered the room
+he seemed surprised, as well he might be, to see us. But as soon as he
+had heard what we had to tell him his expression changed. "Mr.
+Wetherell, this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest. Do
+you think it can possibly be true?"
+
+"I sadly fear so," said Mr. Wetherell. "But perhaps Mr. Hatteras will
+tell you the story as he told it to me."
+
+I did so, and, when I had finished, the Governor went to the door and
+called a servant.
+
+"Find Lord Beckenham, Johnson, at once, and ask him to be so good as to
+come to me here. Stay--on second thoughts I'll go and look for him
+myself."
+
+He went off, leaving us alone again to listen to the ticking of the
+clock upon the mantelpiece, and to wonder what was going to happen next.
+Five minutes went by and then ten, but still he did not return. When he
+did so it was with a still more serious countenance.
+
+"You are evidently right, gentlemen. Neither the spurious marquis, nor
+his tutor, Mr. Baxter, can be found anywhere. I have discovered, too,
+that all their valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the
+house to-night without the knowledge of my servants. This is a terrible
+business. But I have given instructions, and the police will be
+communicated with at once. Now we must do our best to find the real
+Beckenham."
+
+"Lord Amberley," said Wetherell, in a choking voice, "do you think one
+of your servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once? I am not
+feeling very well."
+
+The Governor hesitated a moment, and then said--
+
+"I am sorry to say, Mr. Wetherell, your daughter left the House an hour
+ago. A message was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken ill
+and needed her. She went off at once."
+
+Wetherell's anxiety was piteous to see.
+
+"My God!" he cried in despair. "If that is so, I am ruined. This is
+Nikola's revenge."
+
+Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward, and fell in
+a dead faint upon the floor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+As soon as Wetherell was able to speak again he said as feebly as an old
+man of ninety, "Take me home, Mr. Hatteras, take me home, and let us
+think out together what is best to be done to rescue my poor child."
+
+The Governor rose to his feet and gave him his arm.
+
+"I think you're right, Mr. Wetherell," he said. "It is of course just
+probable that you will find your daughter at her home when you arrive.
+God grant she may be! But in case she is not I will communicate all I
+know to the Police Commissioner on his arrival, and send him and his
+officers on to you. We must lose no time if we wish to catch these
+scoundrels." Then turning to me, he continued: "Mr. Hatteras, it is
+owing to your promptness that we are able to take such early steps. I
+shall depend upon your further assistance in this matter."
+
+"You may do so with perfect confidence," I answered. "If you knew all
+you would understand that I am more anxious perhaps than any one to
+discover the whereabouts of the young lady and my unfortunate friend."
+
+Next moment we were being whirled down the drive at a pace which at any
+other time I should have thought dangerous. Throughout the journey we
+sat almost silent, wrapped in our anxieties and forebodings; hoping
+almost against hope that when we arrived at Potts Point we should find
+Phyllis awaiting us there. At last we turned into the grounds, and on
+reaching the house I sprang out and rang the bell, then I went down to
+help my companion to alight. The butler opened the door and descended
+the steps to take the rugs. Wetherell stopped him almost angrily,
+crying:
+
+"Where is your mistress? Has she come home?"
+
+The expression of surprise on the man's face told me, before he had time
+to utter a word, that our hopes were not to be realized. "Miss Phyllis,
+sir?" the man said. "Why, she's at the ball."
+
+Wetherell turned from him with a deep sigh, and taking my arm went
+heavily up the steps into the hall.
+
+"Come to my study, Mr. Hatteras," he said, "and let me confer with you.
+For God's sake don't desert me in my hour of need!"
+
+"You need have no fear of that," I answered. "If it is bad for you,
+think what it is for me." And then we went upstairs together.
+
+Reaching his study, Mr. Wetherell led the way in and sat down. I went
+across to the hearthrug and stood before him. "Now," I said, "we must
+think this out from the very beginning, and to do that properly we must
+consider every detail. Have you any objection to answering my
+questions?"
+
+"Ask any questions you like," he replied, "and I will answer them."
+
+"In the first place, then, how soon after his arrival in the colony did
+your daughter get to know that sham Beckenham?"
+
+"Three days," he answered.
+
+"At a dance, dinner party, picnic, or what?"
+
+"At none of these things. The young man, it appears, had seen my
+daughter in the street, and having been struck with her beauty asked one
+of the aides-de-camp at Government House, with whom we are on intimate
+terms, to bring him to call. At the time, I remember, I thought it a
+particularly friendly action on his part."
+
+"I don't doubt it," I answered. "Well that, I think, should tell us one
+thing."
+
+"And what is that?"
+
+"That his instructions were to get to know your daughter without delay."
+
+"But what could his reason have been?"
+
+"Ah, that I cannot tell you just yet. Now you must pardon what I am
+going to say: do you think he was serious in his intentions regarding
+Phyllis--I mean your daughter?"
+
+"Perfectly, as far as I could tell. His desire, he said, was, if she
+would have him, to be allowed to marry her on his twenty-first birthday,
+which would be next week, and in proof of permission he showed me a
+cablegram from his father."
+
+"A forgery, I don't doubt. Well, then, the only construction I can put
+upon it is that the arrival of the real Beckenham in Sydney must have
+frightened him, thus compelling the gang to resort to other means of
+obtaining possession of her at once. Now our next business must be to
+find out how that dastardly act was accomplished. May I ring the bell
+and have up the coachman who drove your daughter to the ball?"
+
+"By all means. Please act in every way in this matter as if this house
+were your own."
+
+I rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to answer it Mr. Wetherell
+instructed him to find the man I wanted and send him up. The servant
+left the room again, and for five minutes we awaited his reappearance in
+silence. When he did come back he said, "Thompson has not come home yet,
+sir."
+
+"Not come home yet! Why, it's nearly eleven o'clock! Send him in
+directly he arrives. Hark! What bell is that?"
+
+"Front door, sir."
+
+"Go down and answer it then, and if it should be the Commissioner of
+Police show him up here at once."
+
+As it turned out it was not the Commissioner of Police, but an
+Inspector.
+
+"Good-evening," said Mr. Wetherell. "You have come from Government
+House, I presume?"
+
+"Exactly so, sir," replied the Inspector. "His Excellency gave us some
+particulars and then sent us on."
+
+"You know the nature of the case?"
+
+"His Excellency informed us himself."
+
+"And what steps have you taken?"
+
+"Well, sir, to begin with, we have given orders for a thorough search
+throughout the city and suburbs for the tutor and the sham nobleman, at
+the same time more men are out looking for the real Lord Beckenham. We
+are also trying to find your coachman, who was supposed to have driven
+Miss Wetherell away from Government House, and also the carriage, which
+is certain to be found before very long."
+
+He had hardly finished speaking before there was another loud ring at
+the bell, and presently the butler entered once more. Crossing to Mr.
+Wetherell, he said--
+
+"Two policemen are at the front door, and they have brought Thompson
+home, sir."
+
+"Ah! We are likely to have a little light thrown upon the matter now.
+Let them bring him up here."
+
+"He's not in a very nice state, sir."
+
+"Never mind that. Bring him up here, instantly!"
+
+Again the butler departed, and a few moments later heavy footsteps
+ascended the stairs and approached the study door. Then two stalwart
+policemen entered the room supporting between them a miserable figure in
+coachman's livery. His hat and coat were gone and his breeches were
+stained with mud, while a large bruise totally obscured his left eye.
+
+"Stand him over there opposite me," said Mr. Wetherell, pointing to the
+side of the room furthest from the door. The policemen did as they were
+ordered, while the man looked more dead than alive.
+
+"Now, Thompson," said Wetherell, looking sternly at him, "what have you
+got to say for yourself?"
+
+But the man only groaned. Seeing that in his present state he could say
+nothing, I went across to the table and mixed him a glass of grog. When
+I gave it to him he drank it eagerly. It seemed to sharpen his wits, for
+he answered instantly--
+
+"It wasn't my fault, sir. If I'd only ha' known what their game was I'd
+have been killed afore I'd have let them do anything to hurt the young
+lady. But they was too cunnin' for me, sir."
+
+"Be more explicit, sir!" said Wetherell sternly. "Don't stand there
+whining, but tell your story straight-forwardly and at once."
+
+The poor wretch pulled himself together and did his best. "It was in
+this way, sir," he began. "Last week I was introduced by a friend of
+mine to as nice a spoken man as ever I saw. He was from England, he said
+and having a little money thought he'd like to try his 'and at a bit o'
+racing in Australia, like. He was on the look-out for a smart man, he
+said, who'd be able to put him up to a wrinkle or two, and maybe train
+for him later on. He went on to say that he'd 'eard a lot about me, and
+thought I was just the man for his money. Well, we got more and more
+friendly till the other night, Monday, when he said as how he'd settled
+on a farm a bit out in the country, and was going to sign the agreement,
+as they called it, for to rent it next day. He was goin' to start a stud
+farm and trainin' establishment combined, and would I take the billet of
+manager at three 'undred a year? Anyway, as he said, 'Don't be in a
+'urry to decide; take your time and think it over. Meet me at the
+_Canary Bird 'Otel_ on Thursday night (that's to-night, sir) and give me
+your decision.' Well, sir, I drove Miss Wetherell to Government 'Ouse,
+sir, according to orders, and then, comin' 'ome, went round by the
+_Canary Bird_, to give 'im my answer, thinkin' no 'arm could ever come
+of it. When I drove up he was standin' at the door smoking his cigar,
+an' bein' an affable sort of fellow, invited me inside to take a drink.
+'I don't like to leave the box,' I said. 'Oh, never mind your horse,'
+says he. ''Ere's a man as will stand by it for five minutes.' He gave a
+respectable lookin' chap, alongside the lamp-post, a sixpence, and he
+'eld the 'orse; so in I went. When we got inside I was for goin' to the
+bar, but 'e says, 'No. This is an important business matter, and we
+don't want to be over'eard.' With that he leads the way into a private
+room at the end of the passage and shuts the door. 'What's yours?' says
+he. 'A nobbler o' rum,' says I. Then he orders a nobbler of rum for me
+and a nobbler of whisky for 'imself. And when it was brought we sat
+talkin' of the place he'd thought o' takin' an' the 'orses he was goin'
+to buy, an' then 'e says, ''Ullo! Somebody listenin' at the door. I
+'eard a step. Jump up and look.' I got up and ran to the door, but there
+was nobody there, so I sat down again and we went on talking. Then he
+says, takin' up his glass: ''Ere's to your 'ealth, Mr. Thompson, and
+success to the farm.' We both drank it an' went on talkin' till I felt
+that sleepy I didn't know what to do. Then I dropped off, an' after that
+I don't remember nothin' of what 'appened till I woke up in the Domain,
+without my hat and coat, and found a policeman shakin' me by the
+shoulder."
+
+"The whole thing is as plain as daylight," cried Wetherell bitterly. "It
+is a thoroughly organized conspiracy, having me for its victim. Oh, my
+poor little girlie! What has my obstinacy brought you to!"
+
+Seeing the old man in this state very nearly broke me down, but I
+mastered myself with an effort and addressed a question to the
+unfortunate coachman--
+
+"Pull yourself together, Thompson, and tell me as correctly as you can
+what this friend of yours was like."
+
+I fully expected to hear him give an exact description of the man who
+had followed us from Melbourne, but I was mistaken.
+
+"I don't know, sir," said Thompson, "as I could rightly tell you, my
+mind being still a bit dizzy-like. He was tall, but not by any manner of
+means big made; he had very small 'ands 'an feet, a sort o' what they
+call death's-'ead complexion; 'is 'air was black as soot, an' so was 'is
+eyes, an' they sparkled like two diamonds."
+
+"Do you remember noticing if he had a curious gold ring on his little
+finger, like a snake?"
+
+"He had, sir, with two eyes made of some black stone. That's just as
+true as you're born."
+
+"Then it was Nikola," I cried in an outburst of astonishment, "and he
+followed us to Australia after all!"
+
+Wetherell gave a deep sigh that was more like a groan than anything;
+then he became suddenly a new man.
+
+"Mr. Inspector," he cried to the police officer, "that man, or traces of
+him, must be found before daylight. I know him, and he is as slippery as
+an eel; if you lose a minute he'll be through your fingers."
+
+"One moment first," I cried. "Tell me this, Thompson: when you drove up
+to the _Canary Bird Hotel_ where did you say this man was standing?"
+
+"In the verandah, sir."
+
+"Had he his hat on?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And then you went towards the bar, but it was crowded, so he took you
+to a private room?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And once there he began giving you the details of this farm he proposed
+starting. Did he work out any figures on paper?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"On what?"
+
+"On a letter or envelope; I'm not certain which."
+
+"Which of course he took from his pocket?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Very good," I said. Then turning to the police officer, "Now, Mr.
+Inspector, shall we be off to the _Canary Bird_?"
+
+"If you wish it, sir. In the meantime I'll send instructions back by
+these men to the different stations. Before breakfast time we must have
+the man who held the horse."
+
+"You don't know him, I suppose?" I asked Thompson.
+
+"No, sir; but I've seen him before," he answered.
+
+"He's a Sydney fellow, then?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir."
+
+"Then there should be no difficulty in catching him. Now let us be
+going."
+
+Mr. Wetherell rose to accompany us, but hard though it was to stop him I
+eventually succeeded in dissuading him from such a course.
+
+"But you will let me know directly you discover anything, won't you, Mr.
+Hatteras?" he cried as we were about to leave the room. "Think of my
+anxiety."
+
+I gave my promise and then, accompanied by the Inspector, left the
+house. Hailing a passing cab we jumped into it and told the driver to
+proceed as fast as he could to the hotel in question. Just as we started
+a clock in the neighbourhood struck twelve. Phyllis had been in Nikola's
+hands three hours.
+
+Pulling up opposite the _Canary Bird_ (the place where the coachman had
+been drugged), we jumped out and bade the cabman wait. The hotel was in
+complete darkness, and it was not until we had pealed the bell twice
+that we succeeded in producing any sign of life. Then the landlord, half
+dressed, carrying a candle in his hand, came downstairs and called out
+to know who was there and what we wanted. My companion immediately said
+"Police," and in answer to that magic word the door was unbarred.
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Bartrell," said the Inspector. "May we come in for a
+moment on business?"
+
+"Certainly, Mr. Inspector," said the landlord, who evidently knew my
+companion. "But isn't this rather late for a call. I hope there is
+nothing the matter?"
+
+"Nothing much," returned the Inspector: "only we want to make a few
+inquiries about a man who was here to-night, and for whom we are
+looking."
+
+"If that is so I'm afraid I must call my barman. I was not in the bar
+this evening. If you'll excuse me I'll go and bring him down. In the
+meantime make yourselves comfortable."
+
+He left us to kick our heels in the hall while he went upstairs again.
+In about ten minutes, and just as my all-consuming impatience was
+well-nigh getting the better of me, he returned, bringing with him the
+sleepy barman.
+
+"These gentlemen want some information about a man who was here
+to-night," the landlord said by way of introduction. "Perhaps you can
+give it?"
+
+"What was he like, sir?" asked the barman of the Inspector. The latter,
+however, turned to me.
+
+"Tall, slim, with a sallow complexion," I said, "black hair and very
+dark restless eyes. He came in here with the Hon. Sylvester Wetherell's
+coachman."
+
+The man seemed to recollect him at once.
+
+"I remember him," he said. "They sat in No. 5 down the passage there,
+and the man you mention ordered a nobbler of rum and a whisky."
+
+"That's the fellow we want," said the Inspector. "Now tell me this, have
+you ever seen him in here before?"
+
+"Never once," said the barman, "and that's a solemn fact, because if I
+had I couldn't have forgotten it. His figure-head wouldn't let you do
+that. No, sir, to-night was the first night he's ever been in the
+_Canary Bird_."
+
+"Did any one else visit them while they were in the room together?"
+
+"Not as I know of. But stay, I'm not so certain. Yes; I remember seeing
+a tall, good-looking chap come down the passage and go in there. But it
+was some time, half an hour maybe, after I took in the drinks."
+
+"Did you see him come out again?"
+
+"No. But I know the coachman got very drunk, and had to be carried out
+to the carriage."
+
+"How do you know that?"
+
+"Because I saw the other two doing it."
+
+The Inspector turned to me.
+
+"Not very satisfactory, is it?"
+
+"No," I answered. "But do you mind letting us look into No. 5--the room
+they occupied?"
+
+"Not at all," said the landlord. "Come with me."
+
+So saying he led the way down the passage to a little room on the
+right-hand side, the door of which he threw open with a theatrical
+flourish. It was in pitch darkness, but a few seconds later the gas was
+lit and we could see all that it contained. A small table stood in the
+centre of the room, and round the walls were ranged two or three wooden
+chairs. A small window was at the further end and a fireplace opposite
+the door. On the table was a half-smoked cigar and a torn copy of the
+_Evening Mercury_. But that was not what I wanted, so I went down on my
+hands and knees and looked about upon the floor. Presently I descried a
+small ball of paper near the grate. Picking it up I seated myself at the
+table and turned to the barman, who was watching my movements
+attentively.
+
+"Was this room used by any other people after the party we are looking
+for left?"
+
+"No, sir. There was nobody in either of these two bottom rooms."
+
+"You are quite certain of that?"
+
+"Perfectly certain."
+
+I took up the ball of paper, unrolled it and spread it out upon the
+table. To my disgust it was only the back half of an envelope, and
+though it had a few figures dotted about upon it, was of no possible use
+to us.
+
+"Nothing there?" asked the Inspector.
+
+"Nothing at all," I answered bitterly, "save a few incomprehensible
+figures."
+
+"Well, in that case, we'd better be getting up to the station and see if
+they've discovered anything yet."
+
+"Come along, then," I answered. "We must be quick though, for we've lost
+a lot of precious time, and every minute counts."
+
+I took up the _Evening Mercury_ and followed him out to the cab, after
+having sincerely thanked the hotel proprietor and the barman for their
+courtesy. The Inspector gave the driver his orders and we set off. As we
+went we discussed our next movements, and while we were doing so I idly
+glanced at the paper I held in my hand. There was a lamp in the cab, and
+the light showed me on the bottom right-hand corner a round blue
+india-rubber stamp mark, "W. E. Maxwell, stationer and newsagent, 23,
+Ipswell Street, Woolahra."
+
+"Stop the cab!" I almost shouted. "Tell the man to drive us back to the
+_Canary Bird_ quickly."
+
+The order was given, the cab faced round, and in less than a minute we
+were on our way back.
+
+"What's up now?" asked the astonished Inspector.
+
+"Only that I believe I've got a clue," I cried.
+
+I did not explain any further, and in five minutes we had brought the
+landlord downstairs again.
+
+"I'm sorry to trouble you in this fashion," I cried, "but life and death
+depend on it. I want you to let me see No. 5 again."
+
+He conducted us to the room, and once more the gas was lit. The small
+strip of envelope lay upon the table just as I had thrown it down. I
+seated myself and again looked closely at it. Then I sprang to my feet.
+
+"I thought so!" I cried excitedly, pointing to the paper; "I told you I
+had a clue. Now, Mr. Inspector, who wrote those figures?"
+
+"The man you call Nikola, I suppose."
+
+"That's right. Now who would have bought this newspaper? You must
+remember that Thompson only left his box to come in here."
+
+"Nikola, I suppose."
+
+"Very good. Then according to your own showing Nikola owned this piece
+of envelope and this _Evening Mercury_. If that is certain, look here!"
+
+He came round and looked over my shoulder. I pointed to what was
+evidently part of the gummed edge of the top of the envelope. On it were
+these three important words, "----swell Street, Woolahra."
+
+"Well," he said, "what about it?"
+
+"Why, look here!" I said, as I opened the _Evening Mercury_ and pointed
+to the stamp-mark at the bottom. "The man who bought this newspaper at
+Mr. Maxwell's shop also bought this envelope there. The letters 'swell'
+before 'street' constitute the last half of Ipswell, the name of the
+street. If that man be Nikola, as we suspect, the person who served him
+is certain to remember him, and it is just within the bounds of
+possibility he may know his address."
+
+"That's so," said the Inspector, struck with the force of my argument.
+"I know Mr. Maxwell's shop, and our best plan will be to go on there as
+fast as we can."
+
+Again thanking the landlord for his civility, we returned to our cab and
+once more set off, this time for Mr. Maxwell's shop in Ipswell Street.
+By the time we reached it it was nearly three o'clock, and gradually
+growing light. As the cab drew up alongside the curb the Inspector
+jumped out and rang the bell at the side door. It was opened after
+awhile by a shock-headed youth, who stared at us in sleepy astonishment.
+
+"Does Mr. Maxwell live at the shop?" asked the Inspector.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Where then?"
+
+"Ponson Street--third house on the left-hand side."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Once more we jumped into the cab and rattled off. It seemed to me, so
+anxious and terrified was I for my darling's safety, that we were fated
+never to get the information we wanted; the whole thing was like some
+nightmare, in which, try how I would to move, every step was clogged.
+
+A few minutes' drive brought us to Ponson Street, and we drew up at the
+third house on the left-hand side. It was a pretty little villa, with a
+nice front garden and a creeper-covered verandah. We rang the bell and
+waited. Presently we heard some one coming down the passage, and a
+moment later the door was unlocked.
+
+"Who is there?" cried a voice from within.
+
+"Police," said my companion as before.
+
+The door was immediately opened, and a very small sandy-complexioned
+man, dressed in a flaring suit of striped pyjamas, stood before us. "Is
+anything wrong, gentlemen?" he asked nervously.
+
+"Nothing to affect you, Mr. Maxwell," my companion replied. "We only
+want a little important information, if you can give it us. We are
+anxious to discover a man's whereabouts before daylight, and we have
+been led to believe that you are the only person who can give us the
+necessary clue."
+
+"Good gracious! But I shall be happy to serve you if I can," the little
+man answered, leading the way into his dining-room with an air of
+importance his appearance rather belied. "What is it?"
+
+"Well, it's this," I replied, producing the piece of envelope and the
+_Evening Mercury_. "You see these letters on the top of this paper,
+don't you?" He nodded, his attention at once secured by seeing his own
+name. "Well, that envelope was evidently purchased in your shop. So was
+this newspaper."
+
+"How can you tell that?"
+
+"In the case of the envelope, by these letters; in that of the paper, by
+your rubber stamp on the bottom."
+
+"Ah! Well, now, and in what way can I help you?"
+
+"We want to know the address of the man who bought them."
+
+"That will surely be difficult. Can you give me any idea of what he was
+like?"
+
+"Tall, slightly foreign in appearance, distinctly handsome, sallow
+complexion, very dark eyes, black hair, small hands and feet."
+
+As my description progressed the little man's face brightened. Then he
+cried with evident triumph--"I know the man; he came into the shop
+yesterday afternoon."
+
+"And his address is?"
+
+His face fell again. His information was not quite as helpful as he had
+expected it would be.
+
+"There I can't help you, I'm sorry to say. He bought a packet of paper
+and envelopes and the _Evening Mercury_ and then left the shop. I was so
+struck by his appearance that I went to the door and watched him cross
+the road."
+
+"And in which direction did he go?"
+
+"Over to Podgers' chemist shop across the way. That was the last I saw
+of him."
+
+"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maxwell," I said, shaking him by the hand. "But
+I'm sorry you can't tell us something more definite about him." Then
+turning to the Inspector: "I suppose we had better go off and find
+Podgers. But if we have to spend much more time in rushing about like
+this we shall be certain to lose them altogether."
+
+"Let us be off to Podgers', then, as fast as we can go."
+
+Bidding Mr. Maxwell good-bye, we set off again, and in ten minutes had
+arrived at the shop and had Mr. Podgers downstairs. We explained our
+errand briefly, and gave a minute description of the man we wanted.
+
+"I remember him perfectly," said the sedate Podgers. "He came into my
+shop last night and purchased a bottle of chloroform."
+
+"You made him sign the poison book, of course?"
+
+"Naturally I did, Mr. Inspector. Would you like to see his signature?"
+
+"Very much," we both answered at once, and the book was accordingly
+produced.
+
+Podgers ran his finger down the list.
+
+"Brown, Williams, Davis--ah! here it is. 'Chloroform: J. Venneage, 22,
+Calliope Street, Woolahra.'"
+
+"Venneage!" I cried. "Why, that's not his name!"
+
+"Very likely not," replied Podgers; "but it's the name he gave me."
+
+"Never mind, we'll try 22, Calliope Street, on the chance," said the
+Inspector.
+
+Again we drove off, this time at increased pace. In less than fifteen
+minutes we had turned into the street we wanted, and pulled up about a
+hundred yards from the junction. It was a small thoroughfare, with a
+long line of second-class villa residences on either side. A policeman
+was sauntering along on the opposite side of the way, and the Inspector
+called him over. He saluted respectfully, and waited to be addressed.
+
+"What do you know of number 22?" asked the Inspector briefly. The
+constable considered for a few moments, and then said--
+
+"Well, to tell you the truth, sir, I didn't know until yesterday that it
+was occupied."
+
+"Have you seen anybody about there?"
+
+"I saw three men go in just as I came on the beat to-night."
+
+"What were they like?"
+
+"Well, I don't know that I looked much at them. They were all pretty
+big, and they seemed to be laughing and enjoying themselves."
+
+"Did they! Well, we must go in there and have a look at them. You had
+better come with us."
+
+We walked on down the street till we arrived at No. 22. Then opening the
+gate we went up the steps to the hall door. It was quite light enough by
+this time to enable us to see everything distinctly. The Inspector gave
+the bell a good pull and the peal re-echoed inside the house. But not a
+sound of any living being came from within in answer. Again the bell was
+pulled, and once more we waited patiently, but with the same result.
+
+"Either there's nobody at home or they refuse to hear," said the
+Inspector. "Constable, you remain where you are and collar the first man
+you see. Mr. Hatteras, we will go round to the back and try to effect an
+entrance from there."
+
+We left the front door, and finding a path reached the yard. The house
+was only a small one, with a little verandah at the rear on to which the
+back door opened. On either side of the door were two fair-sized
+windows, and by some good fortune it chanced that the catch of one of
+these was broken.
+
+Lifting the sash up, the Inspector jumped into the room, and as soon as
+he was through I followed him. Then we looked about us. The room,
+however, was destitute of furniture or occupants.
+
+"I don't hear anybody about," my companion said, opening the door that
+led into the hall. Just at that moment I heard a sound, and touching his
+arm signed to him to listen. We both did so, and surely enough there
+came again the faint muttering of a human voice. In the half-dark of the
+hall it sounded most uncanny.
+
+"Somebody in one of the front rooms," said the Inspector. "I'll slip
+along and open the front door, bring in the man from outside, and then
+we'll burst into the room and take our chance of capturing them."
+
+He did as he proposed, and when the constable had joined us we moved
+towards the room on the left.
+
+Again the mutterings came from the inside, and the Inspector turned the
+handle of the door. It was locked, however. "Let me burst it in," I
+whispered.
+
+He nodded, and I accordingly put my shoulder against it, and bringing my
+strength to bear sent it flying in.
+
+Then we rushed into the room, to find it, at first glance, empty. Just
+at that moment, however, the muttering began again, and we looked
+towards the darkest corner; somebody was there, lying on the ground. I
+rushed across and knelt down to look. _It was Beckenham; his mouth
+gagged and his hands and feet bound. The noise we had heard was that
+made by him trying to call us to his assistance._
+
+In less time than it takes to tell I had cut his bonds and helped him to
+sit up. Then I explained to the Inspector who he was.
+
+"Thank God you're found!" I cried. "But what does it all mean? How long
+have you been like this? and where is Nikola?"
+
+"I don't know how long I've been here," he answered, "and I don't know
+where Nikola is."
+
+"But you must know something about him!" I cried. "For Heaven's sake
+tell me all you can! I'm in awful trouble, and your story may give me
+the means of saving a life that is dearer to me than my own."
+
+"Get me something to drink first, then," he replied; "I'm nearly dying
+of thirst; after that I'll tell you."
+
+Fortunately I had had the foresight to put a flask of whisky into my
+pocket, and I now took it out and gave him a stiff nobbler. It revived
+him somewhat, and he prepared to begin his tale. But the Inspector
+interrupted--
+
+"Before you commence, my lord, I must send word to the Commissioner that
+you have been found."
+
+He wrote a message on a piece of paper and despatched the constable with
+it. Having done so he turned to Beckenham and said--
+
+"Now, my lord, pray let us hear your story."
+
+Beckenham forthwith commenced.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+LORD BECKENHAM'S STORY
+
+
+"When you left me, Mr. Hatteras, I remained in the house for half an
+hour or so reading. Then, thinking no harm could possibly come of it, I
+started out for a little excursion on my own account. It was about
+half-past eleven then.
+
+"Leaving the hotel I made for the ferry and crossed Darling Harbour to
+Millers Point; then, setting myself for a good ramble, off I went
+through the city, up one street and down another, to eventually bring up
+in the botanical gardens. The view was so exquisite that I sat myself
+down on a seat and resigned myself to rapturous contemplation of it. How
+long I remained there I could not possibly say. I only know that while I
+was watching the movements of a man-o'-war in the cove below me I became
+aware, by intuition--for I did not look at him--that I was the object of
+close scrutiny by a man standing some little distance from me. Presently
+I found him drawing closer to me, until he came boldly up and seated
+himself beside me. He was a queer-looking little chap, in some ways not
+unlike my old tutor Baxter, with a shrewd, clean-shaven face, grey hair,
+bushy eyebrows, and a long and rather hooked nose. He was well dressed,
+and when we had been sitting side by side for some minutes he turned to
+me and said--
+
+"'It is a beautiful picture we have spread before us, is it not?'
+
+"'It is, indeed,' I answered. 'And what a diversity of shipping!'
+
+"'You may well say that,' he continued. 'It would be an interesting
+study, would it not, to make a list of all the craft that pass in and
+out of this harbour in a day--to put down the places where they were
+built and whence they hail, the characters of their owners and
+commanders, and their errands about the world. What a book it would
+make, would it not? Look at that man-o'-war in Farm Cove; think of the
+money she cost, think of where that money came from--the rich people who
+paid without thinking, the poor who dreaded the coming of the tax
+collector like a visit from the Evil One; imagine the busy dockyard in
+which she was built--can't you seem to hear the clang of the riveters
+and the buzzing of the steam saws? Then take that Norwegian boat passing
+the fort there; think of her birthplace in far Norway, think of the
+places she has since seen, imagine her masts growing in the forests on
+the mountain side of lonely fiords, where the silence is so intense that
+a stone rolling down and dropping into the water echoes like thunder.'
+
+"He went on like this for some time, until I said: 'You seem to have
+studied it very carefully.'
+
+"'Perhaps I have,' he answered. 'I am deeply interested in the life of
+the sea--few more so. Are you a stranger in New South Wales?'
+
+"'Quite a stranger,' I replied. 'I only arrived in Australia a few days
+since.'
+
+"'Indeed! Then you have to make the acquaintance of many entrancing
+beauties yet. Forgive my impertinence, but if you are on a tour, let me
+recommend you to see the islands before you return home.'
+
+"'The South-Sea Islands, I presume you mean?' I said.
+
+"'Yes; the bewitching islands of the Southern Seas! The most
+entrancingly beautiful spots on God's beautiful earth! See them before
+you go. They will amply repay any trouble it may cost you to reach
+them.'
+
+"'I should like to see them very much,' I answered.
+
+"'Perhaps you are interested in them already?' he continued.
+
+"'Very much indeed,' I replied.
+
+"'Then, in that case, I may not be considered presumptuous if I offer to
+assist you. I am an old South-Sea merchant myself, and I have amassed a
+large collection of beautiful objects from the islands. If you would
+allow me the pleasure I should be delighted to show them to you.'
+
+"'I should like to see them very much indeed,' I answered, thinking it
+extremely civil of him.
+
+"'If you have time we might perhaps go and over-haul them now. My house
+is but a short distance from the Domain, and my carriage is waiting at
+the gates.'
+
+"'I shall be delighted,' I said, thinking there could be no possible
+harm in my accepting his invitation.
+
+"'But before we go, may I be allowed to introduce myself?' the old
+gentleman said, taking a card-case from his pocket and withdrawing a
+card. This he handed to me, and on it I read--
+
+     'Mr. Mathew Draper.'
+
+"'I am afraid I have no card to offer you in return,' I said; 'but I am
+the Marquis of Beckenham.'
+
+"'Indeed! Then I am doubly honoured,' the old gentleman said, with a low
+bow. 'Now shall we wend our way up towards my carriage?'
+
+"We did so, chatting as we went. At the gates a neat brougham was
+waiting for us, and in it we took our places. "'Home,' cried my host,
+and forthwith we set off down the street. Up one thoroughfare and down
+another we passed, until I lost all count of our direction. Throughout
+the drive my companion talked away in his best style; commented on the
+architecture of the houses, had many queer stories to tell of the
+passers-by, and in many other ways kept my attention engaged till the
+carriage came to a standstill before a small but pretty villa in a quiet
+street.
+
+"Mr. Draper immediately alighted, and when I had done so, dismissed his
+coachman, who drove away as we passed through the little garden and
+approached the dwelling. The front door was opened by a dignified
+man-servant, and we entered. The hall, which was a spacious one for so
+small a dwelling, was filled with curios and weapons, but I had small
+time for observing them, as my host led me towards a room at the back.
+As we entered it he said 'I make you welcome to my house, my lord. I
+hope, now that you have taken the trouble to come, I shall be able to
+show you something that will repay your visit.' Thereupon, bidding me
+seat myself for a few moments, he excused himself and left the room.
+When he returned he began to do the honours of the apartment. First we
+examined a rack of Australian spears, nulla-nullas, and boomerangs, then
+another containing New Zealand hatchets and clubs. After this we crossed
+to a sort of alcove where reposed in cases a great number of curios
+collected from the further islands of the Pacific. I was about to take
+up one of these when the door on the other side of the room opened and
+some one entered. At first I did not look round, but hearing the
+new-comer approaching me I turned, to find myself, to my horrified
+surprise, face to face _with Dr. Nikola_. He was dressed entirely in
+black, his coat was buttoned and displayed all the symmetry of his
+peculiar figure, while his hair seemed blacker and his complexion even
+paler than before. He had evidently been prepared for my visit, for he
+held out his hand and greeted me without a sign of astonishment upon his
+face.
+
+"'This is indeed a pleasure, my lord,' he said, still with his hand
+out-stretched, looking hard at me with his peculiar cat-like eyes. 'I
+did not expect to see you again so soon. And you are evidently a little
+surprised at meeting me.'
+
+"'I am more than surprised,' I answered bitterly. 'I am horribly
+mortified and angry.'
+
+"Mr. Draper said nothing, but Dr. Nikola dropped into a chair and spoke
+for him.
+
+"'You must not blame my old friend Draper,' he said suavely. 'We have
+been wondering for the last twenty-four hours how we might best get hold
+of you, and the means we have employed so successfully seemed the only
+possible way. Have no fear, my lord, you shall not be hurt. In less than
+twenty-four hours you will enjoy the society of your energetic friend
+Mr. Hatteras again.'
+
+"'What is your reason for abducting me like this?' I asked. 'You are
+foolish to do so, for Mr. Hatteras will leave no stone unturned to find
+me.'
+
+"'I do not doubt that at all,' said Dr. Nikola quietly; 'but I think Mr.
+Hatteras will find he will have all his work cut out for him this time.'
+
+"'If you imagine that your plans are not known in Sydney you are
+mistaken,' I cried. 'The farce you are playing at Government House is
+detected, and Mr. Hatteras, directly he finds I am lost, will go to Lord
+Amberley, and reveal everything.'
+
+"'I have not the slightest objection,' returned Dr. Nikola quietly. 'By
+the time Mr. Hatteras can take those steps--indeed, by the time he
+discovers your absence at all--we shall be beyond his reach.'
+
+"I could not follow his meaning, of course, but while he had been
+speaking I had been looking stealthily round me for a means of escape.
+The only way out of the room was, of course, by the door, but both
+Nikola and his ally were between me and that. Then a big stone hatchet
+hanging on the wall near me caught my eye. Hardly had I seen it before
+an idea flashed through my brain. Supposing I seized it and fought my
+way out. The door of the room stood open, and I noticed with delight
+that the key was in the lock on the outside. One rush, armed with the
+big hatchet, would take me into the passage; then before my foes could
+recover their wits I might be able to turn the key, and, having locked
+them in, make my escape from the house.
+
+"Without another thought I made up my mind, sprang to the wall, wrenched
+down the hatchet, and prepared for my rush. But by the time I had done
+it both Nikola and Draper were on their feet.
+
+"'Out of my way!' I cried, raising my awful weapon aloft. 'Stop me at
+your peril!'
+
+"With my hatchet in the air I looked at Nikola. He was standing rigidly
+erect, with one arm out-stretched, the hand pointing at me. His eyes
+glared like living coals, and when he spoke his voice came from between
+his teeth like a serpent's hiss.
+
+"'Put down that axe!' he said.
+
+"With that the old horrible fear of him which had seized me on board
+ship came over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look
+away from them. I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he
+gazed at me in the same hideous fashion.
+
+"'Sit down in that chair,' he said quietly. 'You cannot disobey me.' And
+indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful
+dizziness was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those
+terrible eyes. They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every
+moment. Oh! I can feel the horror of them even now. As I gazed his white
+right hand was moving to and fro before me with regular sweeps, and with
+each one I felt my own will growing weaker and weaker. That I was being
+mesmerized, I had no doubt, but if I had been going to be murdered I
+could not have moved a finger to save myself.
+
+"Then there came a sudden but imperative knock at the door, and both
+Nikola and Draper rose. Next moment the man whom we had noticed in the
+train as we came up from Melbourne, and against whom you, Mr. Hatteras,
+had warned me in Sydney, entered the room. He crossed and stood
+respectfully before Nikola.
+
+"'Well, Mr. Eastover, what news?' asked the latter. 'Have you done what
+I told you?'
+
+"'Everything,' the man answered, taking an envelope from his pocket.
+'Here is the letter you wanted.'
+
+"Nikola took it from his subordinate's hand, broke the seal, and having
+withdrawn the contents, read it carefully. All this time, seeing
+resistance was quite useless, I did not move. I felt too sick and giddy
+for anything. When he had finished his correspondence Nikola said
+something in an undertone to Draper, who immediately left the room.
+During the time he was absent none of us spoke. Presently he returned,
+bringing with him a wine glass filled with water, which he presented to
+Nikola.
+
+"'Thank you,' said that gentleman, feeling in his waistcoat pocket.
+Presently he found what he wanted and produced what looked like a small
+silver scent-bottle. Unscrewing the top, he poured from it into the wine
+glass a few drops of some dark-coloured liquid. Having done this he
+smelt it carefully and then handed it to me. 'I must ask you to drink
+this, my lord,' he said. 'You need have no fear of the result: it is
+perfectly harmless.'
+
+"Did ever man hear such a cool proposition? Very naturally I declined to
+do as he wished.
+
+"'You _must_ drink it!' he reiterated. 'Pray do so at once. I have no
+time to waste bandying words.'
+
+"'I will not drink it!' I cried, rising to my feet, and prepared to make
+a fight for it if need should be.
+
+"Once more those eyes grew terrible, and once more that hand began to
+make the passes before my face. Again I felt the dizziness stealing over
+me. His will was growing every moment too strong for me. I could not
+resist him. So when he once more said, 'Drink!' I took the glass and did
+as I was ordered. After that I remember seeing Nikola, Draper, and the
+man they called Eastover engaged in earnest conversation on the other
+side of the room. I remember Nikola crossing to where I sat and gazing
+steadfastly into my face, and after that I recollect no more until I
+came to my senses in this room, to find myself bound and gagged. For
+what seemed like hours I lay in agony, then I heard footsteps in the
+verandah, and next moment the sound of voices. I tried to call for help,
+but could utter no words. I thought you would go away without
+discovering me, but fortunately for me you did not do so. Now, Mr.
+Hatteras, I have told you everything."
+
+For some time after the Marquis had concluded his strange story both the
+Inspector and I sat in deep thought. That Beckenham had been kidnapped
+in order that he should be out of the way while the villainous plot for
+abducting Phyllis was being enacted there could be no doubt. But why had
+he been chosen? and what clues were we to gather from what he had told
+us? I turned to the Inspector and said--
+
+"What do you think will be the best course for us to pursue now?"
+
+"I have been wondering myself. I think, as there is nothing to be
+learned from this house, the better plan would be for you two gentlemen
+to go back to Mr. Wetherell, while I return to the detective office and
+see if anything has been discovered by the men there. As soon as I have
+found out I will join you at Potts Point. What do you think?"
+
+I agreed that it would be the best course; so, taking the Marquis by the
+arms (for he was still too weak to walk alone), we left the house, and
+were about to step into the street when I stopped, and asking them to
+wait for me ran back into the room again. In the corner, just as it had
+been thrown down, lay the rope with which Beckenham had been bound and
+the pad which had been fitted over his mouth. I picked both up and
+carried them into the verandah.
+
+"Come here, Mr. Inspector," I cried. "I thought I should learn something
+from this. Look at this rope and this pad, and tell me what you make of
+them."
+
+He took each up in turn and looked them over and over. But he only shook
+his head.
+
+"I don't see anything to guide us," he said.
+
+"Don't you?" I cried. "Why, they tell me more than I have learnt from
+anything else I've seen. Look at the two ends of this. They're seized!"
+
+I looked triumphantly at him, but he only stared at me in surprise, and
+said, "What do you mean by 'seized'?"
+
+"Why, I mean that the ends are bound up in this way--look for yourself.
+Now not one landsman in a hundred _seizes_ a rope's end. This line was
+taken from some ship in the harbour, and----By Jove! here's another
+discovery!"
+
+"What now?" he cried, being by this time almost as excited as I was
+myself.
+
+"Why, look here," I said, holding the middle of the rope up to the
+light, so that we could get a better view of it. "Not very many hours
+ago this rope was running through a block, and that block was an
+uncommon one."
+
+"How do you know that it was an uncommon one?"
+
+"Because it has been newly painted, and what's funnier still, painted
+green, of all other colours. Look at this streak of paint along the
+line; see how it's smudged. Now, let's review the case as we walk
+along."
+
+So saying, with the Marquis between us, we set off down the street,
+hoping to be able to pick up a cab.
+
+"First and foremost," I said, "remember old Draper's talk of the South
+Seas--remember the collection of curios he possessed. Probably he owns a
+schooner, and it's more than probable that this line and this bit of
+canvas came from it."
+
+"I see what you're driving at," said the Inspector. "It's worth
+considering. Directly I get to the office I will set men to work to try
+and find this mysterious gentleman. You would know him again, my lord?"
+
+"I should know him anywhere," was Beckenham's immediate reply.
+
+"And have you any idea at all where this house, to which he conducted
+you, is located?"
+
+"None at all. I only know that it was about half-way down a street of
+which all the houses, save the one at the corner--which was a grocer's
+shop--were one-storied villas."
+
+"Nothing a little more definite, I suppose?"
+
+"Stay! I remember that there was an empty house with broken windows
+almost opposite, and that on either side of the steps leading up to the
+front door were two stone eagles with out-stretched wings. The head of
+one of the eagles--the left, I think--was missing."
+
+The Inspector noted these things in his pocket-book, and just as he had
+finished we picked up a cab and called it to the side walk. When we had
+got in and given the driver Mr. Wetherell's address, I said to the
+Inspector--"What are you going to do first?"
+
+"Put some men on to find Mr. Draper, and some more to find a schooner
+with her blocks newly painted green."
+
+"You won't be long in letting us know what you discover?" I said.
+"Remember how anxious we are."
+
+"You may count on my coming to you at once with any news I may procure,"
+he answered.
+
+A few moments later we drew up at Mr. Wetherell's door. Bidding the
+Inspector good-bye we went up the steps and rang the bell. By the time
+the cab was out in the street again we were in the house making our way,
+behind the butler, to Mr. Wetherell's study.
+
+The old gentleman had not gone to bed, but sat just as I had left him so
+many hours before. As soon as we were announced he rose to receive us.
+
+"Thank God, Mr. Hatteras, you have come back!" he said. "I have been in
+a perfect fever waiting for you. What have you to report?"
+
+"Not very much, I'm afraid," I answered. "But first let me have the
+pleasure of introducing the real Marquis of Beckenham to you, whom we
+have had the good fortune to find and rescue."
+
+Mr. Wetherell bowed gravely and held out his hand.
+
+"My lord," he said, "I am thankful that you have been discovered. I look
+upon it as one step towards the recovery of my poor girl. I hope now
+that both you and Mr. Hatteras will take up your abode with me during
+the remainder of your stay in the colony. You have had a scurvy welcome
+to New South Wales. We must see if we can't make up to you for it. But
+you look thoroughly worn out; I expect you would like to go to bed."
+
+He rang the bell, and when his butler appeared, gave him some
+instructions about preparing rooms for us.
+
+Ten minutes later the man returned and stated that our rooms were ready,
+whereupon Mr. Wetherell himself conducted Beckenham to the apartment
+assigned to him. When he returned to me, he asked if I would not like to
+retire too, but I would not hear of it. I could not have slept a wink,
+so great was my anxiety. Seeing this, he seated himself and listened
+attentively while I gave him an outline of Beckenham's story. I had
+hardly finished before I heard a carriage roll up to the door. There was
+a ring at the bell, and presently the butler, who, like ourselves, had
+not dreamt of going to bed, though his master had repeatedly urged him
+to do so, entered and announced the Inspector.
+
+Wetherell hobbled across to receive him with an anxious face. "Have you
+any better tidings for me?" he asked.
+
+"Not very much, I'm afraid, sir," the Inspector said, shaking his head.
+"The best I have to tell you is that your carriage and horse have been
+found in the yard of an empty house off Pitt Street."
+
+"Have you been able to discover any clue as to who put them there?"
+
+"Not one! The horse was found out of the shafts tied to the wall. There
+was not a soul about the place."
+
+Wetherell sat down again and covered his face with his hands. At that
+instant the telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply. I
+jumped up and went across to it. Placing the receivers to my ears, I
+heard a small voice say, "Is that Mr. Wetherell's house, Potts Point?"
+
+"Yes," I answered.
+
+"Who is speaking?"
+
+"Mr. Hatteras. Mr. Wetherell, however, is in the room. Who are you?"
+
+"Detective officer. Will you tell Mr. Wetherell that Mr. Draper's house
+has been discovered?"
+
+I communicated the message to Mr. Wetherell, and then the Inspector
+joined me at the instrument and spoke. "Where is the house?" he
+inquired.
+
+"83, Charlemagne Street--north side."
+
+"Very good. Inspector Murdkin speaking. Let plain clothes men be
+stationed at either end of the street, and tell them to be on the look
+out for Draper, and to wait for me. I'll start for the house at once."
+
+He rang off and then turned to me.
+
+"Are you too tired to come with me, Mr. Hatteras?" he inquired.
+
+"Of course not," I answered. "Let us go at once."
+
+"God bless you!" said Wetherell. "I hope you may catch the fellow."
+
+Bidding him good-bye, we went downstairs again, and jumped into the cab,
+which was directed to the street in question.
+
+Though it was a good distance from our starting-point, in less than half
+an hour we had pulled up at the corner. As the cab stopped, a tall man,
+dressed in blue serge, who had been standing near the lamp-post, came
+forward and touched his hat.
+
+"Good-morning, Williams," said the Inspector. "Any sign of our man?"
+
+"Not one, sir. He hasn't come down the street since I've been here."
+
+"Very good. Now come along and we'll pay the house a visit."
+
+So saying he told the cabman to follow us slowly, and we proceeded down
+the street. About half-way along he stopped and pointed to a house on
+the opposite side.
+
+"That is the house his lordship mentioned, with the broken windows, and
+this is where Mr. Draper dwells, if I am not much mistaken--see the
+eagles are on either, side of the steps, just as described."
+
+It was exactly as Beckenham had told us, even to the extent of the
+headless eagle on the left of the walk. It was a pretty little place,
+and evidently still occupied, as a maid was busily engaged cleaning the
+steps.
+
+Pushing open the gate, the Inspector entered the little garden and
+accosted the girl.
+
+"Good-morning," he said politely. "Pray, is your master at home?"
+
+"Yes, sir; he's at breakfast just now."
+
+"Well, would you mind telling him that two gentlemen would like to see
+him?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+The girl rose to her feet, and, wiping her hands on her apron, led the
+way into the house. We followed close behind her. Then, asking us to
+wait a moment where we were, she knocked at a door on the right, and
+opening it, disappeared within.
+
+"Now," said the Inspector, "our man will probably appear, and we shall
+have him nicely."
+
+The Inspector had scarcely spoken before the door opened again, and a
+man came out. To our surprise, however, he was very tall and stout, with
+a round, jovial face, and a decided air of being satisfied with himself
+and the world in general.
+
+"To what do I owe the honour of this visit?" he said, looking at the
+Inspector.
+
+"I am an Inspector of Police, as you see," answered my companion, "and
+we are looking for a man named Draper, who yesterday was in possession
+of this house."
+
+"I am afraid you have made some little mistake," returned the other. "I
+am the occupier of this house, and have been for some months past. No
+Mr. Draper has anything at all to do with it."
+
+The Inspector's face was a study for perfect bewilderment. Nor could
+mine have been much behind it. The Marquis had given such a minute
+description of the dwelling opposite and the two stone birds on the
+steps, that there could be no room for doubt that this _was_ the house.
+And yet it was physically impossible that this man could be Draper; and,
+if it were the place where Beckenham had been drugged, why were the
+weapons, etc., he had described not in the hall?
+
+"I cannot understand it at all," said the Inspector, turning to me.
+"This is the house, and yet where are the things with which it ought to
+be furnished?"
+
+"You have a description of the furniture, then?" said the owner. "That
+is good, for it will enable me to prove to you even more clearly that
+you are mistaken. Pray come and see my sitting-rooms for yourselves."
+
+He led the way into the apartment from which he had been summoned, and
+we followed him. It was small and nicely furnished, but not a South-Sea
+curio or native weapon was to be seen in it. Then we followed him to the
+corresponding room at the back of the house. This was upholstered in the
+latest fashion; but again there was no sign of what Beckenham had led us
+to expect we should find. We were completely nonplussed.
+
+"I am afraid we have troubled you without cause," said the Inspector, as
+we passed out into the hall again.
+
+"Don't mention it," the owner answered; "I find my compensation in the
+knowledge that I am not involved in any police unpleasantness."
+
+"By the way," said the Inspector suddenly, "have you any idea who your
+neighbours may be?"
+
+"Oh, dear, yes!" the man replied. "On my right I have a frigidly
+respectable widow of Low Church tendencies. On my left, the Chief Teller
+of the Bank of New Holland."
+
+"In that case we can only apologize for our intrusion and wish you
+good-morning."
+
+"Pray don't apologize. I should have been glad to have assisted you.
+Good-morning."
+
+We went down the steps again and out into the street. As we passed
+through the gate, the Inspector stopped and examined a mark on the
+right-hand post. Then he stooped and picked up what looked like a
+pebble. Having done so we resumed our walk.
+
+"What on earth can be the meaning of it all?" I asked. "Can his lordship
+have made a mistake?"
+
+"No, I think not. We have been cleverly duped, that's all."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"I didn't think so until we passed through the gate on our way out. Now
+I'm certain of it. Come across the street."
+
+I followed him across the road to a small plain-looking house, with a
+neatly-curtained bow window and a brass plate on the front door. From
+the latter I discovered that the proprietress of the place was a
+dressmaker, but I was completely at a loss to understand why we were
+visiting her. As soon as the door was opened the Inspector asked if Miss
+Tiffins were at home, and, on being told that she was, inquired if we
+might see her. The maid went away to find out, and presently returned
+and begged us to follow her. We did so down a small passage towards the
+door of the room which contained the bow window.
+
+Miss Tiffins bade us be seated, and then asked in what way she could be
+of service to us.
+
+"In the first place, madam," said the Inspector, "a serious crime has
+been perpetrated, and I have reason to believe that it may be in your
+power to give us a clue to the persons who committed it."
+
+"You frighten me, sir," replied the lady. "I cannot at all see in what
+way I can help you. I lead a life of the greatest quietness."
+
+"I do not wish to imply that you do know anything of them. I only want
+you to carry your memory back as far as yesterday, and to answer me the
+few simple questions I may ask you."
+
+"I will answer them to the best of my ability."
+
+"Well, in the first place, may I ask if you remember seeing a brougham
+drive up to that house opposite about mid-day yesterday?"
+
+"No, I cannot say that I do," the old lady replied after a moment's
+consideration.
+
+"Do you remember seeing a number of men leave the house during the
+afternoon?"
+
+"No. If they came out I did not notice them."
+
+"Now, think for one moment, if you please, and tell me what vehicles, if
+any, you remember seeing stop there."
+
+"Let me try to remember. There was Judge's baker's cart, about three,
+the milk about five, and a furniture van about half-past six."
+
+"That's just what I want to know. And have you any recollection whose
+furniture van it was?"
+
+"Yes. I remember reading the name as it turned round. Goddard & James,
+George Street. I wondered if the tenant was going to move."
+
+The Inspector rose, and I followed his example.
+
+"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Miss Tiffins. You have helped me
+materially."
+
+"I am glad of that," she answered; "but I trust I shall not be wanted to
+give evidence in court."
+
+"You need have no fear on that score," the Inspector answered.
+"Good-day."
+
+When we had left the house the Inspector turned to me and said--
+
+"It was a great piece of luck finding a dressmaker opposite. Commend me
+to ladies of that profession for knowing what goes on in the street. Now
+we will visit Messrs. Goddard & James and see who hired the things.
+Meantime, Williams," (here he called the plain-clothes constable to him),
+"you had better remain here and watch that house. If the man we saw
+comes out, follow him, and let me know where he goes."
+
+"Very good, sir," the constable replied, and we left him to his vigil.
+
+Then, hailing a passing cab, we jumped into it and directed the driver
+to convey us to George Street. By this time it was getting on for
+mid-day, and we were both worn out. But I was in such a nervous state
+that I could not remain inactive. Phyllis had been in Nikola's hands
+nearly fourteen hours, and so far we had not obtained one single
+definite piece of information as to her whereabouts.
+
+Arriving at the shop of Messrs. Goddard & James, we went inside and
+asked to see the chief partner. An assistant immediately conveyed us to
+an office at the rear of the building, where we found an elderly
+gentleman writing at a desk. He looked up as we entered, and then,
+seeing the Inspector's uniform, rose and asked our business.
+
+"The day before yesterday," began my companion, "you supplied a
+gentleman with a number of South-Sea weapons and curios on hire, did you
+not?"
+
+"I remember doing so--yes," was the old gentleman's answer. "What about
+it?"
+
+"Only I should be glad if you would favour me with a description of the
+person who called upon you about them--or a glimpse of his letter, if he
+wrote."
+
+"He called and saw me personally."
+
+"Ah! That is good. Now would you be so kind as to describe him?"
+
+"Well, in the first place, he was very tall and rather handsome; he had,
+if I remember rightly, a long brown moustache, and was decidedly well
+dressed."
+
+"That doesn't tell us very much, does it? Was he alone?"
+
+"No. He had with him, when he came into the office, an individual whose
+face remains fixed in my memory--indeed I cannot get it out of my head."
+
+Instantly I became all excitement.
+
+"What was this second person like?" I asked.
+
+"Well, I can hardly tell you--that is to say, I can hardly give you a
+good enough description of him to make you see him as I saw him. He was
+tall and yet very slim, had black hair, a sallow complexion, and the
+blackest eyes I ever saw in a man. He was clean-shaven and exquisitely
+dressed, and when he spoke, his teeth glittered like so many pearls. I
+never saw another man like him in my life."
+
+"Nikola, for a thousand!" I cried, bringing my hand down with a thump
+upon the table.
+
+"It looks as if we're on the track at last," said the Inspector. Then,
+turning to Mr. Goddard again: "And may I ask now what excuse they made
+to you for wanting these things!"
+
+"They did not offer any; they simply paid a certain sum down for the
+hire of them, gave me their address, and then left."
+
+"And the address was?"
+
+"83, Charlemagne Street. Our van took the things there and fetched them
+away last night."
+
+"Thank you. And now one or two other questions. What name did the hirer
+give?"
+
+"Eastover."
+
+"When they left your shop how did they go away?"
+
+"A cab was waiting at the door for them, and I walked out to it with
+them."
+
+"There were only two of them, you think?"
+
+"No. There was a third person waiting for them in the cab, and it was
+that very circumstance which made me anxious to have my things brought
+back as soon as possible. If I had been able to, I should have even
+declined to let them go."
+
+"Why so?"
+
+"Well, to tell you that would involve a story. But perhaps I had better
+tell you. It was in this way. About three years ago, through a distant
+relative, I got to know a man named Draper."
+
+"Draper!" I cried. "You don't mean--but there, I beg your pardon. Pray
+go on."
+
+"As I say, I got to know this man Draper, who was a South-Sea trader. We
+met once or twice, and then grew more intimate. So friendly did we at
+last become, that I even went so far as to put some money into a scheme
+he proposed to me. It was a total failure. Draper proved a perfect fraud
+and a most unbusiness-like person, and all I got out of the transaction
+was the cases of curios and weapons which this man Eastover hired from
+me. It was because--when I went out with my customers to their cab--I
+saw this man Draper waiting for them that I became uneasy about my
+things. However, all's well that ends well, and as they returned my
+goods and paid the hire I must not grumble."
+
+"And now tell me what you know of Draper's present life," the Inspector
+said.
+
+"Ah! I'm afraid of that I can tell you but little. He has been twice
+declared bankrupt, and the last time there was some fuss made over his
+schooner, the _Merry Duchess_."
+
+"He possesses a schooner, then?"
+
+"Oh, yes! A nice boat. She's in harbour now."
+
+"Thank you very much, Mr. Goddard. I am obliged to you for your
+assistance in this matter."
+
+"Don't mention it. I hope that what I have told you may prove of service
+to you."
+
+"I'm sure it will. Good-day."
+
+"Good-day, gentlemen."
+
+He accompanied us to the door, and then bade us farewell. "Now what are
+we to do?" I asked.
+
+"Well, first, I am going back to the office to put a man on to find this
+schooner, and then I'm going to take an hour or two's rest. By that time
+we shall know enough to be able to lay our hands on Dr. Nikola and his
+victim, I hope."
+
+"God grant we may!"
+
+"Where are you going now?"
+
+"Back to Potts Point," I answered.
+
+We thereupon bade each other farewell and set off in different
+directions.
+
+When I reached Mr. Wetherell's house I learned from the butler that his
+master had fallen asleep in the library. Not wishing to disturb him, I
+inquired the whereabouts of my own bedroom, and on being conducted to
+it, laid myself down fully dressed upon the bed. So utterly worn out was
+I, that my head had no sooner touched the pillow than I was fast asleep.
+How long I lay there I do not know, but when I woke it was to find Mr.
+Wetherell standing beside me, holding a letter in his hand. He was white
+as a sheet, and trembling in every limb. "Read this, Mr. Hatteras," he
+cried. "For Heaven's sake tell me what we are to do!"
+
+I sat up on the side of the bed and read the letter he handed to me. It
+was written in what was evidently a disguised hand, on common
+note-paper, and ran:----
+
+     "TO MR. WETHERELL,
+     "POTTS POINT, SYDNEY
+
+     "DEAR SIR,
+
+     "This is to inform you that your daughter is in very safe keeping.
+     If you wish to find her you had better be quick about it. What's
+     more, you had better give up consulting the police, and such like,
+     in the hope of getting hold of her. The only way you _can_ get her
+     will be to act as follows: At eight o'clock to-night charter a boat
+     and pull down the harbour as far as Shark Point. When you get
+     there, light your pipe three times, and some one in a boat near by
+     will do the same. Be sure to bring with you the sum of _one hundred
+     thousand pounds in gold, and--this is most important--bring with
+     you the little stick you got from China Pete, or do not come at
+     all_. Above all, do not bring more than one man. If you do not put
+     in an appearance you will not hear of your daughter again.
+
+     Yours obediently,
+     "THE MAN WHO KNOWS."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+FOLLOWING UP A CLUE
+
+
+For some moments after I had perused the curious epistle Mr. Wetherell
+had brought to my room I remained wrapped in thought.
+
+"What do you make of it?" my companion asked.
+
+"I don't know what to say," I answered, looking at it again. "One thing,
+however, is quite certain, and that is that, despite its curious
+wording, it is intended you should take it seriously."
+
+"You think so?"
+
+"I do indeed. But I think when the Inspector arrives it would be just as
+well to show it to him. What do you say?"
+
+"I agree with you. Let us defer consideration of it until we see him."
+
+When, an hour later, the Inspector put in an appearance, the letter was
+accordingly placed before him, and his opinion asked concerning it. He
+read it through without comment, carefully examined the writing and
+signature, and finally held it up to the light. Having done this he
+turned to me and said:
+
+"Have you that envelope we found at the _Canary Bird_, Mr. Hatteras?"
+
+I took it out of my pocket and handed it to him. He then placed it on
+the table side by side with the letter, and through a magnifying-glass
+scrutinized both carefully. Having done so, he asked for the envelope in
+which it had arrived. Mr. Wetherell had thrown it into the waste-paper
+basket, but a moment's search brought it to light. Again he scrutinized
+both the first envelope and the letter, and then compared them with the
+second cover. "Yes, I thought so," he said. "This letter was written
+either by Nikola, or at his desire. The paper is the same as that he
+purchased at the stationer's shop we visited."
+
+"And what had we better do now?" queried Wetherell, who had been eagerly
+waiting for his opinion.
+
+"We must think," said the Inspector. "In the first place, I suppose you
+don't feel inclined to pay the large sum mentioned here?"
+
+"Not if I can help it, of course," answered Wetherell. "But if the worst
+comes to the worst, and I cannot rescue my poor girl any other way, I
+would sacrifice even more than that."
+
+"Well, we'll see if we can find her without compelling you to pay
+anything at all," the Inspector cried. "I've got an idea in my head."
+
+"And what is that?" I cried; for I, too, had been thinking out a plan.
+
+"Well, first and foremost," he answered, "I want you, Mr. Wetherell, to
+tell me all you can about your servants. Let us begin with the butler.
+How long has he been with you?"
+
+"Nearly twenty years."
+
+"A good and trustworthy servant, I presume?"
+
+"To the last degree. I have implicit confidence in him."
+
+"Then we may dismiss him from our minds. I think I saw a footman in the
+hall. How long has he been with you?"
+
+"Just about three months."
+
+"And what sort of a fellow is he?"
+
+"I really could not tell you very much. He seems intelligent, quick and
+willing, and up to his work."
+
+"Is your cook a man or a woman?"
+
+"A woman. She has been with me since before my wife's death--that is to
+say, nearly ten years. You need have no suspicion of her."
+
+"Housemaids?"
+
+"Two. Both have been with me some time, and seem steady, respectable
+girls. There is also a kitchen maid; but she has been with me nearly as
+long as my cook, and I would stake my reputation on her integrity."
+
+"Well, in that case, the only person who seems at all suspicious is the
+footman. May we have him up?"
+
+"With pleasure. I'll ring for him."
+
+Mr. Wetherell rang the bell, and a moment later it was answered by the
+man himself.
+
+"Come in, James, and shut the door behind you," his master said.
+
+The man did as he was ordered, but not without looking, as I thought, a
+little uncomfortable. The Inspector I could see had noticed this too,
+for he had been watching him intently ever since he had appeared in the
+room.
+
+"James," said Mr. Wetherell, "the Inspector of Police wishes to ask you
+a few questions. Answer him to the best of your ability."
+
+"To begin with," said the Inspector, "I want you to look at this
+envelope. Have you seen it before?"
+
+He handed him the envelope of the anonymous letter addressed to Mr.
+Wetherell. The man took it and turned it over in his hands.
+
+"Yes, sir," he said, "I have seen it before; I took it in at the front
+door."
+
+"From whom?"
+
+"From a little old woman, sir," the man answered.
+
+"A little old woman!" cried the Inspector, evidently surprised. "What
+sort of woman?"
+
+"Well, sir, I don't know that I can give you much of a description of
+her. She was very small, had a sort of nut-cracker face, a little black
+poke bonnet, and walked with a stick."
+
+"Should you know her again if you saw her?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir."
+
+"Did she say anything when she gave you the letter?"
+
+"Only, 'For Mr. Wetherell, young man.' That was all, sir."
+
+"And you didn't ask if there was an answer? That was rather a singular
+omission on your part, was it not?"
+
+"She didn't give me time, sir. She just put it into my hand and went
+down the steps again."
+
+"That will do. Now, Mr. Wetherell, I think we'd better see about getting
+that money from the bank. You need not wait, my man."
+
+The footman thereupon left the room, while both Mr. Wetherell and I
+stared at the Inspector in complete astonishment. He laughed.
+
+"You are wondering why I said that," he remarked.
+
+"I must confess it struck me as curious."
+
+"Well, let me tell you I did it with a purpose. Did you notice that
+young man's face when he entered the room and when I gave him the
+letter? There can be no doubt about it, he is in the secret."
+
+"You mean that he is in Nikola's employ? Then why don't you arrest him?"
+
+"Because I want to be quite certain first. I said that about the money
+because, if he is Nikola's agent, he will carry the information to him,
+and by so doing keep your daughter in Sydney for at least a day longer.
+Do you see?"
+
+"I do, and I admire your diplomacy. Now what is your plan?"
+
+"May I first tell mine?" I said.
+
+"Do," said the Inspector, "for mine is not quite matured yet."
+
+"Well," I said, "my idea is this. I propose that Mr. Wetherell shall
+obtain from his bank a number of gold bags, fill them with lead discs to
+represent coin, and let it leak out before this man that he has got the
+money in the house. Then to-night Mr. Wetherell will set off for the
+water-side. I will row him down the harbour disguised as a boatman. We
+will pick up the boat, as arranged in that letter. In the meantime you
+must start from the other side in a police boat, pull up to meet us, and
+arrest the man. Then we will force him to disclose Miss Wetherell's
+whereabouts, and act upon his information. What do you say?"
+
+"It certainly sound feasible," said the Inspector, and Mr. Wetherell
+nodded his head approvingly. At that moment the Marquis entered the
+room, looking much better than when we had found him on the preceding
+night, and the conversation branched off into a different channel.
+
+My plot seemed to commend itself so much to Mr. Wetherell's judgment,
+that he ordered his carriage and drove off there and then to his bank,
+while I went down to the harbour, arranged about a boat, and having done
+so, proceeded up to the town, where I purchased a false beard, an old
+dungaree suit, such as a man loafing about the harbour might wear, and a
+slouch hat of villainous appearance. By the time I got back to the house
+Mr. Wetherell had returned. With great delight he conducted me to his
+study, and, opening his safe, showed me a number of canvas bags, on each
+of which was printed £1,000.
+
+"But surely there are not £100,000 there?"
+
+"No," said the old gentleman with a chuckle. "There is the counterfeit
+of £50,000 there; for the rest I propose to show him these."
+
+So saying, he dived his hand into a drawer and produced a sheaf of crisp
+bank-notes.
+
+"There--these are notes for the balance of the amount."
+
+"But you surely are not going to pay? I thought we were going to try to
+catch the rascals without letting any money change hands."
+
+"So we are, do not be afraid. If you will only glance at these notes you
+will see that they are dummies, every one of them. They are for me to
+exhibit to the man in the boat; in the dark they'll pass muster, never
+fear."
+
+"Very good indeed," I said with a laugh. "By the time they can be
+properly examined we shall have the police at hand ready to capture
+him."
+
+"I believe we shall," the old gentleman cried, rubbing his hands
+together in delight--"I believe we shall. And a nice example we'll make
+of the rascals. Nikola thinks he can beat me; I'll show him how mistaken
+he is!"
+
+And for some time the old gentleman continued in this strain,
+confidently believing that he would have his daughter with him again by
+the time morning came. Nor was I far behind him in confidence. Since
+Nikola had not spirited her out of the country my plot seemed the one of
+all others to enable us to regain possession of her; and not only that,
+but we hoped it would give us an opportunity of punishing those who had
+so schemed against her. Suddenly an idea was born in my brain, and
+instantly I acted on it.
+
+"Mr. Wetherell," I said, "supposing, when your daughter is safe again, I
+presume so far as once more to offer myself for your son-in-law, what
+will you say?"
+
+"What will I say?" he cried. "Why, I will tell you that you shall have
+her, my boy, with ten thousand blessings on your head. I know you now;
+and since I've treated you so badly, and you've taken such a noble
+revenge, why, I'll make it up to you, or my name's not Wetherell. But we
+won't talk any more about that till we have got possession of her; we
+have other and more important things to think of. What time ought we to
+start to-night?"
+
+"The letter fixes the meeting for ten o'clock; we had better be in the
+boat by half-past nine. In the meantime I should advise you to take a
+little rest. By the way, do you think your footman realizes that you
+have the money?"
+
+"He ought to, for he carried it up to this room for me; and, what's
+more, he has applied for a holiday this afternoon."
+
+"That's to carry the information. Very good; everything is working
+excellently. Now I'm off to rest for a little while."
+
+"I'll follow your example. In the meantime I'll give orders for an early
+dinner."
+
+We dined at seven o'clock sharp, and at half-past eight I went off to my
+room to don my disguise; then, bidding the Marquis good-bye--much to the
+young gentleman's disgust, for he was most anxious to accompany us--I
+slipped quietly out of my window, crossed the garden--I hoped
+unobserved--and then went down to the harbour side, where the boat I had
+chartered was waiting for me. A quarter of an hour later Wetherell's
+carriage drove up, and on seeing it I went across and opened the door.
+My disguise was so perfect that for a moment the old gentleman seemed
+undecided whether to trust me or not. But my voice, when I spoke,
+reassured him, and then we set to work carrying the bags of spurious
+money down to the boat. As soon as this was accomplished we stepped in.
+I seated myself amid-ships and got out the oars, Mr. Wetherell taking
+the yoke-lines in the stern. Then we shoved off, and made our way out
+into the harbour.
+
+It was a dull, cloudy night, with hardly a sign of a star in the whole
+length and breadth of heaven, while every few minutes a cold, cheerless
+wind swept across the water. So chilly indeed was it that before we had
+gone very far I began to wish I had added an overcoat to my other
+disguises. We hardly spoke, but pulled slowly down towards the island
+mentioned in the letter. The strain on our nerves was intense, and I
+must confess to feeling decidedly nervous as I wondered what would
+happen if the police boat did not pull up to meet us, as we had that
+morning arranged.
+
+A quarter to ten chimed from some church ashore as we approached within
+a hundred yards of our destination. Then I rested on my oars and waited.
+All round us were the lights of bigger craft, but no rowing-boat could I
+see. About five minutes before the hour I whispered to Wetherell to make
+ready, and in answer the old gentleman took a matchbox from his pocket.
+Exactly as the town clocks struck the hour he lit a vesta; it flared a
+little and then went out. As it did so a boat shot out of the darkness
+to port. He struck a second, and then a third. As the last one burned up
+and then died away, the man rowing the boat I have just referred to
+struck a light, then another, then another, in rapid succession. Having
+finished his display, he took up his oars and propelled his boat towards
+us. When he was within talking distance he said in a gruff voice:
+
+"Is Mr. Wetherell aboard?"
+
+To this my companion immediately answered, with a tremble in his voice,
+"Yes, here I am!"
+
+"Money all right?"
+
+"Can you see if I hold it up?" asked Mr. Wetherell. As he spoke a long,
+black boat came into view on the other side of our questioner, and
+pulled slowly towards him. It was the police boat.
+
+"No, I don't want to see," said the voice again. "But this is the
+message I was to give you. Pull in towards Circular Quay and find the
+_Maid of the Mist_ barque. Go aboard her, and take your money down into
+the cuddy. There you'll get your answer."
+
+"Nothing more?" cried Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"That's all I was told," answered the man, and then said, "Good-night."
+
+At the same moment the police boat pulled up alongside him and made
+fast. I saw a dark figure enter his boat, and next moment the glare of a
+lantern fell upon the man's face. I picked up my oars and pulled over to
+them, getting there just in time to hear the Inspector ask the man his
+name.
+
+"James Burbidge," was the reply. "I don't know as how you've got
+anything against me. I'm a licensed waterman, I am."
+
+"Very likely," said the Inspector; "but I want a little explanation from
+you. How do you come to be mixed up in this business?"
+
+"What--about this 'ere message, d'you mean?"
+
+"Yes, about this message. Where is it from? Who gave it to you?"
+
+"Well, if you'll let me go, I'll tell you all about it," growled the
+man. "I was up at the _Hen and Chickens_ this evenin', just afore dark,
+takin' a nobbler along with a friend. Presently in comes a cove in a
+cloak. He beckons me outside and says, 'Do you want to earn a
+sufring?'--a sufring is twenty bob. So I says, 'My word, I do!' Then he
+says, 'Well, you go out on the harbour to-night, and be down agin Shark
+Point at ten?' I said I would, and so I was. 'You'll see a boat there
+with an old gent in it,' says he. 'He'll strike three matches, and you
+do the same. Then ask him if he's Mr. Wetherell. If he says "Yes," ask
+him if the money's all right? And if he says "Yes" to that, tell him to
+pull in towards Circular Quay and find the _Maid of the Mist_ barque.
+He's to take his money down to the cuddy, and he'll get his answer
+there.' That's the truth so 'elp me bob! I don't know what you wants to
+go arrestin' of an honest man for."
+
+The Inspector turned to the water police.
+
+"Does any man here know James Burbidge?"
+
+Two or three voices immediately answered in the affirmative, and this
+seemed to decide the officer, for he turned to the waterman again and
+said, "As some of my men seem to know you, I'll let you off. But for
+your own sake go home and keep a silent tongue."
+
+He thereupon clambered back into his own boat and bade the man depart.
+In less time than it takes to tell he was out of sight. We then drew up
+alongside the police boat.
+
+"What had we better do, Mr. Inspector?" asked Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"Find the _Maid of the Mist_ at once. She's an untenanted ship, being
+for sale. You will go aboard, sir, with your companion, and down to the
+cuddy. Don't take your money, however. We'll draw up alongside as soon
+as you're below, and when one of their gang, whom you'll despatch for
+it, comes up to get the coin, we'll collar him, and then come to your
+assistance. Do you understand?"
+
+"Perfectly. But how are we to know the vessel?"
+
+"Well, the better plan would be for you to follow us. We'll pull to
+within a hundred yards of her. I learn from one of my men here that
+she's painted white, so you'll have no difficulty in recognizing her."
+
+"Very well, then, go on, and we'll follow you."
+
+The police boat accordingly set off, and we followed about fifty yards
+behind her. A thick drizzle was now falling, and it was by no means an
+easy matter to keep her in sight. For some time we pulled on. Presently
+we began to get closer to her. In a quarter of an hour we were
+alongside.
+
+"There's your craft," said the Inspector, pointing as he spoke to a big
+vessel showing dimly through the scud to starboard of us. "Pull over to
+her."
+
+I followed his instructions, and, arriving at the vessel's side, hitched
+on, made the painter fast, and then, having clambered aboard, assisted
+Mr. Wetherell to do the same. As soon as we had both gained the deck we
+stood and looked about us, at the same time listening for any sound
+which might proclaim the presence of the men we had come to meet; but
+save the sighing of the wind in the shrouds overhead, the dismal
+creaking of blocks, and the drip of moisture upon the deck, no sign was
+to be heard. There was nothing for it, therefore, but to make our way
+below as best we could. Fortunately I had had the forethought to bring
+with me a small piece of candle, which came in very handily at the
+present juncture, seeing that the cuddy, when we reached the companion
+ladder, was wrapt in total darkness. Very carefully I stepped inside,
+lit the candle, and then, with Mr. Wetherell at my heels, made my way
+down the steps.
+
+Arriving at the bottom we found ourselves in a fair-sized saloon of the
+old-fashioned type. Three cabins stood on either side, while from the
+bottom of the companion ladder, by which we had descended, to a long
+cushioned locker right aft under the wheel, ran a table covered with
+American cloth. But there was no man of any kind to be seen. I opened
+cabin after cabin, and searched each with a like result. We were
+evidently quite alone in the ship.
+
+"What do you make of it all?" I asked of Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"It looks extremely suspicious," he answered. "Perhaps we're too early
+for them. But see, Mr. Hatteras, there's something on the table at the
+farther end."
+
+So there was--something that looked very much like a letter. Together we
+went round to the end of the table, and there, surely enough, found a
+letter pinned to the American cloth, and addressed to my companion in a
+bold but rather quaint handwriting.
+
+"It's for you, Mr. Wetherell," I said, removing the pins and presenting
+it to him. Thereupon we sat down beside the table, and he broke the seal
+with trembling fingers. It was not a very long epistle, and ran:--
+
+     "MY DEAR MR. WETHERELL,--
+
+     "Bags of imitation money and spurious bank-notes will not avail
+     you, nor is it politic to arrange that the Water Police should meet
+     you on the harbour for the purpose of arresting me. You have lost
+     your opportunity, and your daughter accordingly leaves Australia
+     to-night. I will, however, give you one more chance--take care that
+     you make the most of it. The sum I now ask is £150,000 _with the
+     stick given you by China Pete_, and must be paid without inquiry of
+     any sort. If you are agreeable to this, advertise as follows, 'I
+     will Pay--W., and give stick!' in the agony column _Sydney Morning
+     Herald_, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of this present month.
+     Arrangements will then be made with you.
+
+     "THE MAN WHO KNOWS."
+
+"Oh, my God, I've ruined all!" cried Mr. Wetherell as he put the letter
+down on the table; "and--who knows?--I may have killed my poor child!"
+
+Seeing his misery, I did my best to comfort him; but it was no use. He
+seemed utterly broken down by the failure of our scheme, and, if the
+truth must be told, my own heart was quite as heavy. One thing was very
+certain, there was a traitor in our camp. Some one had overheard our
+plans and carried them elsewhere. Could it be the footman? If so, he
+should have it made hot for him when I got sufficient proof against him;
+I could promise him that most certainly. While I was thinking over this,
+I heard a footstep on the companion stairs, and a moment later the
+Inspector made his appearance. His astonishment at finding us alone,
+reading a letter by the light of one solitary candle, was unmistakable,
+for he said, as he came towards us and sat down, "Why, how's this? Where
+are the men?"
+
+"There are none. We've been nicely sold," I answered, handing him the
+letter. He perused it without further remark, and when he had done so,
+sat drumming with his fingers upon the table in thought.
+
+"We shall have to look in your own house for the person who has given us
+away, Mr. Wetherell!" he said at last. "The folk who are running this
+affair are as cute as men are made nowadays; it's a pleasure to measure
+swords with them."
+
+"What do you think our next move had better be?"
+
+"Get home as fast as we can. I'll return with you, and we'll talk it
+over. It's no use our remaining here."
+
+We accordingly went on deck, and descended to our wherry again. This
+time the Inspector accompanied us, while the police boat set off down
+the harbour on other business. When we had seen it pull out into the
+darkness, we threw the imitation money overboard, pushed off for the
+shore, landed where we had first embarked, and then walked up to Mr.
+Wetherell's house. It was considerably after twelve o'clock by the time
+we reached it, but the butler was still sitting up for us. His
+disappointment seemed as keen as ours when he discovered that we had
+returned without his young mistress. He followed us up to the study with
+spirits and glasses, and then at his master's instruction went off to
+bed.
+
+"Now, gentlemen," began Mr. Wetherell, when the door had closed upon
+him, "let us discuss the matter thoroughly. But, before we begin, may I
+offer you cigars?"
+
+The Inspector took one, but I declined, stating that I preferred a pipe.
+But my pipe was in my bedroom, which was on the other side of the
+passage; so asking them to wait for me, I went to fetch it. I left the
+room, shutting the door behind me. But it so happened that the pipe-case
+had been moved, and it was some minutes before I could find it. Having
+done so, however, I blew out my candle, and was about to leave the room,
+which was exactly opposite the study, when I heard the green baize door
+at the end of the passage open, and a light footstep come along the
+corridor. Instantly I stood perfectly still, and waited to see who it
+might be. Closer and closer the step came, till I saw in the half dark
+the pretty figure of one of the parlour maids. On tip-toe she crept up
+to the study door, and then stooping down, listened at the keyhole.
+Instantly I was on the alert, every nerve strained to watch her. For
+nearly five minutes she stood there, and then with a glance round,
+tiptoed quietly along the passage again, closing the baize door after
+her.
+
+When she was safely out of hearing I crossed to the study. Both the
+Inspector and Mr. Wetherell saw that something had happened, and were
+going to question me. But I held up my hand.
+
+"Don't ask any questions, but tell me as quickly, and as nearly as you
+can, what you have been talking about during the last five minutes," I
+said.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Don't stop to ask questions. Believe in the importance of my haste.
+What was it?"
+
+"I have only been giving Mr. Wetherell a notion of the steps I propose
+to take," said the Inspector.
+
+"Thank you. Now I'm off. Don't sit up for me, Mr. Wetherell; I'm going
+to follow up a clue that may put us on the right scent at last. I don't
+think you had better come, Mr. Inspector, but I'll meet you here again
+at six o'clock."
+
+"You can't explain, I suppose?" said the latter, looking a little
+huffed.
+
+"I'm afraid not," I answered; "but I'll tell you this much--I saw one of
+the female servants listening at this door. She'll be off, if I mistake
+not, with the news she has picked up, and I want to watch her.
+Good-night."
+
+"Good-night, and good luck to you."
+
+Without another word I slipped off my boots, and carrying them in my
+hand, left the room, and went downstairs to the morning-room. This
+apartment looked out over the garden, and possessed a window shaded by a
+big tree. Opening it, I jumped out and carefully closed it after me.
+Then, pausing for a moment to resume my boots, I crept quietly down the
+path, jumped a low wall, and so passed into the back street. About fifty
+yards from the tradesmen's entrance, but on the opposite side of the
+road, there was a big Moreton Bay fig-tree. Under this I took my stand,
+and turned a watchful eye upon the house. It was a dark night, so that
+it would have been extremely difficult for any one across the way to
+have detected my presence.
+
+For some minutes I waited, and was beginning to wonder if I could have
+been deceived, when I heard the soft click of a latch, and next moment a
+small dark figure passed out into the street, and closed the gate after
+it. Then, pausing a moment as if to make up her mind, for the mysterious
+person was a woman, she set off quickly in the direction of the city. I
+followed about a hundred yards behind her.
+
+With the exception of one policeman, who stared very hard at me, we did
+not meet a soul. Once or twice I nearly lost her, and when we reached
+the city itself I began to see that it would be well for me to decrease
+the difference that separated us, if I did not wish to bid good-bye to
+her altogether. I accordingly hastened my steps, and in this fashion we
+passed up one street and down another, until we reached what I cannot
+help thinking must have been the lowest quarter of Sydney. On either
+hand were Chinese names and sign-boards, marine stores, slop shops, with
+pawnbrokers and public-houses galore; while in this locality few of the
+inhabitants seemed to have any idea of what bed meant. Groups of
+sullen-looking men and women were clustered at the corners, and on one
+occasion the person I was pursuing was stopped by them. But she
+evidently knew how to take care of herself, for she was soon marching on
+her way again.
+
+At the end of one long and filthily dirty street she paused and looked
+about her. I had crossed the road just before this, and was scarcely ten
+yards behind her. Pulling my hat well down to shade my face, and
+sticking my hands in my pockets, I staggered and reeled along, doing my
+best to imitate the gait of a drunken man. Seeing only me about, she
+went up to the window of a corner house and tapped with her knuckles
+thrice upon the glass. Before one could have counted twenty the door of
+the dwelling was opened, and she passed in. Now I was in a nasty
+fix--either I must be content to abandon my errand, or I must get inside
+the building, and trust to luck to procure the information I wanted.
+Fortunately, in my present disguise the girl would be hardly likely to
+recognize her master's guest. So giving them time to get into a room, I
+also went up to the door and turned the handle. To my delight it was
+unlocked. I opened it, and entered the house.
+
+The passage was in total darkness; but I could make out where the door
+of the room I wanted to find was located by a thin streak of light low
+down upon the floor. As softly as I possibly could, I crept up to it,
+and bent down to look through the keyhole. The view was necessarily
+limited, but I could just make out the girl I had followed sitting upon
+a bed; while leaning against the wall, a dirty clay pipe in her mouth,
+was the vilest old woman I have ever in my life set eyes on. She was
+very small, with a pinched-up nut-cracker face, dressed in an old bit of
+tawdry finery, more than three sizes too large for her. Her hair fell
+upon her shoulders in a tangled mass, and from under it her eyes gleamed
+out like those of a wicked little Scotch terrier ready to bite. As I
+bent down to listen I heard her say:--
+
+"Well, my pretty dear, and what information have you got for the
+gentleman, that brings you down at this time of night?"
+
+"Only that the _coppers_ are going to start at daylight looking for the
+_Merry Duchess_. I heard the Inspector say so himself."
+
+"At daylight, are they?" croaked the old hag. "Well, I wish 'em joy of
+their search, I do--them--them! Any more news, my dear?"
+
+"The master and that long-legged slab of a Hatteras went out to-night
+down the harbour. The old man brought home a lot of money bags, but what
+was in 'em was only dummies."
+
+"I know that, too, my dear. Nicely they was sold. Ha! ha!"
+
+She chuckled like an old fiend, and then began to cut up another pipe of
+tobacco in the palm of her hand like a man. She smoked negro head, and
+the reek of it came out through the keyhole to me. But the younger woman
+was evidently impatient, for she rose and said:--
+
+"When do they sail with the girl, Sally?"
+
+"They're gone, my dear. They went at ten to-night."
+
+At this news my heart began to throb painfully.
+
+"They weren't long about it," said the younger girl.
+
+"That Nikola's not long about anything," remarked the old woman.
+
+"I hope Pipa Lannu will agree with her health--the stuck-up minx--I do!"
+the younger remarked spitefully. "Now where's the money he said I was to
+have. Give it to me and let me be off. I shall get the sack if this is
+found out."
+
+"It was five pound I was to give yer, wasn't it?" the elder woman said.
+
+"Ten," said the younger sharply. "No larks, Sally. I know too much for
+you!"
+
+"Oh, you know a lot, honey, don't you? Of course you'd be expected to
+know more than old Aunt Sally, who's never seen anything at all,
+wouldn't you? Go along with you!"
+
+"Hand me over the money, I say, and let me be off!"
+
+"Of course you do know a lot more, don't you? There's a pound!"
+
+While they were wrangling over the payment I crept down the passage
+again to the front door. Once I had reached it, I opened it softly and
+went out, closing it carefully behind me. Then I took to my heels and
+ran down the street in the direction I had come. Inquiring my way here
+and there from policemen, I eventually reached home, scaled the wall,
+and went across the garden to the morning-room window. This I opened,
+and by its help made my way into the house and upstairs. As I had
+expected that he would have gone to bed, my astonishment was
+considerable at meeting Mr. Wetherell on the landing.
+
+"Well, what have you discovered?" he asked anxiously as I came up to
+him.
+
+"Information of the greatest importance," I answered; "but one other
+thing first. Call up your housekeeper, and tell her you have reason to
+believe that one of the maids is not in the house. Warn her not to
+mention you in the matter, but to discharge the girl before breakfast.
+By the time you've done that I'll have changed my things and be ready to
+tell you everything."
+
+"I'll go and rouse her at once; I'm all impatience to know what you have
+discovered."
+
+He left me and passed through the green baize door to the servants'
+wing; while I went to my bedroom and changed my things. This done, I
+passed into the study, where I found a meal awaiting me. To this I did
+ample justice, for my long walk and the excitement of the evening had
+given me an unusual appetite.
+
+Just as I was cutting myself a third slice of beef Mr. Wetherell
+returned, and informed me that the housekeeper was on the alert, and
+would receive the girl on her reappearance.
+
+"Now tell me of your doings," said the old gentleman.
+
+I thereupon narrated all that had occurred, and when I had finished, he
+said:--
+
+"Do you believe then that my poor girl has been carried off by Nikola to
+this island called Pipa Lannu?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Well, then, what are we to do to rescue her? Shall, I ask the
+Government to send a gunboat down?"
+
+"If you think it best; but, for my own part, I must own I should act
+independently of them. You don't want to make a big sensation, I
+presume; and remember, to arrest Nikola would be to open the whole
+affair."
+
+"Then what do you propose?"
+
+"I propose," I answered, "that we charter a small schooner, fit her out,
+select half a dozen trustworthy and silent men, and then take our
+departure for Pipa Lannu. I am well acquainted with the island, and,
+what's more, I hold a master's certificate. We would sail in after dark,
+arm all our party thoroughly, and go ashore. I expect they will be
+keeping your daughter a prisoner in a hut. If that is so, we will
+surround it and rescue her without any trouble, and, what is better
+still, without any public scandal. What do you think?"
+
+"I quite agree with what you say. I think it's an excellent idea; and,
+while you've been speaking, I too have been thinking of something.
+There's my old friend McMurtough, who has a nice steam yacht. I'm sure
+he'd be willing to let us have the use of her."
+
+"Where does he live?--far from here?"
+
+"His office would be best; we'll go over and see him directly after
+breakfast if you like."
+
+"By all means. Now I think I'll go and take a little nap; I feel quite
+worn out. When the Inspector arrives you will be able to explain all
+that has happened; but I think I should ask him to keep a quiet tongue
+in his head about the island. If it leaks out at all, it may warn them,
+and they'll be off elsewhere--to a place perhaps where we may not be
+able to find them."
+
+"I'll remember," said Mr. Wetherell, and thereupon I retired to my room,
+and, having partially undressed, threw myself upon my bed. In less than
+two minutes I was fast asleep, never waking until the first gong sounded
+for breakfast; then, after a good bath, which refreshed me wonderfully,
+I dressed in my usual habiliments, and went downstairs. Mr. Wetherell
+and the Marquis were in the dining-room, and when I entered both he and
+the Marquis, who held a copy of the _Sydney Morning Herald_ in his hand,
+seemed prodigiously excited.
+
+"I say, Mr. Hatteras," said the latter (after I had said
+"Good-morning"), "here's an advertisement which is evidently intended
+for you!"
+
+"What is it about?" I asked. "Who wants to advertise for me?"
+
+"Read for yourself," said the Marquis, giving me the paper.
+
+I took it, and glanced down the column to which he referred me until I
+came to the following:--
+
+"Richard Hatteras.--If this should meet the eye of Mr. Richard Hatteras,
+of Thursday Island, Torres Straits, lately returned from England, and
+believed to be now in Sydney; he is earnestly requested to call at the
+office of Messrs. Dawson & Gladman, Solicitors, Castlereagh Street,
+where he will hear of something to his advantage."
+
+There could be no doubt at all that I was the person referred to; but
+what could be the reason of it all? What was there that I could possibly
+hear to my advantage, save news of Phyllis, and it would be most
+unlikely that I would learn anything about the movements of the gang who
+had abducted her from a firm of first-class solicitors such as I
+understood Messrs. Dawson & Gladman to be. However, it was no use
+wondering about it, so I dismissed the matter from my mind for the
+present, and took my place at the table. In the middle of the meal the
+butler left the room, in response to a ring at the front door. When he
+returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall, who wished to
+have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr. Wetherell to excuse
+me, I left the room.
+
+In the hall I found a seedy-looking individual of about middle age. He
+bowed, and on learning that my name was Hatteras, asked if he might be
+permitted five minutes alone with me. In response, I led him to the
+morning-room, and having closed the door, pointed to a seat. "What is
+your business?" I inquired, when he had sat down.
+
+"It is rather a curious affair to approach, Mr. Hatteras," the man
+began. "But to commence, may I be permitted to suggest that you are
+uneasy in your mind about a person who has disappeared?"
+
+"You may certainly suggest that, if you like," I answered cautiously.
+
+"If it were in a man's power to furnish a clue regarding that person's
+whereabouts, it might be useful to you, I suppose," he continued,
+craftily watching me out of the corners of his eyes.
+
+"Very useful," I replied. "Are you in a position to do so?"
+
+"I might possibly be able to afford you some slight assistance," he went
+on. "That is, of course, provided it were made worth my while."
+
+"What do you call 'worth your while'?"
+
+"Well, shall we say five hundred pounds? That's not a large sum for
+really trustworthy information. I ought to ask a thousand, considering
+the danger I'm running in mixing myself up with the affair. Only I'm a
+father myself, and that's why I do it."
+
+"I see. Well, let me tell you, I consider five hundred too much."
+
+"Well then I'm afraid we can't trade. I'm sorry."
+
+"So am I. But I'm not going to buy a pig in a poke."
+
+"Shall we say four hundred, then?"
+
+"No. Nor three--two, or one. If your information is worth anything, I
+don't mind giving you fifty pounds for it. But I won't give a halfpenny
+more."
+
+As I spoke, I rose as if to terminate the interview. Instantly my
+visitor adopted a different tone.
+
+"My fault is my generosity," he said. "It's the ruin of me. Well, you
+shall have it for fifty. Give me the money, and I'll tell you."
+
+"By no means," I answered. "I must hear the information first. Trust to
+my honour. If what you tell me is worth anything, I'll give you fifty
+pounds for it. Now what is it?"
+
+"Well, sir, to begin with, you must understand that I was standing at
+the corner of Pitt Street an evening or two back, when two men passed me
+talking earnestly together. One of 'em was a tall strapping fellow, the
+other a little chap. I never saw two eviller looking rascals in my life.
+Just as they came alongside me, one says to the other, 'Don't be afraid;
+I'll have the girl at the station all right at eight o'clock sharp.' The
+other said something that I could not catch, and then I lost sight of
+them. But what I had heard stuck in my head, and so I accordingly went
+off to the station, arriving there a little before the hour. I hadn't
+been there long before the smallest of the two chaps I'd seen in the
+street came on to the platform, and began looking about him. By the face
+of him he didn't seem at all pleased at not finding the other man
+waiting for him. A train drew up at the platform, and presently, just
+before it started, I saw the other and a young lady wearing a heavy veil
+come quickly along. The first man saw them, and gave a little cry of
+delight. 'I thought you'd be too late,' says he. 'No fear of that,' says
+the other, and jumps into a first-class carriage, telling the girl to
+get in after him, which she does, crying the while, as I could see. Then
+the chap on the platform says to the other who was leaning out of the
+window, 'Write to me from Bourke, and tell me how she gets on.' 'You
+bet,' says his friend. 'And don't you forget to keep your eye on
+Hatteras.' 'Don't you be afraid,' answered the man on the platform. Then
+the guard whistled, and the train went out of the station. Directly I
+was able to I got away, and first thing this morning came on here. Now
+you have my information, and I'll trouble you for that fifty pound."
+
+"Not so fast, my friend. Your story seems very good, but I want to ask a
+few questions first. Had the bigger man--the man who went up to Bourke,
+a deep cut over his left eye?"
+
+"Now I come to think of it, he had. I'd forgotten to tell you that."
+
+"So it was he, then? But are you certain it was Miss Wetherell? Remember
+she wore a veil. Could you see if her hair was flaxen in colour?"
+
+"Very light it was; but I couldn't see rightly which colour it was."
+
+"You're sure it was a light colour?"
+
+"Quite sure. I could swear to it in a court of law if you wanted me to."
+
+"That's all right then, because it shows me your story is a fabrication.
+Come, get out of this house or I'll throw you out. You scoundrel, for
+two pins I'd give you such a thrashing as you'd remember all your life!"
+
+"None o' that, governor. Don't you try it on. Hand us over that fifty
+quid."
+
+With that the scoundrel whipped out a revolver and pointed it at me. But
+before he could threaten again I had got hold of his wrist with one
+hand, snatched the pistol with the other, and sent him sprawling on his
+back upon the carpet.
+
+"Now, you brute," I cried, "what am I going to do with you, do you
+think? Get up and clear out of the house before I take my boot to you."
+
+He got up and began to brush his clothes.
+
+"I want my fifty pound," he cried.
+
+"You'll get more than you want if you come here again," I said. "Out you
+go!"
+
+With that I got him by the collar and dragged him out of the room across
+the hall, much to the butler's astonishment, through the front door, and
+then kicked him down the steps. He fell in a heap on the gravel.
+
+"All right, my fine bloke," he said as he lay there; "you wait till I
+get you outside. I'll fix you up, and don't you make no mistake."
+
+I went back to the dining-room without paying any attention to his
+threats. Both Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham had been witnesses of what had
+occurred, and now they questioned me concerning his visit. I gave them
+an outline of the story the man had told me and convinced them of its
+absurdity. Then Mr. Wetherell rose to his feet.
+
+"Now shall we go and see McMurtough?"
+
+"Certainly," I said; "I'll be ready as soon as you are."
+
+"You will come with us, I hope, Lord Beckenham?" Wetherell said.
+
+"With every pleasure," answered his lordship, and thereupon we went off
+to get ready.
+
+Three-quarters of an hour later we were sitting in Mr. McMurtough's
+office. The upshot of the interview was that Mr. McMurtough fell in with
+our plans as soon as we had uttered them, and expressed himself
+delighted to lend his yacht in such a good cause.
+
+"I only wish I could come with you," he said; "but unfortunately that is
+quite impossible. However, you are more than welcome to my boat. I will
+give you a letter, or send one to the Captain, so that she may be
+prepared for sea to-day. Will you see about provisioning her, or shall
+I?"
+
+"We will attend to that," said Wetherell. "All the expenses must of
+course be mine."
+
+"As you please about that, my old friend," returned McMurtough.
+
+"Where is she lying?" asked Wetherell.
+
+The owner gave us the direction, and then having sincerely thanked him,
+we set off in search of her. She was a nice craft of about a hundred and
+fifty tons burden, and looked as if she ought to be a good sea boat.
+Chartering a wherry, we were pulled off to her. The captain was below
+when we arrived, but a hail brought him on deck. Mr. Wetherell then
+explained our errand, and gave him his owner's letter. He read it
+through, and having done so, said--
+
+"I am at your service, gentlemen. From what Mr. McMurtough says here I
+gather that there is no time to lose, so with your permission I'll get
+to work at once."
+
+"Order all the coal you want, and tell the steward to do the same for
+anything he may require in his department. The bills must be sent in to
+me."
+
+"Very good, Mr. Wetherell. And what time will you be ready?"
+
+"As soon as you are. Can you get away by three o'clock this afternoon,
+think you?"
+
+"Well, it will be a bit of a scramble, but I think we can manage it.
+Anyhow, I'll do my best, you may be sure of that, sir."
+
+"I'm sure you will. There is grave need for it. Now we'll go back and
+arrange a few matters ashore. My man shall bring our baggage down later
+on."
+
+"Very good, sir. I'll have your berths prepared."
+
+With that we descended to the boat again, and were pulled ashore.
+Arriving there, Mr. Wetherell asked what we should do first.
+
+"Hadn't we better go up to the town and purchase a few rifles and some
+ammunition?" I said. "We can have them sent down direct to the boat."
+
+"A very good suggestion. Let us go at once."
+
+We accordingly set off for George Street--to a shop I remembered having
+seen. There we purchased half a dozen Winchester repeaters, with a good
+supply of ammunition. They were to be sent down to the yacht without
+fail that morning. This done, we stood on the pavement debating what we
+should do next. Finally it was decided that Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham
+should go home to pack, while I made one or two other small purchases,
+and then join them. Accordingly, bidding them good-bye, I went on down
+the street, completed my business, and was about to hail a cab and
+follow them, when a thought struck me: Why should I not visit Messrs.
+Dawson & Gladman, and find out why they were advertising for me? This I
+determined to do, and accordingly set off for Castlereagh Street.
+
+In a small room leading off the main passage, three clerks were seated.
+To them I addressed myself, asking if I might see the partners.
+
+"Mr. Dawson is the only one in town, sir," said the boy to whom I spoke.
+"If you'll give me your name, I'll take it in to him."
+
+"My name is Hatteras," I said. "Mr. Richard Hatteras."
+
+In less than two minutes the clerk returned, and begged me to follow
+him, which I did. At the end of a long passage we passed through a
+curtained doorway, and I stood in the presence of the chief partner.
+
+"I have great pleasure in making your acquaintance, Mr. Hatteras," he
+said, as I came to an anchor in a chair. "You noticed our advertisement,
+I presume?"
+
+"I saw it this morning," I answered. "And it is on that account I am
+here."
+
+"One moment before we proceed any further. Forgive what I am about to
+say--but you will see yourself that it is a point I am compelled not to
+neglect. Can you convince me as to your identity?"
+
+"Very easily," I replied, diving my hand into my breast-pocket and
+taking out some papers. "First and foremost, here is my bank-book. Here
+is my card-case. And here are two or three letters addressed to me by
+London and Sydney firms. The Hon. Sylvester Wetherell, Colonial
+Secretary, will be glad, I'm sure, to vouch for me. Is that sufficient
+to convince you?"
+
+"More than sufficient," he answered, smiling. "Now let me tell you for
+what purpose we desired you to call upon us." Here he opened a drawer
+and took out a letter. "First and foremost, you must understand that we
+are the Sydney agents of Messrs, Atwin, Dobbs & Forsyth, of Furnival's
+Inn, London. From them, by the last English mail, we received this
+letter. I gather that you are the son of James Dymoke Hatteras, who was
+drowned at sea in the year 1880?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Your father was the third son of Sir Edward Hatteras of Murdlestone, in
+the county of Hampshire?"
+
+"He was."
+
+"And the brother of Sir William, who had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary?"
+
+"That is so."
+
+"Well, Mr. Hatteras, it is my sad duty to inform you that within a week
+of your departure from England your cousin, the young lady just referred
+to, was drowned by accident in a pond near her home, and that her
+father, who had been ailing for some few days, died of heart disease on
+hearing the sad tidings. In that case, so my correspondents inform me,
+there being no nearer issue, you succeed to the title and estates--which
+I also learn are of considerable value, including the house and park,
+ten farms, and a large amount of house property, a rent roll of fifteen
+thousand a year, and accumulated capital of nearly a hundred thousand
+pounds."
+
+"Good gracious! Is this really true?"
+
+"Quite true. You can examine the letter for yourself."
+
+I took it up from the table and read it through, hardly able to believe
+my eyes.
+
+"You are indeed a man to be envied, Mr. Hatteras," said the lawyer. "The
+title is an old one, and I believe the property is considered one of the
+best in that part of England."
+
+"It is! But I can hardly believe that it is really mine."
+
+"There is no doubt about that, however. You are a baronet as certainly
+as I am a lawyer. I presume you would like us to take whatever action is
+necessary?"
+
+"By all means. This afternoon I am leaving Sydney, for a week or two,
+for the Islands. I will sign any papers when I come back."
+
+"I will bear that in mind. And your address in Sydney is----"
+
+"Care of the Honourable Sylvester Wetherell, Potts Point."
+
+"Thank you. And, by the way, my correspondents have desired me on their
+behalf to pay in to your account at the Oceania the sum of five thousand
+pounds. This I will do to-day."
+
+"I am obliged to you. Now I think I must be going. To tell the truth, I
+hardly know whether I am standing on my head or my heels."
+
+"Oh, you will soon get over that."
+
+"Good-morning."
+
+"Good-morning, Sir Richard."
+
+With that, I bade him farewell, and went out of the office, feeling
+quite dazed by my good fortune. I thought of the poor idiot whose end
+had been so tragic, and of the old man as I had last seen him, shaking
+his fist at me from the window of the house. And to think that that
+lovely home was mine, and that I was a baronet, the principal
+representative of a race as old as any in the country-side! It seemed
+too wonderful to be true!
+
+Hearty were the congratulations showered upon me at Potts Point, you may
+be sure, when I told my tale, and my health was drunk at lunch with much
+goodwill. But our minds were too much taken up with the arrangements for
+our departure that afternoon to allow us to think very much of anything
+else. By two o'clock we were ready to leave the house, by half-past we
+were on board the yacht, at three-fifteen the anchor was up, and a few
+moments later we were ploughing our way down the harbour.
+
+Our search for Phyllis had reached another stage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE ISLANDS, AND WHAT WE FOUND THERE
+
+
+To those who have had no experience of the South Pacific the constantly
+recurring beauties of our voyage would have seemed like a foretaste of
+Heaven itself. From Sydney, until the Loyalty Group lay behind us, we
+had one long spell of exquisite weather. By night under the winking
+stars, and by day in the warm sunlight, our trim little craft ploughed
+her way across smooth seas, and our only occupation was to promenade or
+loaf about the decks and to speculate as to the result of the expedition
+upon which we had embarked.
+
+Having sighted the Isle of Pines we turned our bows almost due north and
+headed for the New Hebrides. Every hour our impatience was growing
+greater. In less than two days, all being well, we should be at our
+destination, and twenty-four hours after that, if our fortune proved in
+the ascendant, we ought to be on our way back with Phyllis in our
+possession once more. And what this would mean to me I can only leave
+you to guess.
+
+One morning, just as the faint outline of the coast of Aneityum was
+peering up over the horizon ahead, Wetherell and I chanced to be sitting
+in the bows. The sea was as smooth as glass, and the tinkling of the
+water round the little vessel's nose as she turned it off in snowy lines
+from either bow, was the only sound to be heard. As usual the
+conversation, after wandering into other topics, came back to the
+subject nearest our hearts. This led us to make a few remarks anent
+Nikola and his character. I could not help asking him for an
+explanation.
+
+"You want to know how it is that I am so frightened of Nikola?" he
+asked. "Well, to give you my reason will necessitate my telling you a
+story. I don't mind doing that at all, but what I am afraid of is that
+you may be inclined to doubt its probability. However, if you want to
+hear it you shall."
+
+"I should like to above all things," I replied. "I have been longing to
+ask you about it for some time past, but could not quite screw up my
+courage."
+
+"Well, in the first place," Mr. Wetherell said, "you must understand
+that before I became a Minister of the Crown, or indeed a Member of
+Parliament at all, I was a barrister with a fairly remunerative
+practice. That was before my wife's death and when Phyllis was at
+school. Up to the time I am going to tell you about I had taken part in
+no very sensational case. But my opportunity for earning notoriety was,
+though I did not know it, near at hand. One day I was briefed to defend
+a man accused of the murder of a Chinaman aboard a Sydney vessel on a
+voyage from Shanghai. At first there seemed to be no doubt at all as to
+his guilt, but by a singular chance, with the details of which I will
+not bore you, I hit upon a scheme which got him off. I remember the man
+perfectly, and a queer fellow he was, half-witted, I thought, and at the
+time of the trial within an ace of dying of consumption. His gratitude
+was the more pathetic because he had not the wherewithal to pay me.
+However, he made it up to me in another way.
+
+"One wet night, a couple of months or so after the trial, I was sitting
+in my drawing-room listening to my wife's music, when a servant entered
+to tell me that a woman wanted to see me. I went out into the passage to
+find waiting there a tall buxom lass of about five-and-twenty years of
+age. She was poorly dressed, but in a great state of excitement.
+
+"'Are you Mr. Wetherell?' she said; 'the gentleman as defended China
+Pete in the trial the other day?'
+
+"'I am,' I answered. 'What can I do for you? I hope China Pete is not in
+trouble again?'
+
+"'He's in a worse trouble this time, sir,' said the woman. 'He's dyin',
+and he sent me to fetch you to 'im before he goes.'
+
+"'But what does he want me for?' I asked rather suspiciously.
+
+"'I'm sure I dunno,' was the girl's reply. 'But he's been callin' for
+you all this blessed day: "Send for Mr. Wetherell! send for Mr.
+Wetherell!" So off I came, when I got back from work, to fetch you. If
+you're comin', sir, you'd best be quick, for he won't last till
+mornin'.'
+
+"'Very well, I'll come with you at once,' I said. Then, having told my
+wife not to sit up for me, I followed my strange messenger out of the
+house.
+
+"For nearly an hour we walked on and on, plunging deeper into the lower
+quarter of the town. All through the march my guide maintained a rigid
+silence, walking a few paces ahead, and only recognizing the fact that I
+was following her by nodding in a certain direction whenever we arrived
+at cross thoroughfares or interlacing lanes.
+
+"At last we arrived at the street she wanted. At the corner she came
+suddenly to a standstill, and putting her two first fingers into her
+mouth blew a shrill whistle, after the fashion of street boys. A moment
+later a shock-headed urchin about ten years old made his appearance from
+a dark alley and came towards us. The woman said something to him, which
+I did not catch, and then turning sharply to her left hand beckoned to
+me to follow her.
+
+"From the street itself we passed, by way of a villainous alley, into a
+large courtyard, where brooded a silence like that of death. Indeed, a
+more weird and desolate place I don't remember ever to have met with.
+Not a soul was to be seen, and though it was surrounded by houses, only
+two feeble lights showed themselves. Towards one of these my guide made
+her way, stopping on the threshold. Upon a panel she rapped with her
+fingers, and as she did so a window on the first floor opened, and the
+boy we had met in the street looked out.
+
+"'How many?' inquired the woman, who had brought me, in a loud whisper.
+
+"'None now,' replied the boy; 'but there's been a power of Chinkies
+hereabouts all the evenin', an' 'arf an hour ago there was a gent in a
+cloak.'
+
+"Without waiting to hear any more the woman entered the house and I
+followed close on her heels. The adventure was clearly coming to a head
+now.
+
+"When the door had been closed behind us the boy appeared at the top of
+a flight of stairs with a lighted candle. We accordingly ascended to
+him, and having done so made our way towards a door at the end of the
+abominably dirty landing. At intervals I could hear the sound of
+coughing coming from a room at the end. My companion, however, bade me
+stop, while she went herself into the room, shutting the door after her.
+I was left alone with the boy, who immediately took me under his
+protection, and for my undivided benefit performed a series of highly
+meritorious acrobatic performances upon the feeble banisters, to his own
+danger, but apparent satisfaction. Suddenly, just as he was about to
+commence what promised to be the most successful item in his
+_repertoire_, he paused, lay flat on his stomach upon the floor, and
+craned his head over the side, where once banisters had been, and gazed
+into the half dark well below. All was quiet as the grave. Then, without
+warning, an almond-eyed, pigtailed head appeared on the stairs and
+looked upwards. Before I could say anything to stop him, the youth had
+divested himself of his one slipper, taken it in his right hand, leaned
+over a bit farther, and struck the ascending Celestial a severe blow on
+the mouth with the heel of it. There was the noise of a hasty descent
+and the banging of the street door a moment later, then all was still
+again, and the youngster turned to me.
+
+"'That was Ah Chong,' he said confidentially. 'He's the sixth Chinkie
+I've landed that way since dark.'
+
+"This important piece of information he closed with a double-jointed
+oath of remarkable atrocity, and, having done so, would have recommenced
+the performance of acrobatic feats had I not stopped him by asking the
+reason of his action. He looked at me with a grin,--
+
+"'I dunno, but all I cares is that China Pete in there gives me a sprat
+(sixpence) for every Chinkie what I keeps out of the 'ouse. He's a rum
+one is China Pete; an' can't he cough--my word!" he concluded.
+
+"I was about to put another question when the door opened and the girl
+who had brought me to the house beckoned me into the room. I entered and
+she left me alone with the occupant.
+
+"Of all the filthy places I have ever seen--and I have had the ill-luck
+to discover a good many in my time--that one eclipsed them all. On the
+bed, propped up by pillows and evidently in the last stage of collapse,
+was the man called China Pete. When we were alone together he pointed to
+a box near the bed and signified that I should seat myself. I did so, at
+the same time taking occasion to express my sorrow at finding him in
+this lamentable condition. He made no reply to my civilities, but after
+a little pause found strength enough to whisper. 'See if there's anybody
+at the door.' I went across, opened the door and looked into the
+passage, but save the boy, who was now sitting on the top step of the
+stairs at the other end, there was not a soul in sight. I told him this,
+and having again closed the door, sat down on the box and waited for him
+to speak.
+
+"'You did me a good turn, Mr. Wetherell, over that trial,' the invalid
+said at last, 'and I couldn't make it worth your while.'
+
+"'Oh, you mustn't let that worry you,' I answered soothingly. 'You would
+have paid me if you had been able.'
+
+"'Perhaps I should, perhaps I shouldn't, anyhow I didn't, and I want to
+make it up to you now. Feel under my pillow and bring out what you find
+there.'
+
+"I did as he directed me and brought to light a queer little wooden
+stick about three and a half inches long, made of some heavy timber and
+covered all over with Chinese inscriptions; at one end was a tiny bit of
+heavy gold cord much tarnished. I gave it to him and he looked at it
+fondly.
+
+"'Do you know the value of this little stick?' he asked after a while.
+
+"'I have no possible notion,' I replied.
+
+"'Make a guess,' he said.
+
+"To humour him I guessed five pounds. He laughed with scorn.
+
+"'Five pounds! O ye gods! Why, as a bit of stick it's not worth five
+pence, but for what it really is there is not money enough in the world
+to purchase it. If I could get about again I would make myself the
+richest and most powerful man on earth with it. If you could only guess
+one particle of the dangers I've been through to get it you would die of
+astonishment. And the irony of it all is that now I've got it I can't
+make use of it. On six different occasions the priests of the Llamaserai
+in Peking have tried to murder me to get hold of it. I brought it down
+from the centre of China disguised as a wandering beggar. That business
+connected with the murder of the Chinaman on board the ship, against
+which you defended me, was on account of it. And now I lie here dying
+like a dog, with the key to over ten millions in my hand. Nikola has
+tried for five years to obtain it, without success however. He little
+dreams I've got it after all. If he did I'd be a dead man by now.'
+
+"'Who is this Nikola then?' I asked.
+
+"'Dr. Nikola? Well, he's Nikola, and that's all I can tell you. If
+you're a wise man you'll want to know no more. Ask the Chinese mothers
+nursing their almond-eyed spawn in Peking who he is; ask the Japanese,
+ask the Malays, the Hindoos, the Burmese, the coal porters in Port Said,
+the Buddhist priests of Ceylon; ask the King of Corea, the men up in
+Thibet, the Spanish priests in Manilla, or the Sultan of Borneo, the
+ministers of Siam, or the French in Saigon--they'll all know Dr. Nikola
+and his cat, and, take my word, they fear him.'
+
+"I looked at the little stick in my hand and wondered if the man had
+gone mad.
+
+"'What do you wish me to do with this?' I asked.
+
+"'Take it away with you,' he answered, 'and guard it like your life, and
+when you have occasion, use it. Remember you have in your hand what will
+raise a million men and the equivalent of over ten mil----'
+
+"At this point a violent fit of coughing seized him and nearly tore him
+to pieces. I lifted him up a little in the bed, but before I could take
+my hands away a stream of blood had gushed from his lips. Like a flash
+of thought I ran to the door to call the girl, the boy on the stairs
+re-echoed my shout, and in less time than it takes to tell the woman was
+in the room. But we were too late--_China Pete was dead_.
+
+"After giving her all the money I had about me to pay for the funeral, I
+bade her good-bye, and with the little stick in my pocket returned to my
+home. Once there I sat myself down in my study, took my legacy out of my
+pocket and carefully examined it. As to its peculiar power and value, as
+described to me by the dead man, I hardly knew what to think. My own
+private opinion was that China Pete was not sane at the time he told me.
+And yet, how was I to account for the affray with the Chinaman on the
+boat, and the evident desire the Celestials in Sydney had to obtain
+information concerning it? After half an hour's consideration of it I
+locked it up in a drawer of my safe and went upstairs to bed.
+
+"Next day China Pete was buried, and by the end of the month I had
+well-nigh forgotten that he had ever existed, and had hardly thought of
+his queer little gift, which still reposed in the upper drawer of my
+safe. But I was to hear more of it later on.
+
+"One night, about a month after my coming into possession of the stick,
+my wife and I entertained a few friends at dinner.
+
+"As the clock struck eleven I said good-night to the last of my guests
+upon the door-step. The carriage had not gone fifty yards down the
+street before a hansom drew up before my door and a man dressed in a
+heavy cloak jumped out. Bidding the driver wait for him he ran up my
+steps.
+
+"'Mr. Wetherell, I believe?' he said. I nodded and wished him
+'good-evening,' at the same time asking his business.
+
+"'I will tell you with pleasure,' he answered, 'if you will permit me
+five minutes alone with you. It is most important, and as I leave Sydney
+early to-morrow morning you will see that there is not much time to
+spare.'
+
+"I led the way into the house and to my study, which was in the rear,
+overlooking the garden. Once there I bade him be seated, taking up my
+position at my desk.
+
+"Then, in the light of the lamp, I became aware of the extraordinary
+personality of my visitor. He looked at me very searchingly for a moment
+and then said: 'My business will surprise you a little I expect, Mr.
+Wetherell. First, if you will allow me I will tell you something about
+myself and then ask you a question. You must understand that I am pretty
+well known as an Eastern traveller; from Port Said to the Kuriles there
+is hardly a place with which I am not acquainted. I have a hobby. I am a
+collector of Eastern curios, but there is one thing I have never been
+able to obtain.'
+
+"'And that is?'
+
+"'A Chinese executioner's symbol of office.'
+
+"'But how can I help you in that direction?' I asked, completely
+mystified.
+
+"'By selling me one that has lately come into your possession,' he said.
+'It is a little black stick, about three inches long and covered with
+Chinese characters. I happened to hear, quite by chance, that you had
+one in your possession, and I have taken a journey of some thousands of
+miles to endeavour to purchase it from you.'
+
+"I went across to the safe, unlocked it, and took out the little stick
+China Pete had given me. When I turned round I almost dropped it with
+surprise as I saw the look of eagerness that rose in my visitor's face.
+But he pulled himself together and said, as calmly as he had yet
+addressed me:
+
+"'That is the very thing. If you will allow me to purchase it, it will
+complete my collection. What value do you place upon it?'
+
+"'I have no sort of notion of its worth,' I answered, putting it down on
+the table and looking at it. Then in a flash a thought came into my
+brain, and I was about to speak when he addressed me again.
+
+"'Of course my reason for wishing to buy it is rather a hare-brained
+one, but if you care to let me have it I will give you fifty pounds for
+it with pleasure.'
+
+"'Not enough, Dr. Nikola,' I said with a smile.
+
+"He jumped as if he had been shot, and then clasped his hands tight on
+the arm of his chair. My random bolt had gone straight to the heart of
+the bulls-eye. This man then _was_ Dr. Nikola, the extraordinary
+individual against whom China Pete had warned me. I was determined now
+that, come what might, he should not have the stick.
+
+"'Do you not consider the offer I make you a good one then, Mr.
+Wetherell?' he asked.
+
+"'I'm sorry to say I don't think the stick is for sale,' I answered. 'It
+was left to me by a man in return for a queer sort of service I rendered
+him, and I think I should like to keep it as a souvenir.'
+
+"'I will raise my offer to a hundred pounds in that case,' said Nikola.
+
+"'I would rather not part with it,' I said, and as I spoke, as if to
+clinch the matter, I took it up and returned it to the safe, taking care
+to lock the door upon it.
+
+"'I will give you five hundred pounds for it,' cried Nikola, now
+thoroughly excited. 'Surely that will tempt you?'
+
+'I'm afraid an offer of ten times that amount would make no difference,'
+I replied, feeling more convinced than ever that I would not part with
+it.
+
+"He laid himself back in his chair, and for nearly a minute and a half
+stared me full in the face. You have seen Nikola's eyes, so I needn't
+tell you what a queer effect they are able to produce. I could not
+withdraw mine from them, and I felt that if I did not make an effort I
+should soon be mesmerized. So, pulling myself together, I sprang from my
+chair, and, by doing so, let him see that our interview was at an end.
+However, he was not going without a last attempt to drive a bargain.
+When he saw that I was not to be moved his temper gave way, and he
+bluntly told me that I would _have_ to sell it.
+
+"'There is no compulsion in the matter,' I said warmly. 'The curio is my
+own property, and I will do just as I please with it.'
+
+"He thereupon begged my pardon, asked me to attribute his impatience to
+the collector's eagerness, and after a few last words bade me
+'good-night,' and left the house.
+
+"When his cab had rolled away I went back to my study and sat thinking
+for awhile. Then something prompted me to take the stick out from the
+safe. I did so, and sat at my table gazing at it, wondering what the
+mystery might be to which it was the key. That it was not what Dr.
+Nikola had described it I felt certain.
+
+"At the end of half an hour I put it in my pocket, intending to take it
+upstairs to show my wife, locked the safe again and went off to my
+dressing-room. When I had described the interview and shown the stick to
+my wife I placed it in the drawer of the looking-glass and went to bed.
+
+"Next morning, about three o'clock, I was awakened by the sound of some
+one knocking violently at my door. I jumped out of bed and inquired who
+it might be. To my intense surprise the answer was 'Police!' I therefore
+donned my dressing-gown, and went out to find a sergeant of police on
+the landing waiting for me.
+
+"'What is the matter?' I cried.
+
+"'A burglar!' was his answer. 'We've got him downstairs; caught him in
+the act.'
+
+"I followed the officer down to the study. What a scene was there! The
+safe had been forced, and its contents lay scattered in every direction.
+One drawer of my writing-table was wide open, and in a corner,
+handcuffed, and guarded by a stalwart constable, stood a Chinaman.
+
+"Well, to make a long story short, the man was tried, and after denying
+all knowledge of Nikola--who, by the way, could not be found--was
+convicted, and sentenced to five years' hard labour. For a month I heard
+no more about the curio. Then a letter arrived from an English solicitor
+in Shanghai, demanding from me, on behalf of a Chinaman residing in that
+place, a little wooden stick covered with Chinese characters, which was
+said to have been stolen by an Englishman, known in Shanghai as China
+Pete. This was very clearly another attempt on Nikola's part to obtain
+possession of it, so I replied to the effect that I could not entertain
+the request.
+
+"A month or so later--I cannot, however, be particular as to the exact
+date--I found myself again in communication with Nikola, this time from
+South America. But there was this difference this time: he used
+undisguised threats, not only against myself, in the event of my still
+refusing to give him what he wanted, but also against my wife and
+daughter. I took no notice, with the result that my residence was again
+broken into, but still without success. Now I no longer locked the
+talisman up in the safe, but hid it in a place where I knew no one could
+possibly find it. My mind, you will see, was perfectly made up; I was
+not going to be driven into surrendering it.
+
+"One night, a month after my wife's death, returning to my house I was
+garrotted and searched within a hundred yards of my own front door, but
+my assailants could not find it on me. Then peculiar pressure from other
+quarters was brought to bear; my servants were bribed, and my life
+became almost a burden to me. What was more, I began to develop that
+extraordinary fear of Nikola which seems to seize upon every one who has
+any dealings with him. When I went home to England some months back, I
+did it because my spirits had got into such a depressed state that I
+could not remain in Australia. But I took care to deposit the stick with
+my plate in the bank before I left. There it remained till I returned,
+when I put it back in its old hiding-place again.
+
+"The day after I reached London I happened to be crossing Trafalgar
+Square. Believing that I had left him at least ten thousand miles away,
+you may imagine my horror when I saw Dr. Nikola watching me from the
+other side of the road. Then and there I returned to my hotel, bade
+Phyllis pack with all possible despatch, and that same afternoon we
+started to return to Australia. The rest you know. Now what do you think
+of it all?"
+
+"It's an extraordinary story. Where is the stick at the present moment?"
+
+"In my pocket. Would you like to see it?"
+
+"Very much, if you would permit me to do so."
+
+He unbuttoned his coat, and from a carefully contrived pocket under the
+arm drew out a little piece of wood of exactly the length and shape he
+had described. I took it from him and gazed at it carefully. It was
+covered all over with Chinese writing, and had a piece of gold silk
+attached to the handle. There was nothing very remarkable about it; but
+I must own I was strangely fascinated by it when I remembered the misery
+it had caused, the changes and chances it had brought about, the weird
+story told by China Pete, and the efforts that had been made by Nikola
+to obtain possession of it. I gave it back to its owner, and then stood
+looking out over the smooth sea, wondering where Phyllis was and what
+she was doing. Nikola, when I met him, would have a heavy account to
+settle with me, and if my darling reported any further cruelty on his
+part I would show no mercy. But why had Mr. Wetherell brought the curio
+with him now? I put the question.
+
+"For one very good reason," he answered. "If it is the stick Nikola is
+after, as I have every right to suppose, he may demand it as a ransom
+for my girl, and I am quite willing to let him have it. The wretched
+thing has caused sufficient misery to make me only too glad to be rid of
+it."
+
+"I hope, however, we shall be able to get her without giving it up," I
+said. "Now let us go aft to lunch."
+
+The day following we were within a hundred miles of our destination, and
+by mid-day of the day following that again were near enough to render it
+advisable to hold a council over our intended movements. Accordingly, a
+little before lunch time the Marquis, Wetherell, the skipper and myself,
+met under the after awning to consider our plan of war.
+
+"The first matter to be taken into consideration, I think, Mr.
+Wetherell," said the skipper, "is the point as to which side of the
+island we shall bring up on."
+
+"You will be able to settle that," answered Wetherell, looking at me.
+"You are acquainted with the place, and can best advise us."
+
+"I will do so to the best of my ability," I said, sitting down on the
+deck and drawing an outline with a piece of chalk. "The island is shaped
+like this. There is no reef. Here is the best anchorage, without doubt,
+but here is the point where we shall be most likely to approach without
+being observed. The trend of the land is all upward from the shore, and,
+as far as I remember, the most likely spot for a hut, if they are
+detaining Miss Wetherell there, as we suppose, will be on a little
+plateau looking south, and hard by the only water on the island."
+
+"And what sort of anchorage shall we get there, do you think?" asked the
+skipper, who very properly wished to run no risk with his owner's boat.
+
+"Mostly coral. None too good, perhaps, but as we shall have steam up,
+quite safe enough."
+
+"And how do you propose that we shall reach the hut when we land?"
+
+"I have been thinking that out," I said, "and I have come to the
+conclusion that the best plan would be for us to approach the island
+after dark, to heave to about three miles out and pull ashore in the
+boat. We will then ascend the hill by the eastern slope and descend upon
+them. They will probably not expect us from that quarter, and it will at
+least be easier than climbing the hill in the face of a heavy fire. What
+do you say?"
+
+They all agreed that it seemed practicable.
+
+"Very good then," said the skipper, "we'll have lunch, and afterwards
+begin our preparations." Then turning to me, "I'll get you to come into
+my cabin, Mr. Hatteras, by-and-by and take a look at the Admiralty
+chart, if you will. You will be able probably to tell me if you think it
+can be relied on."
+
+"I'll do so with pleasure," I answered, and then we went below.
+
+Directly our meal was over I accompanied the skipper to look at the
+chart, and upon it we marked our anchorage. Then an adjournment was made
+aft, and our equipment of rifles and revolvers thoroughly overhauled. We
+had decided earlier that our landing party should consist of eight
+men--Wetherell, Beckenham, the mate of the yacht, myself, and four of
+the crew, each of whom would be supplied with a Winchester repeating
+rifle, a revolver, and a dozen cartridges. Not a shot was to be fired,
+however, unless absolutely necessary, and the greatest care was to be
+taken in order to approach the hut, if possible, without disturbing its
+inmates.
+
+When the arms had been distributed and carefully examined, the sixteen
+foot surf-boat was uncovered and preparations made for hoisting her
+overboard. By the time this was done it was late in the afternoon, and
+almost soon enough for us to be thinking about overcoming the distance
+which separated us from our destination.
+
+About dusk I was standing aft, leaning against the taff-rail, when
+Beckenham came up and stood beside me. It was wonderful what a
+difference these few months had made in him; he was now as brown as a
+berry, and as fine-looking a young fellow as any man could wish to see.
+
+"We shall be picking up the island directly," I said as he came to an
+anchor alongside me. "Do you think you ought to go to-night? Remember
+you will run the risk of being shot!"
+
+"I have thought of that," he said. "I believe it's my duty to do my best
+to help you and Mr. Wetherell."
+
+"But what would your father say if he knew?"
+
+"He would say that I only did what was right. I have just been writing
+to him, telling him everything. If anything _should_ happen to me you
+will find the letter on the chest of drawers in your cabin. I know you
+will send it on to him. But if we both come out of it safely and rescue
+Miss Wetherell I'm going to ask a favour."
+
+"Granted before I know what it is!"
+
+"It isn't a very big one. I want you to let me be your best man at your
+wedding?"
+
+"So you shall. And a better I could not possibly desire."
+
+"I like to hear you say that. We've been through a good deal together
+since we left Europe, haven't we?"
+
+"We have, and to-night will bring it to a climax, or I'm much mistaken."
+
+"Do you think Nikola will show fight?"
+
+"Not a doubt about it I should think. If he finds himself cornered he'll
+probably fight like a demon."
+
+"It's Baxter I want to meet."
+
+"Nikola is my man. I've a big grudge against him, and I want to pay it."
+
+"How little we thought when we were cruising about Bournemouth Bay
+together that within such a short space of time we should be sailing the
+South Pacific on such an errand! It seems almost too strange to be
+possible."
+
+"So it does! All's well that ends well, however. Let's hope we're going
+to be successful to-night. Now I'm going on the bridge to see if I can
+pick the land up ahead."
+
+I left him and went forward to the captain's side. Dusk had quite fallen
+by this time, rendering it impossible to see very far ahead. A hand had
+been posted in the fore-rigging as a look-out, and every moment we
+expected to hear his warning cry; but nearly an hour passed, and still
+it did not come.
+
+Then suddenly the shout rang out, "Land ahead!" and we knew that our
+destination was in sight. Long before this all our lights had been
+obscured, and so, in the darkness--for a thick pall of cloud covered the
+sky--we crept up towards the coast. Within a couple of minutes of
+hearing the hail every man on board was on deck gazing in the direction
+in which we were proceeding.
+
+By tea time we had brought the land considerably nearer, and by eight
+o'clock were within three miles of it. Not a sign, however, of any craft
+could we discover, and the greatest vigilance had to be exercised on our
+part to allow no sign to escape us to show our whereabouts to those
+ashore. Exactly at nine o'clock the shore party, fully armed, assembled
+on deck, and the surf-boat was swung overboard. Then in the darkness we
+crept down the gangway and took our places. The mate was in possession
+of the tiller, and when all was ready we set off for the shore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Once we had left her side and turned our boat's nose towards the land,
+the yacht lay behind us, a black mass, nearly absorbed in the general
+shadow. Not a light showed itself, and everything was as still as the
+grave; the only noise to be heard was the steady dip, dip of the oars in
+the smooth water and now and then the chirp of the rowlocks. For nearly
+half an hour we pulled on, pausing at intervals to listen, but nothing
+of an alarming nature met our ears. The island was every moment growing
+larger, the beach more plain to the eye, and the hill more clearly
+defined.
+
+As soon as the boat grounded we sprang out and, leaving one hand to look
+after her, made our way ashore. It was a strange experience that landing
+on a strange beach on such an errand and at such an hour, but we were
+all too much taken up with the work which lay before us to think of
+that. Having left the water's edge we came to a standstill beneath a
+group of palms and discussed the situation. As the command of the
+expedition had fallen upon me I decided upon the following course of
+action: To begin with, I would leave the party behind me and set out by
+myself to ascertain the whereabouts of the hut. Having discovered this I
+would return, and we would thereupon make our way inland and endeavour
+to capture it. I explained the idea in as few words as possible to my
+followers, and then, bidding them wait for me where they were, at the
+same time warning them against letting their presence be discovered, I
+set off up the hill in the direction I knew the plateau to lie. The
+undergrowth was very thick and the ground rocky; for this reason it was
+nearly twenty minutes before I readied the top of the hill. Then down
+the other side I crept, picking my way carefully, and taking infinite
+precautions that no noise should serve to warn our foes of my coming.
+
+At last I reached the plateau and looked about me. A small perpendicular
+cliff, some sixty feet in height, was before me, so throwing myself down
+upon my stomach, I wriggled my way to its edge. When I got there I
+looked over and discovered three well-built huts on a little plateau at
+the cliff's base. At the same moment a roar of laughter greeted my ears
+from the building on the left. It was followed by the voice of a man
+singing to the accompaniment of a banjo. Under cover of his music I rose
+to my feet and crept back through the bushes, by the track along which I
+had come. I knew enough to distribute my forces now.
+
+Having reached my friends again I informed them of what I had seen, and
+we then arranged the mode of attack as follows: The mate of the yacht,
+with two of the hands, would pass round the hill to the left of the
+plateau, Wetherell and another couple of men would take the right side,
+while Beckenham and myself crept down from the back. Not a sound was to
+be made or a shot fired until I blew my whistle. Then, with one last
+word of caution, we started on our climb.
+
+By this time the clouds had cleared off the sky and the stars shone
+brightly. Once more I arrived at the small precipice behind the huts,
+and, having done so, sat down for a few moments to give the other
+parties time to take up their positions. Then, signing to Beckenham to
+accompany me, I followed the trend of the precipice along till I
+discovered a place where we might descend in safety. In less than a
+minute we were on the plateau below, creeping towards the centre hut.
+Still our approach was undetected. Bidding Beckenham in a whisper wait
+for me, I crept cautiously round to the front, keeping as much as
+possible in the shadow. As soon as I had found the door, I tiptoed
+towards it and prepared to force my way inside but I had an adventure in
+store for me which I had not anticipated.
+
+Seated in the doorway, almost hidden in the shadow, was the figure of a
+man. He must have been asleep, for he did not become aware of my
+presence until I was within a foot of him. Then he sprang to his feet
+and was about to give the alarm. Before he could do so, however, I was
+upon him. A desperate hand-to-hand struggle followed, in which I fought
+solely for his throat. This once obtained I tightened my fingers upon it
+and squeezed until he fell back unconscious. It was like a horrible
+nightmare, that combat without noise in the dark entry of the hut, and I
+was more than thankful that it ended so satisfactorily for me. As soon
+as I had disentangled myself, I rose to my feet and proceeded across his
+body into the hut itself. A swing door led from the porch, and this I
+pushed open.
+
+"Who is it, and what do you want?" said a voice which I should have
+recognized anywhere.
+
+In answer I took Phyllis in my arms and, whispering my name, kissed her
+over and over again. She uttered a little cry of astonishment and
+delight. Then, bidding her step quietly, I passed out into the
+starlight, leading her after me. As we were about to make for the path
+by which I had descended, Beckenham stepped forward, and at the same
+instant the man with whom I had been wrestling came to his senses and
+gave a shout of alarm. In an instant there was a noise of scurrying feet
+and a great shouting of orders.
+
+"Make for the boats!" I cried at the top of my voice, and, taking
+Phyllis by the hand, set off as quickly as I could go up the path,
+Beckenham assisting her on the other side.
+
+If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget that rush up the hill. In
+and out of trees and bushes, scratching ourselves and tearing our
+clothes, we dashed; conscious only of the necessity for speed. Before we
+were half-way down the other side Phyllis's strength was quite
+exhausted, so I took her in my arms and carried her the remainder of the
+distance. At last we reached the boat and jumped on board. The rest of
+the party were already there, and the word being given we prepared to
+row out to the yacht. But before we could push off a painful surprise
+was in store for us. The Marquis, who had been counting the party,
+cried: "_Where is Mr. Wetherell?_"
+
+We looked round upon each other, and surely enough the old gentleman was
+missing. Discovering this, Phyllis nearly gave way, and implored us to
+go back at once to find him. But having rescued her with so much
+difficulty I did not wish to run any risk of letting her fall into her
+enemies' hands again; so selecting four volunteers from the party, I
+bade the rest pull the boat out to the yacht and give Miss Wetherell
+into the captain's charge, while the others accompanied me ashore again
+in search of her father. Having done this the boat was to return and
+wait for us.
+
+Quickly we splashed our way back to the beach, and then, plunging into
+the undergrowth, began our search for the missing man. As we did not
+know where to search, it was like looking for a needle in a bundle of
+hay, but presently one of the hands remembered having seen him
+descending the hill, so we devoted our attentions to that side. For
+nearly two hours we toiled up and down, but without success. Not a sign
+of the old gentleman was to be seen. Could he have mistaken his way and
+be even now searching for us on another beach? To make sure of this we
+set off and thoroughly searched the two bays in the direction he would
+most likely have taken. But still without success. Perhaps he had been
+captured and carried back to the huts? In that case we had better
+proceed thither and try to rescue him. This, however, was a much more
+serious undertaking, and you may imagine it was with considerable care
+that we approached the plateau again.
+
+When we reached it the huts were as quiet as when I had first made their
+acquaintance. Not a sound came up to the top of the little precipice
+save the rustling of the wind in the palms at its foot. It seemed
+difficult to believe that there had been such a tumult on the spot so
+short a time before.
+
+Again with infinite care we crept down to the buildings, this time,
+however, without encountering a soul. The first was empty, so was the
+second, and so was the third. This result was quite unexpected, and
+rendered the situation even more mysterious than before.
+
+By the time we had thoroughly explored the plateau and its surroundings
+it was nearly daylight, and still we had discovered no trace of the
+missing man. Just as the sun rose above the sea line we descended the
+hill again and commenced a second search along the beach, with no better
+luck, however, than on the previous occasion. Wetherell and our
+assailants seemed to have completely disappeared from the island.
+
+About six o'clock, thoroughly worn out, we returned to the spot where
+the boat was waiting for us. What was to be done? We could not for
+obvious reasons leave the island and abandon the old gentleman to his
+fate, and yet it seemed useless to remain there looking for him, when he
+might have been spirited away elsewhere.
+
+Suddenly one of the crew, who had been loitering behind, came into view
+waving something in his hand. As he approached we could see that it was
+a sheet of paper, and when he gave it into my hands I read as follows:--
+
+_"If you cross the island to the north beach you will find a small cliff
+in which is a large cave, a little above high-water mark. There you will
+discover the man for whom you are searching."_
+
+There was no signature to this epistle, and the writing was quite
+unfamiliar to me, but I had no reason to doubt its authenticity.
+
+"Where did you discover this?" I inquired of the man who had brought it.
+
+"Fastened to one of them prickly bushes up on the beach there, sir," he
+answered.
+
+"Well, the only thing for us to do now is to set off to the north shore
+and hunt for the cave. Two of you had better take the boat back to the
+yacht and ask the captain to follow us round."
+
+As soon as the boat was under weigh we picked up our rifles and set off
+for the north beach. It was swelteringly hot by this time, and, as may
+be imagined, we were all dead tired after our long night's work.
+However, the men knew they would be amply rewarded if we could effect
+the rescue of the man for whom we had been searching, so they pushed on.
+
+At last we turned the cape and entered the bay which constituted the
+north end of the island. It was not a large beach on this side, but it
+had, at its western end, a curious line of small cliffs, in the centre
+of which a small black spot could be discerned looking remarkably like
+the entrance to a cave. Towards this we pressed, forgetting our
+weariness in the excitement of the search.
+
+It _was_ a cave, and a large one. So far the letter was correct.
+Preparing ourselves, in case of surprise, we approached the entrance,
+calling Mr. Wetherell's name. As our shouts died away a voice came out
+in answer, and thereupon we rushed in.
+
+A remarkable sight met our eyes. In the centre of the cave was a stout
+upright post, some six or eight feet in height, and securely tied to
+this was the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales.
+
+In less time almost than it takes to tell, we had cast loose the ropes
+which bound him, and led him, for he was too weak to stand alone, out
+into the open air. While he was resting he inquired after his daughter,
+and having learned that she was safe, gave us the following explanation.
+Addressing himself to me he said:
+
+"When you cried 'Make for the boats,' I ran up the hill with the others
+as fast as I could go; but I'm an old man and could not get along as
+quickly as I wanted to, and for this reason was soon left far behind. I
+must have been half-way down the hill when a tall man, dressed in white,
+stepped out from behind a bush, and raising a rifle bade me come to a
+standstill. Having no time to lift my own weapon I was obliged to do as
+he ordered me, and he thereupon told me to lay down my weapon and
+right-about face. In this fashion I was marched back to the huts we had
+just left, and then, another man having joined my captor, was conducted
+across the island to this beach, where a boat was in waiting. In it I
+was pulled out to a small schooner lying at anchor in the bay and
+ordered to board her; five minutes later I was conducted to the saloon.
+
+"'Good-evening, Mr. Wetherell. This is indeed a pleasure,' said a man
+sitting at the farther end of the table. He was playing with a big black
+cat, and directly I heard his voice I knew that I was in the presence of
+Dr. Nikola.
+
+"'And how do you think I am going to punish you, my friend, for giving
+me all this trouble?' he said when I made no reply to his first remark.
+
+"'You dare not do anything to me,' I answered. 'I demand that you let me
+go this instant. I have a big score to settle with you.'
+
+"'If you will be warned by me you will cease to demand,' he answered,
+his eyes the while burning like coals. 'You are an obstinate man, but
+though you have put me to so much trouble and expense I will forgive you
+and come to terms with you. Now listen to me. If you will give me----'
+
+"At that moment the little vessel gave a heavy roll, and in trying to
+keep my footing on the sloping deck I fell over upon the table. As I did
+so the little Chinese stick slipped out of my pocket and went rolling
+along directly into Nikola's hands. He sprang forward and seized it, and
+you may imagine his delight. With a cry of triumph that made the cat
+leap from his shoulder, he turned to a tall man by his side and said:
+
+"'I've got it at last! Now let a boat's crew take this man ashore and
+tie him to the stake in the cave. Then devise some means of acquainting
+his friends of his whereabouts. Be quick, for we sail in an hour.'
+Having given these orders he turned to me again and said:
+
+"'Mr. Wetherell, this is the last transaction we shall probably ever
+have together. All things considered, you are lucky in escaping so
+easily. It would have saved you a good deal if you had complied with my
+request at first. However, all's well that ends well, and I congratulate
+you upon your charming daughter. Now, good-bye; in an hour I am off to
+effect a _coup_ with this stick, the magnitude of which you would never
+dream. One last word of advice: pause a second time, I entreat, before
+you think of baulking Dr. Nikola.'
+
+"I was going to reply, when I was twisted round and led up on deck,
+where that scoundrel Baxter had the impudence to make me a low bow. In
+less than a quarter of an hour I was fastened to the post in that cave.
+The rest you know. Now let us get on board; I see the boat is
+approaching."
+
+As soon as the surf-boat had drawn up on the beach we embarked and were
+pulled out to the yacht. In a few moments we were on deck, and Phyllis
+was in her father's arms again. By mid-day the island had disappeared
+under the sea line, and by nightfall we were well on our way back to
+Sydney.
+
+That evening, after dinner, Phyllis and I patrolled the deck together,
+and finally came to a standstill aft. It was as beautiful an evening as
+any man or woman could desire. All round us was the glassy sea, rising
+and falling as if asleep, while overhead the tropic stars shone down
+with their wonderful brilliance.
+
+"Phyllis," I said, taking my darling's hand in mine and looking into her
+face, "what a series of adventures we have both passed through since
+that afternoon I first saw you in the Domain! Do you know that your
+father has at last consented to our marriage?"
+
+"I do. And as it is to you, Dick, I owe my rescue," she said, coming a
+little closer to me, "he could do nothing else; you have a perfect right
+to me."
+
+"I have, and I mean to assert it!" I answered. "If I had not found you,
+I should never have been happy again."
+
+"But, Dick, there is one thing I don't at all understand. At dinner this
+evening the captain addressed you as Sir Richard. What does that mean?"
+
+"Why, of course you have not heard!" I cried. "Well, I think it means
+that though I cannot make you a marchioness, I can make you a baronet's
+wife. It remains with you to say whether you will be Lady Hatteras or
+not." Then I explained how I had inherited the title and estates.
+
+Her only reply was to kiss me softly on the cheek.
+
+She had scarcely done so before her father and Beckenham came along the
+deck.
+
+"Now, Phyllis," said the former, leading her to a seat, "supposing you
+give us the history of your adventures. Remember we have heard nothing
+yet."
+
+"Very well. Where shall I begin? At the moment I left the house for the
+ball? Very good. Well, you must know that when I arrived at Government
+House I met Mrs. Mayford--the lady who had promised to chaperone me--in
+the cloak-room, and we passed into the ball-room together. I danced the
+first dance with Captain Hackworth, one of the _aides_, and engaged
+myself for the fourth to the Marquis of Beckenham."
+
+"The sham Marquis, unfortunately," put in the real one.
+
+"It proved to be unfortunate for me also," continued Phyllis. "As it was
+a square we sat it out in the ante-room leading off the drawing-room,
+and while we were there the young gentleman did me the honour of
+proposing to me. It was terribly embarrassing for me, but I allowed him
+to see, as unmistakably as possible, that I could give him no
+encouragement, and, as the introduction to the next waltz started, we
+parted the best of friends. About half an hour later, just as I was
+going to dance the lancers, Mrs. Mayford came towards me and drew me
+into the drawing-room. Mr. Baxter, his lordship's tutor, was with her,
+and I noticed that they both looked supernaturally grave.
+
+"'What is the matter?' I asked, becoming alarmed by her face.
+
+"'My dear,' said she, 'you must be brave. I have come to tell you that
+your father has been taken ill, and has sent for you.'
+
+"'Papa ill!' I cried. 'Oh, I must go home to him at once'
+
+"'I have taken the liberty of facilitating that,' said Mr. Baxter, 'by
+ordering the servants to call up your carriage, which is now waiting for
+you at the door. If you will allow me, I will conduct you to it?'
+
+"I apologized to my partner for being compelled to leave him, and then
+went to the cloak-room. As soon as I was ready I accompanied Mr. Baxter
+to the door, where the brougham was waiting. Without looking at the
+coachman I got in, at the same time thanking my escort for his kindness.
+He shut the door and cried 'Home' to the coachman. Next moment we were
+spinning down the drive.
+
+"As I was far too much occupied thinking of you, papa, I did not notice
+the direction we were taking, and it was not until the carriage stopped
+before a house in a back street that I realized that something was
+wrong. Then the door was opened, and a gentleman in evening dress begged
+me to alight. I did so, almost without thinking what I was doing.
+
+"'I am sorry to say your father is not at all well, Miss Wetherell,'
+said the person who helped me out. 'If you will be good enough to step
+into my house I will let the nurse take you to him.'
+
+"Like a person in a dream I followed him into the dwelling.
+
+"'Where is my father? and how is it that he is here?' I cried, beginning
+to get frightened.
+
+"'You will know all when you see him,' said my companion, throwing open
+the door of a bedroom. I went in, and that door was also shut upon me.
+Then I turned and faced the man."
+
+"What was he like?" cried Wetherell.
+
+"He was the man you were telling us about at dinner--Dr. Nikola."
+
+"Ah! And then?"
+
+"He politely but firmly informed me that I was his prisoner, and that
+until you gave up something he had for years been trying to obtain he
+would be compelled to detain me. I threatened, entreated, and finally
+wept, but he was not to be moved. He promised that no effort should be
+spared to make me comfortable, but he could not let me go until you had
+complied with his request. So I was kept there until late one night,
+when I was informed that I must be ready to leave the house. A brougham
+was at the door and in this, securely guarded, I was conducted to the
+harbour, where a boat was in waiting. In this we were rowed out to a
+schooner, and I was placed on board her. A comfortably furnished cabin
+was allotted to me, and everything I could possibly want was given me.
+But though the greatest consideration in all other matters was shown me,
+I could gather nothing of where we were going or what my fate was to be,
+nor could I discover any means of communicating with the shore. About
+midnight we got under weigh and commenced our voyage. Our destination
+was the island where you found me."
+
+"And how did Nikola treat you during the voyage and your stay on Pipa
+Lannu?" I asked.
+
+"With invariable courtesy," she replied. "A more admirable host no one
+could desire. I had but to express a wish, and it was instantly
+gratified. When we were clear of the land I was allowed on deck; my
+meals were served to me in a cabin adjoining my own, and a stewardess
+had been specially engaged to wait upon me. As far as my own treatment
+went, I have nothing to complain of. But oh, you can't tell how thankful
+I was to get away; I imagined all sorts of horrors."
+
+"Well, God be thanked, it's all done with now," I said earnestly.
+
+"And what is more," said Wetherell, "you have won one of the best
+husbands in the world. Mr. Hatteras, your hand, sir; Phyllis, my
+darling, yours! God bless you both."
+
+A week later the eventful voyage was over, and we were back in Sydney
+again.
+
+Then came our marriage. But, with your kind permission, I will only give
+you a very bare description of that. It took place at the cathedral, the
+Primate officiating. The Marquis of Beckenham was kind enough to act as
+my best man, while the Colonial Secretary, of course, gave his daughter
+away.
+
+But now I come to think of it, there is one point I _must_ touch upon in
+connexion with that happy occasion, and that was the arrival of an
+important present on the evening prior to the event.
+
+We were sitting in the drawing-room when the butler brought in a square
+parcel on a salver and handed it to Phyllis. "Another present, I
+expect," she said, and began to untie the string that bound it.
+
+When the first cover was removed a layer of tissue paper revealed
+itself, and after that a large Russia leather case came into view. On
+pressing the spring the cover lifted and revealed a superb _collet_--as
+I believe it is called--of diamonds, and resting against the lid a small
+card bearing this inscription:--
+
+     _"With heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Lady Hatteras,
+     in memory of an unfortunate detention and a voyage to the Southern
+     Seas,_
+
+     _"From her sincere admirer,_
+     _"Dr. Nikola."_
+
+What do you think of that?
+
+Well, to bring my long story to a close, the Great Event passed off with
+much _éclat_. We spent our honeymoon in the Blue Mountains, and a
+fortnight later sailed once more for England in the _Orizaba_. Both Mr.
+Wetherell--who has now resigned office--and the Marquis of Beckenham,
+who is as manly a fellow as you would meet anywhere in England,
+accompanied us home, and it was to the latter's seaside residence that
+we went immediately on our arrival in the mother country. My own New
+Forest residence is being thoroughly renovated, and will be ready for
+occupation in the spring.
+
+And now as to the other persons who have figured most prominently in my
+narrative. Of Nikola, Baxter, Eastover, or Prendergast I have never
+heard since. What gigantic _coup_ the first-named intends to accomplish
+with the little Chinese stick, the possession of which proved so fatal
+to Wetherell, is beyond my power to tell. I am only too thankful,
+however, that I am able to say that I am not in the least concerned in
+it. I am afraid of Nikola, and I confess it. And with this honest
+expression of my feelings, and my thanks for your attention and
+forbearance, I will beg your permission to ring the curtain down upon
+the narrative of my BID FOR FORTUNE.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby
+
+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: A Bid for Fortune
+       or Dr. Nikola's Vendetta
+
+Author: Guy Boothby
+
+Release Date: May 29, 2007 [EBook #21640]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BID FOR FORTUNE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Mary Meehan and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h1>A BID FOR FORTUNE</h1>
+
+<h3>DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA</h3>
+
+<h2>By GUY BOOTHBY</h2>
+
+<h4>Author of "Dr. Nikola," "The Beautiful White Devil," etc., etc.</h4>
+
+<h4>WARD, LOCK &amp; CO., LIMITED<br />
+LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO<br />
+1918</h4>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a href="images/illus_001.jpg"><img src="images/illus_001.jpg" alt=""/></a>
+</div>
+
+<h3>"Again she turned her face from me."</h3>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. -->
+<p>
+<a href="#PART_I">PART I</a><br /><br />
+<a href="#PROLOGUE">PROLOGUE--<span class="smcap">Dr. Nikola</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">I determine to take a Holiday,&mdash;Sydney, and what Befel me
+there</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">London</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">I Visit my Relations</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">I Save an Important Life</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Mystery</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">I Meet Dr. Nikola again</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">Port Said, and what Befel us there</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">Our Imprisonment and Attempt at Escape</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Dr. Nikola permits us a Free Passage</span></a><br /><br />
+<a href="#PART_II">PART II</a><br /><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IA">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">We reach Australia, and the Result</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IIA">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">On the Trail</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IIIA">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Lord Beckenham's Story</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_IVA">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">Following up a Clue</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VA">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">The Islands, and what we found there</span></a><br />
+<a href="#CHAPTER_VIA">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></a><br />
+</p>
+<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. -->
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>A BID FOR FORTUNE</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="PART_I" id="PART_I"></a><i>PART I</i></h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="PROLOGUE" id="PROLOGUE"></a>PROLOGUE</h2>
+
+<h3>DR. NIKOLA</h3>
+
+
+<p>The manager of the new Imperial Restaurant on the Thames Embankment went
+into his luxurious private office and shut the door. Having done so, he
+first scratched his chin reflectively, and then took a letter from the
+drawer in which it had reposed for more than two months and perused it
+carefully. Though he was not aware of it, this was the thirtieth time he
+had read it since breakfast that morning. And yet he was not a whit
+nearer understanding it than he had been at the beginning. He turned it
+over and scrutinized the back, where not a sign of writing was to be
+seen; he held it up to the window, as if he might hope to discover
+something from the water-mark; but there was nothing in either of these
+places of a nature calculated to set his troubled mind at rest. Then he
+took a magnificent repeater watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced
+at the dial; the hands stood at half-past seven. He immediately threw
+the letter on the table, and as he did so his anxiety found relief in
+words.</p>
+
+<p>"It's really the most extraordinary affair I ever had to do with," he
+remarked. "And as I've been in the business just three-and-thirty years
+at eleven a.m. next Monday morning, I ought to know something about it.
+I only hope I've done right, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke, the chief bookkeeper, who had the treble advantage of being
+tall, pretty, and just eight-and-twenty years of age, entered the room.
+She noticed the open letter and the look upon her chief's face, and her
+curiosity was proportionately excited.</p>
+
+<p>"You seem worried, Mr. McPherson," she said tenderly, as she put down
+the papers she had brought in for his signature.</p>
+
+<p>"You have just hit it, Miss O'Sullivan," he answered, pushing them
+farther on to the table. "I am worried about many things, but
+particularly about this letter."</p>
+
+<p>He handed the epistle to her, and she, being desirous of impressing him
+with her business capabilities, read it with ostentatious care. But it
+was noticeable that when she reached the signature she too turned back
+to the beginning, and then deliberately read it over again. The manager
+rose, crossed to the mantelpiece, and rang for the head waiter. Having
+relieved his feelings in this way, he seated himself again at his
+writing-table, put on his glasses, and stared at his companion, while
+waiting for her to speak.</p>
+
+<p>"It's very funny," she said. "Very funny indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's the most extraordinary communication I have ever received," he
+replied with conviction. "You see it is written from Cuyaba, Brazil. The
+date is three months ago to a day. Now I have taken the trouble to find
+out where and what Cuyaba is."</p>
+
+<p>He made this confession with an air of conscious pride, and having done
+so, laid himself back in his chair, stuck his thumbs into the armholes
+of his waistcoat, and looked at his fair subordinate for approval. Nor
+was he destined to be disappointed. He was a bachelor in possession of a
+snug income, and she, besides being pretty, was a lady with a keen eye
+to the main chance.</p>
+
+<p>"And where <i>is</i> Cuyaba?" she asked humbly.</p>
+
+<p>"Cuyaba," he replied, rolling his tongue with considerable relish round
+his unconscious mispronunciation of the name, "is a town almost on the
+western or Bolivian border of Brazil. It is of moderate size, is
+situated on the banks of the river Cuyaba, and is considerably connected
+with the famous Brazilian Diamond Fields."</p>
+
+<p>"And does the writer of this letter live there?"</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot say. He writes from there&mdash;that is enough for us."</p>
+
+<p>"And he orders dinner for four&mdash;here, in a private room overlooking the
+river, three months ahead&mdash;punctually at eight o'clock, gives you a list
+of the things he wants, and even arranges the decoration of the table.
+Says he has never seen either of his three friends before; that one of
+them hails from (here she consulted the letter again) Hang-chow, another
+from Bloemfontein, while the third resides, at present, in England. Each
+one is to present an ordinary visiting card with a red dot on it to the
+porter in the hall, and to be shown to the room at once. I don't
+understand it at all."</p>
+
+<p>The manager paused for a moment, and then said deliberately,&mdash;"Hang-chow
+is in China, Bloemfontein is in South Africa."</p>
+
+<p>"What a wonderful man you are, to be sure, Mr. McPherson! I never can
+<i>think</i> how you manage to carry so much in your head."</p>
+
+<p>There spoke the true woman. And it was a move in the right direction,
+for the manager was susceptible to her gentle influence, as she had
+occasion to know.</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture the head waiter appeared upon the scene, and took up a
+position just inside the doorway, as if he were afraid of injuring the
+carpet by coming farther.</p>
+
+<p>"Is No. 22 ready, Williams?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite ready, sir. The wine is on the ice, and cook tells me he'll be
+ready to dish punctual to the moment."</p>
+
+<p>"The letter says, 'no electric light; candles with red shades.' Have you
+put on those shades I got this morning?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just seen it done this very minute, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"And let me see, there was one other thing." He took the letter from the
+chief bookkeeper's hand and glanced at it. "Ah, yes, a porcelain saucer,
+and a small jug of new milk upon the mantelpiece. An extraordinary
+request, but has it been attended to?"</p>
+
+<p>"I put it there myself, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Who wait?"</p>
+
+<p>"Jones, Edmunds, Brooks, and Tomkins."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good. Then I think that will do. Stay! You had better tell the
+hall porter to look out for three gentlemen presenting plain visiting
+cards with a little red spot on them. Let Brooks wait in the hall, and
+when they arrive tell him to show them straight up to the room."</p>
+
+<p>"It shall be done, sir."</p>
+
+<p>The head waiter left the room, and the manager stretched himself in his
+chair, yawned by way of showing his importance, and then said
+solemnly,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe they'll any of them turn up; but if they do, this Dr.
+Nikola, whoever he may be, won't be able to find fault with my
+arrangements."</p>
+
+<p>Then, leaving the dusty high road of Business, he and his companion
+wandered in the shady bridle-paths of Love&mdash;to the end that when the
+chief bookkeeper returned to her own department she had forgotten the
+strange dinner party about to take place upstairs, and was busily
+engaged upon a calculation as to how she would look in white satin and
+orange blossoms, and, that settled, fell to wondering whether it was
+true, as Miss Joyce, a subordinate, had been heard to declare, that the
+manager had once shown himself partial to a certain widow with reputed
+savings and a share in an extensive egg and dairy business.</p>
+
+<p>At ten minutes to eight precisely a hansom drew up at the steps of the
+hotel. As soon as it stopped, an undersized gentleman, with a clean
+shaven countenance, a canonical corporation, and bow legs, dressed in a
+decidedly clerical garb, alighted. He paid and discharged his cabman,
+and then took from his ticket pocket an ordinary white visiting card,
+which he presented to the gold-laced individual who had opened the
+apron. The latter, having noted the red spot, called a waiter, and the
+reverend gentleman was immediately escorted upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the attendant time to return to his station in the hall,
+before a second cab made its appearance, closely followed by a third.
+Out of the second jumped a tall, active, well-built man of about thirty
+years of age. He was dressed in evening dress of the latest fashion, and
+to conceal it from the vulgar gaze, wore a large Inverness cape of heavy
+texture. He also in his turn handed a white card to the porter, and,
+having done so, proceeded into the hall, followed by the occupant of the
+last cab, who had closely copied his example. This individual was also
+in evening dress, but it was of a different stamp. It was old-fashioned
+and had seen much use. The wearer, too, was taller than the ordinary run
+of men, while it was noticeable that his hair was snow-white, and that
+his face was deeply pitted with smallpox. After disposing of their hats
+and coats in an ante-room, they reached room No. 22, where they found
+the gentleman in clerical costume pacing impatiently up and down.</p>
+
+<p>Left alone, the tallest of the trio, who for want of a better title we
+may call the Best Dressed Man, took out his watch, and having glanced at
+it, looked at his companions. "Gentlemen," he said, with a slight
+American accent, "it is three minutes to eight o'clock. My name is
+Eastover!"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to hear it, for I'm most uncommonly hungry," said the next
+tallest, whom I have already described as being so marked by disease.
+"My name is Prendergast!"</p>
+
+<p>"We only wait for our friend and host," remarked the clerical gentleman,
+as if he felt he ought to take a share in the conversation, and then, as
+an afterthought, he continued, "My name is Baxter!"</p>
+
+<p>They shook hands all round with marked cordiality, seated themselves
+again, and took it in turns to examine the clock.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting our host before?" asked Mr.
+Baxter of Mr. Prendergast.</p>
+
+<p>"Never," replied that gentleman, with a shake of his head. "Perhaps Mr.
+Eastover has been more fortunate?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not I," was the brief rejoinder. "I've had to do with him off and on
+for longer than I care to reckon, but I've never set eyes on him up to
+date."</p>
+
+<p>"And where may he have been the first time you heard from him?"</p>
+
+<p>"In Nashville, Tennessee," said Eastover. "After that, Tahupapa, New
+Zealand; after that, Papeete, in the Society Islands; then Pekin, China.
+And you?"</p>
+
+<p>"First time, Brussels; second, Monte Video; third, Mandalay, and then
+the Gold Coast, Africa. It's your turn, Mr. Baxter."</p>
+
+<p>The clergyman glanced at the timepiece. It was exactly eight o'clock.
+"First time, Cabul, Afghanistan; second, Nijni Novgorod, Russia; third,
+Wilcannia, Darling River, Australia; fourth, Valparaiso, Chili; fifth,
+Nagasaki, Japan."</p>
+
+<p>"He is evidently a great traveller and a most mysterious person."</p>
+
+<p>"He is more than that," said Eastover with conviction; "he is late for
+dinner!"</p>
+
+<p>Prendergast looked at his watch.</p>
+
+<p>"That clock is two minutes fast. Hark, there goes Big Ben! Eight
+exactly."</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke the door was thrown open and a voice announced "Dr. Nikola."</p>
+
+<p>The three men sprang to their feet simultaneously, with exclamations of
+astonishment, as the man they had been discussing made his appearance.</p>
+
+<p>It would take more time than I can spare the subject to give you an
+adequate and inclusive description of the person who entered the room at
+that moment. In stature he was slightly above the ordinary, his
+shoulders were broad, his limbs perfectly shaped and plainly muscular,
+but very slim. His head, which was magnificently set upon his shoulders,
+was adorned with a profusion of glossy black hair; his face was
+destitute of beard or moustache, and was of oval shape and handsome
+moulding; while his skin was of a dark olive hue, a colour which
+harmonized well with his piercing black eyes and pearly teeth. His hands
+and feet were small, and the greatest dandy must have admitted that he
+was irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the
+puritanical. In age he might have been anything from eight-and-twenty to
+forty; in reality he was thirty-three. He advanced into the room and
+walked with out-stretched hand directly across to where Eastover was
+standing by the fireplace.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Eastover, I feel certain," he said, fixing his glittering eyes upon
+the man he addressed, and allowing a curious smile to play upon his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>"That is my name, Dr. Nikola," the other answered with evident surprise.
+"But how on earth can you distinguish me from your other guests?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! it would surprise you if you knew. And Mr. Prendergast, and Mr.
+Baxter. This is delightful; I hope I am not late. We had a collision in
+the Channel this morning, and I was almost afraid I might not be up to
+time. Dinner seems ready; shall we sit down to it?" They seated
+themselves, and the meal commenced. The Imperial Restaurant has earned
+an enviable reputation for doing things well, and the dinner that night
+did not in any way detract from its lustre. But, delightful as it all
+was, it was noticeable that the three guests paid more attention to
+their host than to his excellent <i>menu</i>. As they had said before his
+arrival, they had all had dealings with him for several years, but what
+those dealings were they were careful not to describe. It was more than
+possible that they hardly liked to remember them themselves.</p>
+
+<p>When coffee had been served and the servants had withdrawn, Dr. Nikola
+rose from the table, and went across to the massive sideboard. On it
+stood a basket of very curious shape and workmanship. This he opened,
+and as he did so, to the astonishment of his guests, an enormous cat, as
+black as his master's coat, leaped out on to the floor. The reason for
+the saucer and jug of milk became evident.</p>
+
+<p>Seating himself at the table again, the host followed the example of his
+guests and lit a cigar, blowing a cloud of smoke luxuriously through his
+delicately chiselled nostrils. His eyes wandered round the cornice of
+the room, took in the pictures and decorations, and then came down to
+meet the faces of his companions. As they did so, the black cat, having
+finished its meal, sprang on to his shoulder to crouch there, watching
+the three men through the curling smoke drift with its green blinking,
+fiendish eyes. Dr. Nikola smiled as he noticed the effect the animal had
+upon his guests.</p>
+
+<p>"Now shall we get to business?" he said briskly.</p>
+
+<p>The others almost simultaneously knocked the ashes off their cigars and
+brought themselves to attention. Dr. Nikola's dainty, languid manner
+seemed to drop from him like a cloak, his eyes brightened, and his
+voice, when he spoke, was clean cut as chiselled silver.</p>
+
+<p>"You are doubtless anxious to be informed why I summoned you from all
+parts of the globe to meet me here to-night? And it is very natural you
+should be. But then, from what you know of me, you should not be
+surprised at anything I do."</p>
+
+<p>His voice dropped back into its old tone of gentle languor. He drew in a
+great breath of smoke and then sent it slowly out from his lips again.
+His eyes were half closed, and he drummed with one finger on the table
+edge. The cat looked through the smoke at the three men, and it seemed
+to them that he grew every moment larger and more ferocious. Presently
+his owner took him from his perch, and seating him on his knee fell to
+stroking his fur, from head to tail, with his long slim fingers. It was
+as if he were drawing inspiration for some deadly mischief from the
+uncanny beast.</p>
+
+<p>"To preface what I have to say to you, let me tell you that this is by
+far the most important business for which I have ever required your
+help. (Three slow strokes down the centre of the back, and one round
+each ear.) When it first came into my mind I was at a loss who to trust
+in the matter. I thought of Vendon, but I found Vendon was dead. I
+thought of Brownlow, but Brownlow was no longer faithful. (Two strokes
+down the back and two on the throat.) Then bit by bit I remembered you.
+I was in Brazil at the time. So I sent for you. You came. So far so
+good."</p>
+
+<p>He rose, and crossed over to the fireplace. As he went the cat crawled
+back to its original position on his shoulder. Then his voice changed
+once more to its former business-like tone.</p>
+
+<p>"I am not going to tell you very much about it. But from what I do tell
+you, you will be able to gather a great deal and imagine the rest. To
+begin with, there is a man living in this world to-day who has done me a
+great and lasting injury. What that injury is is no concern of yours.
+You would not understand if I told you. So we'll leave that out of the
+question. He is immensely rich. His cheque for &pound;300,000 would be
+honoured by his bank at any minute. Obviously he is a power. He has had
+reason to know that I am pitting my wits against his, and he flatters
+himself that so far he has got the better of me. That is because I am
+drawing him on. I am maturing a plan which will make him a poor and a
+very miserable man at one and the same time. If that scheme succeeds,
+and I am satisfied with the way you three men have performed the parts I
+shall call on you to play in it, I shall pay to each of you the sum of
+&pound;10,000. If it doesn't succeed, then you will each receive a thousand
+and your expenses. Do you follow me?"</p>
+
+<p>It was evident from their faces that they hung upon his every word.</p>
+
+<p>"But, remember, I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While
+you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are
+trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are&mdash;pardon the
+expression&mdash;unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is
+more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying
+out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for
+my plans!"</p>
+
+<p>He sat down again and took a paper from his pocket. Having perused it,
+he turned to Eastover.</p>
+
+<p>"You will leave at once&mdash;that is to say, by the boat on Wednesday&mdash;for
+Sydney. You will book your passage to-morrow morning, first thing, and
+join her in Plymouth. You will meet me to-morrow evening at an address I
+will send you, and receive your final instructions. Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that he was expected to go, Eastover rose, shook hands, and left
+the room without a word. He was too astonished to hesitate or to say
+anything.</p>
+
+<p>Nikola took another letter from his pocket and turned to Prendergast.
+"<i>You</i> will go down to Dover to-night, cross to Paris to-morrow morning,
+and leave this letter personally at the address you will find written on
+it. On Thursday, at half-past two precisely, you will deliver me an
+answer in the porch at Charing Cross. You will find sufficient money in
+that envelope to pay all your expenses. Now go!"</p>
+
+<p>"At half-past two you shall have your answer. Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>When Prendergast had left the room, Dr. Nikola lit another cigar and
+turned his attentions to Mr. Baxter.</p>
+
+<p>"Six months ago, Mr. Baxter, I found for you a situation as tutor to the
+young Marquis of Beckenham. You still hold it, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Is the father well disposed towards you?"</p>
+
+<p>"In every way. I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. That
+was one of your instructions."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes! But I was not certain that you would succeed. If the old man
+is anything like what he was when I last met him he must still be a
+difficult person to deal with. Does the boy like you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hope so."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you brought me his photograph as I directed?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have. Here it is."</p>
+
+<p>Baxter took a photograph from his pocket and handed it across the table.</p>
+
+<p>"Good. You have done very well, Mr. Baxter. I am pleased with you.
+To-morrow morning you will go back to Yorkshire&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon, Bournemouth. His Grace owns a house near
+Bournemouth, which he occupies during the summer months."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well&mdash;then to-morrow morning you will go back to Bournemouth and
+continue to ingratiate yourself with father and son. You will also begin
+to implant in the boy's mind a desire for travel. Don't let him become
+aware that his desire has its source in you&mdash;but do not fail to foster
+it all you can. I will communicate with you further in a day or two. Now
+go."</p>
+
+<p>Baxter in his turn left the room. The door closed. Dr. Nikola picked up
+the photograph and studied it.</p>
+
+<p>"The likeness is unmistakable&mdash;or it ought to be. My friend, my very
+dear friend, Wetherell, my toils are closing on you. My arrangements are
+perfecting themselves admirably. Presently, when all is complete, I
+shall press the lever, the machinery will be set in motion, and you will
+find yourself being slowly but surely ground into powder. Then you will
+hand over what I want, and be sorry you thought fit to baulk Dr.
+Nikola!"</p>
+
+<p>He rang the bell and ordered his bill. This duty discharged, he placed
+the cat back in its prison, shut the lid, descended with the basket to
+the hall, and called a hansom. The porter inquired to what address he
+should order the cabman to drive. Dr. Nikola did not reply for a moment,
+then he said, as if he had been thinking something out: "The <i>Green
+Sailor</i> public-house, East India Dock Road."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>I DETERMINE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY.&mdash;SYDNEY, AND WHAT BEFEL ME THERE</h3>
+
+
+<p>First and foremost, my name, age, description, and occupation, as they
+say in the <i>Police Gazette</i>. Richard Hatteras, at your service, commonly
+called Dick, of Thursday Island, North Queensland, pearler, copra
+merchant, <i>b&ecirc;che-de-mer</i> and tortoiseshell dealer, and South Sea trader
+generally. Eight-and-twenty years of age, neither particularly
+good-looking nor, if some people are to be believed, particularly
+amiable, six feet two in my stockings, and forty-six inches round the
+chest; strong as a Hakodate wrestler, and perfectly willing at any
+moment to pay ten pounds sterling to the man who can put me on my back.</p>
+
+<p>And big shame to me if I were not so strong, considering the free,
+open-air, devil-may-care life I've led. Why, I was doing man's work at
+an age when most boys are wondering when they're going to be taken out
+of knickerbockers. I'd been half round the world before I was fifteen,
+and had been wrecked twice and marooned once before my beard showed
+signs of sprouting. My father was an Englishman, not very much profit to
+himself, so he used to say, but of a kindly disposition, and the best
+husband to my mother, during their short married life, that any woman
+could possibly have desired. She, poor soul, died of fever in the
+Philippines the year I was born, and he went to the bottom in the
+schooner <i>Helen of Troy</i>, a degree west of the Line Islands, within six
+months of her decease; struck the tail end of a cyclone, it was thought,
+and went down, lock, stock, and barrel, leaving only one man to tell the
+tale. So I lost father and mother in the same twelve months, and that
+being so, when I put my cabbage-tree on my head it covered, as far as I
+knew, all my family in the world.</p>
+
+<p>Any way you look at it, it's calculated to give you a turn; at fifteen
+years of age, to know that there's not a living soul on the face of
+God's globe that you can take by the hand and call relation. That old
+saying about "blood being thicker than water" is a pretty true one, I
+reckon: friends may be kind&mdash;they were so to me&mdash;but after all they're
+not the same thing, nor can they be, as your own kith and kin.</p>
+
+<p>However, I had to look my trouble in the face, and stand up to it as a
+man should, and I suppose this kept me from brooding over my loss as
+much as I should otherwise have done. At any rate, ten days after the
+news reached me, I had shipped aboard the <i>Little Emily</i>, trading
+schooner, for Papeete, booked for five years among the islands, where I
+was to learn to water copra, to cook my balances, and to lay the
+foundation of the strange adventures that I am going to tell you about.</p>
+
+<p>After my time expired and I had served my Trading Company on half the
+mudbanks of the Pacific, I returned to Australia and went up inside the
+Great Barrier Reef to Somerset&mdash;the pearling station that had just come
+into existence on Cape York. They were good days there then, before all
+the new-fangled laws that now regulate the pearling trade had come into
+force; days when a man could do almost as he liked among the islands in
+those seas. I don't know how other folk liked it, but the life just
+suited me&mdash;so much so that when Somerset proved inconvenient and the
+settlement shifted across to Thursday, I went with it, and, what was
+more to the point, with money enough at my back to fit myself out with a
+brand-new lugger and full crew, so that I could go pearling on my own
+account.</p>
+
+<p>For many years I went at it head down, and this brings me up to four
+years ago, when I was a grown man, the owner of a house, two luggers,
+and as good a diving plant as any man could wish to possess. What was
+more, just before this I had put some money into a mining concern on the
+mainland, which had, contrary to most ventures of the sort, turned up
+trumps, giving me as my share the nice round sum of &pound;5,000. With all
+this wealth at my back, and having been in harness for a greater number
+of years on end than I cared to count, I made up my mind to take a
+holiday and go home to England to see the place where my father was
+born, and had lived his early life (I found the name of it written in
+the fly-leaf of an old Latin book he left me), and to have a look at a
+country I'd heard so much about, but never thought to set my foot upon.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly I packed my traps, let my house, sold my luggers and gear,
+intending to buy new ones when I returned, said good-bye to my friends
+and shipmates, and set off to join an Orient liner in Sydney. You will
+see from this that I intended doing the thing in style! And why not? I'd
+got more money to my hand to play with than most of the swells who
+patronize the first saloon; I had earned it honestly, and was resolved
+to enjoy myself with it to the top of my bent.</p>
+
+<p>I reached Sydney a week before the boat was advertised to sail, but I
+didn't fret much about that. There's plenty to see and do in such a big
+place, and when a man's been shut away from theatres and amusements for
+years at a stretch, he can put in his time pretty well looking about
+him. All the same, not knowing a soul in the place, I must confess there
+were moments when I did think regretfully of the little island hidden
+away up north under the wing of New Guinea, of the luggers dancing to
+the breeze in the harbour, and the warm welcome that always awaited me
+among my friends in the saloons. Take my word for it, there's something
+in even being a leader on a small island. Anyway, it's better than being
+a deadbeat in a big city like Sydney, where nobody knows you, and your
+next-door neighbour wouldn't miss you if he never saw or heard of you
+again.</p>
+
+<p>I used to think of these things as I marched about the streets looking
+in at shop windows, or took excursions up and down the harbour. There's
+no place like Sydney Harbour in the wide, wide world for beauty, and
+before I'd been there a week I was familiar with every part of it.
+Still, it would have been <i>more</i> enjoyable, as I hinted just now, if I
+had had a friend to tour about with me; and by the same token I'm doing
+one man an injustice.</p>
+
+<p>There was <i>one</i> fellow, I remember, who did offer to show me round: I
+fell across him in a saloon in George Street. He was tall and handsome,
+and as spic and span as a new pin till you came to look under the
+surface. When he entered the bar he winked at the girl who was serving
+me, and as soon as I'd finished my drink asked me to take another with
+him. Seeing what his little game was, and wanting to teach him a lesson,
+I lured him on by consenting. I drank with him, and then he drank with
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"Been long in Sydney?" he inquired casually, as he stroked his fair
+moustache.</p>
+
+<p>"Just come in," was my reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you find it dull work going about alone?" he inquired. "I shall
+never forget my first week of it."</p>
+
+<p>"You're about right," I answered. "It is dull! I don't know a soul, bar
+my banker and lawyer."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" (more curling of the moustache). "If I can be of any service
+to you while you're here, I hope you'll command me. I believe we're both
+Englishmen, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's very good of you," I replied modestly, affecting to be overcome by
+his condescension. "I'm just off to lunch. I am staying at the <i>Quebec</i>.
+Is it far enough for a hansom?" As he was about to answer, a lawyer,
+with whom I had done a little business the day before, walked into the
+room. I turned to my patronising friend and said, "Will you excuse me
+for one moment? I want to speak to this gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>He was still all graciousness.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll call a hansom and wait for you in it."</p>
+
+<p>When he had left the saloon I spoke to the new arrival. He had noticed
+the man I had been talking to, and was kind enough to warn me against
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"That man," he said, "bears a very bad reputation. He makes it his trade
+to meet new arrivals from England&mdash;weak-brained young pigeons with
+money. He shows them round Sydney, and plucks them so clean that, when
+they leave his hands, in nine cases out of ten, they haven't a feather
+left to fly with. You ought not, with your experience of rough
+customers, to be taken in by him."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor am I," I replied. "I am going to teach him a lesson. Come with me."</p>
+
+<p>Arm in arm we walked into the street, watched by Mr. Hawk from his seat
+in the cab. When we got there we stood for a moment chatting, and then
+strolled together down the pavement. Next moment I heard the cab coming
+along after us, and my friend hailing me in his silkiest tones; but
+though I looked him full in the face I pretended not to know him. Seeing
+this he drove past us&mdash;pulled up a little farther down and sprang out to
+wait for me.</p>
+
+<p>"I was almost afraid I had missed you," he began, as we came up with
+him. "Perhaps as it is such a fine day you would rather walk than ride?"</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon," I answered. "I'm really afraid you have the
+advantage of me."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have asked me to lunch with you at the <i>Quebec</i>. You told me to
+call a hansom."</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me again! but you are really mistaken. I said I was going to
+lunch at the <i>Quebec</i>, and asked you if it was far enough to be worth
+while taking a hansom. That is your hansom, not mine. If you don't
+require it any longer, I should advise you to pay the man and let him
+go."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a swindler, sir. I refuse to pay the cabman. It is your
+hansom."</p>
+
+<p>I took a step closer to my fine gentleman, and, looking him full in the
+face, said as quietly as possible, for I didn't want all the street to
+hear:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. <i>Dorunda</i> Dodson, let this be a lesson to you. Perhaps you'll think
+twice next time before you try your little games on me!"</p>
+
+<p>He stepped back as if he had been shot, hesitated a moment, and then
+jumped into his cab and drove off in the opposite direction. When he had
+gone I looked at my astonished companion.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now," he ejaculated at last, "how on earth did you manage that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very easily," I replied. "I happened to remember having met that
+gentleman up in our part of the world when he was in a very awkward
+position&mdash;very awkward. By his action just now I should say that he has
+not forgotten the circumstance any more than I have."</p>
+
+<p>That was the first of the only two adventures of any importance I met
+with during my stay in New South Wales. And there's not much in that, I
+fancy I can hear you saying. Well, that may be so, I don't deny it, but
+it was nevertheless through that that I became mixed up with the folk
+who figure in this book, and indeed it was to that very circumstance,
+and that alone, I owe my connection with the queer story I have set
+myself to tell. And this is how it came about.</p>
+
+<p>Three days before the steamer sailed, and about four o'clock in the
+afternoon, I chanced to be walking down Castlereagh Street, wondering
+what on earth I should do with myself until dinner-time, when I saw
+approaching me the very man whose discomfiture I have just described.
+Being probably occupied planning the plucking of some unfortunate new
+chum, he did not see me. And as I had no desire to meet him again, after
+what had passed between us, I crossed the road and meandered off in a
+different direction, eventually finding myself located on a seat in the
+Domain, lighting a cigarette and looking down over a broad expanse of
+harbour.</p>
+
+<p>One thought led to another, and so I sat on and on long after dusk had
+fallen, never stirring until a circumstance occurred on a neighbouring
+path that attracted my attention. A young and well-dressed lady was
+pursuing her way in my direction, evidently intending to leave the park
+by the entrance I had used to come into it. But unfortunately for her,
+at the junction of two paths to my right, three of Sydney's typical
+larrikins were engaged in earnest conversation. They had observed the
+girl coming towards them, and were evidently preparing some plan for
+accosting her. When she was only about fifty yards away, two of them
+walked to a distance, leaving the third and biggest ruffian to waylay
+her. He did so, but without success; she passed him and continued her
+walk at increased speed.</p>
+
+<p>The man thereupon quickened his pace, and, secure in the knowledge that
+he was unobserved, again accosted her. Again she tried to escape him,
+but this time he would not leave her. What was worse, his two friends
+were now blocking the path in front. She looked to right and left, and
+was evidently uncertain what to do. Then, seeing escape was hopeless,
+she stopped, took out her purse, and gave it to the man who had first
+spoken to her. Thinking this was going too far, I jumped up and went
+quickly across the turf towards them. My footsteps made no sound on the
+soft grass, and as they were too much occupied in examining what she had
+given them, they did not notice my approach.</p>
+
+<p>"You scoundrels!" I said, when I had come up with them. "What do you
+mean by stopping this lady? Let her go instantly; and you, my friend,
+just hand over that purse."</p>
+
+<p>The man addressed looked at me as if he were taking my measure, and were
+wondering what sort of chance he'd have against me in a fight. But I
+suppose my height must have rather scared him, for he changed his tone
+and began to whine.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't got the lady's purse, s'help me, I ain't! I was only a asking
+of 'er the time!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hand over that purse!" I said sternly, approaching a step nearer to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>One of the others here intervened,&mdash;"Let's stowch 'im, Dog! There ain't
+a copper in sight!"</p>
+
+<p>With that they began to close upon me. But, as the saying goes, "I'd
+been there before." I'd not been knocking about the rough side of the
+world for fifteen years without learning how to take care of myself.
+When they had had about enough of it, which was most likely more than
+they had bargained for, I took the purse and went to where the innocent
+cause of it all was standing. She was looking very white and scared, but
+she plucked up sufficient courage to thank me prettily.</p>
+
+<p>I can see her now, standing there looking into my face with big tears in
+her pretty blue eyes. She was a girl of about twenty-one or two years of
+age&mdash;tall, but slenderly built, with a sweet oval face, bright brown
+hair, and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life. She was
+dressed in some dark green material, wore a fawn jacket, and, because
+the afternoon was cold, had a boa of marten fur round her neck. I can
+remember also that her hat was of some flimsy make, with lace and
+glittering spear points in it, and that the whole structure was
+surmounted by two bows, one of black ribbon, the other of salmon pink.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how can I thank you?" she began, when I had come up with her. "But
+for your appearance I don't know what those men might not have done to
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"I was very glad that I <i>was</i> there to help you," I replied, looking
+into her face with more admiration for its warm young beauty than
+perhaps I ought to have shown. "Here is your purse. I hope you will find
+its contents safe. At the same time will you let me give you a little
+piece of advice. From what I have seen this afternoon this is evidently
+not the sort of place for a young lady to be walking in alone and after
+dark. I don't think I would risk it again if I were you."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at me for a moment and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"You are quite right. I have only myself to thank for my misfortune. I
+met a friend and walked across the green with her; I was on my way back
+to my carriage&mdash;which is waiting for me outside&mdash;when I met those men.
+However, I can promise you that it will not happen again. I am leaving
+Sydney in a day or two."</p>
+
+<p>Somehow, when I heard that, I began to feel glad I was booked to leave
+the place too. But of course I didn't tell her so.</p>
+
+<p>"May I see you safely to your carriage?" I said at last. "Those fellows
+may still be hanging about on the chance of overtaking you."</p>
+
+<p>Her courage must have come back to her, for she looked up into my face
+with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think they will be rude to me again, after the lesson you have
+given them. But if you will walk with me I shall be very grateful."</p>
+
+<p>Side by side we proceeded down the path, through the gates and out into
+the street. A neat brougham was drawn up alongside the kerb, and towards
+this she made her way. I opened the door and held it for her to get in.
+But before she did so she turned to me and stretched out her little
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you tell me your name, that I may know to whom I am indebted?"</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Hatteras. Richard Hatteras, of Thursday Island, Torres
+Straits. I am staying at the <i>Quebec</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Mr. Hatteras, again and again. I shall always be grateful to
+you for your gallantry!"</p>
+
+<p>This was attaching too much importance to such a simple action, and I
+was about to tell her so, when she spoke again: "I think I ought to let
+you know who I am. My name is Wetherell, and my father is the Colonial
+Secretary. I'm sure he will be quite as grateful to you as I am.
+Good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>She seemed to forget that we had already shaken hands, for she extended
+her own a second time. I took it and tried to say something polite, but
+she stepped into her carriage and shut the door before I could think of
+anything, and next moment she was being whirled away up the street.</p>
+
+<p>Now old fogies and disappointed spinsters can say what they please about
+love at first sight. I'm not a romantic sort of person&mdash;far from it&mdash;the
+sort of life I had hitherto led was not of a nature calculated to foster
+a belief in that sort of thing. But if I wasn't over head and ears in
+love when I resumed my walk that evening, well, I've never known what
+the passion is.</p>
+
+<p>A daintier, prettier, sweeter little angel surely never walked the earth
+than the girl I had just been permitted the opportunity of rescuing, and
+from that moment forward I found my thoughts constantly reverting to
+her. I seemed to retain the soft pressure of her fingers in mine for
+hours afterwards, and as a proof of the perturbed state of my feelings I
+may add that I congratulated myself warmly on having worn that day my
+new and fashionable Sydney suit, instead of the garments in which I had
+travelled down from Torres Straits, and which I had hitherto considered
+quite good enough for even high days and holidays. That she herself
+would remember me for more than an hour never struck me as being likely.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning I donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up,
+and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets.
+What reason I had for thinking I should is more than I can tell you, but
+at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George
+Street a carriage passed me, and in it sat the girl whose fair image had
+exercised such an effect upon my mind. That she saw and recognized me
+was evidenced by the gracious bow and smile with which she favoured me.
+Then she passed out of sight, and it was a wonder that that minute
+didn't see the end of my career, for I stood like one in a dream looking
+in the direction in which she had gone, and it was not until two carts
+and a brewer's wagon had nearly run me down that I realized it would be
+safer for me to pursue my meditations on the side walk.</p>
+
+<p>I got back to my hotel by lunch-time, and during the progress of that
+meal a brilliant idea struck me. Supposing I plucked up courage and
+called? Why not? It would be only a polite action to inquire if she were
+any the worse for her fright. The thought was no sooner born in my brain
+than I was eager to be off. But it was too early for such a formal
+business, so I had to cool my heels in the hall for an hour. Then,
+hailing a hansom and inquiring the direction of their residence, I drove
+off to Potts Point. The house was the last in the street&mdash;an imposing
+mansion standing in well-laid-out grounds. The butler answered my ring,
+and in response to my inquiry dashed my hopes to the ground by informing
+me that Miss Wetherell was out.</p>
+
+<p>"She's very busy, you see, at present, sir. She and the master leave for
+England on Friday in the <i>Orizaba</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" I cried, almost forgetting myself in my astonishment. "You don't
+mean to say that Miss Wetherell goes to England in the <i>Orizaba</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do, sir. And I do hear she's goin' 'ome to be presented at Court,
+sir!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! Thank you. Will you give her my card, and say that I hope she is
+none the worse for her fright last evening?"</p>
+
+<p>He took the card, and a substantial tip with it, and I went back to my
+cab in the seventh heaven of delight. I was to be shipmates with this
+lovely creature! For four weeks or more I should be able to see her
+every day! It seemed almost too good to be true. Instinctively I began
+to make all sorts of plans and preparations. Who knew but what&mdash;but
+stay, we must bring ourselves up here with a round turn, or we shall be
+anticipating what's to come.</p>
+
+<p>To make a long story short&mdash;for it must be remembered that what I am
+telling you is only the prelude to all the extraordinary things that
+will have to be told later on&mdash;the day of sailing came. I went down to
+the boat on the morning of her departure, and got my baggage safely
+stowed away in my cabin before the rush set in.</p>
+
+<p>About three o'clock we hove our anchor and steamed slowly down the Bay.
+I had been below when the Wetherells arrived on board, so the young lady
+had not yet become aware of my presence. Whether she would betray any
+astonishment when she did find out was beyond my power to tell; at any
+rate, I know that I was by a long way the happiest man aboard the boat
+that day. However, I was not to be kept long in suspense. Before we had
+reached the Heads it was all settled, and satisfactorily so. I was
+standing on the promenade deck, just abaft the main saloon entrance,
+watching the panorama spread out before me, when I heard a voice I
+recognized only too well say behind me:</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye to you, dear old Sydney. Great things will have happened when
+I set eyes on you again."</p>
+
+<p>Little did she know how prophetic were her words. As she spoke I turned
+and confronted her. For a moment she was overwhelmed with surprise,
+then, stretching out her hand, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Mr. Hatteras, this is most wonderful. You are the last person I
+expected to meet on board."</p>
+
+<p>"And perhaps," I replied, "I might with justice say the same of you."</p>
+
+<p>She turned to a tall, white-bearded man beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"Papa, I must introduce you to Mr. Hatteras. You will remember I told
+you how kind Mr. Hatteras was when those larrikins were rude to me in
+the Domain."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sincerely obliged to you, Mr. Hatteras," he said, holding out his
+hand and shaking mine heartily. "My daughter did tell me, and I called
+yesterday at your hotel to thank you personally, but you were
+unfortunately not at home. Are you visiting Europe?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I'm going home for a short visit to see the place where my father
+was born."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you then, like myself, an Australian native? I mean, of course, as
+you know, colonial born?" asked Miss Wetherell with a little laugh. The
+idea of her calling herself an Australian native in any other sense! The
+very notion seemed preposterous.</p>
+
+<p>"I was born at sea, a degree and a half south of Mauritius," I answered;
+"so I don't know what you would call me. I hope you have comfortable
+cabins?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very. We have made two or three voyages in this boat before, and we
+always take the same places. And now, papa, we must really go and see
+where poor Miss Thompson is. We are beginning to feel the swell, and
+she'll be wanting to go below. Good-bye for the present."</p>
+
+<p>I raised my cap and watched her walk away down the deck, balancing
+herself as if she had been accustomed to a heaving plank all her life.
+Then I turned to watch the fast receding shore, and to my own thoughts,
+which were none of the saddest, I can assure you. For it must be
+confessed here&mdash;and why should I deny it?&mdash;that I was in love from the
+soles of my deck shoes to the cap upon my head. But as to the chance,
+that I, a humble pearler, would stand with one of Sydney's most
+beautiful daughters&mdash;why, that's another matter, and one that, for the
+present, I was anxious to keep behind me.</p>
+
+<p>Within the week we had left Adelaide behind us, and four days later
+Albany was also a thing of the past. By the time we had cleared the
+Lewin we had all settled down to our life aboard ship, the bad sailors
+were beginning to appear on deck again, and the medium voyagers to make
+various excuses for their absences from meals. One thing was evident,
+that Miss Wetherell was the belle of the ship. Everybody paid her
+attention, from the skipper down to the humblest deck hand. And this
+being so, I prudently kept out of the way, for I had no desire to be
+thought to presume on our previous acquaintance. Whether she noticed
+this I cannot tell, but at any rate her manner to me when we <i>did</i> speak
+was more cordial than I had any right or reason to expect it would be.
+Seeing this, there were not wanting people on board who scoffed and
+sneered at the idea of the Colonial Secretary's daughter noticing so
+humble a person as myself, and when it became known what my exact social
+position was, I promise you these malicious whisperings did not cease.</p>
+
+<p>One evening, two or three days after we had left Colombo behind us, I
+was standing at the rails on the promenade deck a little abaft the
+smoking-room entrance, when Miss Wetherell came up and took her place
+beside me. She looked very dainty and sweet in her evening dress, and I
+felt, if I had known her better, I should have liked to tell her so.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," said she, when we had discussed the weather and the
+sunset, "I have been thinking lately that you desire to avoid me."</p>
+
+<p>"Heaven forbid! Miss Wetherell," I hastened to reply. "What on earth put
+such a notion into your head?"</p>
+
+<p>"All the same I believe it to be true. Now, why do you do it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have not admitted that I do do it. But, perhaps, if I do seem to deny
+myself the pleasure of being with you as much as some other people I
+could mention, it is only because I fail to see what possible enjoyment
+you can derive from my society."</p>
+
+<p>"That is a very pretty speech," she answered, smiling, "but it does not
+tell me what I want to know."</p>
+
+<p>"And what is it that you want to know, my dear young lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know why you are so much changed towards me. At first we got
+on splendidly&mdash;you used to tell me of your life in Torres Straits, of
+your trading ventures in the Southern Seas, and even of your hopes for
+the future. Now, however, all that is changed. It is, 'Good-morning,
+Miss Wetherell,' 'Good-evening, Miss Wetherell,' and that is all. I must
+own I don't like such treatment."</p>
+
+<p>"I must crave your pardon&mdash;but&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, we won't have any 'buts.' If you want to be forgiven, you must come
+and talk to me as you used to do. You will like the rest of the people
+I'm sure when you get to know them. They are very kind to me."</p>
+
+<p>"And you think I shall like them for that reason?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, no. How silly you are. But I do so want you to be friendly."</p>
+
+<p>After that there was nothing for it but for me to push myself into a
+circle where I had the best reasons for knowing that I was not wanted.
+However, it had its good side: I saw more of Miss Wetherell; so much
+more indeed that I began to notice that her father did not quite approve
+of it. But, whatever he may have thought, he said nothing to me on the
+subject.</p>
+
+<p>A fortnight or so later we were at Aden, leaving that barren rock about
+four o'clock, and entering the Red Sea the same evening. The Suez Canal
+passed through, and Port Said behind us, we were in the Mediterranean,
+and for the first time in my life I stood in Europe.</p>
+
+<p>At Naples the Wetherells were to say good-bye to the boat, and continue
+the rest of their journey home across the Continent. As the hour of
+separation approached, I must confess I began to dread it more and more.
+And somehow, I fancy, <i>she</i> was not quite as happy as she used to be.
+You will probably ask what grounds I had for believing that a girl like
+Miss Wetherell would take any interest in a man like myself; and it is a
+question I can no more answer than I can fly. And yet, when I came to
+think it all out, I was not without my hopes.</p>
+
+<p>We were to reach port the following morning. The night was very still,
+the water almost unruffled. Somehow it came about that Miss Wetherell
+and I found ourselves together in the same sheltered spot where she had
+spoken to me on the occasion referred to before. The stars in the east
+were paling, preparatory to the rising of the moon. I glanced at my
+companion as she leant against the rails scanning the quiet sea, and
+noticed the sweet wistfulness of her expression. Then, suddenly, a great
+desire came over me to tell her of my love. Surely, even if she could
+not return it, there would be no harm in letting her know how I felt
+towards her. For this reason I drew a little closer to her.</p>
+
+<p>"And so. Miss Wetherell," I said, "to-morrow we are to say good-bye;
+never, perhaps, to meet again."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, Mr. Hatteras," she answered, "we won't say that. Surely we
+shall see something of each other somewhere. The world is very tiny
+after all."</p>
+
+<p>"To those who desire to avoid each other, perhaps, but for those who
+wish to <i>find</i> it is still too large."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, we must hope for the best. Who knows but that we may run
+across each other in London. I think it is very probable."</p>
+
+<p>"And will that meeting be altogether distasteful to you?" I asked, quite
+expecting that she would answer with her usual frankness. But to my
+surprise she did not speak, only turned half away from me. Had I
+offended her?</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Wetherell, pray forgive my rudeness," I said hastily. "I ought to
+have known I had no right to ask you such a question."</p>
+
+<p>"And why shouldn't you?" she replied, this time turning her sweet face
+towards me. "No, I will tell you frankly, I should very much like to see
+you again."</p>
+
+<p>With that all the blood in my body seemed to rush to my head. Could I be
+dreaming? Or had she really said she would like to see me again? I would
+try my luck now whatever came of it.</p>
+
+<p>"You cannot think how pleasant our intercourse has been to me," I said.
+"And now I have to go back to my lonely, miserable existence again."</p>
+
+<p>"But you should not say that; you have your work in life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but what is that to me when I have no one to work for? Can you
+conceive anything more awful than my loneliness? Remember, as far as I
+know I am absolutely without kith and kin. There is not a single soul to
+care for me in the whole world&mdash;not one to whom my death would be a
+matter of the least concern."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't&mdash;don't say that!" Her voice faltered so that I turned from
+the sea and contemplated her.</p>
+
+<p>"It is true, Miss Wetherell, bitterly true."</p>
+
+<p>"It is not true. It cannot be true!"</p>
+
+<p>"If only I could think it would be some little matter of concern to you
+I should go back to my work with a happier heart."</p>
+
+<p>Again she turned her face from me. My arm lay beside hers upon the
+bulwarks, and I could feel that she was trembling. Brutal though it may
+seem to say so, this gave me fresh courage. I said slowly, bending my
+face a little towards her:</p>
+
+<p>"Would it affect you, Phyllis?"</p>
+
+<p>One little hand fell from the bulwarks to her side, and I took
+possession of it. She did not appear to have heard my question, so I
+repeated it. Then her head went down upon the bulwarks, but not before I
+had caught the whispered "yes" that escaped her lips.</p>
+
+<p>Before she could guess what was going to happen, I had taken her in my
+arms and smothered her face with kisses. Nor did she offer any
+resistance. I knew the whole truth now. She was mine, she loved
+me&mdash;me&mdash;me&mdash;me! The whole world seemed to re-echo the news, the very sea
+to ring with it, and just as I learned from her own dear lips the story
+of her love, the great moon rose as if to listen. Can you imagine my
+happiness, my delight? She was mine, this lovely girl, my very own!
+bound to me by all the bonds of love. Oh, happy hour! Oh, sweet delight!
+I pressed her to my heart again and again. She looked into my face and
+then away from me, her sweet eyes suffused with tears, then suddenly her
+expression changed. I turned to see what ailed her, and to my
+discomfiture discovered her father stalking along the silent deck
+towards us.</p>
+
+<p>Whispering to her to leave us, she sped away, and I was left alone with
+her angry parent. That he <i>was</i> angry I judged from his face; nor was I
+wrong in my conjecture.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," he said severely, "pray what does this mean? How is it
+that I find you in this undignified position with my daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Wetherell," I answered, "I can see that an explanation is due to
+you. Just before you came up I was courageous enough to tell your
+daughter that I loved her. She has been generous enough to inform me
+that she returns my affection. And now the best course for me to pursue
+is to ask your permission to make her my wife."</p>
+
+<p>"You presume, sir, upon the service you rendered my daughter in Sydney.
+I did not think you would follow it up in this fashion."</p>
+
+<p>"Your daughter is free to love whom she pleases, I take it," I said, my
+temper getting a little the better of my judgment. "She has been good
+enough to promise to marry me&mdash;if I can obtain your permission. Have you
+any objection to raise?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only one, and that one is insuperable! Understand me, I forbid it once
+and for all! In every particular&mdash;without hope of change&mdash;I forbid it!"</p>
+
+<p>"As you must see it is a matter which affects the happiness of two
+lives, I feel sure you will be good enough to tell me your reasons?"</p>
+
+<p>"I must decline any discussion on the matter at all. You have my answer,
+I forbid it!"</p>
+
+<p>"This is to be final, then? I am to understand that you are not to be
+brought to change your mind by any actions of mine?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir, I am not! What I have said is irrevocable. The idea is not to
+be thought of for a moment. And while I am on this subject let me tell
+you that your conduct towards my daughter on board this ship has been
+very distasteful to me. I have the honour to wish you a very
+good-evening."</p>
+
+<p>"Stay, Mr. Wetherell," I said, as he turned to go. "You have been kind
+enough to favour me with your views. Now I will give you mine. Your
+daughter loves me. I am an honest and an industrious man, and I love her
+with my whole heart and soul. I tell you now, and though you decline to
+treat me with proper fairness, I give you warning that I intend to marry
+her if she will still have me&mdash;with your consent or without it!"</p>
+
+<p>"You are insolent, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"I assure you I have no desire to be. I endeavour to remember that you
+are her father, though I must own you lack her sense of what is fair and
+right."</p>
+
+<p>"I will not discuss the question any further with you. You know my
+absolute decision. Good-night!"</p>
+
+<p>With anger and happiness struggling in my breast for the mastery, I
+paced that deck for hours. My heart swelled with joy at the knowledge
+that my darling loved me, but it sank like lead when I considered the
+difficulties which threatened us if her father persisted in his present
+determination. At last, just as eight bells was striking (twelve
+o'clock), I went below to my cabin. My fellow-passenger was fast
+asleep&mdash;a fact which I was grateful for when I discovered propped
+against my bottle-rack a tiny envelope with my name upon it. Tearing it
+open I read the following:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">My own Dearest</span>,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"My father has just informed me of his interview with you. I cannot
+understand it or ascribe a reason for it. But whatever happens,
+remember that I will be your wife, and the wife of no other.</p>
+
+<p>"May God bless and keep you always.</p>
+
+<p>"Your own,<br />
+<span class="smcap">Phyllis</span>.</p>
+
+<p>"P.S.&mdash;Before we leave the ship you must let me know your address
+in London."</p></div>
+
+<p>With such a letter under my pillow, can it be doubted that my dreams
+were good? Little I guessed the accumulation of troubles to which this
+little unpleasantness with Mr. Wetherell was destined to be the prelude!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>LONDON</h3>
+
+
+<p>Now that I come to think the matter out, I don't know that I could give
+you any definite idea of what my first impressions of London were. One
+thing at least is certain, I had never had experience of anything
+approaching such a city before, and, between ourselves, I can't say that
+I ever want to again. The constant rush and roar of traffic, the crowds
+of people jostling each other on the pavements, the happiness and the
+misery, the riches and the poverty, all mixed up together in one jumble,
+like good and bad fruit in a basket, fairly took my breath away; and
+when I went down, that first afternoon, and saw the Park in all its
+summer glory, my amazement may be better imagined than described.</p>
+
+<p>I could have watched the carriages, horsemen, and promenaders for hours
+on end without any sense of weariness. And when a bystander, seeing that
+I was a stranger, took compassion upon my ignorance and condescended to
+point out to me the various celebrities present, my pleasure was
+complete. There certainly is no place like London for show and glitter,
+I'll grant you that; but all the same I'd no more think of taking up my
+permanent abode in it than I'd try to cross the Atlantic in a Chinese
+sampan.</p>
+
+<p>Having before I left Sydney been recommended to a quiet hotel in a
+neighbourhood near the Strand, convenient both for sight-seeing and
+business, I had my luggage conveyed thither, and prepared to make myself
+comfortable for a time. Every day I waited eagerly for a letter from my
+sweetheart, the more impatiently because its non-arrival convinced me
+that they had not yet arrived in London. As it turned out, they had
+delayed their departure from Naples for two days, and had spent another
+three in Florence, two in Rome, and a day and a half in Paris.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, however, my faithful watch over the letter rack, which was
+already becoming a standing joke in the hotel, was rewarded. An envelope
+bearing an English stamp and postmark, and addressed in a handwriting as
+familiar to me as my own, stared me in the face. To take it out and
+break the seal was the work of a moment. It was only a matter of a few
+lines, but it brought me news that raised me to the seventh heaven of
+delight.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. and Miss Wetherell had arrived in London the previous afternoon,
+they were staying at the <i>H&ocirc;tel M&eacute;tropole</i>, would leave town for the
+country at the end of the week, but in the meantime, if I wished to see
+her, my sweetheart would be in the entrance hall of the British Museum
+the following morning at eleven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>How I conducted myself in the interval between my receipt of the letter
+and the time of the appointment, I have not the least remembrance; I
+know, however, that half-past ten, on the following morning, found me
+pacing up and down the street before that venerable pile, scanning with
+eager eyes every conveyance that approached me. The minutes dragged by
+with intolerable slowness, but at length the time arrived.</p>
+
+<p>A kindly church clock in the neighbourhood struck the hour, and others
+all round it immediately took up the tale. Before the last stroke had
+died away a hansom turned towards the gates from Bury Street, and in it,
+looking the picture of health and beauty, sat the girl who, I had good
+reason to know, was more than all the world to me. To attract her
+attention and signal to the driver to pull up was the work of a second,
+and a minute later I had helped her to alight, and we were strolling
+together across the square towards the building.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Dick," she said, with a roguish smile, "you don't know what trouble
+I had to get away this morning. Papa had a dozen places he wished me to
+go to with him. But when I told him that I had some very important
+business of my own to attend to before I could go calling, he was kind
+enough to let me off."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be bound he thought you meant business with a dressmaker," I
+laughingly replied, determined to show her that I was not unversed in
+the ways of women.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid he did," she answered, blushing, "and I feel horribly
+guilty. But my heart told me I must see you at once, whatever happened."</p>
+
+<p>Could any man desire a prettier speech than that? If so, I was not that
+man. We were inside the building by this time, ascending the great
+staircase.</p>
+
+<p>As we entered the room at the top of the stairs, I thought it a good
+opportunity to ask the question I had been longing to put to her.</p>
+
+<p>"Phyllis, my sweetheart," I said, with a tremor in my voice, "it is a
+fortnight now since I spoke to you. You have had plenty of time to
+consider our position. Have you regretted giving me your love?"</p>
+
+<p>We came to a standstill, and leant over a case together, but what it
+contained I'm sure I haven't the very vaguest idea.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up into my face with a sweet smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Not for one single instant, Dick! Having once given you my love, is it
+likely I should want it back again?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Somehow I can't discover sufficient reason for your
+giving it to me at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, be sure I'm not going to tell you. You might grow conceited.
+Isn't it sufficient that I <i>do</i> love you, and that I am not going to
+give you up, whatever happens?"</p>
+
+<p>"More than sufficient," I answered solemnly. "But, Phyllis, don't you
+think I can induce your father to relent? Surely as a good parent he
+must be anxious to promote your happiness at any cost to himself?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't understand it at all. He has been so devoted to me all my life
+that his conduct now is quite inexplicable. Never once has he denied me
+anything I really set my heart upon, and he always promised me that I
+should be allowed to marry whomsoever I pleased, provided he was a good
+and honourable man, and one of whom he could in any way approve. And you
+are all that, Dick, or I shouldn't have loved you, I know."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I'm any worse than the ordinary run of men, dearest, if I
+am no better. At any rate I love you with a true and honourable love.
+But don't you think he will come round in time?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm almost afraid not. He referred to it only yesterday, and seemed
+quite angry that I should have dared to entertain any thought of you
+after what he said to me on board ship. It was the first time in my life
+he ever spoke to me in such a tone, and I felt it keenly. No, Dick,
+there is something behind it all that I cannot understand. Some mystery
+that I would give anything to fathom. Papa has not been himself ever
+since we started for England. Indeed, his very reason for coming at all
+is an enigma to me. And now that he <i>is</i> here, he seems in continual
+dread of meeting somebody&mdash;but who that somebody is, and why my father,
+who has the name and reputation of being such a courageous, determined,
+honourable man, should be afraid, is a thing I cannot understand."</p>
+
+<p>"It's all very mysterious and unfortunate. But surely something can be
+done? Don't you think if I were to see him again, and put the matter
+more plainly before him, something might be arranged?"</p>
+
+<p>"It would be worse than useless at present, I fear. No, you must just
+leave it to me, and I'll do my best to talk him round. Ever since my
+mother died I have been as his right hand, and it will be strange if he
+does not listen to me and see reason in the end."</p>
+
+<p>Seeing who it was that would plead with him I did not doubt it.</p>
+
+<p>By this time we had wandered through many rooms and now found ourselves
+in the Egyptian Department, surrounded by embalmed dead folk and queer
+objects of all sorts and descriptions. There was something almost
+startling about our love-making in such a place, among these men and
+women, whose wooings had been conducted in a country so widely different
+to ours, and in an age that was dead and gone over two thousand years
+ere we were born. I spoke of this to Phyllis. She laughed and gave a
+little shiver.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," she said, looking down on the swathed-up figure of a
+princess of the royal house of Egypt, lying stretched out in the case
+beside which we sat, "if this great lady, who lies so still and silent
+now, had any trouble with her love affair?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps she had more than one beau to her string, and not being allowed
+to have one took the other," I answered; "though from what we can see of
+her now she doesn't look as if she were ever capable of exercising much
+fascination, does she?"</p>
+
+<p>As I spoke I looked from the case to the girl and compared the
+swaddled-up figure with the healthy, living, lovely creature by my side.
+But I hadn't much time for comparison. My sweetheart had taken her watch
+from her pocket and was glancing at the dial.</p>
+
+<p>"A quarter to twelve!" she cried in alarm, "Oh, Dick, I must be going. I
+promised to meet papa at twelve, and I must not keep him waiting."</p>
+
+<p>She rose and was about to pull on her gloves. But before she had time to
+do so I had taken a little case from my pocket and opened it. When she
+saw what it contained she could not help a little womanly cry of
+delight.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dick! you naughty, extravagant boy!"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, dearest? Why naughty or extravagant to give the woman I love a
+little token of my affection?" As I spoke I slipped the ring over her
+pretty ringer and raised the hand to my lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you try," I said, "whenever you look at that ring, to remember
+that the man who gave it to you loves you with his whole heart and soul,
+and will count no trouble too great, or no exertion too hard, to make
+you happy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will remember," she said solemnly, and when I looked I saw that tears
+stood in her eyes. She brushed them hastily away, and after an interlude
+which it hardly becomes me to mention here, we went down the stairs
+again and out into the street, almost in silence.</p>
+
+<p>Having called a cab, I placed her in it and nervously asked the question
+that had been sometime upon my mind:&mdash;"When shall I see you again?"</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot tell," she answered. "Perhaps next week. But I'll let you
+know. In the meantime don't despair; all will come right yet. Good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye and God bless you!"</p>
+
+<p>Having seen the last of her I wandered slowly down the pavement towards
+Oxford Street, then turning to my left hand, made my way citywards. My
+mind was full of my interview with the sweet girl who had just left me,
+and I wandered on and on, wrapped in my own thoughts, until I found
+myself in a quarter of London into which I had never hitherto
+penetrated. The streets were narrow, and, as if to be in keeping with
+the general air of gloom, the shops were small and their wares of a
+peculiarly sordid nature.</p>
+
+<p>A church clock somewhere in the neighbourhood struck "One," and as I was
+beginning to feel hungry, and knew myself to be a long way from my
+hotel, I cast about me for a lunching-place. But it was some time before
+I encountered the class of restaurant I wanted. When I did it was
+situated at the corner of two streets, carried a foreign name over the
+door, and, though considerably the worse for wear, presented a cleaner
+appearance than any other I had as yet experienced.</p>
+
+<p>Pushing the door open I entered. An unmistakable Frenchman, whose
+appearance, however, betokened long residence in England, stood behind a
+narrow counter polishing an absinthe glass. He bowed politely and asked
+my business.</p>
+
+<p>"Can I have lunch?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oui, monsieur! Cer-tain-lee. If monsieur will walk upstairs I will take
+his order."</p>
+
+<p>Waving his hand in the direction of a staircase in the corner of the
+shop he again bowed elaborately, while I, following the direction he
+indicated, proceeded to the room above. It was long and lofty, commanded
+an excellent view of both thoroughfares, and was furnished with a few
+inferior pictures, half a dozen small marble-top tables, and four times
+as many chairs.</p>
+
+<p>When I entered three men were in occupation. Two were playing chess at a
+side table, while the third, who had evidently no connection with them,
+was watching the game from a distance, at the same time pretending to be
+absorbed in his paper. Seating myself at a table near the door, I
+examined the bill of fare, selected my lunch, and in order to amuse
+myself while it was preparing, fell to scrutinizing my companions.</p>
+
+<p>Of the chess-players, one was a big, burly fellow, with enormous arms,
+protruding rheumy eyes, a florid complexion, and a voluminous red beard.
+His opponent was of a much smaller build, with pale features, a tiny
+moustache, and watery blue eyes. He wore a <i>pince-nez</i>, and from the
+length of his hair and a dab of crimson lake upon his shirt cuff, I
+argued him an artist.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving the chess-players, my eyes lighted on the stranger on the other
+side. He was more interesting in every way. Indeed, I was surprised to
+see a man of his stamp in the house at all. He was tall and slim, but
+exquisitely formed, and plainly the possessor of enormous strength. His
+head, if only from a phrenological point of view, was a magnificent one,
+crowned with a wealth of jet-black hair. His eyes were dark as night,
+and glittered like those of a snake. His complexion was of a decidedly
+olive hue, though, as he sat in the shadow of the corner, it was
+difficult to tell this at first sight.</p>
+
+<p>But what most fascinated me about this curious individual was the
+interest he was taking in the game the other men were playing. He kept
+his eyes fixed upon the board, looked anxiously from one to the other as
+a move trembled in the balance, smiled sardonically when his desires
+were realized, and sighed almost aloud when a mistake was made.</p>
+
+<p>Every moment I expected his anxiety or disappointment to find vent in
+words, but he always managed to control himself. When he became excited
+I noticed that his whole body quivered under its influence, and once
+when the smaller of the players made an injudicious move a look flew
+into his face that was full of such malignant intensity that I'll own I
+was influenced by it. What effect it would have had upon the innocent
+cause of it all, had he seen it, I should have been sorry to conjecture.</p>
+
+<p>Just as my lunch made its appearance the game reached a conclusion, and
+the taller of the two players, having made a remark in German, rose to
+leave. It was evident that the smaller man had won, and in an excess of
+pride, to which I gathered his nature was not altogether a stranger, he
+looked round the room as if in defiance.</p>
+
+<p>Doing so, his eyes met those of the man in the corner. I glanced from
+one to the other, but my gaze rested longest on the face of the smaller
+man. So fascinated did he seem to be by the other's stare that his eyes
+became set and stony. It was just as if he were being mesmerized. The
+person he looked at rose, approached him, sat down at the table and
+began to arrange the men on the board. Then he looked up again.</p>
+
+<p>"May I have the pleasure of giving you a game?" he asked in excellent
+English, bowing slightly as he spoke, and moving a pawn with his long
+white fingers.</p>
+
+<p>The little man found voice enough to murmur an appropriate reply, and
+they began their game, while I turned to my lunch. But, in spite of
+myself, I found my eyes continually reverting to what was happening at
+the other table. And, indeed, it was a curious sight I saw there. The
+tall man had thrown himself into the business of the game, heart and
+soul. He half sat, half crouched over the board, reminding me of a hawk
+hovering over a poultry yard.</p>
+
+<p>His eyes were riveted first on the men before him and then on his
+opponent&mdash;his long fingers twitched and twined over each move, and
+seemed as if they would never release their hold. Not once did he speak,
+but his attitude was more expressive than any words.</p>
+
+<p>The effect on the little man, his companion, was overwhelming. He was
+quite unable to do anything, but sat huddled up in his chair as if
+terrified by his demoniacal companion. The result even a child might
+have foreseen. The tall man won, and the little man, only too glad to
+have come out of the ordeal with a whole skin, seized his hat and, with
+a half-uttered apology, darted from the room.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment or two his extraordinary opponent sat playing with the
+chessmen. Then he looked across at me and without hesitation said,
+accompanying his remark with a curious smile, for which I could not at
+all account:&mdash;"I think you will agree with me that the limitations of
+the fool are the birth gifts of the wise!"</p>
+
+<p>Not knowing what reply to make to this singular assertion, I wisely held
+my tongue. This brought about a change in his demeanour; he rose from
+his seat, and came across to where I sat. Seating himself in a chair
+directly opposite me, he folded his hands in his lap, after the manner
+of a demure old spinster, and, having looked at me earnestly, said with
+an almost indescribable sweetness of tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I think you will allow, Mr. Hatteras, that half the world is born for
+the other half to prey upon!"</p>
+
+<p>For a moment I was too much astonished to speak; how on earth had he
+become aware of my name? I stumbled out some sort of reply, which
+evidently did not impress him very much, for he began again:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Our friend who has just left us will most certainly be one of those
+preyed upon. I pity him because he will not have the smallest grain of
+pleasure in his life. You, Mr. Hatteras, on the other hand, will,
+unwittingly, be in the other camp. Circumstances will arrange that for
+you. Some have, of course, no desire to prey; but necessity forces it on
+them. Yourself, for instance. Some only prey when they are quite sure
+there will be no manner of risk. Our German friend who played the
+previous game is an example. Others, again, never lose an opportunity.
+Candidly speaking, to which class should you imagine I belong?"</p>
+
+<p>He smiled as he put the question, and, his thin lips parting, I could
+just catch the glitter of the short teeth with which his mouth was
+furnished. For the third time since I had made his acquaintance I did
+not know which way to answer. However, I made a shot and said something.</p>
+
+<p>"I really know nothing about you," I answered. "But from your kindness
+in giving our artist friend a game, and now in allowing me the benefit
+of your conversation, I should say you only prey upon your fellow-men
+when dire extremity drives you to it."</p>
+
+<p>"And you would be wrong. I am of the last class I mentioned. There is
+only one sport of any interest to me in life, and that is the
+opportunity of making capital out of my fellow humans. You see, I am
+candid with you, Mr. Hatteras!"</p>
+
+<p>"Pray excuse me. But you know my name! As I have never, to my knowledge,
+set eyes on you before, would you mind telling me how you became
+acquainted with it?"</p>
+
+<p>"With every pleasure. But before I do so I think it only fair to tell
+you that you will not believe my explanation. And yet it <i>should</i>
+convince you. At any rate we'll try. In your right-hand top waistcoat
+pocket you have three cards." Here he leant his head on his hands and
+shut his eyes. "One is crinkled and torn, but it has written on it, in
+pencil, the name of Edward Braithwaite, Macquarrie Street, Sydney. I
+presume the name is Braithwaite, but the <i>t</i> and <i>e</i> are almost
+illegible. The second is rather a high-sounding one&mdash;the Hon. Sylvester
+Wetherell, Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales; and the third is, I
+take it, your own, Richard Hatteras. Am I right?"</p>
+
+<p>I put my fingers in my pocket, and drew out what it contained&mdash;a
+half-sovereign, a shilling, a small piece of pencil, and three cards.
+The first, a well-worn piece of pasteboard, bore, surely enough, the
+name of Edward Braithwaite, and was that of the solicitor with whom I
+transacted my business in Sydney; the second was given me by my
+sweetheart's father the day before we left Australia; and the third was
+certainly my own.</p>
+
+<p>Was this witchcraft or only some clever conjuring trick? I asked myself
+the question, but could give it no satisfactory answer. At any rate you
+may be sure it did not lessen my respect for my singular companion.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! I am right, then!" he cried exultingly. "Isn't it strange how the
+love of being right remains with us, when we think we have safely
+combated every other self-conceit. Well, Mr. Hatteras, I am very pleased
+to have made your acquaintance. Somehow I think we are destined to meet
+again&mdash;where I cannot say. At any rate, let us hope that that meeting
+will be as pleasant and successful as this has been."</p>
+
+<p>But I hardly heard what he said. I was still puzzling my brains over his
+extraordinary conjuring trick&mdash;for trick I am convinced it was. He had
+risen and was slowly drawing on his gloves when I spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"I have been thinking over those cards," I said, "and I am considerably
+puzzled. How on earth did you know they were there?"</p>
+
+<p>"If I told you, you would have no more faith in my powers. So with your
+permission I will assume the virtue of modesty. Call it a conjuring
+trick, if you like. Many curious things are hidden under that
+comprehensive term. But that is neither here nor there. Before I go
+would you like to see one more?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very much, indeed, if it's as good as the last!"</p>
+
+<p>In the window stood a large glass dish, half full of water, and having a
+dark brown fly paper floating on the surface. He brought it across to
+the table at which I sat, and having drained the water into a jug near
+by, left the paper sticking to the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>This done, he took a tiny leather case from his pocket and a small
+bottle out of that again. From this bottle he poured a few drops of some
+highly pungent liquid on to the paper, with the result that it grew
+black as ink and threw off a tiny vapour, which licked the edges of the
+bowl and curled upwards in a faint spiral column.</p>
+
+<p>"There, Mr. Hatteras, this is a&mdash;well, a trick&mdash;I learned from an old
+woman in Benares. It is a better one than the last and will repay your
+interest. If you will look on that paper for a moment, and try to
+concentrate your attention, you will see something that will, I think,
+astonish you."</p>
+
+<p>Hardly believing that I should see anything at all I looked. But for
+some seconds without success. My scepticism, however, soon left me. At
+first I saw only the coarse grain of the paper and the thin vapour
+rising from it. Then the knowledge that I was gazing into a dish
+vanished. I forget my companion and the previous conjuring trick. I saw
+only a picture opening out before me&mdash;that of a handsomely furnished
+room, in which was a girl sitting in an easy chair crying as if her
+heart were breaking. The room I had never seen before, but the girl I
+should have known among a thousand. <i>She was Phyllis, my sweetheart!</i></p>
+
+<p>I looked and looked, and as I gazed at her, I heard her call my name.
+"Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!" Instantly I sprang to my feet, meaning to
+cross the room to her. Next moment I became aware of a loud crash. The
+scene vanished, my senses came back to me; and to my astonishment I
+found myself standing alongside the overturned restaurant table. The
+glass dish lay on the floor, shattered into a thousand fragments. My
+friend, the conjuror, had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>Having righted the table again, I went downstairs and explained my
+misfortune. When I had paid my bill I took my departure, more troubled
+in mind than I cared to confess. That it was only what he had called it,
+a conjuring trick, I felt I ought to be certain, but still it was clever
+and uncanny enough to render me very uncomfortable.</p>
+
+<p>In vain I tried to drive the remembrance of the scene I had witnessed
+from my brain, but it would not be dispelled. At length, to satisfy
+myself, I resolved that if the memory of it remained with me so vividly
+in the morning I would take the bull by the horns and call at the
+<i>M&eacute;tropole</i> to make inquiries.</p>
+
+<p>I returned to my hotel in time for dinner, but still I could not rid
+myself of the feeling that some calamity was approaching. Having sent my
+meal away almost untouched, I called a hansom and drove to the nearest
+theatre, but the picture of Phyllis crying and calling for me in vain
+kept me company throughout the performance, and brought me home more
+miserable at the end than I had started. All night long I dreamed of it,
+seeing the same picture again and again, and hearing the same despairing
+cry, "Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!"</p>
+
+<p>In the morning there was only one thing to be done. Accordingly, after
+breakfast I set off to make sure that nothing was the matter. On the way
+I tried to reason with myself. I asked how it was that I, Dick Hatteras,
+a man who thought he knew the world so well, should have been so
+impressed with a bit of wizardry as to be willing to risk making a fool
+of myself before the two last people in the world I wanted to think me
+one. Once I almost determined to turn back, but while the intention held
+me the picture rose again before my mind's eye, and on I went more
+resolved to solve the mystery.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving at the hotel, a gorgeously caparisoned porter, who stood on the
+steps, said in response to my inquiry:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><i>"They've left, sir. Started yesterday afternoon, quite suddenly, for
+Paris, on their way back to Australia!"</i></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>I VISIT MY RELATIONS</h3>
+
+
+<p>For the moment I could hardly believe my ears. Gone? Why had they gone?
+What could have induced them to leave England so suddenly? I questioned
+the hall porter on the subject, but he could tell me nothing save that
+they had departed for Paris the previous day, intending to proceed
+across the Continent in order to catch the first Australian boat at
+Naples.</p>
+
+<p>Feeling that I should only look ridiculous if I stayed questioning the
+man any longer, I pressed a tip into his hand and went slowly back to my
+own hotel to try and think it all out. But though I devoted some hours
+to it, I could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. The one vital point
+remained and was not to be disputed&mdash;they were gone. But the mail that
+evening brought me enlightenment in the shape of a letter, written in
+London and posted in Dover. It ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Monday Afternoon.</span></p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">My own Dearest.</span>&mdash;Something terrible has happened to papa!
+I cannot tell you what, because I do not know myself. He went out
+this morning in the best of health and spirits, and returned half an
+hour ago trembling like a leaf and white as a sheet. He had only
+strength enough left to reach a chair in my sitting-room before he
+fainted dead away. When he came to himself again he said, 'Tell
+your maid to pack at once. There is not a moment to lose. We start
+for Paris this evening to catch the next boat leaving Naples for
+Australia.' I said, 'But papa!' 'Not a word,' he answered. 'I have
+seen somebody this morning whose presence renders it impossible for
+us to remain an instant longer in England. Go and pack at once,
+unless you wish my death to lie at your door.' After that I could,
+of course, say nothing. I have packed and now, in half an hour, we
+leave England again. If I could only see you to say good-bye; but
+that, too, is impossible. I cannot tell what it all means, but that
+it is very serious business that takes us away so suddenly I feel
+convinced. My father seems frightened to remain in London a minute
+longer than he can help. He even stands at the window as I write,
+earnestly scrutinizing everybody who enters the hotel. And now, my
+own&mdash;&mdash;"</p></div>
+
+<p>But what follows, the reiterations of her affection, her vows to be true
+to me, etc., etc., could have no possible interest for any one save
+lovers.</p>
+
+<p>I sat like one stunned. All enjoyment seemed suddenly to have gone out
+of life for me. I could only sit twirling the paper in my hand and
+picturing the train flying remorselessly across France, bearing away
+from me the girl I loved better than all the world. I went down to the
+Park, but the scene there had no longer any interest in my eyes. I went
+later on to a theatre, but I found no enjoyment in the piece performed.
+London had suddenly become distasteful to me. I felt I must get out of
+it; but where could I go? Every place was alike in my present humour.
+Then one of the original motives of my journey rose before me, and I
+determined to act on the suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning I accordingly set off for Hampshire to try, if possible, to
+find my father's old home. What sort of a place it would turn out to be
+I had not the very remotest idea.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving the train at Lyndhurst Road&mdash;for the village I was in search of
+was situated in the heart of the New Forest&mdash;I hired a ramshackle
+conveyance from the nearest innkeeper and started off for it. The man
+who drove me had lived in the neighbourhood, so he found early occasion
+to inform me, all his seventy odd years, and it struck him as a humorous
+circumstance that he had never in his life been even as far as
+Southampton, a matter of only ten minutes by rail.</p>
+
+<p>We had travelled a matter of two miles when it struck me to ask my
+charioteer about the place to which we were proceeding. It was within
+the bounds of possibility, I thought, that he might once have known my
+father. I determined to try him. So waiting till we had passed a load of
+hay coming along the lane, I put the question to him.</p>
+
+<p>To my surprise, he had no sooner heard the name than he became as
+excited as it was possible for him to be.</p>
+
+<p>"Hatteras!" he cried. "Be ye a Hatteras? Well, well, now, dearie me,
+who'd ha' thought it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know the name so well, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ay! ay! I know the name well enough; who doesn't in these parts? There
+was the old Squire and Lady Margaret when first I remember. Then Squire
+Jasper and his son, the captain, as was killed in the mutiny in foreign
+parts&mdash;and Master James&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"James&mdash;that was my father's name. James Dymoke Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>"You Master James' son&mdash;you don't say! Well! well! Now to think of that
+too! Him that ran away from home after words with the Squire, and went
+to foreign parts. Who'd have thought it! Sir William will be right down
+glad to see ye, I'll be bound."</p>
+
+<p>"Sir William, and who's Sir William?"</p>
+
+<p>"He's the only one left now, sir. Lives up at the House. Ah, dear! ah,
+dear! There's been a power o' trouble in the family these years past."</p>
+
+<p>By this time the aspect of the country was changing. We had left the
+lane behind us, ascended a short hill, and were now descending it again
+through what looked to my eyes more like a stately private avenue than a
+public road. Beautiful elms reared themselves on either hand and
+intermingled their branches overhead; while before us, through a gap in
+the foliage, we could just distinguish the winding river, with the
+thatched roofs of the village, of which we had come in search, lining
+its banks, and the old grey tower of the church keeping watch and ward
+over all.</p>
+
+<p>There was to my mind something indescribably peaceful and even sad about
+that view, a mute sympathy with the Past that I could hardly account
+for, seeing that I was Colonial born and bred. For the first time since
+my arrival in England the real beauty of the place came home upon me. I
+felt as if I could have looked for ever on that quiet and peaceful spot.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached the bottom of the hill, and had turned the corner, a
+broad, well-made stone bridge confronted us. On the other side of this
+was an old-fashioned country inn, with its signboard dangling from the
+house front, and opposite it again a dilapidated cottage lolling beside
+two iron gates. The gates were eight feet or more in height, made of
+finely wrought iron, and supported by big stone posts, on the top of
+which two stone animals&mdash;griffins, I believe they are called&mdash;holding
+shields in their claws, looked down on passers-by in ferocious grandeur.
+From behind the gates an avenue wound and disappeared into the wood.</p>
+
+<p>Without consulting me, my old charioteer drove into the inn yard, and,
+having thrown the reins to an ostler, descended from the vehicle. I
+followed his example, and then inquired the name of the place inside the
+gates. My guide, philosopher, and friend looked at me rather queerly for
+a second or two, and then recollecting that I was a stranger to the
+place, said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"That be the Hall I was telling 'ee about. That's where Sir William
+lives!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then that's where my father was born?"</p>
+
+<p>He nodded his head, and as he did so I noticed that the ostler stopped
+his work of unharnessing the horse, and looked at me in rather a
+surprised fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that being so," I said, taking my stick from the trap, and
+preparing to stroll off, "I'm just going to investigate a bit. You bring
+yourself to an anchor in yonder, and don't stir till I come for you
+again."</p>
+
+<p>He took himself into the inn without more ado, and I crossed the road
+towards the gates. They were locked, but the little entrance by the
+tumble-down cottage stood open, and passing through this I started up
+the drive. It was a perfect afternoon; the sunshine straggled in through
+the leafy canopy overhead and danced upon my path. To the right were the
+thick fastnesses of the preserves; while on my left, across the meadows
+I could discern the sparkle of water on a weir. I must have proceeded
+for nearly a mile through the wood before I caught sight of the house.
+Then, what a strange experience was mine.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving the shelter of the trees, I opened on to as beautiful a park as
+the mind of man could imagine. A herd of deer were grazing quietly just
+before me, a woodman was eating his dinner in the shadow of an oak; but
+it was not upon deer or woodman that I looked, but at the house that
+stared at me across the undulating sea of grass. It was a noble
+building, of grey stone, in shape almost square, with many curious
+buttresses and angles. The drive ran up to it with a grand sweep, and
+upon the green that fronted it some big trees reared their stately
+heads. In my time I'd heard a lot of talk about the stately homes of
+England, but this was the first time I had ever set eyes on one. And to
+think that this was my father's birthplace, the house where my ancestors
+had lived for centuries! I could only stand and stare at it in sheer
+amazement.</p>
+
+<p>You see, my father had always been a very silent man, and though he used
+sometimes to tell us yarns about scrapes he'd got into as a boy, and how
+his father was a very stern man, and had sent him to a public school,
+because his tutor found him unmanageable, we never thought that he'd
+been anything very much.</p>
+
+<p>To tell the truth, I felt a bit doubtful as to what I'd better do.
+Somehow I was rather nervous about going up to the house and introducing
+myself as a member of the family without any credentials to back my
+assertion up; and yet, on the other hand, I did not want to go away and
+have it always rankling in my mind that I'd seen the old place and been
+afraid to go inside. My mind once made up, however, off I went, crossed
+the park, and made towards the front door. On nearer approach, I
+discovered that everything showed the same neglect I had noticed at the
+lodge. The drive was overgrown with weeds; no carriage seemed to have
+passed along it for ages. Shutters enclosed many of the windows, and
+where they did not, not one but several of the panes were broken.
+Entering the great stone porch, in which it would have been possible to
+seat a score of people, I pulled the antique door-bell, and waited,
+while the peal re-echoed down the corridors, for the curtain to go up on
+the next scene.</p>
+
+<p>Presently I heard footsteps approaching. A key turned in the lock, and
+the great door swung open. An old man, whose years could hardly have
+totalled less than seventy, stood before me, dressed in a suit of solemn
+black, almost green with age. He inquired my business in a wheezy
+whisper. I asked if Sir William Hatteras were at home. Informing me that
+he would find out, he left me to ruminate on the queerness of my
+position. In five minutes or so he returned, and signed to me to follow.</p>
+
+<p>The hall was in keeping with the outside of the building, lofty and
+imposing. The floor was of oak, almost black with age, the walls were
+beautifully wainscoted and carved, and here and there tall armoured
+figures looked down upon me in disdainful silence. But the crowning
+glory of all was the magnificent staircase that ran up from the centre.
+It was wide enough and strong enough to have taken a coach and four, the
+pillars that supported it were exquisitely carved, as were the banisters
+and rails. Half-way up was a sort of landing, from which again the
+stairs branched off to right and left.</p>
+
+<p>Above this landing-place, and throwing a stream of coloured light down
+into the hall, was a magnificent stained-glass window, and on a lozenge
+in the centre of it the arms that had so much puzzled me on the gateway.
+A nobler hall no one could wish to possess, but brooding over it was the
+same air of poverty and neglect I had noticed all about the place. By
+the time I had taken in these things, my guide had reached a door at the
+farther end. He bade me enter, and I did so, to find a tall, elderly man
+of stern aspect awaiting my coming.</p>
+
+<p>He, like his servant, was dressed entirely in black, with the exception
+of a white tie, which gave his figure a semi-clerical appearance. His
+face was long and somewhat pinched, his chin and upper lip were shaven,
+and his snow-white, close-cropped whiskers ran in two straight lines
+from his jaw up to a level with his piercing, hawk-like eyes. He would
+probably have been about seventy-five years of age, but he did not carry
+it well. In a low, monotonous voice he bade me welcome, and pointed to a
+chair, himself remaining standing.</p>
+
+<p>"My servant tells me you say your name is Hatteras?" he began.</p>
+
+<p>"That is so," I replied. "My father was James Dymoke Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>He looked at me very sternly for almost a minute, not for a second
+betraying the slightest sign of surprise. Then putting his hands
+together, finger tip to finger tip, as I discovered later was his
+invariable habit while flunking, he said solemnly:&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"James was my younger brother. He misconducted himself gravely in
+England and was sent abroad. After a brief career of spendthrift
+extravagance in Australia, we never heard of him again. You may be his
+son, but then, on the other hand, of course, you may not. I have no
+means of judging."</p>
+
+<p>"I give you my word," I answered, a little nettled by his speech and the
+insinuation contained in it; "but if you want further proof, I've got a
+Latin book in my portmanteau with my father's name upon the fly-leaf,
+and an inscription in his own writing setting forth that it was given by
+him to me."</p>
+
+<p>"A Catullus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly! a Catullus."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll have to trouble you to return it to me at your earliest
+convenience. The book is my property: I paid eighteenpence for it on the
+3rd of July, 1833, in the shop of John Burns, Fleet Street, London. My
+brother took it from me a week later, and I have not been able to afford
+myself another copy since."</p>
+
+<p>"You admit then that the book is evidence of my father's identity?"</p>
+
+<p>"I admit nothing. What do you want with me? What do you come here for?
+You must see for yourself that I am too poor to be of any service to
+you, and I have long since lost any public interest I may once have
+possessed."</p>
+
+<p>"I want neither one nor the other. I am home from Australia on a trip,
+and I have a sufficient competence to render me independent of any one."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! That puts a different complexion on the matter. You say you hail
+from Australia? And what may you have been doing there?"</p>
+
+<p>"Gold-mining&mdash;pearling&mdash;trading!"</p>
+
+<p>He came a step closer, and as he did so I noticed that his face had
+assumed a look of indescribable cunning, that was evidently intended to
+be of an ingratiating nature. He spoke in little jerks, pressing his
+fingers together between each sentence.</p>
+
+<p>"Gold-mining! Ah! And pearling! Well, well! And you have been fortunate
+in your ventures?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very!" I replied, having by this time determined on my line of action.
+"I daresay my cheque for ten thousand pounds would not be dishonoured."</p>
+
+<p>"Ten thousand pounds! Ten thousand pounds! Dear me, dear me!"</p>
+
+<p>He shuffled up and down the dingy room, all the time looking at me out
+of the corners of his eyes, as if to make sure that I was telling him
+the truth.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, come, uncle," I said, resolving to bring him to his bearings
+without further waste of time. "This is not a very genial welcome!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, you mustn't expect too much, my boy! You see for yourself
+the position I'm in. The old place is shut up, going to rack and ruin.
+Poverty is staring me in the face; I am cheated by everybody. Robbed
+right and left, not knowing which way to turn. But I'll not be put upon.
+They may call me what they please, but they can't get blood out of a
+stone. Can they! Answer me that, now!"</p>
+
+<p>This speech showed me everything as plain as a pikestaff. I mean, of
+course, the reason of the deserted and neglected house, and his
+extraordinary reception of myself. I rose to my feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, uncle&mdash;for my uncle you certainly are, whatever you may say to
+the contrary&mdash;I must be going. I'm sorry to find you like this, and from
+what you tell me I couldn't think of worrying you with my society! I
+want to see the old church and have a talk with the parson, and then I
+shall go off never to trouble you again."</p>
+
+<p>He immediately became almost fulsome in his effort to detain me. "No,
+no! You mustn't go like that. It's not hospitable. Besides, you mustn't
+talk with parson. He's a bad lot, is parson&mdash;a hard man with a cruel
+tongue. Says terrible things about me, does parson. But I'll be even
+with him yet. Don't speak to him, laddie, for the honour of the family.
+Now ye'll stay and take lunch with me?&mdash;potluck, of course&mdash;I'm too poor
+to give ye much of a meal; and in the meantime I'll show ye the house
+and estate."</p>
+
+<p>This was just what I wanted, though I did not look forward to the
+prospect of lunch in his company.</p>
+
+<p>With trembling hands he took down an old-fashioned hat from a peg and
+turned towards the door. When we had passed through it he carefully
+locked it and dropped the key into his breeches' pocket. Then he led the
+way upstairs by the beautiful oak staircase I had so much admired on
+entering the house.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached the first landing, which was of noble proportions and
+must have contained upon its walls nearly a hundred family portraits all
+coated with the dust of years, he approached a door and threw it open. A
+feeble light straggled in through the closed shutters, and revealed an
+almost empty room. In the centre stood a large canopied bed, of antique
+design. The walls were wainscoted, and the massive chimney-piece was
+carved with heraldic designs. I inquired what room this might be.</p>
+
+<p>"This is where all our family were born," he answered. "'Twas here your
+father first saw the light of day."</p>
+
+<p>I looked at it with a new interest. It seemed hard to believe that this
+was the birthplace of my own father, the man whom I remembered so well
+in a place and life so widely different. My companion noticed the look
+upon my face, and, I suppose, felt constrained to say something. "Ah!
+James!" he said sorrowfully, "ye were always a giddy, roving lad. I
+remember ye well." (He passed his hand across his eyes, to brush away a
+tear, I thought, but his next speech disabused me of any such notion.)
+"I remember that but a day or two before ye went ye blooded my nose in
+the orchard, and the very morning ye decamped ye borrowed half a crown
+of me, and never paid it back."</p>
+
+<p>A sudden something prompted me to put my hand in my pocket. I took out
+half a crown, and handed it to him without a word. He took it, looked at
+it longingly, put it in his pocket, took it out again, ruminated a
+moment, and then reluctantly handed it back to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Nay, nay! my laddie, keep your money, keep your money. Ye can send me
+the Catullus." Then to himself, unconscious that he was speaking his
+thoughts aloud: "It was a good edition, and I have no doubt would bring
+five shillings any day."</p>
+
+<p>From one room we passed into another, and yet another. They were all
+alike&mdash;shut up, dust-ridden, and forsaken. And yet with it all what a
+noble place it was&mdash;one which any man might be proud to call his own.
+And to think that it was all going to rack and ruin because of the
+miserly nature of its owner. In the course of our ramble I discovered
+that he kept but two servants, the old man who had admitted me to his
+presence, and his wife, who, as that peculiar phrase has it, cooked and
+did for him. I discovered later that he had not paid either of them
+wages for some years past, and that they only stayed on with him because
+they were too poor and proud to seek shelter elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>When we had inspected the house we left it by a side door, and crossed a
+courtyard to the stables. There the desolation was, perhaps, even more
+marked than in the house. The great clock on the tower above the main
+building had stopped at a quarter to ten on some long-forgotten day, and
+a spider now ran his web from hand to hand. At our feet, between the
+stones, grass grew luxuriantly, thick moss covered the coping of the
+well, the doors were almost off their hinges, and rats scuttled through
+the empty loose boxes at our approach. So large was the place, that
+thirty horses might have found a lodging comfortably, and as far as I
+could gather, there was room for half as many vehicles in the
+coach-houses that stood on either side. The intense quiet was only
+broken by the cawing of the rooks in the giant elms overhead, the
+squeaking of the rats, and the low grumbling of my uncle's voice as he
+pointed out the ruin that was creeping over everything.</p>
+
+<p>Before we had finished our inspection it was lunch time, and we returned
+to the house. The meal was served in the same room in which I had made
+my relative's acquaintance an hour before. It consisted, I discovered,
+of two meagre mutton chops and some homemade bread and cheese, plain and
+substantial fare enough in its way, but hardly the sort one would expect
+from the owner of such a house. For a beverage, water was placed before
+us, but I could see that my host was deliberating as to whether he
+should stretch his generosity a point or two further.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he rose, and with a muttered apology left the room, to return
+five minutes later carrying a small bottle carefully in his hand. This,
+with much deliberation and sighing, he opened. It proved to be claret,
+and he poured out a glassful for me. As I was not prepared for so much
+liberality, I thought something must be behind it, and in this I was not
+mistaken.</p>
+
+<p>"Nephew," said he after a while, "was it ten thousand pounds you
+mentioned as your fortune?"</p>
+
+<p>I nodded. He looked at me slyly and cleared his throat to gain time for
+reflection. Then seeing that I had emptied my glass, he refilled it with
+another scarce concealed sigh, and sat back in his chair.</p>
+
+<p>"And I understand you to say you are quite alone in the world, my boy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite! Until I met you this morning I was unaware that I had a single
+relative on earth. Have I any more connections?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a soul&mdash;only Gwendoline."</p>
+
+<p>"Gwendoline! and who may Gwendoline be?"</p>
+
+<p>"My daughter&mdash;your cousin. My only child! Would you like to see her?"</p>
+
+<p>"I had no idea you had a daughter. Of course I should like to see her!"</p>
+
+<p>He left the table and rang the bell. The ancient man-servant answered
+the summons.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell you wife to bring Miss Gwendoline to us."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Gwendoline here, sir? You do not mean it sure-lie, sir?"</p>
+
+<p>"Numbskull! numbskull! numbskull!" cried the old fellow in an ecstasy of
+fury that seemed to spring up as suddenly as a squall does between the
+islands, "bring her or I'll be the death of you."</p>
+
+<p>Without further remonstrance the old man left the room, and I demanded
+an explanation.</p>
+
+<p>"Good servant, but an impudent rascal, sir!" he said. "Of course you
+must see my daughter, my beautiful daughter, Gwendoline. He's afraid
+you'll frighten her, I suppose! Ha! ha! Frighten my bashful, pretty one.
+Ha! ha!"</p>
+
+<p>Anything so supremely devilish as the dried-up mirth of this old fellow
+it would be difficult to imagine. His very laugh seemed as if it had to
+crack in his throat before it could pass his lips. What would his
+daughter be like, living in such a house, with such companions? While I
+was wondering, I heard footsteps in the corridor, and then an old woman
+entered and curtsied respectfully. My host rose and went over to the
+fireplace, where he stood with his hands behind his back and the same
+devilish grin upon his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, where is my daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sir, do you really mean it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I mean it. Where is she?"</p>
+
+<p>In answer the old lady went to the door and called to some one in the
+hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, dearie. It's all right. Come in, do'ee now, that's a little
+dear."</p>
+
+<p>But the girl made no sign of entering, and at last the old woman had to
+go out and draw her in. And then&mdash;but I hardly know how to write it. How
+shall I give you a proper description of the&mdash;<i>thing</i> that entered.</p>
+
+<p>She&mdash;if <i>she</i> it could be called&mdash;was about three feet high, dressed in
+a shapeless print costume. Her hair stood and hung in a tangled mass
+upon her head, her eyes were too large for her face, and to complete the
+horrible effect, a great patch of beard grew on one cheek, and descended
+almost to a level with her chin. Her features were all awry, and now and
+again she uttered little moans that were more like those of a wild beast
+than of a human being. In spite of the old woman's endeavours to make
+her do so, she would not venture from her side, but stood slobbering and
+moaning in the half dark of the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>It was a ghastly sight, one that nearly turned me sick with loathing.
+But the worst part of it all was the inhuman merriment of her father.</p>
+
+<p>"There, there!" he cried; "had ever man such a lovely daughter? Isn't
+she a beauty? Isn't she fit to be a prince's bride? Isn't she fit to be
+the heiress of all this place? Won't the young dukes be asking her hand
+in marriage? Oh, you beauty! You&mdash;but there, take her away&mdash;take her
+away, I say, before I do her mischief."</p>
+
+<p>The words had no sooner left his mouth than the old woman seized her
+charge and bundled her out of the room, moaning as before. I can tell
+you there was at least one person in that apartment who was heartily
+glad to be rid of her.</p>
+
+<p>When the door had closed upon them my host came back to his seat, and
+with another sigh refilled my glass. I wondered what was coming next. It
+was not long, however, before I found out.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you know everything," he said. "You have seen my home, you have
+seen my poverty, and you have seen my daughter. What do you think of it
+all?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to think."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, I'll tell you. That child wants doctors; that child wants
+proper attendance. She can get neither here. I am too poor to help her
+in any way. You're rich by your own telling. I have to-day taken you
+into the bosom of my family, recognized you without doubting your
+assertions. Will you help me? Will you give me one thousand pounds
+towards settling that child in life? With that amount it could be
+managed."</p>
+
+<p>"Will I what?" I cried in utter amazement&mdash;dumbfounded by his impudence.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you settle one thousand pounds upon her, to keep her out of her
+grave?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not one penny!" I cried: "and, what's more, you miserable, miserly old
+wretch, I'll give you a bit of my mind."</p>
+
+<p>And thereupon I did! Such a talking to as I suppose the old fellow had
+never had in his life before, and one he'd not be likely to forget in a
+hurry. He sat all the time, white with fury, his eyes blazing, and his
+fingers quivering with impotent rage. When I had done he ordered me out
+of his house. I took him at his word, seized my hat, and strode across
+the hall through the front door, and out into the open air.</p>
+
+<p>But I was not to leave the home of my ancestors without a parting shot.
+As I closed the front door behind me I heard a window go up, and on
+looking round there was the old fellow shaking his fist at me.</p>
+
+<p>"Leave my house&mdash;leave my park!" he cried in a shrill falsetto, "or I'll
+send for the constable to turn you off. Bah! You came to steal. You're
+no nephew of mine; I disown you! You're a common cheat&mdash;a swindler&mdash;an
+impostor! Go!"</p>
+
+<p>I took him at his word, and went. Leaving the park, I walked straight
+across to the rectory, and inquired if I might see the clergyman. To him
+I told my tale, and, among other things, asked if anything could be done
+for the child&mdash;my cousin. He only shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I fear it is hopeless, Mr. Hatteras," the clergyman said. "The old
+gentleman is a terrible character, and as he owns half the village, and
+every acre of the land hereabouts, we all live in fear and trembling of
+him. We have no shadow of a claim upon the child, and unless we can
+prove that he actually ill-treats it, I'm sorry to say I think there is
+nothing to be done."</p>
+
+<p>So ended my first meeting with my father's family.</p>
+
+<p>From the rectory I returned to my inn. What should I do now? London was
+worse than a desert to me now that my sweetheart was gone from it, and
+every other place seemed as bad. Then an advertisement on the wall of
+the bar parlour caught my eye:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">For Sale or Hire</span>,<br />
+THE YACHT, <i>ENCHANTRESS</i>.<br />
+Ten Tons.<br />
+Apply, <span class="smcap">Screw &amp; Matchem</span>,<br />
+Bournemouth."</p></div>
+
+<p>It was just the very thing. I was pining for a breath of sea air again.
+It was perfect weather for a cruise. I would go to Bournemouth, inspect
+the yacht at once, and, if she suited me, take her for a month or so. My
+mind once made up, I hunted up my Jehu and set off for the train, never
+dreaming that by so doing I was taking the second step in that important
+chain of events that was to affect all the future of my life.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>I SAVE AN IMPORTANT LIFE</h3>
+
+
+<p>I travelled to Bournemouth by a fast train, and immediately on arrival
+made my way to the office of Messrs. Screw &amp; Matchem, with a view to
+instituting inquiries regarding the yacht they had advertised for hire.
+It was with the senior partner I transacted my business; a shrewd but
+pleasant gentleman.</p>
+
+<p>Upon my making known my business to him, he brought me a photograph of
+the craft in question, and certainly a nice handy boat she looked. She
+had been built, he went on to inform me, for a young nobleman, who had
+made two very considerable excursions in her before he had been
+compelled to fly the country, and was only three years old. I learned
+also that she was lying in Poole harbour, but he was good enough to say
+that if I wished to see her she should be brought round to Bournemouth
+the following morning, when I could inspect her at my leisure. As this
+arrangement was one that exactly suited me, I closed with it there and
+then, and thanking Mr. Matchem for his courtesy, betook myself to my
+hotel. Having dined, I spent the evening upon the pier&mdash;the first of its
+kind I had ever seen&mdash;listened to the band and diverted myself with
+thoughts of her to whom I had plighted my troth, and whose unexpected
+departure from England had been such a sudden and bitter disappointment
+to me.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, faithful to promise, the <i>Enchantress</i> sailed into the bay
+and came to an anchor within a biscuit throw of the pier. Chartering a
+dinghy, I pulled myself off to her, and stepped aboard. An old man and a
+boy were engaged washing down, and to them I introduced myself and
+business. Then for half an hour I devoted myself to overhauling her
+thoroughly. She was a nice enough little craft, well set up, and from
+her run looked as if she might possess a fair turn of speed; the gear
+was in excellent order, and this was accounted for when the old man told
+me she had been repaired and thoroughly overhauled that selfsame year.</p>
+
+<p>Having satisfied myself on a few other minor points, I pulled ashore and
+again went up through the gardens to the agents' office. Mr. Matchem was
+delighted to hear that I liked the yacht well enough to think of hiring
+her at their own price (a rather excessive one, I must admit), and, I
+don't doubt, would have supplied me with a villa in Bournemouth, and a
+yachting box in the Isle of Wight, also on their own terms, had I felt
+inclined to furnish them with the necessary order. But fortunately I was
+able to withstand their temptations, and having given them my cheque for
+the requisite amount, went off to make arrangements, and to engage a
+crew.</p>
+
+<p>Before nightfall I had secured the services of a handy lad in place of
+the old man who had brought the boat round from Poole, and was in a
+position to put to sea. Accordingly next morning I weighed anchor for a
+trip round the Isle of Wight. Before we had brought the Needles abeam I
+had convinced myself that the boat was an excellent sailer, and when the
+first day's cruise was over I had no reason to repent having hired her.</p>
+
+<p>Not having anything to hurry me, and only a small boy and my own
+thoughts to keep me company, I took my time; remained two days in the
+Solent, sailed round the island, put in a day at Ventnor, and so back to
+Bournemouth. Then, after a day ashore, I picked up a nice breeze and ran
+down to Torquay to spend another week, sailing slowly back along the
+coast, touching at various ports, and returning eventually to the place
+I had first hailed from.</p>
+
+<p>In relating these trifling incidents it is not my wish to bore my
+readers, but to work up gradually to that strange meeting to which they
+were the prelude. Now that I can look back in cold blood upon the
+circumstances that brought it about, and reflect how narrowly I escaped
+missing the one event which was destined to change my whole life, I can
+hardly realize that I attached such small importance to it at the time.
+Somehow I have always been a firm believer in Fate, and indeed it would
+be strange, all things considered, if I were not. For when a man has
+passed through so many extraordinary adventures as I have, and not only
+come out of them unharmed, but happier and a great deal more fortunate
+than he has really any right to be, he may claim the privilege, I think,
+of saying he knows something about his subject.</p>
+
+<p>And, mind you, I date it all back to that visit to the old home, and to
+my uncle's strange reception of me, for had I not gone down into the
+country I should never have quarrelled with him, and if I had not
+quarrelled with him I should not have gone back to the inn in such a
+dudgeon, and in that case I should probably have left the place without
+a visit to the bar, never have seen the advertisement, visited
+Bournemouth, hired the yacht or&mdash;but there, I must stop. You must work
+out the rest for yourself when you have heard my story.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after my third return to Bournemouth I was up by daybreak,
+and had my breakfast, and was ready to set off on a cruise across the
+bay, before the sun was a hand's breadth above the horizon. It was as
+perfect a morning as any man could wish to see. A faint breeze just
+blurred the surface of the water, tiny waves danced in the sunshine, and
+my barkie nodded to them as if she were anxious to be off. The town
+ashore lay very quiet and peaceful, and so still was the air that the
+cries of a few white gulls could be heard quite distinctly, though they
+were half a mile or more away. Having hove anchor, we tacked slowly
+across the bay, passed the pier-head, and steered for Old Harry Rock and
+Swanage Bay. My crew was for'ard, and I had possession of the tiller.</p>
+
+<p>As we went about between Canford Cliffs and Alum Chine, something moving
+in the water ahead of me attracted my attention. We were too far off to
+make out exactly what it might be, and it was not until five minutes
+later, when we were close abreast of it, that I discovered it to be a
+bather. The foolish fellow had ventured farther out than was prudent,
+had struck a strong current, and was now being washed swiftly out to
+sea. But for the splashing he made to show his whereabouts, I should in
+all probability not have seen him, and in that case his fate would have
+been sealed. As it was, when we came up with him he was quite exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>Heaving my craft to, I leapt into the dinghy, and pulled towards him,
+but before I could reach the spot he had sunk. At first I thought he was
+gone for good and all, but in a few seconds he rose again. Then,
+grabbing him by the hair, I passed an arm under each of his, and dragged
+him unconscious into the boat. In less than three minutes we were
+alongside the yacht again, and with my crew's assistance I got him
+aboard. Fortunately a day or two before I had had the forethought to
+purchase some brandy for use in case of need, and my Thursday Island
+experiences having taught me exactly what was best to be done under such
+circumstances, it was not long before I had brought him back to
+consciousness.</p>
+
+<p>In appearance he was a handsome young fellow, well set up, and possibly
+nineteen or twenty years of age. When I had given him a stiff nobbler of
+brandy to stop the chattering of his teeth, I asked him how he came to
+be so far from shore.</p>
+
+<p>"I am considered a very good swimmer," he replied, "and often come out
+as far as this, but to-day I think I must have got into a strong outward
+current, and certainly but for your providential assistance I should
+never have reached home alive."</p>
+
+<p>"You have had a very narrow escape," I answered, "but thank goodness
+you're none the worse for it. Now, what's the best thing to be done?
+Turn back, I suppose, and set you ashore."</p>
+
+<p>"But what a lot of trouble I'm putting you to."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense! I've nothing to do, and I count myself very fortunate in
+having been able to render you this small assistance. The breeze is
+freshening, and it won't take us any time to get back. Where do you
+live?"</p>
+
+<p>"To the left there! That house standing back upon the cliff. I don't
+know how to express my gratitude."</p>
+
+<p>"Just keep that till I ask you for it; and now, as we've got a twenty
+minutes' sail before us, the best thing for you to do would be to slip
+into a spare suit of my things. They'll keep you warm, and you can
+return them to my hotel when you get ashore."</p>
+
+<p>I sang out to the boy to come aft and take the tiller, while I escorted
+my guest below into the little box of a cabin, and gave him a rig out.
+Considering I am six feet two, and he was only five feet eight, the
+things were a trifle large for him; but when he was dressed I couldn't
+help thinking what a handsome, well-built, aristocratic-looking young
+fellow he was. The work of fitting him out accomplished, we returned to
+the deck. The breeze was freshening, and the little hooker was ploughing
+her way through it, nose down, as if she knew that under the
+circumstances her best was expected of her.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you a stranger in Bournemouth?" my companion asked, as I took the
+tiller again.</p>
+
+<p>"Almost," I answered. "I've only been in England three weeks. I'm home
+from Australia."</p>
+
+<p>"Australia! Really! Oh, I should so much like to go out there."</p>
+
+<p>His voice was very soft and low, more like a girl's than a boy's, and I
+noticed that he had none of the mannerisms of a man&mdash;at least, not of
+one who has seen much of the world.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Australia's as good a place as any other for the man who goes out
+there to work," I said. "But somehow you don't look to me like a chap
+that is used to what is called roughing it. Pardon my bluntness."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see, I've never had much chance. My father is considered by
+many a very peculiar man. He has strange ideas about me, and so you see
+I've never been allowed to mix with other people. But I'm stronger than
+you'd think, and I shall be twenty in October next."</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't mind telling me, what is your name?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose there can be no harm in letting you know it. I was told if
+ever I met any one and they asked me, not to tell them. But since you
+saved my life it would be ungrateful not to let you know. I am the
+Marquis of Beckenham."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that so? Then your father is the Duke of Glenbarth?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Do you know him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Never set eyes on him in my life, but I heard him spoken of the other
+day."</p>
+
+<p>I did not add that it was Mr. Matchem who, during my conversation with
+him, had referred to his Grace, nor did I think it well to say that he
+had designated him the "Mad Duke." And so the boy I had saved from
+drowning was the young Marquis of Beckenham. Well, I was moving in good
+society with a vengeance. This boy was the first nobleman I had ever
+clapped eyes on, though I knew the Count de Panuroff well enough in
+Thursday Island. But then foreign Counts, and shady ones at that, ought
+not to reckon, perhaps.</p>
+
+<p>"But you don't mean to tell me," I said at length, "that you've got no
+friends? Don't you ever see any one at all?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I am not allowed to. My father thinks it better not. And as he does
+not wish it, of course I have nothing left but to obey. I must own,
+however, I should like to see the world&mdash;to go along voyage to
+Australia, for instance."</p>
+
+<p>"But how do you put in your time? You must have a very dull life of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no! You see, I have never known anything else, and then I have
+always the future to look forward to. As it is now, I bathe every
+morning, I have my yacht, I ride about the park, I have my studies, and
+I have a tutor who tells me wonderful stories of the world."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, your tutor has been about, has he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, yes! He was a missionary in the South Sea Islands, and has
+seen some very stirring adventures."</p>
+
+<p>"A missionary in the South Seas, eh? Perhaps I know him."</p>
+
+<p>"Were you ever in those seas?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I've spent almost all my life there."</p>
+
+<p>"Were you a missionary?"</p>
+
+<p>"You bet not. The missionaries and my friends don't cotton to one
+another."</p>
+
+<p>"But they are such good men!"</p>
+
+<p>"That may be. Still, as I say, we don't somehow cotton. I'd like to set
+my eyes upon your tutor."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you will. I think I see him on the beach now. I expect he has
+been wondering what has become of me. I've never been out so long
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you're close home now, and as safe as eggs in a basket."</p>
+
+<p>Another minute brought us into as shallow water as I cared to go.
+Accordingly, heaving to, I brought the dinghy alongside, and we got into
+her. Then casting off, I pulled my lord ashore. A small, clean-shaven,
+parsonish-looking man, with the regulation white choker, stood by the
+water waiting for us. As I beached the boat he came forward and said:</p>
+
+<p>"My lord, we have been very anxious about you. We feared you had met
+with an accident."</p>
+
+<p>"I have been very nearly drowned, Mr. Baxter. Had it not been for this
+gentleman's prompt assistance I should never have reached home again."</p>
+
+<p>"You should really be more careful, my lord. I have warned you before.
+Your father has been nearly beside himself with anxiety about you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Eh?" said I to myself. "Somehow this does not sound quite right.
+Anyhow, Mr. Baxter, I've seen your figure-head somewhere before&mdash;but you
+were not a missionary then, I'll take my affidavit."</p>
+
+<p>Turning to me, my young lord held out his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"You have never told me your name," he said almost reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Dick Hatteras," I answered, "and very much at your service."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, I shall never forget what you have done for me. That I am
+most grateful to you I hope you will believe. I know that I owe you my
+life."</p>
+
+<p>Here the tutor's voice chipped in again, as I thought, rather
+impatiently. "Come, come, my lord. This delay will not do. Your father
+will be growing still more nervous about you. We must be getting home!"</p>
+
+<p>Then they went off up the cliff path together, and I returned to my
+boat.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Baxter," I said to myself again as I pulled off to the yacht, "I
+want to know where I've seen your face before. I've taken a sudden
+dislike to you. I don't trust you; and if your employer's the man they
+say he is, well, he won't either."</p>
+
+<p>Then, having brought the dinghy alongside, I made the painter fast,
+clambered aboard, and we stood out of the bay once more.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>MYSTERY</h3>
+
+
+<p>The following morning I was sitting in my room at the hotel idly
+scanning the <i>Standard</i>, and wondering in what way I should employ
+myself until the time arrived for me to board the yacht, when I heard a
+carriage roll up to the door. On looking out I discovered a gorgeous
+landau, drawn by a pair of fine thoroughbreds, and resplendent with much
+gilded and crested harness, standing before the steps. A footman had
+already opened the door, and I was at the window just in time to see a
+tall, soldierly man alight from it. To my astonishment, two minutes
+later a waiter entered my room and announced "His Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth." It was the owner of the carriage and the father of my young
+friend, if by such a title I might designate the Marquis of Beckenham.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, I presume?" said he.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that is my name. I am honoured by your visit. Won't you sit down?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you."</p>
+
+<p>He paused for a moment, and then continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, I have to offer you an apology. I should have called upon
+you yesterday to express the gratitude I feel to you for having saved
+the life of my son, but I was unavoidably prevented."</p>
+
+<p>"I beg you will not mention it," I said. "His lordship thanked me
+sufficiently himself. And after all, when you look at it, it was not
+very much to do. I would, however, venture one little suggestion. Is it
+wise to let him swim so far unaccompanied by a boat? The same thing
+might happen to him on another occasion, and no one be near enough to
+render him any assistance."</p>
+
+<p>"He will not attempt so much again. He has learned a lesson from this
+experience. And now, Mr. Hatteras, I trust you will forgive what I am
+about to say. My son has told me that you have just arrived in England
+from Australia. Is there any way I can be of service to you? If there
+is, and you will acquaint me with it, you will be conferring a great
+favour upon me."</p>
+
+<p>"I thank your Grace," I replied&mdash;I hope with some little touch of
+dignity&mdash;"it is very kind of you, but I could not think of such a thing.
+But, stay, there is one service, perhaps you <i>could</i> do me."</p>
+
+<p>"I am delighted to hear it, sir. And what may it be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your son's tutor, Mr. Baxter! His face is strangely familiar to me. I
+have seen him somewhere before, but I cannot recall where. Could you
+tell me anything of his history?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very little, I fear, save that he seems a worthy and painstaking man,
+an excellent scholar, and very capable in his management of young men. I
+received excellent references with him, but of his past history I know
+very little. I believe, however, that he was a missionary in the South
+Seas for some time, and that he was afterwards for many years in India.
+I'm sorry I cannot tell you more about him since you are interested in
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"I've met him somewhere, I'm certain. His face haunts me. But to return
+to your son&mdash;I hope he is none the worse for his adventure?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all, thank you. Owing to the system I have adopted in his
+education, the lad is seldom ailing."</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon my introducing the subject. But do you think it is quite wise to
+keep a youth so ignorant of the world? I am perhaps rather presumptuous,
+but I cannot help feeling that such a fine young fellow would be all the
+better for a few companions."</p>
+
+<p>"You hit me on rather a tender spot, Mr. Hatteras. But, as you have been
+frank with me, I will be frank with you. I am one of those strange
+beings who govern their lives by theories. I was brought up by my
+father, I must tell you, in a fashion totally different from that I am
+employing with my son. I feel now that I was allowed a dangerous amount
+of license. And what was the result? I mixed with every one, was
+pampered and flattered far beyond what was good for me, derived a false
+notion of my own importance, and when I came to man's estate was, to all
+intents and purposes, quite unprepared and unfitted to undertake the
+duties and responsibilities of my position.</p>
+
+<p>"Fortunately I had the wit to see where the fault lay, and there and
+then I resolved that if ever I were blessed with a son, I would conduct
+his education on far different lines. My boy has not met a dozen
+strangers in his life. His education has been my tenderest care. His
+position, his duties towards his fellow-men, the responsibilities of his
+rank, have always been kept rigorously before him. He has been brought
+up to understand that to be a Duke is not to be a titled nonentity or a
+pampered <i>rou&eacute;</i>, but to be one whom Providence has blessed with an
+opportunity of benefiting and watching over the welfare of those less
+fortunate than himself in the world's good gifts.</p>
+
+<p>"He has no exaggerated idea of his own importance; a humbler lad, I feel
+justified in saying, you would nowhere find. He has been educated
+thoroughly, and he has all the best traditions of his race kept
+continually before his eyes. But you must not imagine, Mr. Hatteras,
+that because he has not mixed with the world he is ignorant of its
+temptations. He may not have come into personal contact with them, but
+he has been warned against their insidious influences, and I shall trust
+to his personal pride and good instincts to help him to withstand them
+when he has to encounter them himself. Now, what do you think of my plan
+for making a nobleman?"</p>
+
+<p>"A very good one, with such a youth as your son, I should think, your
+Grace; but I would like to make one more suggestion, if you would allow
+me?"</p>
+
+<p>"And that is?"</p>
+
+<p>"That you should let him travel before he settles down. Choose some fit
+person to accompany him. Let him have introductions to good people
+abroad, and let him use them; then he will derive different impressions
+from different countries, view men and women from different standpoints,
+and enter gradually into the great world and station which he is some
+day to adorn."</p>
+
+<p>"I had thought of that myself, and his tutor has lately spoken to me a
+good deal upon the subject. I must own it is an idea that commends
+itself strongly to me. I will think it over. And now, sir, I must wish
+you good-day. You will not let me thank you, as I should have wished,
+for the service you have rendered my house, but, believe me, I am none
+the less grateful. By the way, your name is not a common one. May I ask
+if you have any relatives in this county?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only one at present, I fancy&mdash;my father's brother, Sir William
+Hatteras, of Murdlestone, in the New Forest."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! I never met him. I knew his brother James very well in my younger
+days. But he got into sad trouble, poor fellow, and was obliged to fly
+the country."</p>
+
+<p>"You are speaking of my father. You knew him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Knew him? indeed, I did. And a better fellow never stepped; but, like
+most of us in those days, too wild&mdash;much too wild! And so you are
+James's son? Well, well! This is indeed a strange coincidence. But, dear
+me, I am forgetting; I must beg your pardon for speaking so candidly of
+your father."</p>
+
+<p>"No offence, I'm sure."</p>
+
+<p>"And pray tell me where my old friend is now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dead, your Grace! He was drowned at sea."</p>
+
+<p>The worthy old gentleman seemed really distressed at this news. He shook
+his head, and I heard him murmur: "Poor Jim! Poor Jim!"</p>
+
+<p>Then, turning to me again, he took my hand.</p>
+
+<p>"This makes our bond a doubly strong one. You must let me see more of
+you! How long do you propose remaining in England?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not very much longer, I fear. I am already beginning to hunger for the
+South again."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you must not go before you have paid us a visit. Remember we
+shall always be pleased to see you. You know our house, I think, on the
+cliff. Good-day, sir, good-day."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, the old gentleman accompanied me downstairs to his carriage,
+and, shaking me warmly by the hand, departed. Again I had cause to
+ponder on the strangeness of the fate that had led me to
+Hampshire&mdash;first to the village where my father was born, and then to
+Bournemouth, where by saving this young man's life I had made a firm
+friend of a man who again had known my father. By such small
+coincidences are the currents of our lives diverted.</p>
+
+<p>That same afternoon, while tacking slowly down the bay, I met the
+Marquis. He was pulling himself in a small skiff, and when he saw me he
+made haste to come alongside and hitch on. At first I wondered whether
+it would not be against his father's wishes that he should enter into
+conversation with such a worldly person as myself. But he evidently saw
+what was passing in my mind, and banished all doubts by saying:</p>
+
+<p>"I have been on the look-out for you, Mr. Hatteras. My father has given
+me permission to cultivate your acquaintance, if you will allow me."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be very pleased," I answered. "Won't you come aboard and have a
+chat? I'm not going out of the bay this afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>He clambered over the side and seated himself in the well, clear of the
+boom, as nice-looking and pleasant a young fellow as any man could wish
+to set eyes on.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't imagine how I've been thinking over all you told me the other
+day," he began when we were fairly on our way. "I want you to tell me
+more about Australia and the life you lead out there, if you will."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you all I can with pleasure," I answered. "But you ought to
+go and see the places and things for yourself. That's better than any
+telling. I wish I could take you up and carry you off with me now; away
+down to where you can make out the green islands peeping out of the
+water to port and starboard, like bits of the Garden of Eden gone astray
+and floated out to sea. I'd like you to smell the breezes that come off
+from them towards evening, to hear the 'trades' whistling overhead, and
+the thunder of the surf upon the reef. Or at another time to get inside
+that selfsame reef and look down through the still, transparent water,
+at the rainbow-coloured fish dashing among the coral boulders, in and
+out of the most beautiful fairy grottos the brain of man can conceive."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it must be lovely! And to think that I may live my life and never
+see these wonders. Please go on; what else can you tell me?"</p>
+
+<p>"What more do you want to hear? There is the pick of every sort of life
+for you out there. Would you know what real excitement is? Then I shall
+take you to a new gold rush. To begin with, you must imagine yourself
+setting off for the field, with your trusty mate marching step by step
+beside you, pick and shovel on your shoulders, and both resolved to make
+your fortunes in the twinkling of an eye. When you get there, there's
+the digger crowd, composed of every nationality. There's the warden and
+his staff, the police officers, the shanty keepers, the blacks, and
+dogs.</p>
+
+<p>"There's the tented valley stretching away to right and left of you,
+with the constant roar of sluice boxes and cradles, the creak of
+windlasses, and the perpetual noise of human voices. There's the
+excitement of pegging out your claim and sinking your first shaft,
+wondering all the time whether it will turn up trumps or nothing.
+There's the honest, manly labour from dawn to dusk. And then, when
+daylight fails, and the lamps begin to sparkle over the field, songs
+drift up the hillside from the drinking shanties in the valley, and you
+and your mate weigh up your day's returns, and, having done so, turn
+into your blankets to dream of the monster nugget you intend to find
+upon the morrow. Isn't that real life for you?"</p>
+
+<p>He did not answer, but there was a sparkle in his eyes which told me I
+was understood.</p>
+
+<p>"Then if you want other sorts of enterprise, there is Thursday Island,
+where I hail from, with its extraordinary people. Let us suppose
+ourselves wandering down the Front at nightfall, past the Kanaka
+billiard saloons and the Chinese stores, into, say, the <i>Hotel of All
+Nations</i>. Who is that handsome, dark, mysterious fellow, smoking a
+cigarette and idly flirting with the pretty bar girl? <i>You</i> don't know
+him, but I do! There's indeed a history for you. You didn't notice,
+perhaps, that rakish schooner that came to anchor in the bay early in
+the forenoon. What lines she had! Well, that was his craft. To-morrow
+she'll be gone, it is whispered, to try for pearl in prohibited Dutch
+waters. Can't you imagine her slinking round the islands, watching for
+the patrolling gunboat, and ready, directly she has passed, to slip into
+the bay, skim it of its shell, and put to sea again. Sometimes they're
+chased."</p>
+
+<p>"What then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, a clean pair of heels or trouble with the authorities, and
+possibly a year in a Dutch prison before you're brought to trial! Or
+would you do a pearling trip in less exciting but more honest fashion?
+Would you ship aboard a lugger with five good companions, and go
+a-cruising down the New Guinea coast, working hard all day long, and
+lying out on deck at night, smoking and listening to the lip-lap of the
+water against the counter, or spinning yarns of all the world?"</p>
+
+<p>"What else?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what more do you want? Do you hanker after a cruise aboard a
+stinking <i>b&ecirc;che-de-mer</i> boat inside the Barrier Reef, or a run with the
+sandalwood cutters or tortoiseshell gatherers to New Guinea; or do you
+want to go ashore again and try an overlanding trip half across the
+continent, riding behind your cattle all day long, and standing your
+watch at night under dripping boughs, your teeth chattering in your
+head, waiting for the bulls to break, while every moment you expect to
+hear the Bunyip calling in that lonely water-hole beyond the fringe of
+Mulga scrub?"</p>
+
+<p>"You make me almost mad with longing."</p>
+
+<p>"And yet, somehow, it doesn't seem so fine when you're at it. It's when
+you come to look back upon it all from a distance of twelve thousand
+miles that you feel its real charm. Then it calls to you to return in
+every rustle of the leaves ashore, in the blue of the sky above, in the
+ripple of the waves upon the beach. And it eats into your heart, so that
+you begin to think you will never be happy till you're back in the old
+tumultuous devil-may-care existence again."</p>
+
+<p>"What a life you've led! And how much more to be envied it seems than
+the dull monotony of our existence here in sleepy old England."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you believe it. If you wanted to change I could tell you of
+dozens of men, living exactly the sort of life I've described, who would
+only too willingly oblige you. No, no! Believe me, you've got chances of
+doing things we could never dream of. Do them, then, and let the other
+go. But all the same, I think you ought to see more of the world I've
+told you of before you settle down. In fact, I hinted as much to your
+father only yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"He said that you had spoken of it to him. Oh, how I wish he would let
+me go!"</p>
+
+<p>"Somehow, d'you know, I think he will."</p>
+
+<p>I put the cutter over on another tack, and we went crashing back through
+the blue water towards the pier. The strains of the band came faintly
+off to us. I had enjoyed my sail, for I had taken a great fancy to this
+bright young fellow sitting by my side. I felt I should like to have
+finished the education his father had so gallantly begun. There was
+something irresistibly attractive about him, so modest, so unassuming,
+and yet so straightforward and gentlemanly.</p>
+
+<p>Dropping him opposite the bathing machines, I went on to my own
+anchorage on the other side of the pier. Then I pulled myself ashore and
+went up to the town. I had forgotten to write an important letter that
+morning, and as it was essential that the business should be attended to
+at once, to repair my carelessness, I crossed the public gardens and
+went through the gardens to the post office to send a telegram.</p>
+
+<p>I must tell you here that since my meeting with Mr. Baxter, the young
+Marquis's tutor, I had been thinking a great deal about him, and the
+more I thought the more certain I became that we had met before. To tell
+the truth, a great distrust of the man was upon me. It was one of those
+peculiar antipathies that no one can explain. I did not like his face,
+and I felt sure that he did not boast any too much love for me.</p>
+
+<p>As my thoughts were still occupied with him, my astonishment may be
+imagined, on arriving at the building, at meeting him face to face upon
+the steps. He seemed much put out at seeing me, and hummed and hawed
+over his "Good-afternoon" for all the world as if I had caught him in
+the middle of some guilty action.</p>
+
+<p>Returning his salutation, I entered the building and looked about me for
+a desk at which to write my wire. There was only one vacant, and I
+noticed that the pencil suspended on the string was still swinging to
+and fro as it had been dropped. Now Baxter had only just left the
+building, so there could be no possible doubt that it was he who had
+last used the stand. I pulled the form towards me and prepared to write.
+But as I did so I noticed that the previous writer had pressed so hard
+upon his pencil that he had left the exact impression of his message
+plainly visible upon the pad. It ran as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Letter received. You omitted reverend. The train is laid, but a
+new element of danger has arisen.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>It was addressed to "Nikola, <i>Green Sailor Hotel</i>, East India Dock Road,
+London," and was signed "Nineveh."</p>
+
+<p>The message was so curious that I looked at it again, and the longer I
+looked the more certain I became that Baxter was the sender. Partly
+because its wording interested me, and partly for another reason which
+will become apparent later on, I inked the message over, tore it from
+the pad, and placed it carefully in my pocket-book. One thing at least
+was certain, and that was, if Baxter <i>were</i> the sender, there was
+something underhand going on. If he were not, well, then there could be
+no possible harm in my keeping the form as a little souvenir of a rather
+curious experience.</p>
+
+<p>I wrote my own message, and having paid for it left the office. But I
+was not destined to have the society of my own thoughts for long. Hardly
+had I reached the Invalids' Walk before I felt my arm touched. To my
+supreme astonishment I found myself again confronted by Mr. Baxter. He
+was now perfectly calm and greeted me with extraordinary civility.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, I believe," he said. "I think I had the pleasure of
+meeting you on the sands a few days ago. What a beautiful day it is,
+isn't it? Are you proceeding this way? Yes? Then perhaps I may be
+permitted the honour of walking a short distance with you."</p>
+
+<p>"With pleasure," I replied. "I am going up the cliff to my hotel, and I
+shall be glad of your company. I think we met in the telegraph office
+just now."</p>
+
+<p>"In the post office, I think. I had occasion to go in there to register
+a letter."</p>
+
+<p>His speech struck me as remarkable. My observation was so trivial that
+it hardly needed an answer, and yet not only did he vouchsafe me one,
+but he corrected my statement and volunteered a further one on his own
+account. What reason could he have for wanting to make me understand
+that he had gone in there to post a letter? What would it have mattered
+to me if he <i>had</i> been there, as I suggested, to send a telegram?</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Baxter," I thought to myself, "I've got a sort of conviction that
+you're not the man you pretend to be, and what's more I'd like to bet a
+shilling to a halfpenny that, if the truth were only known, you're our
+mysterious friend Nineveh."</p>
+
+<p>We walked for some distance in silence. Presently my companion began to
+talk again&mdash;this time, however, in a new strain, and perhaps with a
+little more caution.</p>
+
+<p>"You have been a great traveller, I understand."</p>
+
+<p>"A fairly great one, Mr. Baxter. You also, I am told, have seen
+something of the world."</p>
+
+<p>"A little&mdash;very little."</p>
+
+<p>"The South Seas, I believe. D'you know Papeete?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have been there."</p>
+
+<p>"D'you know New Guinea at all?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. I was never near it. I am better acquainted with the Far
+East&mdash;China, Japan, etc."</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly something, I shall never be able to tell what, prompted me to
+say:</p>
+
+<p>"And the Andamans?"</p>
+
+<p>The effect on my companion was as sudden as it was extraordinary. For a
+moment he staggered on the path like a drunken man; his face grew ashen
+pale, and he had to give utterance to a hoarse choking sound before he
+could get out a word. Then he said:</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;no&mdash;you are quite mistaken, I assure you. I never knew the
+Andamans."</p>
+
+<p>Now, on the Andamans, as all the world knows, are located the Indian
+penal establishments, and noting his behaviour, I became more and more
+convinced in my own mind that there was some mystery about Mr. Baxter
+that had yet to be explained. I had still a trump card to play.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid you are not very well, Mr. Baxter," I said at length.
+"Perhaps the heat is too much for you, or we are walking too fast? This
+is my hotel. Won't you come inside and take a glass of wine or something
+to revive you?"</p>
+
+<p>He nodded his head eagerly. Large drops of perspiration stood on his
+forehead, and I saw that he was quite unstrung. "I am not well&mdash;not at
+all well."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we reached the smoking-room I rang for two brandies and
+sodas. When they arrived he drank his off almost at a gulp, and in a few
+seconds was pretty well himself again.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Hatteras," he said. "I think we must
+have walked up the hill a little too fast for my strength. Now, I must
+be going back to the town. I find I have forgotten something."</p>
+
+<p>Almost by instinct I guessed his errand. He was going to despatch
+another telegram. Resolved to try the effect of one parting shot, I
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you do not happen to be going near the telegraph office again?
+If you are, should I be taxing your kindness too much if I asked you to
+leave a message there for me? I find <i>I</i> have forgotten one."</p>
+
+<p>He bowed and simply said: "With much pleasure."</p>
+
+<p>He pronounced it "pleesure," and as he said it he licked his lips in his
+usual self-satisfied fashion. I wondered how he would conduct himself
+when he saw the message I was going to write.</p>
+
+<p>Taking a form from a table near where I sat, I wrote the following:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"John Nicholson,<br />
+"<i>Langham Hotel</i>, London.</p>
+
+<p>"The train is laid, but a new danger has arisen.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Hatteras.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>Blotting it carefully, I gave it into his hands, at the same time asking
+him to read it, lest my writing should not be decipherable and any
+question might be asked concerning it. As he read I watched his face
+intently. Never shall I forget the expression that swept over it. I had
+scored a complete victory. The shaft went home. But only for an instant.
+With wonderful alacrity he recovered himself and, shaking me feebly by
+the hand, bade me good-bye, promising to see that my message was
+properly delivered. When he had gone I laid myself back in my chair for
+a good think. The situation was a peculiar one in every way. If he were
+up to some devilry I had probably warned him. If not, why had he
+betrayed himself so openly?</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later an answer to my first telegram arrived, and, such is
+the working of Fate, it necessitated my immediate return to London. I
+had been thinking of going for some days past, but had put it off. Now
+it was decided for me.</p>
+
+<p>As I did not know whether I should return to Bournemouth, I determined
+to call upon the Marquis to bid him good-bye. Accordingly I set off for
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>Now if Burke may be believed, the Duke of Glenbarth possesses houses in
+half the counties of the kingdom; but I am told his seaside residence
+takes precedence of them all in his affections. Standing well out on the
+cliffs, it commands a lovely view of the bay&mdash;looks toward the Purbeck
+Hills on the right, and the Isle of Wight and Hengistbury Head on the
+left. The house itself, as far as I could see, left nothing to be
+desired, and the grounds had been beautified in the highest form of
+landscape gardening.</p>
+
+<p>I found my friend and his father in a summer-house upon the lawn. Both
+appeared unaffectedly glad to see me, and equally sorry to hear that I
+had come to bid them good bye. Mr. Baxter was not visible, and it was
+with no little surprise I learned that he, too, was contemplating a trip
+to the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope, if ever you visit Bournemouth again, you will come and see us,"
+said the Duke as I rose to leave.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said I, "and I hope if ever your son visits Australia you
+will permit me to be of some service to him."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very kind. I will bear your offer in mind."</p>
+
+<p>Shaking hands with them both, I bade them good-bye, and went out through
+the gate.</p>
+
+<p>But I was not to escape without an interview with my clerical friend
+after all. As I left the grounds and turned into the public road I saw a
+man emerge from a little wicket gate some fifty yards or so further down
+the hedge. From the way he made his appearance, it was obvious he had
+been waiting for me to leave the house.</p>
+
+<p>It was, certainly enough, my old friend Baxter. As I came up with him he
+said, with the same sanctimonious grin that usually encircled his mouth
+playing round it now:</p>
+
+<p>"A nice evening for a stroll, Mr. Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>"A very nice evening, as you say, Mr. Baxter."</p>
+
+<p>"May I intrude myself upon your privacy for five minutes?"</p>
+
+<p>"With pleasure. What is your business?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of small concern to you, sir, but of immense importance to me. Mr.
+Hatteras, I have it in my mind that you do not like me."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope I have not given you cause to think so. Pray what can have put
+such a notion into your head?"</p>
+
+<p>I half hoped that he would make some allusion to the telegram he had
+despatched for me that morning, but he was far too cunning for that. He
+looked me over and over out of his small ferrety eyes before he replied:</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot tell you why I think so, Mr. Hatteras, but instinct generally
+makes us aware when we are not quite all we might be to other people.
+Forgive me for speaking in this way to you, but you must surely see how
+much it means to me to be on good terms with friends of my employer's
+family."</p>
+
+<p>"You are surely not afraid lest I should prejudice the Duke against
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not afraid, Mr. Hatteras! I have too much faith in your sense of
+justice to believe that you would willingly deprive me of my means of
+livelihood&mdash;for of course that is what it would mean in plain English."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you need have no fear. I have just said good-bye to them. I am
+going away to-morrow, and it is improbable that I shall ever see either
+of them again."</p>
+
+<p>"You are leaving for Australia?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very shortly, I think."</p>
+
+<p>"I am much obliged to you for the generous way you have treated me. I
+shall never forget your kindness."</p>
+
+<p>"Pray don't mention it. Is that all you have to say to me? Then
+good-evening!"</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>He turned back, and I continued my way along the cliff, reflecting on
+the curious interview I had just passed through. If the truth must be
+known, I was quite at a loss to understand what he meant by it! Why had
+he asked that question about Australia? Was it only chance that had led
+him to put it, or was it done designedly, and for some reason connected
+with that mysterious "train" mentioned in his telegram?</p>
+
+<p>I was to find out later, and only too thoroughly!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>I MEET DR. NIKOLA AGAIN</h3>
+
+
+<p>It is strange with what ease, rapidity, and apparent unconsciousness the
+average man jumps from crisis to crisis in that strange medley he is
+accustomed so flippantly to call His Life. It was so in my case. For two
+days after my return from Bournemouth I was completely immersed in the
+toils of Hatton Garden, had no thought above the sale of pearls and the
+fluctuations in the price of shell; yet, notwithstanding all this, the
+afternoon of the third day found me kicking my heels on the pavement of
+Trafalgar Square, my mind quite made up, my passage booked, and my
+ticket for Australia stowed away in my waistcoat pocket.</p>
+
+<p>As I stood there the grim, stone faces of the lions above me were
+somehow seen obscurely, Nelson's monument was equally unregarded, for my
+thoughts were far away with my mind's eye, following an ocean
+mail-steamer as she threaded her tortuous way between the Heads and
+along the placid waters of Sydney Harbour.</p>
+
+<p>So wrapped up was I in the folds of this agreeable reverie, that when I
+felt a heavy hand upon my shoulder and heard a masculine voice say
+joyfully in my ear, "Dick Hatteras, or I'm a Dutchman," I started as if
+I had been shot.</p>
+
+<p>Brief as was the time given me for reflection, it was long enough for
+that voice to conjure up a complete scene in my mind. The last time I
+had heard it was on the bridge of the steamer <i>Yarraman</i>, lying in the
+land-locked harbour of Cairns, on the Eastern Queensland coast; a
+canoeful of darkies were jabbering alongside, and a cargo of bananas was
+being shipped aboard.</p>
+
+<p>I turned and held out my hand. "Jim Percival!" I cried, with as much
+pleasure as astonishment. "How on earth does it come about that you are
+here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Arrived three days ago," the good-looking young fellow replied. "We're
+lying in the River just off the West India Docks. The old man kept us at
+it like galley slaves till I began to think we should never get the
+cargo out. Been up to the office this morning, coming back saw you
+standing here looking as if you were thinking of something ten thousand
+miles away. I tell you I nearly jumped out of my skin with astonishment,
+thought there couldn't be two men with the same face and build, so
+smacked you on the back, discovered I was right, and here we are. Now
+spin your yarn. But stay, let's first find a more convenient place than
+this."</p>
+
+<p>We strolled down the Strand together, and at last had the good fortune
+to discover a "house of call" that met with even his critical approval.
+Here I narrated as much of my doings since we had last met, as I thought
+would satisfy his curiosity. My meeting with that mysterious individual
+at the French restaurant and my suspicions of Baxter particularly amused
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"What a rum beggar you are, to be sure!" was his disconcerting criticism
+when I had finished. "What earthly reason have you for thinking that
+this chap, Baxter, has any designs upon your young swell, Beckenham, or
+whatever his name may be?"</p>
+
+<p>"What makes you stand by to shorten sail, when you see a suspicious look
+about the sky? Instinct, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's a poor way out of the argument."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, at any rate, time will show how far I'm right or wrong; though I
+don't suppose I shall hear any more of the affair, as I return to
+Australia in the <i>Saratoga</i> on Friday next."</p>
+
+<p>"And what are you going to do now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't the remotest idea. My business is completed, and I'm just
+kicking my heels in idleness till Friday comes and it is time for me to
+set off."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I have it. You'll just come along down to the docks with me; I'm
+due back at the old hooker at five sharp. You'll dine with us&mdash;pot luck,
+of course. Your old friend Riley is still chief officer; I'm second;
+young Cleary, whom you remember as apprentice, is now third; and, if I'm
+not very much mistaken, we'll find old Donald Maclean aboard too,
+tinkering away at his beloved engines. I don't believe that fellow could
+take a holiday away from his thrust blocks and piston rods if he were
+paid to. We'll have a palaver about old times, and I'll put you ashore
+myself when you want to go. There, what do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm your man," said I, jumping at his offer with an alacrity which must
+have been flattering to him.</p>
+
+<p>The truth was, I was delighted to have secured some sort of
+companionship, for London, despite its multitudinous places of
+amusement, and its five millions of inhabitants, is but a dismal
+caravanserai to be left alone in. Moreover, the <i>Yarraman</i>'s officers
+and I were old friends, and, if the truth must be told, my heart yearned
+for the sight of a ship and a talk about days gone by.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, we made our way to the docks.</p>
+
+<p>The <i>Yarraman</i>, travel-stained, and bearing on her weather-beaten plates
+evidences of the continuous tramp-like life she had led, lay well out in
+the stream. Having chartered a waterman, we were put on board, and I had
+the satisfaction of renewing my acquaintance with the chief officer,
+Riley, at the yawning mouth of the for'ard hatch. The whilom apprentice,
+Cleary, now raised to the dignity of third officer, grinned a welcome to
+me from among the disordered raffle of the fo'c's'le head, while that
+excellent artificer, Maclean, oil-can and spanner in hand, greeted me
+affectionately in Gaelic from the entrance to the engine-room. The
+skipper was ashore, so I seated myself on the steps leading to the
+hurricane deck, and felt at home immediately.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the circumstances attending that reunion there is no necessity for
+me to dwell. Suffice it that we dined in the deserted saloon, and
+adjourned later to my friend Percival's cabin in the alley way just
+for'ard of the engine-room, where several bottles of Scotch whisky, a
+strange collection of glass ware, and an assortment of excellent cigars,
+were produced. Percival and Cleary, being the juniors, ensconced
+themselves on the top bunk; Maclean (who had been induced to abandon his
+machinery in honour of our meeting) was given the washhand-stand. Riley
+took the cushioned locker in the corner, while I, as their guest, was
+permitted the luxury of a canvas-backed deck chair, the initials on the
+back of which were not those of its present owner. At first the
+conversation was circumscribed, and embraced Plimsoll, the attractions
+of London, and the decline in the price of freight; but, as the contents
+of the second bottle waned, speech became more unfettered, and the talk
+drifted into channels and latitudes widely different. Circumstances
+connected with bygone days were recalled; the faces of friends long
+hidden in the mists of time were brought again to mind; anecdotes
+illustrative of various types of maritime character succeeded to each
+other in brisk succession, till Maclean, without warning, finding his
+voice, burst into incongruous melody. One song suggested another; a
+banjo was produced, and tuned to the noise of clinking glasses; and
+every moment the atmosphere grew thicker.</p>
+
+<p>How long this concert would have lasted I cannot say, but I remember,
+after the third repetition of the chorus of the sea-chanty that might
+have been heard a mile away, glancing at my watch and discovering to my
+astonishment that it was past ten o'clock. Then rising to my feet I
+resisted all temptations to stay the night, and reminded my friend
+Percival of his promise to put me ashore again. He was true to his word,
+and five minutes later we were shoving off from the ship's side amid the
+valedictions of my hosts. I have a recollection to this day of the face
+of the chief engineer gazing sadly down upon me from the bulwarks, while
+his quavering voice asserted the fact, in dolorous tones, that</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Aft hae I rov'd by bonny Doon,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To see the rose and woodbine twine;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And ilka bird sang o' its luve,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And fondly sae did I o' mine."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>With this amorous farewell still ringing in my ears I landed at
+Limehouse Pier, and bidding my friend good-bye betook myself by the
+circuitous route of Emmett and Ropemaker Streets and Church Row to that
+aristocratic thoroughfare known as the East India Dock Road.</p>
+
+<p>The night was dark and a thick rain was falling, presenting the
+mean-looking houses, muddy road, and foot-stained pavements in an aspect
+that was even more depressing than was usual to them. Despite the
+inclemency of the weather and the lateness of the hour, however, the
+street was crowded; blackguard men and foul-mouthed women, such a class
+as I had never in all my experience of rough folk encountered before,
+jostled each other on the pavements with scant ceremony; costermongers
+cried their wares, small boys dashed in and out of the crowd at top
+speed, and flaring gin palaces took in and threw out continuous streams
+of victims.</p>
+
+<p>For some minutes I stood watching this melancholy picture, contrasting
+it with others in my mind. Then turning to my left hand I pursued my way
+in the direction I imagined the Stepney railway station to lie. It was
+not pleasant walking, but I was interested in the life about me&mdash;the
+people, the shops, the costermongers' barrows, and I might even say the
+public-houses.</p>
+
+<p>I had not made my way more than a hundred yards along the street when an
+incident occurred that was destined to bring with it a train of highly
+important circumstances. As I crossed the entrance to a small side
+street, the door of an ill-looking tavern was suddenly thrust open and
+the body of a man was propelled from it, with a considerable amount of
+violence, directly into my arms. Having no desire to act as his support
+I pushed him from me, and as I did so glanced at the door through which
+he had come. Upon the glass was a picture, presumably nautical, and
+under it this legend, "The Green Sailor." In a flash Bournemouth post
+office rose before my mind's eye, the startled face of Baxter on the
+door-step, the swinging pencil on the telegraph stand, and the imprint
+of the mysterious message addressed to "Nikola, <i>Green Sailor Hotel</i>,
+East India Dock Road." So complete was my astonishment that at first I
+could do nothing but stand stupidly staring at it, then my curiosity
+asserted itself and, seeking the private entrance, I stepped inside. A
+short passage conducted me to a small and evil-smelling room abutting on
+the bar. On the popular side of the counter the place was crowded; in
+the chamber where I found myself I was the sole customer. A small table
+stood in the centre, and round this two or three chairs were ranged,
+while several pugnacious prints lent an air of decoration to the walls.</p>
+
+<p>On the other side, to the left of that through which I had entered, a
+curtained doorway hinted at a similar room beyond. A small but
+heavily-built man, whom I rightly judged to be the landlord, was busily
+engaged with an assistant, dispensing liquor at the counter, but when I
+rapped upon the table he forsook his customers, and came to learn my
+wishes. I called for a glass of whisky, and seated myself at the table
+preparatory to commencing my inquiries as to the existence of Baxter's
+mysterious friend. But at the moment that I was putting my first
+question the door behind the half-drawn curtain, which must have been
+insecurely fastened, opened about an inch, and a voice greeted my ears
+that brought me up all standing with surprise. <i>It was the voice of
+Baxter himself.</i></p>
+
+<p>"I assure you," he was saying, "it was desperate work from beginning to
+end, and I was never so relieved in my life as when I discovered that he
+had really come to say good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture one of them must have realized that the door was open,
+for I heard some one rise from his chair and come towards it. Acting
+under the influence of a curiosity, which was as baneful to himself as
+it was fortunate for me, before closing it he opened the door wider and
+looked into the room where I sat. It was Baxter, and if I live to be an
+hundred I shall not forget the expression on his face as his eyes fell
+upon me.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras!" he gasped, clutching at the wall.</p>
+
+<p>Resolved to take him at a disadvantage, I rushed towards him and shook
+him warmly by the hand, at the same time noticing that he had discarded
+his clerical costume. It was too late now for him to pretend that he did
+not know me, and as I had taken the precaution to place my foot against
+it, it was equally impossible for him to shut the door. Seeing this he
+felt compelled to surrender, and I will do him the justice to admit that
+he did it with as good a grace as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Baxter," I said, "this is the last place I should have expected to
+meet you in. May I come in and sit down?"</p>
+
+<p>Without giving him time to reply I entered the room, resolved to see who
+his companion might be. Of course, in my own mind I had quite settled
+that it was the person to whom he had telegraphed from Bournemouth&mdash;in
+other words Nikola. But who was Nikola? And had I ever seen him before?</p>
+
+<p>My curiosity was destined to be satisfied, and in a most unexpected
+fashion. For there, sitting at the table, a half-smoked cigarette
+between his fingers, and his face turned towards me, was the man whom I
+had seen playing chess in the restaurant, the man who had told me my
+name by the cards in my pocket, and the man who had warned me in such a
+mysterious fashion about my sweetheart's departure. He was Baxter's
+correspondent! He was Nikola!</p>
+
+<p>Whatever my surprise may have been, he was not in the least
+disconcerted, but rose calmly from his seat and proffered me his hand,
+saying as he did so:</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras. I am delighted to see you, and still more
+pleased to learn that you and my worthy old friend, Baxter, have met
+before. Won't you sit down?"</p>
+
+<p>I seated myself on a chair at the further end of the table; Baxter
+meanwhile looked from one to the other of us as if uncertain whether to
+go or stay. Presently, however, he seemed to make up his mind, and
+advancing towards Nikola, said, with an earnestness that I could see was
+assumed for the purpose of putting me off the scent:</p>
+
+<p>"And so I cannot induce you, Dr. Nikola, to fit out an expedition for
+the work I have named?"</p>
+
+<p>"If I had five thousand pounds to throw away," replied Nikola, "I might
+think of it, Mr. Baxter, but as I haven't you must understand that it is
+impossible." Then seeing that the other was anxious to be going, he
+continued, "Must you be off? then good-night."</p>
+
+<p>Baxter shook hands with us both with laboured cordiality, and having
+done so slunk from the room. When the door closed upon him Nikola turned
+to me.</p>
+
+<p>"There must be some fascination about a missionary's life after all," he
+said. "My old tutor, Baxter, as you are aware, has a comfortable
+position with the young Marquis of Beckenham, which, if he conducts
+himself properly, may lead to something really worth having in the
+future, and yet here he is anxious to surrender it in order to go back
+to his work in New Guinea, to his hard life, insufficient food, and
+almost certain death."</p>
+
+<p>"He was in New Guinea then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Five years&mdash;so he tells me."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you certain of that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Absolutely!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then all I can say is that, in spite of his cloth, Mr. Baxter does not
+always tell the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry you should think that. Pray what reason have you for saying
+so?"</p>
+
+<p>"Simply because in a conversation I had with him at Bournemouth he
+deliberately informed me that he had never been near New Guinea in his
+life."</p>
+
+<p>"You must have misunderstood him. However, that has nothing to do with
+us. Let us turn to a pleasanter subject."</p>
+
+<p>He rang the bell, and the landlord having answered it, ordered more
+refreshment. When it arrived he lit another cigarette, and leaning back
+in his chair glanced at me through half-closed eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Then occurred one of the most curious and weird circumstances connected
+with this meeting. Hardly had he laid himself back in his chair before I
+heard a faint scratching against the table leg, and next moment an
+enormous cat, black as the Pit of Tophet, sprang with a bound upon the
+table and stood there steadfastly regarding me, its eyes flashing and
+its back arched. I have seen cats without number, Chinese, Persian,
+Manx, the Australian wild cat, and the English tabby, but never in the
+whole course of my existence such another as that owned by Dr. Nikola.
+When it had regarded me with its evil eyes for nearly a minute, it
+stepped daintily across to its master, and rubbed itself backwards and
+forwards against his arm, then to my astonishment it clambered up on to
+his shoulder and again gave me the benefit of its fixed attention. Dr.
+Nikola must have observed the amazement depicted in my face, for he
+smiled in a curious fashion, and coaxing the beast down into his lap
+fell to stroking its fur with his long, white fingers. It was as uncanny
+a performance as ever I had the privilege of witnessing.</p>
+
+<p>"And so, Mr. Hatteras," he said slowly, "you are thinking of leaving
+us?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am," I replied, with a little start of natural astonishment. "But how
+did you know it?"</p>
+
+<p>"After the conjuring tricks&mdash;we agreed to call them conjuring tricks, I
+think&mdash;I showed you a week or two ago, I wonder that you should ask such
+a question. You have the ticket in your pocket even now."</p>
+
+<p>All the time he had been speaking his extraordinary eyes had never left
+my face; they seemed to be reading my very soul, and his cat ably
+seconded his efforts.</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, I should like to ask you a few questions about those self
+same conjuring tricks," I said. "Do you know you gave me a most peculiar
+warning?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am very glad to hear it; I hope you profited by it."</p>
+
+<p>"It cost me a good deal of uneasiness, if that's any consolation to you.
+I want to know how you did it?"</p>
+
+<p>"My fame as a wizard would soon evaporate if I revealed my methods," he
+answered, still looking steadfastly at me. "However, I will give you
+another exhibition of my powers. In fact, another warning. Have you
+confidence enough in me to accept it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll wait and see what it is first," I replied cautiously, trying to
+remove my eyes from his.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my warning to you is this&mdash;you intend to sail in the <i>Saratoga</i>
+for Australia on Friday next, don't you? Well, then, don't go; as you
+love your life, don't go!"</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious! and why on earth not?" I cried.</p>
+
+<p>He stared fixedly at me for more than half a minute before he answered.
+There was no escaping those dreadful eyes, and the regular sweep of
+those long white fingers on the cat's black fur seemed to send a cold
+shiver right down my spine. Bit by bit I began to feel a curious
+sensation of dizziness creeping over me.</p>
+
+<p>"Because you will <i>not</i> go. You cannot go. I forbid you to go."</p>
+
+<p>I roused myself with an effort, and sprang to my feet, crying as I did
+so:</p>
+
+<p>"And what right have <i>you</i> to forbid me to do anything? I'll go on
+Friday, come what may. And I'd like to see the man who will prevent me."</p>
+
+<p>Though he must have realized that his attempt to hypnotize me (for
+attempt it certainly was) had proved a failure, he was not in the least
+disconcerted.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear fellow," he murmured gently, knocking off the ash of his
+cigarette against the table edge as he did so, "no one is seeking to
+prevent you. I gave you, at your own request&mdash;you will do me the justice
+to admit that&mdash;a little piece of advice. If you do not care to follow
+it, that is your concern, not mine; but pray do not blame me. Must you
+really go now? Then good-night, and good-bye, for I don't suppose I
+shall see you this side of the Line again."</p>
+
+<p>I took his proffered hand, and wished him good-night. Having done so, I
+left the house, heartily glad to have said good-bye to the only man in
+my life whom I have really feared.</p>
+
+<p>When in the train, on my way back to town, I came to review the meeting
+in the <i>Green Sailor</i>, I found myself face to face with a series of
+problems very difficult to work out. How had Nikola first learned my
+name? How had he heard of the Wetherells? Was he the mysterious person
+his meeting with whom had driven Wetherell out of England? Why had
+Baxter telegraphed to him that "the train was laid"? Was I the new
+danger that had arisen? How had Baxter come to be at the <i>Green Sailor</i>,
+in non-clerical costume? Why had he been so disturbed at my entry? Why
+had Nikola invented such a lame excuse to account for his presence
+there? Why had he warned me not to sail in the <i>Saratoga</i>? and, above
+all, why had he resorted to hypnotism to secure his ends?</p>
+
+<p>I asked myself these questions, but one by one I failed to answer them
+to my satisfaction. Whatever other conclusion I might have come to,
+however, one thing at least was certain: that was, that my original
+supposition was a correct one. There was a tremendous mystery somewhere.
+Whether or not I was to lose my interest in it after Friday remained to
+be seen.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly twelve o'clock by the time I entered my hotel; but late as
+it was I found time to examine the letter rack. It contained two
+envelopes bearing my name, and taking them out I carried them with me to
+my room. One, to my delight, bore the postmark of Port Said, and was
+addressed in my sweetheart's handwriting. You may guess how eagerly I
+tore it open, and with what avidity I devoured its contents. From it I
+gathered that they had arrived at the entrance of the Suez Canal safely;
+that her father had recovered his spirits more and more with every mile
+that separated him from Europe. He was now almost himself again, she
+said, but still refused with characteristic determination to entertain
+the smallest notion of myself as a son-in-law. But Phyllis herself did
+not despair of being able to talk him round. Then came a paragraph which
+struck me as being so peculiar as to warrant my reproducing it here:</p>
+
+<p>"The passengers, what we have seen of them, appear to be, with one
+exception, a nice enough set of people. That exception, however, is
+intolerable; his name is Prendergast, and his personal appearance is as
+objectionable as his behaviour is extraordinary; his hair is snow-white,
+and his face is deeply pitted with smallpox. This is, of course, not his
+fault, but it seems somehow to aggravate the distaste I have for him.
+Unfortunately we were thrown into his company in Naples, and since then
+the creature has so far presumed upon that introduction, that he
+scarcely leaves me alone for a moment. Papa does not seem to mind him so
+much, but I thank goodness that, as he leaves the boat in Port Said, the
+rest of the voyage will be performed without him."</p>
+
+<p>The remainder of the letter had no concern for any one but myself, so I
+do not give it. Having read it I folded it up and put it in my pocket,
+feeling that if I had been on board the boat I should in all probability
+have allowed Mr. Prendergast to understand that his attentions were
+distasteful and not in the least required. If I could only have foreseen
+that within a fortnight I was to be enjoying the doubtful pleasure of
+that very gentleman's society, under circumstances as important as life
+and death, I don't doubt I should have thought still more strongly on
+the subject.</p>
+
+<p>The handwriting of the second envelope was bold, full of character, but
+quite unknown to me. I opened it with a little feeling of curiosity, and
+glanced at the signature, "Beckenham." It ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"West Cliff, Bournemouth,<br />
+"Tuesday Evening.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Mr. Hatteras</span>,</p>
+
+<p>"I have great and wonderful news to tell you! This week has proved
+an extraordinarily eventful one for me, for what do you think? My
+father has suddenly decided that I shall travel. All the details
+have been settled in a great hurry. You will understand this when I
+tell you that Mr. Baxter and I sail for Sydney in the steamship
+<i>Saratoga</i> next week. My father telegraphed to Mr. Baxter, who is
+in London, to book our passages and to choose our cabins this
+morning. I can only say that my greatest wish is that you were
+coming with us. Is it so impossible? Cannot you make your
+arrangements fit in? We shall travel overland to Naples and join
+the boat there. This is Mr. Baxter's proposition, and you may be
+sure, considering what I shall see <i>en route</i>, I have no objection
+to urge against it. Our tour will be an extensive one. We visit
+Australia and New Zealand, go thence to Honolulu, thence to San
+Francisco, returning, across the United States, <i>via</i> Canada, to
+Liverpool.</p>
+
+<p>"You may imagine how excited I am at the prospect, and as I feel
+that I owe a great measure of my good fortune to you, I want to be
+the first to acquaint you of it.</p>
+
+<p>"Yours ever sincerely,<br />
+"<span class="smcap">Beckenham</span>."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>I read the letter through a second time, and then sat down on my bed to
+think it out. One thing was self-evident. I knew now how Nikola had
+become aware that I was going to sail in the mail boat on Friday; Baxter
+had seen my name in the passenger list, and had informed him.</p>
+
+<p>I undressed and went to bed, but not to sleep. I had a problem to work
+out, and a more than usually difficult one it was. Here was the young
+Marquis of Beckenham, I told myself, only son of his father, heir to a
+great name and enormous estates, induced to travel by my
+representations. There was a conspiracy afoot in which, I could not help
+feeling certain, the young man was in some way involved. And yet I had
+no right to be certain about it after all, for my suspicions at best
+were only conjectures. Now the question was whether I ought to warn the
+Duke or not? If I did I might be frightening him without cause, and
+might stop his son's journey; and if I did not, and things went
+wrong&mdash;well, in that case, I should be the innocent means of bringing a
+great and lasting sorrow upon his house. Hour after hour I turned this
+question over and over in my mind, uncertain how to act. The clocks
+chimed their monotonous round, the noises died down and rose again in
+the streets, and daylight found me only just come to a decision. I would
+<i>not</i> tell them; but at the same time I would make doubly sure that I
+sailed aboard that ship myself, and that throughout the voyage I was by
+the young man's side to guard him from ill.</p>
+
+<p>Breakfast time came, and I rose from my bed wearied with thought. Even a
+bath failed to restore my spirits. I went downstairs and, crossing the
+hall again, examined the rack. Another letter awaited me. I passed into
+the dining-room and, seating myself at my table, ordered breakfast.
+Having done so, I turned to my correspondence. Fate seemed to pursue me.
+On this occasion the letter was from the lad's father, the Duke of
+Glenbarth himself, and ran as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"Sandridge Castle, Bournemouth,<br />
+"Wednesday.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Hatteras</span>,</p>
+
+<p>"My son tells me he has acquainted you with the news of his
+departure for Australia next week. I don't doubt this will cause
+you some little surprise; but it has been brought about by a
+curious combination of circumstances. Two days ago I received a
+letter from my old friend, the Earl of Amberley, who, as you know,
+has for the past few years been Governor of the colony of New South
+Wales, telling me that his term of office will expire in four
+months. Though he has not seen my boy since the latter was two
+years old, I am anxious that he should be at the head of affairs
+when he visits the colony. Hence this haste. I should have liked
+nothing better than to have accompanied him myself, but business of
+the utmost importance detains me in England. I am, however, sending
+Mr. Baxter with him, with powerful credentials, and if it should be
+in your power to do anything to assist them you will be adding
+materially to the debt of gratitude I already owe you.</p>
+
+<p>"Believe me, my dear Mr. Hatteras, to be,</p>
+
+<p>"Very truly yours,<br />
+"<span class="smcap">Glenbarth</span>."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>My breakfast finished, I answered both these letters, informed my
+friends of my contemplated departure by the same steamer, and promised
+that I would do all that lay in my power to ensure both the young
+traveller's pleasure and his safety. For the rest of the morning I was
+occupied inditing a letter to my sweetheart, informing her of my return
+to the Colonies, and telling her all my adventures since her departure.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was spent in saying good-bye to the few business friends I
+had made in London, and in the evening I went for the last time to a
+theatre.</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes to eleven o'clock next morning found me at Waterloo sitting
+in a first-class compartment of the West of England express, bound for
+Plymouth and Australia. Though the platform was crowded to excess I had
+the carriage so far to myself, and was about to congratulate myself on
+my good fortune, when a porter appeared on the scene, and deposited a
+bag in the opposite corner. A moment later, and just as the train was in
+motion, a man jumped in the carriage, tipped the servant, and then
+placed a basket upon the rack. The train was half-way out of the station
+before he turned round, and my suspicions were confirmed. <i>It was Dr.
+Nikola!</i></p>
+
+<p>Though he must have known who his companion was, he affected great
+surprise. "Mr. Hatteras," he cried, "I think this is the most
+extraordinary coincidence I have ever experienced in my life."</p>
+
+<p>"Why so?" I asked. "You knew I was going to Plymouth to-day, and one
+moment's reflection must have told you, that as my boat sails at eight,
+I would be certain to take the morning express, which lands me there at
+five. Should I be indiscreet if I asked where you may be going?"</p>
+
+<p>"Like yourself, I am also visiting Plymouth," he answered, taking the
+basket, before mentioned, down from the rack, and drawing a French novel
+from his coat pocket. "I expect an old Indian friend home by the mail
+boat that arrives to-night. I am going down to meet him."</p>
+
+<p>I felt relieved to hear that he was not thinking of sailing in the
+<i>Saratoga</i>, and after a few polite commonplaces, we both lapsed into
+silence. I was too suspicious, and he was too wary, to appear over
+friendly. Clapham, Wimbledon, Surbiton, came and went. Weybridge and
+Woking flashed by at lightning speed, and even Basingstoke was reached
+before we spoke again. That station behind us, Dr. Nikola took the
+basket before mentioned on his knee, and opened it. When he had done so,
+the same enormous black cat, whose acquaintance I had made in the East
+India Dock Road, stepped proudly forth. In the daylight the brute looked
+even larger and certainly fiercer than before. I felt I should have
+liked nothing better than to have taken it by the tail and hurled it out
+of the window. Nikola, on the other hand, seemed to entertain for it the
+most extraordinary affection.</p>
+
+<p>Now such was this marvellous man's power of fascination that by the time
+we reached Andover Junction his conversation had roused me quite out of
+myself, had made me forget my previous distrust of him, and enabled me
+to tell myself that this railway journey was one of the most enjoyable I
+had ever undertaken.</p>
+
+<p>In Salisbury we took luncheon baskets on board, with, two bottles of
+champagne, for which my companion, in spite of my vigorous protest,
+would insist upon paying.</p>
+
+<p>As the train rolled along the charming valley, in which lie the
+miniature towns of Wilton, Dinton, and Tisbury, we pledged each other in
+right good fellowship, and by the time Exeter was reached were friendly
+enough to have journeyed round the world together.</p>
+
+<p>Exeter behind us, I began to feel drowsy, and presently was fast asleep.</p>
+
+<p>I remember no more of that ill-fated journey; nor, indeed, have I any
+recollection of anything at all, until I woke up in Room No. 37 of the
+<i>Ship and Vulture Hotel</i> in Plymouth.</p>
+
+<p>The sunshine was streaming in through the slats of the Venetian blinds,
+and a portly gentleman, with a rosy face, and grey hair, was standing by
+my bedside, holding my wrist in his hand, and calmly scrutinizing me. A
+nurse in hospital dress stood beside him.</p>
+
+<p>"I think he'll do now," he said to her as he rubbed his plump hands
+together; "but I'll look round in the course of the afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"One moment," I said feebly, for I found I was too weak to speak above a
+whisper. "Would you mind telling me where I am, and what is the matter
+with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should very much like to be able to do so," was the doctor's reply.
+"My opinion is, if you want me to be candid, that you have been drugged
+and well-nigh poisoned by a remarkably clever chemist. But what the drug
+and poison were, and who administered it to you, and the motive for
+doing so, is more than I can tell you. From what I can learn from the
+hotel proprietors, you were brought here from the railway station in a
+cab last night by a gentleman who happened to find you in the carriage
+in which you travelled down from London. You were in such a curious
+condition that I was sent for and this nurse procured. Now you know all
+about it."</p>
+
+<p>"What day did you say this is?"</p>
+
+<p>"Saturday, to be sure."</p>
+
+<p>"Saturday!" I cried. "You don't mean that! Then, by Jove, I've missed
+the <i>Saratoga</i> after all. Here, let me get up! And tell them downstairs
+to send for the Inspector of Police. I have got to get to the bottom of
+this."</p>
+
+<p>I sat up in bed, but was only too glad to lie down. I looked at the
+doctor.</p>
+
+<p>"How long before you can have me fit to travel?"</p>
+
+<p>"Give yourself three days' rest and quiet," he replied, "and we'll see
+what we can do."</p>
+
+<p>"Three days? And two days and a half to cross the Continent, that's five
+and a half&mdash;say six days. Good! I'll catch the boat in Naples, and then,
+Dr. Nikola, if you're aboard, as I suspect, I advise you to look out."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3>PORT SAID, AND WHAT BEFEL US THERE</h3>
+
+
+<p>Fortunately for me my arrangements fitted in exactly, so that at one
+thirty p.m., on the seventh day after my fatal meeting with Dr. Nikola
+in the West of England express, I had crossed the Continent, and stood
+looking out on the blue waters of Naples Bay. To my right was the hill
+of San Martino, behind me that of Capo di Monte, while in the distance,
+to the southward, rose the cloud-tipped summit of Vesuvius. The journey
+from London is generally considered, I believe, a long and wearisome
+one; it certainly proved so to me, for it must be remembered that my
+mind was impatient of every delay, while my bodily health was not as yet
+recovered.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing to be done on arrival at the terminus was to discover a
+quiet hotel; a place where I could rest and recoup during the heat of
+the day, and, what was perhaps more important, where I should run no
+risk of meeting with Dr. Nikola or his satellites. I had originally
+intended calling at the office of the steamship company in order to
+explain the reason of my not joining the boat in Plymouth, planning
+afterwards to cast about me, among the various hotels, for the Marquis
+of Beckenham and Mr. Baxter. But, on second thoughts, I saw the wisdom
+of abandoning both these courses.</p>
+
+<p>Nor for the same reason did I feel inclined to board the steamer, which
+I could see lying out in the harbour, until darkness had fallen. I
+ascertained, however, that she was due to sail at midnight, and that the
+mails were already being got aboard.</p>
+
+<p>Almost exactly as eight o'clock was striking, I mounted the gangway, and
+strolled down the promenade deck to the first saloon entrance; then
+calling a steward to my assistance, I had my baggage conveyed to my
+cabin, where I set to work arranging my little knicknacks, and making
+myself comfortable for the voyage that lay before us. So far I had seen
+nothing of my friends, and, on making inquiries, I discovered that they
+had not yet come aboard. Indeed, they did not do so until the last boat
+had discharged its burden at the gangway. Then I met Lord Beckenham on
+the promenade deck, and unaffected was the young man's delight at seeing
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," he cried, running forward to greet me with out-stretched
+hand, "this was all that was wanting to make my happiness complete. I
+<i>am</i> glad to see you. I hope your cabin is near ours."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm on the port side just abaft the pantry," I answered, shaking him by
+the hand. "But tell me about yourself. I expect you had a pleasant
+journey across the Continent."</p>
+
+<p>"Delightful!" was his reply. "We stayed a day in Paris, and another in
+Rome, and since we have been here we have been rushing about seeing
+everything, like a regulation pair of British tourists."</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Mr. Baxter, who had been looking after the luggage, I
+suppose, made his appearance, and greeted me with more cordiality than I
+had expected him to show. To my intense surprise, however, he allowed no
+sign of astonishment to escape him at my having joined the boat after
+all. But a few minutes later, as we were approaching the companion
+steps, he said:&mdash;"I understood from his lordship, Mr. Hatteras, that you
+were to embark at Plymouth; was I mistaken, therefore, when I thought I
+saw you coming off with your luggage this evening?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, you were not mistaken," I answered, being able now to account for
+this lack of surprise. "I came across the Continent like yourselves, and
+only joined the vessel a couple of hours ago."</p>
+
+<p>Here the Marquis chimed in, and diverted the conversation into another
+channel.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is everybody?" he asked, when Mr. Baxter had left us and gone
+below. "There are a lot of names on the passenger list, and yet I see
+nobody about!"</p>
+
+<p>"They are all in bed," I answered. "It is getting late, you see, and, if
+I am not mistaken, we shall be under way in a few minutes."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, I think, if you'll excuse me for a few moments, I'll go below to
+my cabin. I expect Mr. Baxter will be wondering where I am."</p>
+
+<p>When he had left me I turned to the bulwarks and stood looking across
+the water at the gleaming lights ashore. One by one the boats alongside
+pushed off, and from the sounds that came from for'ard, I gathered that
+the anchor was being got aboard. Five minutes later we had swung round
+to our course and were facing for the open sea. For the first mile or so
+my thoughts chased each other in rapid succession. You must remember
+that it was in Naples I had learnt that my darling loved me, and it was
+in Naples now that I was bidding good-bye to Europe and to all the
+strange events that had befallen me there. I leant upon the rail, looked
+at the fast receding country in our wake, at old Vesuvius, fire-capped,
+away to port, at the Great Bear swinging in the heavens to the nor'ard,
+and then thought of the Southern Cross which, before many weeks were
+passed, would be lifting its head above our bows to welcome me back to
+the sunny land and to the girl I loved so well. Somehow I felt glad that
+the trip to England was over, and that I was on my way home at last.</p>
+
+<p>The steamer ploughed her almost silent course, and three-quarters of an
+hour later we were abreast of Capri. As I was looking at it, Lord
+Beckenham came down the deck and stood beside me. His first speech told
+me that he was still under the influence of his excitement; indeed, he
+spoke in rapturous terms of the enjoyment he expected to derive from his
+tour.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure you will be a good sailor?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I have no fear of that," he answered confidently. "As you know, I
+have been out in my boat in some pretty rough weather and never felt in
+the least ill, so I don't think it is likely that I shall begin to be a
+bad sailor on a vessel the size of the <i>Saratoga</i>. By the way, when are
+we due to reach Port Said?"</p>
+
+<p>"Next Thursday afternoon, I believe, if all goes well."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you let me go ashore with you if you go? I don't want to bother
+you, but after all you have told me about the place, I should like to
+see it in your company."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take you with pleasure," I answered, "provided Mr. Baxter gives
+his consent. I suppose we must regard him as skipper."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't think we need fear his refusing. He is very good-natured,
+you know, and lets me have my own way a good deal."</p>
+
+<p>"Where is he now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Down below, asleep. He has had a lot of running about to-day, and
+thought he would turn in before we got under way. I think I had better
+be going now. Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night," I answered, and he left me again.</p>
+
+<p>When I was alone I returned to my thoughts of Phyllis and the future,
+and as soon as my pipe was finished, went below to my bunk. My berth
+mate I had discovered earlier in the evening was a portly English
+merchant of the old school, who was visiting his agents in Australia;
+and, from the violence of his snores, I should judge had not much
+trouble on his mind. Fortunately mine was the lower bunk, and, when I
+had undressed, I turned into it to sleep like a top until roused by the
+bath-room steward at half-past seven next morning. After a good bathe I
+went back to my cabin and set to work to dress. My companion by this
+time was awake, but evidently not much inclined for conversation. His
+usual jovial face, it struck me, was not as rosy as when I had made his
+acquaintance the night before, and I judged that his good spirits were
+more than half assumed.</p>
+
+<p>All this time a smart sea was running, and, I must own, the <i>Saratoga</i>
+was rolling abominably.</p>
+
+<p>"A very good morning to you, my dear sir," my cabin mate said, with an
+air of enjoyment his pallid face belied, as I entered the berth. "Pray
+how do you feel to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"In first-class form, and as hungry as a hunter."</p>
+
+<p>He laid himself back on his pillow with a remark that sounded very much
+like "Oh dear," and thereafter I was suffered to shave and complete my
+toilet in silence. Having done so I put on my cap and went on deck.</p>
+
+<p>It was indeed a glorious morning; bright sunshine streamed upon the
+decks, the sea was a perfect blue, and so clear was the air that, miles
+distant though it was from us, the Italian coast-line could be plainly
+discerned above the port bulwarks. By this time I had cross-examined the
+chief steward, and satisfied myself that Nikola was not aboard. His
+absence puzzled me considerably. Was it possible that I could have been
+mistaken in the whole affair, and that Baxter's motives were honest
+after all? But in that case why had Nikola drugged me? And why had he
+warned me against sailing in the <i>Saratoga</i>? The better to think it out
+I set myself for a vigorous tramp round the hurricane deck, and was
+still revolving the matter in my mind, when, on turning the corner by
+the smoking-room entrance, I found myself face to face with Baxter
+himself. As soon as he saw me, he came smiling towards me, holding out
+his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning, Mr. Hatteras," he said briskly; "what a delightful
+morning it is, to be sure. You cannot tell how much I am enjoying it.
+The sea air seems to have made a new man of me already."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to hear it. And pray how is your charge?" I asked, more
+puzzled than ever by this display of affability.</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all well, I am sorry to say."</p>
+
+<p>"Not well? You don't surely mean to say that he is sea-sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry to say I do. He was perfectly well until he got out of his
+bunk half an hour ago. Then a sudden, but violent, fit of nausea seized
+him, and drove him back to bed again."</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry to hear it, I hope he will be better soon. He would
+have been one of the last men I should have expected to be bowled over.
+Are you coming for a turn round?"</p>
+
+<p>"I shall feel honoured," he answered, and thereupon we set off, step for
+step, for a constitutional round the deck. By the time we had finished
+it was nine o'clock, and the saloon gong had sounded for breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>The meal over, I repaired to the Marquis's cabin, and having knocked,
+was bidden enter. I found my lord in bed, retching violently; his
+complexion was the colour of zinc, his hands were cold and clammy, and
+after every spasm his face streamed with perspiration.</p>
+
+<p>"I am indeed sorry to see you like this," I said, bending over him. "How
+do you feel now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very bad, indeed!" he answered, with a groan. "I cannot understand it
+at all. Before I got out of bed this morning I felt as well as possible.
+Then Mr. Baxter was kind enough to bring me a cup of coffee, and within
+five minutes of drinking it, I was obliged to go back to bed feeling
+hopelessly sick and miserable."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you must try and get round as soon as you can, and come on deck;
+there's a splendid breeze blowing, and you'll find that will clear the
+sickness out of you before you know where you are."</p>
+
+<p>But his only reply was another awful fit of sickness, that made as if it
+would tear his chest asunder. While he was under the influence of it,
+his tutor entered, and set about ministering to him with a care and
+fatherly tenderness that even deceived me. I can see things more plainly
+now, on looking back at them, than I could then, but I must own that
+Baxter's behaviour towards the boy that morning was of a kind that would
+have hoodwinked the very Master of All Lies himself. I could easily
+understand now how this man had come to have such an influence over the
+kindly-natured Duke of Glenbarth, who, when all was said and done, could
+have had but small experience of men of Baxter's type.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that, instead of helping, I was only in the way, I expressed a
+hope that the patient would soon be himself again, and returned to the
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>Luncheon came, and still Lord Beckenham was unable to leave his berth.
+In the evening he was no better. The following morning he was, if
+anything, stronger; but towards mid-day, just as he was thinking of
+getting up, his nausea returned upon him, and he was obliged to postpone
+the attempt. On Wednesday there was no improvement, and, indeed, it was
+not until Thursday afternoon, when the low-lying coast of Port Said was
+showing above the sea-line, that he felt in any way fit to leave his
+bunk. In all my experience of sea-sickness I had never known a more
+extraordinary case.</p>
+
+<p>It was almost dark before we dropped our anchor off the town, and as
+soon as we were at a standstill I went below to my friend's cabin. He
+was sitting on the locker fully dressed.</p>
+
+<p>"Port Said," I announced. "Now, how do you feel about going ashore?
+Personally, I don't think you had better try it."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! but I want to go. I have been looking forward to it so much. I am
+much stronger than I was, believe me, and Mr. Baxter doesn't think it
+could possibly hurt me."</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't tire yourself too much," that gentleman put in.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, then," I said. "In that case I'm your man. There are plenty
+of boats alongside, so we'll have no difficulty about getting there.
+Won't you come, too, Mr. Baxter?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think not, thank you," he answered. "Port Said is not a place of
+which I am very fond."</p>
+
+<p>"In that case I think we had better be going," I said, turning to his
+lordship.</p>
+
+<p>We made our way on deck, and, after a little chaffering, secured a boat,
+in which we were pulled ashore. Having arrived there, we were
+immediately beset by the usual crowd of beggars and donkey boys, but,
+withstanding their importunities, we turned into the Rue de Commerce and
+made our way inland. To my companion the crowded streets, the diversity
+of nationalities and costume, and the strange variety of shops and
+wares, were matters of absorbing interest. This will be the better
+understood when it is remembered that, poor though Port Said is in
+orientalism, it was nevertheless the first Eastern port he had
+encountered. We had both a few purchases to make, and this business
+satisfactorily accomplished, we started off to see the sights.</p>
+
+<p>Passing out of the Rue de Commerce, our attention was attracted by a
+lame young beggar who, leaning on his crutches, blocked our way while he
+recited his dismal catalogue of woes. Our guide bade him be off, and
+indeed I was not sorry to be rid of him, but I could see, by glancing at
+his face, that my companion had taken his case more seriously. In fact,
+we had not proceeded more than twenty yards before he asked me to wait a
+moment for him, and taking to his heels ran back to the spot where we
+had left him. When he rejoined us I said:&mdash;"You don't mean to say that
+you gave that rascal money?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only half a sovereign," he answered. "Perhaps you didn't hear the
+pitiful story he told us? His father is dead, and now, if it were not
+for his begging, his mother and five young sisters would all be
+starving."</p>
+
+<p>I asked our guide if he knew the man, and whether his tale were true.</p>
+
+<p>"No, monsieur," he replied promptly, "it is all one big lie. His father
+is in the jail, and, if she had her rights, his mother would be there
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Not another word was said on the subject, but I could see that the boy's
+generous heart had been hurt. How little he guessed the effect that
+outburst of generosity was to have upon us later on!</p>
+
+<p>At our guide's suggestion, we passed from the commercial, through the
+European quarter, to a large mosque situated in Arab Town. It was a long
+walk, but we were promised that we should see something there that would
+amply compensate us for any trouble we might be put to to reach it. This
+turned out to be the case, but hardly in the fashion he had predicted.</p>
+
+<p>The mosque was certainly a fine building, and at the time of our visit
+was thronged with worshippers. They knelt in two long lines, reaching
+from end to end, their feet were bare, and their heads turned towards
+the east. By our guide's instructions we removed our boots at the
+entrance, but fortunately took the precaution of carrying them into the
+building with us. From the main hall we passed into a smaller one, where
+a number of Egyptian standards, relics of the war of '82, were unrolled
+for our inspection. While we were examining them, our guide, who had for
+a moment left us, returned with a scared face to inform us that there
+were a number of English tourists in the mosque who had refused to take
+their boots off, and were evidently bent on making trouble. As he spoke
+the ominous hum of angry voices drifted in to us, increasing in volume
+as we listened. Our guide pricked up his ears and looked anxiously at
+the door.</p>
+
+<p>"There will be trouble directly," he said solemnly, "if those young men
+do not behave themselves. If messieurs will be guided by me, they will
+be going. I can show them a backway out."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment I felt inclined to follow his advice, but Beckenham's next
+speech decided me to stay.</p>
+
+<p>"You will not go away and leave those stupid fellows to be killed?" he
+said, moving towards the door into the mosque proper. "However foolish
+they may have been, they are still our countrymen, and whatever happens
+we ought to stand by them."</p>
+
+<p>"If you think so, of course we will, but remember it may cost us our
+lives. You still want to stay? Very good, then, come along, but stick
+close to me."</p>
+
+<p>We left the small ante-room, in which we had been examining the flags,
+and passed back into the main hall. Here an extraordinary scene
+presented itself.</p>
+
+<p>In the furthest corner, completely hemmed in by a crowd of furious
+Arabs, were three young Englishmen, whose faces plainly showed how well
+they understood the dangerous position into which their own impudence
+and folly had enticed them.</p>
+
+<p>Elbowing our way through the crowd, we reached their side, and
+immediately called upon them to push their way towards the big doors;
+but before this man[oe]uvre could be executed, some one had given an
+order in Arabic, and we were all borne back against the wall.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no help for it!" I cried to the biggest of the strangers. "We
+must fight our way out. Choose your men and come along."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, I gave the man nearest me one under the jaw to remember me
+by, which laid him on his back, and then, having room to use my arms,
+sent down another to keep him company. All this time my companions were
+not idle, and to my surprise I saw the young Marquis laying about him
+with a science that I had to own afterwards did credit to his education.
+Our assailants evidently did not expect to meet with this resistance,
+for they gave way and began to back towards the door. One or two of them
+drew knives, but the space was too cramped for them to do much harm with
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"One more rush," I cried, "and we'll turn them out."</p>
+
+<p>We made the rush, and next moment the doors were closed and barred on
+the last of them. This done, we paused to consider our position. True we
+had driven the enemy from the citadel, but then, unless we could find a
+means of escape, we ourselves were equally prisoners in it. What was to
+be done?</p>
+
+<p>Leaving three of our party to guard the doors, the remainder searched
+the adjoining rooms for a means of escape; but though we were
+unsuccessful in our attempt to find an exit, we did what was the next
+best thing to do, discovered our cowardly guide in a corner, skulking in
+a curious sort of cupboard.</p>
+
+<p>By the time we had proved to him that the enemy were really driven out,
+and that we had possession of the mosque, he recovered his wits a
+little, and managed, after hearing our promise to throw him to the mob
+outside unless he discovered a means of escape for us, to cudgel his
+brains and announce that he knew of one.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did we hear this, than we resolved to profit by it. The mob
+outside was growing every moment more impatient, and from the clang of
+steel-shod rifle butts on the stone steps we came to the conclusion that
+the services of a force of soldiery had been called in. The situation
+was critical, and twice imperious demands were made upon us to open the
+door. But, as may be supposed, this we did not feel inclined to do.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, for your way out," I said, taking our trembling guide, whose face
+seemed to blanch whiter and whiter with every knock upon the door, by
+the shoulders, and giving him a preliminary shake. "Mind what you're
+about, and remember, if you lead us into any trap, I'll wring your
+miserable neck, assure as you're alive. Go ahead."</p>
+
+<p>Collecting our boots and shoes, which, throughout the tumult, had been
+lying scattered about upon the floor, we passed into the ante-room, and
+put them on. Then creeping softly out by another door, we reached a
+small courtyard in the rear, surrounded on all sides by high walls. Our
+way, so our guide informed us, lay over one of these. But how we were to
+surmount them was a puzzle, for the lowest scaling place was at least
+twelve feet high. However, the business had to be done, and, what was
+more to the point, done quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Calling the strongest of the tourists, who were by this time all quite
+sober, to my side, I bade him stoop down as if he were playing
+leap-frog; then, mounting his back myself, I stood upright, and
+stretched my arms above my head. To my delight my fingers reached to
+within a few inches of the top of the wall.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand as steady as you can," I whispered, "for I'm going to jump."</p>
+
+<p>I did so, and clutched the edge. When I had pulled myself to the top I
+was so completely exhausted as to be unable to do anything for more than
+a minute. Then I whispered to another man to climb upon the first man's
+back, and stretch his hands up to mine. He did so, and I pulled him up
+beside me. The guide came next, then the other tourist, then Lord
+Beckenham. After which I took off and lowered my coat to the man who had
+stood for us all, and having done so, took a firm grip of the wall with
+my legs, and dragged him up as I had done the others. It had been a
+longer business than I liked, and every moment, while we were about it,
+I expected to hear the cries of the mob inside the mosque, and to find
+them pouring into the yard to prevent our escape. The bolts on the door,
+however, must have possessed greater strength than we gave them credit
+for. At any rate, they did not give way.</p>
+
+<p>When we were all safely on the wall, I asked the guide in which
+direction we should now proceed; he pointed to the adjoining roofs, and
+in Indian file, and with the stealthiness of cats, we accordingly crept
+across them.</p>
+
+<p>The third house surmounted, we found ourselves overlooking a narrow
+alley, into which we first peered carefully, and, having discovered that
+no one was about, eventually dropped.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said the guide, as soon as we were down, "we must run along here,
+and turn to the left."</p>
+
+<p>We did so, to find ourselves in a broader street, which eventually
+brought us out into the thoroughfare through which we had passed to
+reach the mosque.</p>
+
+<p>Having got our bearings now, we headed for the harbour, or at least for
+that part of the town with which I was best acquainted, as fast as our
+legs would carry us. But, startling as they had been, we had not yet
+done with adventures for the night.</p>
+
+<p>Once in the security of the gaslit streets, we said good-bye to the men
+who had got us into all the trouble, and having come to terms with our
+guide, packed him off and proceeded upon our way alone.</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the streaming lights of an open doorway brought us to
+a standstill, and one glance told us we were looking into the Casino.
+The noise of the roulette tables greeted our ears, and as we had still
+plenty of time, and my companion was not tired, I thought it a good
+opportunity to show him another phase of the seamy side of life.</p>
+
+<p>But before I say anything about that I must chronicle a curious
+circumstance. As we were entering the building, something made me look
+round. To my intense astonishment I saw, or believed I saw, Dr. Nikola
+standing in the street, regarding me. Bidding my companion remain where
+he was for a moment, I dashed out again and ran towards the place where
+I had seen the figure. But I was too late. If it were Dr. Nikola, he had
+vanished as suddenly as he had come. I hunted here, there, and
+everywhere, in doorways, under verandahs, and down lanes, but it was no
+use, not a trace of him could I discover. So abandoning my search, I
+returned to the Casino. Beckenham was waiting for me, and together we
+entered the building.</p>
+
+<p>The room was packed, and consequently all the tables were crowded, but
+as we did not intend playing, this was a matter of small concern to us.
+We were more interested in the players than the game. And, indeed, the
+expressions on the faces around us were extraordinary. The effect on the
+young man by my side was peculiar. He looked from face to face, as if he
+were observing the peculiarities of some strange animals. I watched him,
+and then I saw his expression suddenly change.</p>
+
+<p>Following the direction of his eyes, I observed a young man putting down
+his stake upon the board. His face was hidden from me, but by taking a
+step to the right I could command it. It was none other than the young
+cripple who had represented his parents to be in such poverty-stricken
+circumstances; the same young man whom Beckenham had assisted so
+generously only two hours before. As we looked, he staked his last coin,
+and that being lost, turned to leave the building. To do this, it was
+necessary that he should pass close by where we stood. Then his eyes met
+those of his benefactor, and with a look of what might almost have been
+shame upon his face, he slunk down the steps and from the building.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, let us get out of this place," cried my companion impatiently, "I
+believe I should go mad if I stayed here long."</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon we passed out into the street, and without further ado
+proceeded in the direction in which I imagined the <i>Saratoga</i> to lie. A
+youth requested, in broken English, to be permitted the honour of
+piloting us, but feeling confident of being able to find my way I
+declined his services. For fully a quarter of an hour we plodded on,
+until I began to wonder why the harbour did not heave in sight. It was a
+queer part of the town we found ourselves in; the houses were
+perceptibly meaner and the streets narrower. At last I felt bound to
+confess that I was out of my reckoning, and did not know where we were.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we to do?" asked my lord, looking at his watch. "It's twenty
+minutes to eleven, and I promised Mr. Baxter I would not be later than
+the hour."</p>
+
+<p>"What an idiot I was not to take that guide!"</p>
+
+<p>The words were hardly out of my mouth before that personage appeared
+round the corner and came towards us. I hailed his coming with too much
+delight to notice the expression of malignant satisfaction on his face,
+and gave him the name of the vessel we desired to find. He appeared to
+understand, and the next moment we were marching off in an exactly
+contrary direction.</p>
+
+<p>We must have walked for at least ten minutes without speaking a word.</p>
+
+<p>From one small and dirty street we turned into another and broader one.
+By this time not a soul was to be seen, only a vagrant dog or two lying
+asleep in the road. In this portion of the town gas lamps were at a
+discount, consequently more than half the streets lay in deep shadow.
+Our guide walked ahead, we followed half-a-dozen paces or so behind him.
+I remember noticing a Greek cognomen upon a sign board, and recalling a
+similar name in Thursday Island, when something very much resembling a
+thin cord touched my nose and fell over my chin. Before I could put my
+hand up to it it had begun to tighten round my throat. Just at the same
+moment I heard my companion utter a sharp cry, and after that I remember
+no more.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3>OUR IMPRISONMENT AND ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE</h3>
+
+
+<p>For what length of time I lay unconscious after hearing Beckenham's cry,
+and feeling the cord tighten round my throat, as narrated in the
+preceding chapter, I have not the remotest idea; I only know that when
+my senses returned to me again I found myself in complete darkness. The
+cord was gone from my neck, it is true, but something was still
+encircling it in a highly unpleasant fashion. On putting my hand up to
+it, to my intense astonishment, I discovered it to be a collar of iron,
+padlocked at the side, and communicating with a wall at the back by
+means of a stout chain fixed in a ring, which again was attached to a
+swivel.</p>
+
+<p>This ominous discovery set me hunting about to find out where I was, and
+for a clue as to what these things might mean. That I was in a room was
+evident from the fact that, by putting my hands behind me, I could touch
+two walls forming a corner. But in what part of the town such room might
+be was beyond my telling. One thing was evident, however, the walls were
+of brick, unplastered and quite innocent of paper.</p>
+
+<p>As not a ray of light relieved the darkness I put my hand into my ticket
+pocket, where I was accustomed to carry matches, and finding that my
+captors had not deprived me of them, lit one and looked about me. It was
+a dismal scene that little gleam illumined. The room in which I was
+confined was a small one, being only about ten feet long by eight wide,
+while, if I had been able to stand upright, I might have raised my hand
+to within two or three inches of the ceiling. In the furthest left-hand
+corner was a door, while in the wall on the right, but hopelessly beyond
+my reach, was a low window almost completely boarded up. I had no
+opportunity of seeing more, for by the time I had realized these facts
+the match had burnt down to my fingers. I blew it out and hastened to
+light another.</p>
+
+<p>Just as I did so a low moan reached my ear. It came from the further end
+of the room. Again I held the match aloft; this time to discover a
+huddled-up figure in the corner opposite the door. One glance at it told
+me that it was none other than my young friend the Marquis of Beckenham.
+He was evidently still unconscious, for though I called him twice by
+name, he did not answer, but continued in the same position, moaning
+softly as before. I had only time for a hurried glance at him before my
+last match burned down to my fingers, and had to be extinguished. With
+the departure of the light a return of faintness seized me, and I fell
+back into my corner, if not quite insensible, certainly unconscious of
+the immediate awkwardness of our position.</p>
+
+<p>It was daylight when my power of thinking returned to me, and long
+shafts of sunshine were percolating into us through the chinks in the
+boards upon the window. To my dismay the room looked even smaller and
+dingier than when I had examined it by the light of my match some hours
+before. The young Marquis lay unconscious in his corner just as I had
+last seen him, but with the widening light I discovered that his curious
+posture was due more to extraneous circumstances than to his own
+weakness, for I could see that he was fastened to the wall by a similar
+collar to my own.</p>
+
+<p>I took out my watch, which had not been taken from me as I might have
+expected, and examined the dial. It wanted five minutes of six o'clock.
+So putting it back into my pocket, I set myself for the second time to
+try and discover where we were. By reason of my position and the chain
+that bound me, this could only be done by listening, so I shut my eyes
+and put all my being into my ears. For some moments no sound rewarded my
+attention. Then a cock in a neighbouring yard on my right crowed
+lustily, a dog on my left barked, and a moment later I heard the faint
+sound of some one coming along the street. The pedestrian, whoever he
+might be, was approaching from the right hand, and, what was still more
+important, my trained ear informed me that he was lame of one leg, and
+walked with crutches. Closer and closer he came. But to my surprise he
+did not pass the window; indeed, I noticed that when he came level with
+it the sound was completely lost to me. This told me two things: one,
+that the window, which was boarded up, did not look into the main
+thoroughfare; the other, that the street itself ran along on the far
+side of the very wall to which my chain was attached.</p>
+
+<p>As I arrived at the knowledge of this fact, Beckenham opened his eyes;
+he sat up as well as his chain would permit, and gazed about him in a
+dazed fashion. Then his right hand went up to the iron collar enclosing
+his neck, and when he had realized what it meant he appeared even more
+mystified than before. He seemed to doze again for a minute or so, then
+his eyes opened, and as they did so they fell upon me, and his
+perplexity found relief in words.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," he said, in a voice like that of a man talking in his
+sleep, "where are we and what on earth does this chain mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ask me something that I want to know myself," I answered. "I cannot
+tell you where we are, except that we are in Port Said. But if you want
+to know what I think it means, well, I think it means treachery. How do
+you feel now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very sick indeed, and my head aches horribly. But I can't understand it
+at all. What do you mean by saying that it is treachery?"</p>
+
+<p>This was the one question of all others I had been dreading, for I could
+not help feeling that when all was said and done I was bitterly to
+blame. However, unpleasant or not, the explanation had to be got
+through, and without delay.</p>
+
+<p>"Lord Beckenham," I began, sitting upright and clasping my hands round
+my knees, "this is a pretty bad business for me. I haven't the
+reputation of being a coward, but I'll own I feel pretty rocky and mean
+when I see you sitting there on the floor with that iron collar round
+your neck and that chain holding you to the wall, and know that it's, in
+a measure, all my stupid, blundering folly that has brought it about."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't say that, Mr. Hatteras!" was the young man's generous reply.
+"For whatever or whoever may be to blame for it, I'm sure you're not."</p>
+
+<p>"That's because you don't know everything, my lord. Wait till you have
+heard what I have to tell you before you give me such complete
+absolution."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going to blame you whatever you may tell me; but please go on!"</p>
+
+<p>There and then I set to work and told him all that had happened to me
+since my arrival in London; informed him of my meeting with Nikola, of
+Wetherell's hasty departure for Australia, of my distrust for Baxter,
+described the telegram incident and Baxter's curious behaviour
+afterwards, narrated my subsequent meeting with the two men in the
+<i>Green Sailor Hotel</i>, described my journey to Plymouth, and finished
+with the catastrophe that had happened to me there.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you see," I said in conclusion, "why I regard myself as being so
+much to blame."</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me," he answered, "but I cannot say that I see it in the same
+light at all."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid I must be more explicit then. In the first place you must
+understand that, without a shadow of a doubt, Baxter was chosen for your
+tutor by Nikola, whose agent he undoubtedly is, for a specific purpose.
+Now what do you think that purpose was? You don't know? To induce your
+father to let you travel, to be sure. You ask why they should want you
+to travel? We'll come to that directly. Their plan is succeeding
+admirably, when I come upon the scene and, like the great blundering
+idiot I am, must needs set to work unconsciously to assist them in their
+nefarious designs. Your father eventually consents, and it is arranged
+that you shall set off for Australia at once. Then it is discovered that
+I am going to leave in the same boat. This does not suit Nikola's plans
+at all, so he determines to prevent my sailing with you. By a happy
+chance he is unsuccessful, and I follow and join the boat in Naples.
+Good gracious! I see something else now."</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Simply this. I could not help thinking at the time that your bout of
+sea-sickness between Naples and this infernal place was extraordinary.
+Well, if I'm not very much mistaken, <i>you were physicked, and it was
+Baxter's doing</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"But why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! That's yet to be discovered. But you may bet your bottom dollar it
+was some part of their devilish conspiracy. I'm as certain of that as
+that we are here now. Now here's another point. Do you remember my
+running out of the Casino last night? Well, that was because I saw
+Nikola standing in the roadway."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you certain? How could he have got here? And what could his reasons
+be for watching us?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, can't you see? To find out how his plot is succeeding, to be
+sure."</p>
+
+<p>"And that brings us back to our original question&mdash;what is that plot?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's rather more difficult to answer! But if you ask my candid
+opinion I should say nothing more nor less than to make you prisoner and
+blackmail your father for a ransom."</p>
+
+<p>For some few minutes neither of us spoke. The outlook seemed too
+hopeless for words, and the Marquis was still too weak to keep up an
+animated conversation for any length of time. He sat leaning his head on
+his hand. But presently he looked up again. "My poor father!" he said.
+"What a state he will be in!"</p>
+
+<p>"And what worries me more," I answered, "is how he will regret ever
+having listened to my advice. What a dolt I was not to have told him of
+my suspicions."</p>
+
+<p>"You must not blame yourself for that. I am sure my father would hold
+you as innocent as I do. Now let us consider our position. In the first
+place, where are we, do you think? In the second, is there any possible
+chance of escape?"</p>
+
+<p>"To the first my answer is, 'don't know'; to the second, 'can't say.' I
+have discovered one thing, however, and that is that the street does not
+lie outside that window, but runs along on the other side of this wall
+behind me. The window, I suspect, looks out on to some sort of a
+courtyard. But unfortunately that information is not much use to us, as
+we can neither of us move away from where we are placed."</p>
+
+<p>"Is there no other way?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not one, as far as I can tell. Can you see anything on your side?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing at all, unless we could get at the door. But what's that
+sticking out of the wall near your feet?"</p>
+
+<p>To get a better view of it I stooped as much as I was able. "It looks
+like a pipe."</p>
+
+<p>The end of a pipe it certainly was, and sticking out into the room, but
+where it led to, and why it had been cut off in this peculiar fashion,
+were two questions I could no more answer than I could fly.</p>
+
+<p>"Does it run out into the street, do you think?" was Beckenham's
+immediate query. "If so, you might manage to call through it to some
+passer-by, and ask him to obtain assistance for us!"</p>
+
+<p>"A splendid notion if I could get my mouth anywhere within a foot of it,
+but as this chain will not permit me to do that, it might as well be a
+hundred miles off. It's as much as I can do to touch it with my
+fingers."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think if you had a stick you could push a piece of paper
+through? We might write a message."</p>
+
+<p>"Possibly, but there's another drawback to that. I haven't the necessary
+piece of stick."</p>
+
+<p>"Here is a stiff piece of straw; try that."</p>
+
+<p>He harpooned a piece of straw, about eight inches long, across the room
+towards me, and, when I had received it, I thrust it carefully into the
+pipe. A disappointment, however, was in store for us.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use," I reported sorrowfully, as I threw the straw away. "It
+has an elbow half-way down, and that would prevent any message from
+being pushed through."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we must try to discover some other plan. Don't lose heart!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush! I hear somebody coming."</p>
+
+<p>True enough a heavy footfall was approaching down the passage. It
+stopped at the door of the room in which we were confined, and a key was
+inserted in the lock. Next moment the door swung open and a tall man
+entered the room. A ray of sunlight, penetrating between the boards that
+covered the window, fell upon him, and showed us that his hair was white
+and that his face was deeply pitted with smallpox marks. Now, where had
+I met or heard of a man with those two peculiarities before? Ah! I
+remembered!</p>
+
+<p>He stood for a moment in the doorway looking about him, and then
+strolled into the centre of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning, gentlemen," he said, with an airy condescension that
+stung like an insult; "I trust you have no fault to find with the
+lodging our poor hospitality is able to afford you."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Prendergast," I answered, determined to try him with the name of
+the man mentioned by my sweetheart in her letter. "What does this mean?
+Why have we been made prisoners like this? I demand to be released at
+once. You will have to answer to our consul for this detention."</p>
+
+<p>For a brief space he appeared to be dumbfounded by my knowledge of his
+name. But he soon recovered himself and leaned his back against the
+wall, looking us both carefully over before he answered.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be only too pleased," he said sneeringly, "but if you'll allow
+me to say so, I don't think we need trouble about explanations yet
+awhile."</p>
+
+<p>"Pray, what do you mean by that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly what I say; as you are likely to be our guests for some
+considerable time to come, there will be no need for explanation."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean to keep us prisoners, then, do you? Very well, Mr.
+Prendergast, be assured of this, when I <i>do</i> get loose I'll make you
+feel the weight of my arm."</p>
+
+<p>"I think it's very probable there will be a fight if ever we do meet,"
+he answered, coolly taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
+"And it's my impression you'd be a man worth fighting, Mr. Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>"If you think my father will let me remain here very long you're much
+mistaken," said Beckenham. "And as for the ransom you expect him to pay,
+I don't somehow fancy you'll get a halfpenny."</p>
+
+<p>At the mention of the word "ransom" I noticed that a new and queer
+expression came into our captor's face. He did not reply, however,
+except to utter his usual irritating laugh. Having done so he went to
+the door and called something in Arabic. In answer a gigantic negro made
+his appearance, bearing in his hands a tray on which were set two basins
+of food and two large mugs of water. These were placed before us, and
+Prendergast bade us, if we were hungry, fall to.</p>
+
+<p>"You must not imagine that we wish to starve you," he said. "Food will
+be served to you twice a day. And if you want it, you can even be
+supplied with spirits and tobacco. Now, before I go, one word of advice.
+Don't indulge in any idea of escape. Communication with the outside
+world is absolutely impossible, and you will find that those collars and
+chains will stand a good strain before they will give way. If you behave
+yourselves you will be well looked after; but if you attempt any larks
+you will be confined in different rooms, and there will be a radical
+change in our behaviour."</p>
+
+<p>So saying he left the room, taking the precaution to lock the door
+carefully behind him.</p>
+
+<p>When we were once more alone, a long silence fell upon us. It would be
+idle for me to say that the generous behaviour of the young Marquis with
+regard to my share in this wretched business had set my mind at rest.
+But if it had not done that it had at least served to intensify another
+resolution. Come what might, I told myself, I would find a way of
+escape, and he should be returned to his father safe and sound, if it
+cost me my life to do it. But how <i>were</i>, we to escape? We could not
+move from our places on account of the chains that secured us to the
+walls, and, though I put all my whole strength into it, I found I could
+not dislodge the staple a hundredth part of an inch from its
+holding-place.</p>
+
+<p>The morning wore slowly on, mid-day came and went, the afternoon dragged
+its dismal length, and still there was no change in our position.
+Towards sundown the same gigantic negro entered the room again, bringing
+us our evening meal. When he left we were locked up for the night, with
+only the contemplation of our woes, and the companionship of the
+multitudes of mice that scampered about the floor, to enliven us.</p>
+
+<p>The events of the next seven days are hardly worth chronicling, unless
+it is to state that every morning at daylight the same cock crew and the
+same dog barked, while at six o'clock the same cripple invariably made
+his way down the street behind me. At eight o'clock almost to the
+minute, breakfast was served to us, and, just as punctually, the evening
+meal made its appearance as the sun was declining behind the opposite
+house-top. Not again did we see any sign of Mr. Prendergast, and though
+times out of number I tugged at my chain I was never a whit nearer
+loosening it than I had been on the first occasion. One after another
+plans of escape were proposed, discussed, and invariably rejected as
+impracticable. So another week passed and another, until we had been
+imprisoned in that loathsome place not less than twenty days. By the end
+of that time, as may be supposed, we were as desperate as men could well
+be. I must, however, admit that anything like the patience and pluck of
+my companion under such circumstances I had never in my life met with
+before.</p>
+
+<p>One fact had repeatedly struck me as significant, and that was the
+circumstance that every morning between six and half-past, as already
+narrated, the same cripple went down the street; and in connexion with
+this, within the last few days of the time, a curious coincidence had
+revealed itself to me. From the tapping of his crutches on the stones I
+discovered that while one was shod with iron, the other was not. Now
+where and when had I noticed that peculiarity in a cripple before? That
+I had observed it somewhere I felt certain. For nearly half the day I
+turned this over and over in my mind, and then, in the middle of our
+evening meal, enlightenment came to me. I remembered the man whose
+piteous tale had so much affected Beckenham on the day of our arrival,
+and the sound his crutches made upon the pavement as he left us. If my
+surmise proved correct, and we could only manage to communicate with
+him, here was a golden opportunity. But how were we to do this? We
+discussed it, and discussed it, times out of number, but in vain. That
+he must be stopped on his way down the street need not to be argued at
+all. In what way, however, could this be done? The window was out of the
+question, the door was not to be thought of; in that case the only
+communicating place would be the small pipe by my side. But as I have
+already pointed out, by reason of the elbow it would be clearly
+impossible to force a message through it. All day we devoted ourselves
+to attempts to solve what seemed a hopeless difficulty. Then like a
+flash a brilliant inspiration burst upon me.</p>
+
+<p>"By Jove, I have it!" I said, taking care to whisper lest any one might
+be listening at the door. "We must manage by hook or crook to catch a
+mouse <i>and let him carry our appeal for help to the outside world</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"A magnificent idea! If we can catch one I do believe you've saved us!"</p>
+
+<p>But to catch a mouse was easier said than done. Though the room was
+alive with them they were so nimble and so cunning, that, try how we
+would, we could not lay hold of one. But at length my efforts were
+rewarded, and after a little struggle I held my precious captive in my
+hand. By this time another idea had come to me. If we wanted to bring
+Nikola and his gang to justice, and to discover their reason for
+hatching this plot against us, it would not do to ask the public at
+large for help&mdash;and I must own, in spite of our long imprisonment, I was
+weak enough to feel a curiosity as to their motive. No! It must be to
+the beggar who passed the house every morning that we must appeal.</p>
+
+<p>"This letter concerns you more than me," I said to my fellow-prisoner.
+"Have you a lead pencil in your pocket?"</p>
+
+<p>He had, and immediately threw it across to me. Then, taking a small
+piece of paper from my pocket, I set myself to compose the following in
+French and English, assisted by my companion:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"If this should meet the eye of the individual to whom a young
+Englishman gave half a sovereign in charity three weeks ago, he is
+implored to assist one who assisted him, and who has been imprisoned
+ever since that day in the room with the blank wall facing the street
+and the boarded-up window on the right-hand side. To do this he must
+obtain a small file and discover a way to convey it into the room by
+means of the small pipe leading through the blank wall into the street;
+perhaps if this could be dislodged it might be pushed in through the
+aperture thus made. On receipt of the file an English five-pound note
+will be conveyed to him in the same way as this letter, and another if
+secrecy is observed and those in the house escape."</p>
+
+<p>This important epistle had hardly been concocted before the door was
+unlocked and our dusky servitor entered with the evening meal. He had
+long since abandoned his first habit of bringing us our food in separate
+receptacles, but conveyed it to us now in the saucepan in which it was
+cooked, dividing it thence into our basins. These latter, it may be
+interesting to state, had not been washed since our arrival.</p>
+
+<p>All the time that our jailer was in the room I held my trembling
+prisoner in my hand, clinging to him as to the one thing which connected
+us with liberty. But the door had no sooner closed upon him than I had
+tilted out my food upon the floor and converted my basin into a trap.</p>
+
+<p>It may be guessed how long that night seemed to us, and with what
+trembling eagerness we awaited the first signs of breaking day. Directly
+it was light I took off and unravelled one of my socks. The thread thus
+obtained I doubled, and having done this, secured one end of it to the
+note, which I had rolled into a small compass, attaching the other to my
+captive mouse's hind leg. Then we set ourselves to wait for six o'clock.
+The hour came; and minute after minute went by before we heard in the
+distance the tapping of the crutches on the stones. Little by little the
+sound grew louder, and then fainter, and when I judged he was nearly at
+my back, I stooped and thrust our curious messenger into the pipe. Then
+we sat down to await the result.</p>
+
+<p>As the mouse, only too glad to escape, ran into the aperture, the
+thread, on which our very lives depended, swiftly followed, dragging its
+message after it. Minutes went by; half an hour; an hour; and then the
+remainder of the day; and still nothing came to tell us that our appeal
+had been successful.</p>
+
+<p>That night I caught another mouse, wrote the letter again, and at six
+o'clock next morning once more despatched it on its journey. Another day
+went by without reply. That night we caught another, and at six-o'clock
+next morning sent it off; a third, and even a fourth, followed, but
+still without success. By this time the mice were almost impossible to
+catch, but our wits were sharpened by despair, and we managed to hit
+upon a method that eventually secured for us a plentiful supply. For the
+sixth time the letter was written and despatched at the moment the
+footsteps were coming down the street. Once more the tiny animal crawled
+into the pipe, and once more the message disappeared upon its journey.</p>
+
+<p>Another day was spent in anxious waiting, but this time we were not
+destined to be disappointed. About eight o'clock that night, just as we
+were giving up hope, I detected a faint noise near my feet; it was for
+all the world as if some one were forcing a stick through a hole in a
+brick wall. I informed Beckenham of the fact in a whisper, and then put
+my head down to listen. Yes, there was the sound again. Oh, if only I
+had a match! But it was no use wishing for what was impossible, so I put
+my hand down to the pipe. <i>It was moving!</i> It turned in my hand, moved
+to and fro for a brief space and then disappeared from my grasp
+entirely; next moment it had left the room. A few seconds later
+something cold was thrust into my hand, <i>and from its rough edge I knew
+it to be a file</i>. I drew it out as if it were made of gold and thrust it
+into my pocket. A piece of string was attached to it, and the reason of
+this I was at first at some loss to account for. But a moment's
+reflection told me that it was to assist in the fulfilment of our share
+of the bargain. So, taking a five-pound note from the secret pocket in
+which I carried my paper money, I tied the string to it, and it was
+instantly withdrawn. A minute could not have elapsed before I was at
+work upon the staple of my collar, and in less than half an hour it was
+filed through and the iron was off my neck.</p>
+
+<p>If I tried for a year I could not make you understand what a relief it
+was to me to stand upright. I stretched myself again and again, and then
+crossed the room on tip-toe in the dark to where the Marquis lay.</p>
+
+<p>"You are free," he whispered, clutching and shaking my hand. "Oh, thank
+God!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush! Put down your head and let me get to work upon your collar before
+you say anything more."</p>
+
+<p>As I was able this time to get at my work standing up, it was not very
+long before Beckenham was as free as I was. He rose to his feet with a
+great sigh of relief, and we shook hands warmly in the dark.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," I said, leading him towards the door, "we will make our escape,
+and I pity the man who attempts to stop us."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3>DR. NIKOLA PERMITS US A FREE PASSAGE</h3>
+
+
+<p>The old saying, "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched," is
+as good a warning as any I know. For if we had not been so completely
+occupied filing through the staples of our collars we should not have
+omitted to take into consideration the fact that, even when we should
+have removed the chains that bound us, we would still be prisoners in
+the room. I'm very much afraid, however, even had we remembered this
+point, we should only have considered it of minor importance and one to
+be easily overcome. As it was, the unwelcome fact remained that the door
+<i>was</i> locked, and, what was worse, that the lock itself had, for
+security's sake, been placed on the outside, so that there was no chance
+of our being able to pick it, even had our accomplishments lain in that
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>"Try the window," whispered Beckenham, in answer to the heavy sigh which
+followed my last discovery.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly we crossed the room, and I put my hands upon one of the
+boards and pulled. But I might as well have tried to tow a troopship
+with a piece of cotton, for all the satisfactory result I got; the
+planks were trebly screwed to the window frame, and each in turn defied
+me. When I was tired Beckenham put his strength to it, but even our
+united efforts were of no avail, and, panting and exhausted, we were at
+length obliged to give it up as hopeless.</p>
+
+<p>"This is a pretty fix we've got ourselves into," I said as soon as I had
+recovered sufficient breath to speak. "How on earth are we to escape?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't say, unless we manage to burst that door and fight our way out.
+I wonder if that could be done."</p>
+
+<p>"First, let's look at the door."</p>
+
+<p>We crossed the room again, and I examined the door carefully. It was not
+a very strong one; but I was sufficient of a carpenter to know that it
+would withstand a good deal of pressure before it would give way.</p>
+
+<p>"I've a good mind to try it," I said; "but in that case, remember, it
+will probably mean a hand-to-hand fight on the other side, and, unarmed
+and weak as we are, we shall be pretty sure to get the worst of it."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind that," my intrepid companion replied, with a confidence in
+his voice that I was very far from feeling. "In for a penny, in for a
+pound; even if we're killed it couldn't be worse than being buried
+alive."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so, and if fighting's your idea, I'm your man," I answered. "Let
+me first take my bearings, and then I'll see what I can do against it.
+You get out of the way, but be sure to stand by to rush the passage
+directly the door goes."</p>
+
+<p>Again I felt the door and wall in order that I might be sure where it
+lay, and having done so crossed the room. My heart was beating like a
+Nasmyth hammer, and it was nearly a minute before I could pull myself
+together sufficiently for my rush. Then summoning every muscle in my
+body to my assistance, I dashed across and at it with all the strength
+my frame was capable of. Considering the darkness of the room, my
+steering was not so bad, for my shoulder caught the door just above its
+centre; there was a great crash&mdash;a noise of breaking timbers&mdash;and amid a
+shower of splinters and general <i>d&eacute;bris</i> I fell headlong through into
+the passage. By the time it would have taken me to count five, Beckenham
+was beside me helping me to rise.</p>
+
+<p>"Now stand by for big trouble!" I said, rubbing my shoulder, and every
+moment expecting to see a door open and a crowd of Prendergast's
+ruffians come rushing out. "We shall have them on us in a minute."</p>
+
+<p>But to our intense astonishment it was all dead silence. Not a sound of
+any single kind, save our excited breathing, greeted our ears. We might
+have broken into an empty house for all we knew the difference.</p>
+
+<p>For nearly five minutes we stood, side by side, waiting for the battle
+which did not come.</p>
+
+<p>"What on earth does it mean?" I asked my companion. "That crash of mine
+was loud enough to wake the dead. Can they have deserted the place,
+think you, and left us to starve?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't make it out any more than you can," he answered. "But don't you
+think we'd better take advantage of their not coming to find a way out?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. One of us had better creep down the passage and discover how
+the land lies. As I'm the stronger, I'll go. You wait here."</p>
+
+<p>I crept along the passage, treading cautiously as a cat, for I knew that
+both our lives depended on it. Though it could not have been more than
+sixty feet, it seemed of interminable length, and was as black as night.
+Not a glimmer of light, however faint, met my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>On and on I stole, expecting every moment to be pounced upon and seized;
+but no such fate awaited me. If, however, our jailers did not appear,
+another danger was in store for me.</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of my walk my feet suddenly went from under me, and I
+found myself falling I knew not where. In reality it was only a drop of
+about three feet down a short flight of steps. Such a noise as my fall
+made, however, was surely never heard, but still no sound came. Then
+Beckenham fumbled his way cautiously down the steps to my side, and
+whispered an inquiry as to what had happened. I told him in as few words
+as possible, and then struggled to my feet again.</p>
+
+<p>Just as I did so my eyes detected a faint glimmer of light low down on
+the floor ahead of us. From its position it evidently emanated from the
+doorway of a room.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! if we only had a match," I whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no good wishing," said Beckenham. "What do you advise?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's difficult to say," I answered; "but I should think we'd better
+listen at that door and try to discover if there is any one inside. If
+there is, and he is alone, we must steal in upon him, let him see that
+we are desperate, and, willy-nilly, force him to show us a way out. It's
+ten chances to one, if we go on prowling about here, we shall stumble
+upon the whole nest of them&mdash;then we'll be caught like rats in a trap.
+What do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I agree with you. Go on."</p>
+
+<p>Without further ado we crept towards the light, which, as I expected,
+came from under a door, and listened. Some one was plainly moving about
+inside; but though we waited for what seemed a quarter of an hour, but
+must in reality have been less than a minute and a half, we could hear
+no voices.</p>
+
+<p>"Whoever he is, he's alone&mdash;that's certain," whispered my companion.
+"Open the door softly, and we'll creep in upon him."</p>
+
+<p>In answer, and little by little, a cold shiver running down my back lest
+it should creak and so give warning to the person within, I turned the
+handle, pushed open the door, and we looked inside. Then&mdash;but, my
+gracious! if I live to be a thousand I shall never forget the sight that
+met my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>The room itself was a long and low one: its measurements possibly sixty
+feet by fifteen. The roof&mdash;for there was no ceiling&mdash;was of wood,
+crossed by heavy rafters, and much begrimed with dirt and smoke. The
+floor was of some highly polished wood closely resembling oak, and was
+completely bare. But the shape and construction of the room itself were
+as nothing compared with the strangeness of its furniture and occupants.
+Words would fail me if I tried to give you a true and accurate
+description of it. I only know that, strong man as I was, and used to
+the horrors of life and death, what I saw before me then made my blood
+run cold and my flesh creep as it had never done before.</p>
+
+<p>To begin with, round the walls were arranged, at regular intervals, more
+than a dozen enormous bottles, each of which contained what looked, to
+me, only too much like human specimens pickled in some light-coloured
+fluid resembling spirits of wine. Between these gigantic but more than
+horrible receptacles were numberless smaller ones, holding other and
+even more dreadful remains; while on pedestals and stands, bolt upright
+and reclining, were skeletons of men, monkeys, and quite a hundred sorts
+of animals. The intervening spaces were filled with skulls, bones, and
+the apparatus for every kind of murder known to the fertile brain of
+man. There were European rifles, revolvers, bayonets, and swords;
+Italian stilettos, Turkish scimitars, Greek knives, Central African
+spears and poisoned arrows, Zulu knobkerries, Afghan yataghans, Malay
+krises, Sumatra blow-pipes, Chinese dirks, New Guinea head-catching
+implements, Australian spears and boomerangs, Polynesian stone hatchets,
+and numerous other weapons the names of which I cannot now remember.
+Mixed up with them were implements for every sort of wizardry known to
+the superstitious; from old-fashioned English love charms to African Obi
+sticks, from spiritualistic planchettes to the most horrible of Fijian
+death potions.</p>
+
+<p>In the centre of the wall, opposite to where we stood, was a large
+fireplace of the fashion usually met with in old English manor-houses,
+and on either side of it a figure that nearly turned me sick with
+horror. That on the right hand was apparently a native of Northern
+India, if one might judge by his dress and complexion. He sat on the
+floor in a constrained attitude, accounted for by the fact that his
+head, which was at least three times too big for his body, was so heavy
+as to require an iron tripod with a ring or collar in the top of it to
+keep it from overbalancing him and bringing him to the floor. To add to
+the horror of this awful head, it was quite bald; the skin was drawn
+tensely over the bones, and upon this veins stood out as large as
+macaroni stems.</p>
+
+<p>On the other side of the hearth was a creature half-ape and
+half-man&mdash;the like of which I remember once to have seen in a museum of
+monstrosities in Sydney, where, if my memory serves me, he was described
+upon the catalogue as a Burmese monkey-boy. He was chained to the wall
+in somewhat the same fashion as we had been, and was chattering and
+scratching for all the world like a monkey in a Zoo.</p>
+
+<p>But, horrible as these things were, the greatest surprise of all was yet
+to come. For, standing at the heavy oaken table in the centre of the
+room, was a man I should have known anywhere if I had been permitted
+half a glance at him. <i>It was Dr. Nikola.</i></p>
+
+<p>When we entered he was busily occupied with a scalpel, dissecting an
+animal strangely resembling a monkey. On the table, and watching the
+work upon which his master was engaged, sat his constant companion, the
+same fiendish black cat I have mentioned elsewhere; while at the end
+nearest us, standing on tip-toe, the better to see what was going on,
+was an albino dwarf, scarcely more than two feet eight inches high. So
+stealthily, however, had our approach been made, and so carefully had I
+opened the door, that we were well into the room before our appearance
+was discovered, and also before I had realized into whose presence we
+had stumbled. Then my foot touched a board that creaked, and Dr. Nikola
+looked up from the work upon which he was engaged.</p>
+
+<p>His pale, thin face did not show the slightest sign of surprise as he
+said, in his usual placid tone,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"So you have managed to escape from your room, gentlemen. Well, and pray
+what do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>For a moment I was so much overcome with surprise that my tongue refused
+to perform its office. Then I said, advancing towards him as I spoke,
+closely followed by the Marquis,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"So, Dr. Nikola, we have met at last!"</p>
+
+<p>"At last, Mr. Hatteras, as you say," this singular being replied, still
+without showing a sign of either interest or embarrassment. "All things
+considered, I suppose you would deem me ironical if I ventured to say
+that I am pleased to see you about again. However, don't let me keep you
+standing; won't you sit down? My lord, let me offer you a chair."</p>
+
+<p>All this time we were edging up alongside the table, and I was making
+ready for a rush at him. But he was not to be taken off his guard. His
+extraordinary eyes had been watching me intently, taking in my every
+movement; and a curious effect they had upon me.</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Nikola," I said, "the game is up. You beat me last time; but now
+you must own I come out on top. Don't utter a word or call for
+assistance&mdash;if you do you're a dead man. Now drop that knife you hold in
+your hand, and show us the way out!"</p>
+
+<p>The Marquis was on his right, I was on his left, and we were close upon
+him as I spoke. Still he showed no sign of fear, though he must have
+known the danger of his position. But his eyes glowed in his head like
+living coals.</p>
+
+<p>You will ask why we did not rush at him? Well, if I am obliged to own
+it, I must&mdash;the truth was, such was the power that emanated from this
+extraordinary man, that though we both knew the crucial moment of our
+enterprise had arrived, while his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us
+could stir an inch. When he spoke his voice seemed to cut like a knife.</p>
+
+<p>"So you think my game is up, Mr. Hatteras, do you? I'm afraid once more
+I must differ from you. Look behind you."</p>
+
+<p>I did so, and that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped.
+Leaning against the door, watching us with cruel, yet smiling eyes, was
+our old enemy Prendergast, revolver in hand. Just behind me were two
+powerful Soudanese, while near the Marquis was a man looking like a
+Greek&mdash;and a very stalwart Greek at that. Observing our discomfiture,
+Nikola seated himself in a big chair near the fireplace and folded his
+hands in the curious fashion I have before described; as he did so his
+black cat sprang to his shoulder and sat there watching us all. Dr.
+Nikola was the first to speak.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," he said, with devilish clearness and deliberation, "you
+should really know me better by this time than to think you could outwit
+me so easily. Is my reputation after all so small? And, while I think of
+it, pray let me have the pleasure of returning to you your five pound
+note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers, were they
+not?" As he spoke he handed me the selfsame Bank of England note I had
+despatched through the pipe that very evening in payment for the file;
+then he shook from a box he had taken from the chimney-piece all the
+communications I had written imploring assistance from the outside
+world. To properly estimate my chagrin and astonishment would be very
+difficult. I could only sit and stare, first at the money and then at
+the letters, in blankest amazement. So we had not been rescued by the
+cripple after all. Was it possible that while we had been so busy
+arranging our escape we had in reality been all the time under the
+closest surveillance? If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
+would account for the silence with which my attack upon the door had
+been received. Now we were in an even worse position than before. I
+looked at Beckenham, but his head was down and his right hand was
+picking idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for what was
+coming next.</p>
+
+<p>In sheer despair I turned to Nikola. "Since you have outwitted us again,
+Dr. Nikola, do not play with us&mdash;tell us straight out what our fate is
+to be."</p>
+
+<p>"If it means going back to that room again," said Beckenham, in a voice
+I hardly recognized, "I would far rather die and be done with it."</p>
+
+<p>"Do not fear, my lord, you shall not die," Nikola said, turning to him
+with a bow. "Believe me, you will live to enjoy many happier hours than
+those you have been compelled to spend under my roof!"</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>The doctor did not answer for nearly a moment; then he took what looked
+to me suspiciously like a cablegram form from his pocket and carefully
+examined it. Having done so, he said quietly,&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Gentlemen, you ask what I mean? Well, I mean this&mdash;if you wish to leave
+this house this very minute, you are free to do so on one condition!"</p>
+
+<p>"And that condition is?"</p>
+
+<p>"That you allow yourselves to be blindfolded in this room and conducted
+by my servants to the harbour side. I must furthermore ask your words of
+honour that you will not seek to remove your bandages until you are
+given permission to do so. Do you agree to this?"</p>
+
+<p>Needless to say we both signified our assent.</p>
+
+<p>This free permission to leave the house was a second surprise, and one
+for which we were totally unprepared.</p>
+
+<p>"Then let it be so. Believe me, my lord Marquis, and you, Mr. Hatteras,
+it is with the utmost pleasure I restore your liberty to you again!"</p>
+
+<p>He made a sign to Prendergast, who instantly stepped forward. But I had
+something to say before we were removed.</p>
+
+<p>"One word first, Dr. Nikola. You have&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, if you will be guided by me, you will keep a silent
+tongue in your head. Let well alone. Take warning by the proverb, and
+beware how you disturb a sleeping dog. Why I have acted as I have done
+towards you, you may some day learn; in the meantime rest assured it was
+from no idle motive. Now take me at my word, and go while you have the
+chance. I may change my mind in a moment, and then&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He stopped and did not say any more. At a sign, Prendergast clapped a
+thick bandage over my eyes, while another man did the same for
+Beckenham; a man on either side of me took my arms, and next moment we
+had passed out of the room, and before I could have counted fifty were
+in the cool air of the street.</p>
+
+<p>How long we were walking, after leaving the house, I could not say, but
+at last our escort called a halt. Prendergast was evidently in command,
+for he said,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Gentlemen, before we leave you, you will renew your words of honour not
+to remove your bandages for five full minutes?"</p>
+
+<p>We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released; a
+moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The minutes went slowly
+by. Presently Beckenham said,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"How long do you think we've been standing here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nearly the stipulated time, I should fancy," I answered. "However, we'd
+better give them a little longer, to avoid any chance of mistake."</p>
+
+<p>Again a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my bandage, to find
+Beckenham doing the same.</p>
+
+<p>"They're gone, and we're free again," he cried. "Hurrah!"</p>
+
+<p>We shook hands warmly on our escape, and having done so looked about us.
+A ship's bell out in the stream chimed half an hour after midnight, and
+a precious dark night it was. A number of vessels were to be seen, and
+from the noise that came from them it was evident they were busy
+coaling.</p>
+
+<p>"What's to be done now?" asked Beckenham.</p>
+
+<p>"Find an hotel, I think," I answered; "get a good night's rest, and
+first thing in the morning hunt up our consul and the steamship
+authorities."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, then. Let's look for a place. I noticed one that should
+suit us close to where we came ashore that day."</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes' walking brought us to the house we sought. The proprietor
+was not very fastidious, and whatever he may have thought of our
+appearances he took us in without demur. A bath and a good meal
+followed, and then after a thorough overhauling of all the details
+connected with our imprisonment we turned into bed, resolved to thrash
+it out upon the morrow.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, true to our arrangement, as soon as breakfast was over, I
+set off for the steamship company's office, leaving the Marquis behind
+me at the hotel for reasons which had begun to commend themselves to me,
+and which will be quite apparent to you.</p>
+
+<p>I found the <i>Saratoga's</i> agent hard at work in his private office. He
+was a tall, thin man, slightly bald, wearing a pair of heavy gold
+pince-nez, and very slow and deliberate in speech.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon," he began, when I had taken possession of his
+proffered chair, "but did I understand my clerk to say that your name
+was Hatteras?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is my name," I answered. "I was a passenger in the <i>Saratoga</i> for
+Australia three weeks ago, but had the misfortune to be left behind when
+she sailed."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! I remember the circumstances thoroughly," he said. "The young
+Marquis of Beckenham went ashore with you, I think, and came within an
+ace of being also left behind."</p>
+
+<p>"Within an ace!" I cried; "but he <i>was</i> left behind."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no! there you are mistaken," was the astounding reply; "he <i>would</i>
+have been left behind had not his tutor and I gone ashore at the last
+moment to look for him and found him wandering about on the outskirts of
+Arab Town. I don't remember ever to have seen a man more angry than the
+tutor was, and no wonder, for they only just got out to the boat again
+as the gangway was being hauled aboard."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you mean to tell me that the Marquis went on to Australia after
+all!" I cried. "And pray how did this interesting young gentleman
+explain the fact of his losing sight of me?"</p>
+
+<p>"He lost you in a crowd, he said," the agent continued. "It was a most
+extraordinary business altogether."</p>
+
+<p>It certainly was, and even more extraordinary than he imagined. I could
+hardly believe my ears. The world seemed to be turned upside down. I was
+so bewildered that I stumbled out a few lame inquiries about the next
+boat sailing for Australia, and what would be done with my baggage, and
+then made my way as best I could out of the office. Hastening back to
+the hotel, I told my story from beginning to end to my astonished
+companion, who sat on his bed listening open-mouthed. When I had
+finished he said feebly,&mdash;"But what does it all mean? Tell me that! What
+does it mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"It means," I answered, "that our notion about Nikola's abducting us in
+order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong, and, if you ask me,
+I should say not half picturesque enough. No, no! this mystery is a
+bigger one by a hundred times than even we expected, and there are more
+men in it than those we have yet seen. It remains with you to say
+whether you will assist in the attempt to unravel it or not."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean by saying it remains with me? Do I understand that you
+intend following it up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I do. Nikola and Baxter between them have completely done
+me&mdash;now I'm going to do my best to do them. By Jove!"</p>
+
+<p>"What is it now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I see it all as plain as a pikestaff. I understand exactly now why
+Baxter came for you, why he telegraphed that the train was laid, why I
+was drugged in Plymouth, why you were sea-sick between Naples and this
+place, and why we were both kidnapped!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then explain, for mercy's sake!"</p>
+
+<p>"I will. See here. In the first place, remember your father's peculiar
+education of yourself. If you consider that, you will see that you are
+the only young nobleman of high rank whose face is not well known to his
+brother peers. That being so, Nikola wants to procure you for some
+purpose of his own in Australia. Your father advertises for a tutor; he
+sends one of his agents&mdash;Baxter&mdash;to secure the position. Baxter, at
+Nikola's instruction, puts into your head a desire for travel. You
+pester your father for the necessary permission. Just as this is granted
+I come upon the scene. Baxter suspects me. He telegraphs to Nikola 'The
+train is laid,' which means that he has begun to sow the seeds of a
+desire for travel, when a third party steps in&mdash;in other words, I am the
+new danger that has arisen. He arranges your sailing, and all promises
+to go well. Then Dr. Nikola finds out I intend going in the same boat.
+He tries to prevent me; and I&mdash;by Jove! I see another thing. Why did
+Baxter suggest that you should cross the Continent and join the boat at
+Naples? Why, simply because if you had started from Plymouth you would
+soon have got over your sickness, if you had ever been ill at all, and
+in that case the passengers would have become thoroughly familiar with
+your face by the time you reached Port Said. That would never have done,
+so he takes you to Naples, drugs you next morning&mdash;for you must remember
+you were ill after the coffee he gave you&mdash;and by that means kept you
+ill and confined to your cabin throughout the entire passage to Port
+Said. Then he persuades you to go ashore with me. You do so, with what
+result you know. Presently he begins to bewail your non-return, invites
+the agent to help in the search. They set off, and eventually find you
+near the Arab quarter. You must remember that neither the agent, the
+captain, nor the passengers have seen you, save at night, so the
+substitute, who is certain to have been well chosen and schooled for the
+part he is to play, is not detected. Then the boat goes on her way,
+while we are left behind languishing in durance vile."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you advise me to do? Remember, Baxter has letters to the
+different Governors from my father."</p>
+
+<p>"I know what I should do myself!"</p>
+
+<p>"Go to the consul and get him to warn the authorities in Australia, I
+suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. That would do little or no good&mdash;remember, they've got three weeks'
+start of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Then what shall we do? I'm in your hands entirely, and whatever you
+advise I promise you I'll do."</p>
+
+<p>"If I were you I should doff my title, take another name, and set sail
+with me for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet place and
+set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to defeat their little game,
+whatever it may be. Are you prepared for so much excitement as that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I am. Come what may, I'll go with you, and there's my hand on
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we'll catch the next boat&mdash;not a mail-steamer&mdash;that sails for an
+Australian port, and once ashore there we'll set the ball a-rolling with
+a vengeance."</p>
+
+<p>"That scoundrel Baxter! I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I
+should like to punish him."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if they've not flown by the time we reach Australia, you'll
+probably be able to gratify your wish. It's Nikola, however, I want."</p>
+
+<p>Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned the Doctor's name. So to change the
+subject I said,&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care to accompany me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you going?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to try and find the house where we were shut up," I answered.
+"I want to be able to locate it for future reference, if necessary."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it safe to go near it, do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"In broad daylight, yes! But, just to make sure, we'll buy a couple of
+revolvers on the way. And, what's more, if it becomes necessary, we'll
+use them."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, then."</p>
+
+<p>With that we left our hotel and set off in the direction of the Casino,
+stopping, however, on the way to make the purchases above referred to.</p>
+
+<p>We passed down one thoroughfare and up another, and at last reached the
+spot where I had commented on the sign-boards, and where we had been
+garrotted. Surely the house must be near at hand now? But though we
+hunted high and low, up one street and down another, not a single trace
+of any building answering the description of the one we wanted could we
+discover. At last, after nearly an hour's search, we were obliged to
+give it up, and return to our hotel, unsuccessful.</p>
+
+<p>As we finished lunch a large steamer made her appearance in the harbour,
+and brought up opposite the town. When we questioned our landlord, who
+was an authority on the subject, he informed us that she was the s.s.
+<i>Pescadore</i>, of Hull, bound to Melbourne.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing this we immediately chartered a boat, pulled off to her, and
+interviewed the captain. As good luck would have it, he had room for a
+couple of passengers. We therefore paid the passage money, went ashore
+again and provided ourselves with a few necessaries, rejoined her, and
+shortly before nightfall steamed into the Canal. Port Said was a thing
+of the past. Our eventful journey was resumed&mdash;what was the end of it
+all to be?</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="PART_II" id="PART_II"></a><i>PART II</i></h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IA" id="CHAPTER_IA"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>WE REACH AUSTRALIA, AND THE RESULT</h3>
+
+
+<p>The <i>Pescadore</i>, if she was slow, was certainly sure, and so the
+thirty-sixth day after our departure from Port Said, as recorded in the
+previous chapter, she landed us safe and sound at Williamstown, which,
+as all the Australian world knows, is one of the principal railway
+termini, and within an hour's journey of Melbourne. Throughout the
+voyage nothing occurred worth chronicling, if I except the curious
+behaviour of Lord Beckenham, who, for the first week or so, seemed sunk
+in a deep lethargy, from which neither chaff nor sympathy could rouse
+him. From morning till night he mooned aimlessly about the decks, had
+visibly to pull himself together to answer such questions as might be
+addressed to him, and never by any chance sustained a conversation
+beyond a few odd sentences. To such a pitch did this depression at last
+bring him that, the day after we left Aden, I felt it my duty to take
+him to task and to try to bully or coax him out of it.</p>
+
+<p>"Come," I said, "I want to know what's the matter with you. You've been
+giving us all the miserables lately, and from the look of your face at
+the present moment I'm inclined to believe it's going to continue. Out
+with it! Are you homesick, or has the monotony of this voyage been too
+much for you?"</p>
+
+<p>He looked into my face rather anxiously, I thought, and then said: "Mr.
+Hatteras, I'm afraid you'll think me an awful idiot when I <i>do</i> tell
+you, but the truth is I've got Dr. Nikola's face on my brain, and do
+what I will I cannot rid myself of it. Those great, searching eyes, as
+we saw them in that terrible room, have got on my nerves, and I can
+think of nothing else. They haunt me night and day!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's all fancy!" I cried. "Why on earth should you be frightened
+of him? Nikola, in spite of his demoniacal cleverness, is only a man,
+and even then you may consider that we've seen the last of him. So cheer
+up, take as much exercise as you possibly can, and believe me, you'll
+soon forget all about him."</p>
+
+<p>But it was no use arguing with him. Nikola had had an effect upon the
+youth that was little short of marvellous, and it was not until we had
+well turned the Leuwin, and were safely in Australian waters, that he in
+any way recovered his former spirits.</p>
+
+<p>And here, lest you should give me credit for a bravery I did not
+possess, I must own that I was more than a little afraid of another
+meeting with Nikola, myself. I had had four opportunities afforded me of
+judging of his cleverness&mdash;once in the restaurant off Oxford Street,
+once in the <i>Green Sailor</i> public-house in the East India Dock Road,
+once in the West of England express, and lastly, in the house in Port
+Said. I had no desire, therefore, to come to close quarters with him
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving in Melbourne we caught the afternoon express for Sydney,
+reaching that city the following morning a little after breakfast. By
+the time we had arrived at our destination we had held many
+consultations over our future, and the result was a decision to look for
+a quiet hotel on the outskirts of the city, and then to attempt to
+discover what the mystery, in which we had been so deeply involved,
+might mean. The merits of all the various suburbs were severally
+discussed, though I knew but little about them, and the Marquis less.
+Paramatta, Penrith, Woolahra, Balmain, and even many of the bays and
+harbours, received attention, until we decided on the last named as the
+most likely place to answer our purpose.</p>
+
+<p>This settled, we crossed Darling harbour, and, after a little hunting
+about, discovered a small but comfortable hotel situated in a side
+street, called the <i>General Officer</i>. Here we booked rooms, deposited
+our meagre baggage, and having installed ourselves, sat down and
+discussed the situation.</p>
+
+<p>"So this is Sydney," said Beckenham, stretching himself out comfortably
+upon the sofa as he spoke. "And now that we've got here, what's to be
+done first?"</p>
+
+<p>"Have lunch," I answered promptly.</p>
+
+<p>"And then?" he continued.</p>
+
+<p>"Hunt up the public library and take a glimpse of the <i>Morning Herald's</i>
+back numbers. They will tell us a good deal, though not all we want to
+know. Then we'll make a few inquiries. To-morrow morning I shall ask you
+to excuse me for a couple of hours. But in the afternoon we ought to
+have acquired sufficient information to enable us to make a definite
+start."</p>
+
+<p>"Then let's have lunch at once and be off. I'm all eagerness to get to
+work."</p>
+
+<p>We accordingly ordered lunch, and, when it was finished, set off in
+search of a public library. Having found it&mdash;and it was not a very
+difficult matter&mdash;we sought the reading room and made for a stand of
+<i>Sydney Morning Heralds</i> in the corner. Somehow I felt as certain of
+finding what I wanted there as any man could possibly be, and as it
+happened I was not disappointed. On the second page, beneath a heading
+in bold type, was a long report of a horse show, held the previous
+afternoon, at which it appeared a large vice-regal and fashionable party
+were present. The list included His Excellency the Governor and the
+Countess of Amberley, the Ladies Maud and Ermyntrude, their daughters,
+the Marquis of Beckenham, Captain Barrenden, an aide-de-camp, and Mr.
+Baxter. In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own, so shaken was it
+with excitement, I called Beckenham to my side and pointed out to him
+his name. He stared, looked away, then stared again, hardly able to
+believe his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"What does it mean?" he whispered, just as he had done in Port Said.
+"What does it mean?"</p>
+
+<p>I led him out of the building before I answered, and then clapped him on
+the shoulder. "It means, my boy," I said, "that there's been a hitch in
+their arrangements, and that we're not too late to circumvent them after
+all."</p>
+
+<p>"But where do you think they are staying&mdash;these two scoundrels?"</p>
+
+<p>"At Government House, to be sure. Didn't you see that the report said,
+'The Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
+Government House, including the Marquis of Beckenham,' etc.?"</p>
+
+<p>"Then let us go to Government House at once and unmask them. That is our
+bounden duty to society."</p>
+
+<p>"Then all I can say is, if it is our duty to society, society will have
+to wait. No, no! We must find out first what their little game is. That
+once decided, the unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't
+you understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you're right."</p>
+
+<p>By this time we were back again at the ferry. It was not time for the
+boat to start, so while we waited we amused ourselves staring at the
+placards pasted about on the wharf hoardings. Then a large theatrical
+poster caught my eye and drew me towards it. It announced a grand
+vice-regal "command" night at one of the principal theatres for that
+very evening, and further set forth the fact that the most noble the
+Marquis of Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company.</p>
+
+<p>"Here we are," I called to my companion, who was at a little distance.
+"We'll certainly go to this. The Marquis of Beckenham shall honour it
+with his patronage and presence after all."</p>
+
+<p>We went back to our hotel for dinner, and as soon as it was eaten
+returned to the city to seek the theatre.</p>
+
+<p>When we entered it the building was crowded, and the arrival of the
+Government House party was momentarily expected. Presently the Governor
+and a brilliant party entered the vice-regal box. You may be sure of all
+that vast concourse of people there were none who stared harder then
+Beckenham and myself. And it was certainly enough to make any man stare,
+for there, sitting on her ladyship's right hand, faultlessly dressed,
+was the exact image of the young man by my side. The likeness was so
+extraordinary that for a moment I could hardly believe that Beckenham
+had not left me to go up and take his seat there. And if I was struck by
+the resemblance, you may be sure that he was a dozen times more so.
+Indeed, his bewilderment was most comical, and must have struck those
+people round us, who were watching, as something altogether
+extraordinary. I looked again, and could just discern behind the front
+row the smug, self-satisfied face of the tutor Baxter. Then the play
+commenced, and we were compelled to turn and give it our attention.</p>
+
+<p>Here I must stop to chronicle one circumstance that throughout the day
+had struck me as peculiar. When our vessel arrived at Williamstown, it
+so happened that we had travelled up in the train to Melbourne with a
+tall, handsome, well-dressed man of about thirty years of age. Whether
+he, like ourselves, was a new arrival in the Colony, and only passing
+through Melbourne, I cannot say; at any rate he went on to Sydney in the
+mail train with us. Then we lost sight of him, only to find him standing
+near the public library when we had emerged from it that afternoon, and
+now here he was sitting in the stalls of the theatre not half a dozen
+chairs from us. Whether this continual companionship was designed or
+only accidental, I could not of course say, but I must own that I did
+not like the look of it. Could it be possible, I asked myself, that
+Nikola, learning our departure for Australia in the <i>Pescadore</i>, had
+cabled from Port Said to this man to watch us?</p>
+
+<p>The performance over, we left the theatre, and set off for the ferry,
+only reaching it just as the boat was casting off. As it was I had to
+jump for it, and on reaching the deck should have fallen in a heap but
+for a helping hand that was stretched out to me. I looked up to tender
+my thanks, when to my surprise I discovered that my benefactor was none
+other than the man to whom I have just been referring. His surprise was
+even greater than mine, and muttering something about "a close shave,"
+he turned and walked quickly aft. My mind was now made up, and I
+accordingly reported my discovery to Beckenham, pointing out the man and
+warning him to watch for him when he was abroad without me. This he
+promised to do.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning I donned my best attire (my luggage having safely arrived),
+and shortly before eleven o'clock bade Beckenham good-bye and betook
+myself to Potts Point to call upon the Wetherells.</p>
+
+<p>It would be impossible for me to say with what varied emotions I trod
+that well-remembered street, crossed the garden, and approached the
+ponderous front door, which somehow had always seemed to me so typical
+of Mr. Wetherell himself. The same butler who had opened the door to me
+on the previous occasion opened it now, and when I asked if Miss
+Wetherell were at home, he gravely answered, "Yes, sir," and invited me
+to enter.</p>
+
+<p>I was shown into the drawing-room&mdash;a large double chamber beautifully
+furnished and possessing an elegantly painted ceiling&mdash;while the butler
+went in search of his mistress. A few moments later I heard a light
+footstep outside, a hand was placed upon the handle of the door, and
+before I could have counted ten, Phyllis&mdash;my Phyllis!&mdash;was in the room
+and in my arms! Over the next five minutes, gentle reader, we will draw
+a curtain with your kind permission. If you have ever met your
+sweetheart after an absence of several months, you will readily
+understand why!</p>
+
+<p>When we had become rational again I led her to a sofa, and, seating
+myself beside her, asked if her father had in any way relented. At this
+she looked very unhappy, and for a moment I thought was going to burst
+into tears.</p>
+
+<p>"Why! What is the matter, Phyllis, my darling?" I cried in sincere
+alarm. "What is troubling you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am so unhappy," she replied. "Dick, there is a gentleman in
+Sydney now to whom papa has taken an enormous fancy, and he is exerting
+all his influence over me to induce me to marry him."</p>
+
+<p>"The deuce he is, and pray who may&mdash;&mdash;" but I got no farther in my
+inquiries, for at that moment I caught the sound of a footstep in the
+hall, and next moment Mr. Wetherell opened the door. He remained for a
+brief period looking from one to the other of us without speaking, then
+he advanced, saying, "Mr. Hatteras, please be so good as to tell me when
+this persecution will cease? Am I not even to be free of you in my own
+house. Flesh and blood won't stand it, I tell you, sir&mdash;won't stand it!
+You pursued my daughter to England in a most ungentlemanly fashion, and
+now you have followed her out here again."</p>
+
+<p>"Just as I shall continue to follow her all my life, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied warmly, "wherever you may take her. I told you on board the
+<i>Orizaba</i>, months ago, that I loved her: well, I love her ten thousand
+times more now. She loves me&mdash;won't you hear her tell you so? Why then
+should you endeavour to keep us apart?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because an alliance with you, sir, is distasteful to me in every
+possible way. I have other views for my daughter, you must learn." Here
+Phyllis could keep silence no longer, and broke in with&mdash;"If you mean by
+that that you will force me into this hateful marriage with a man I
+despise, papa, you are mistaken. I will marry no one but Mr. Hatteras,
+and so I warn you."</p>
+
+<p>"Silence, Miss! How dare you adopt that tone with me! You will do as I
+wish in this and all other matters, and so we'll have no more talk about
+it. Now, Mr. Hatteras, you have heard what I have to say, and I warn you
+that, if you persist in this conduct, I'll see if something can't be
+found in the law to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, if you show yourself in
+my grounds again, I'll have my servants throw you out into the street!
+Good-day."</p>
+
+<p>Unjust as his conduct was to me, there was nothing for it but to submit,
+so picking up my hat I bade poor little frightened Phyllis farewell, and
+went towards the door. But before taking my departure I was determined
+to have one final shot at her irascible parent, so I said, "Mr.
+Wetherell, I have warned you before, and I do so again: your daughter
+loves me, and, come what may, I will make her my wife. She is her own
+mistress, and you cannot force her into marrying any one against her
+will. Neither can you prevent her marrying me if she wishes it. You will
+be sorry some day that you have behaved like this to me."</p>
+
+<p>But the only answer he vouchsafed was a stormy one. "Leave my house this
+instant," he said. "Not another word, sir, or I'll call my servants to
+my assistance!"</p>
+
+<p>The stately old butler opened the front door for me, and assuming as
+dignified an air as was possible, I went down the drive and passed out
+into the street.</p>
+
+<p>When I reached home again Beckenham was out, for which I was not sorry,
+as I wanted to have a good quiet think by myself. So lighting a cigar, I
+pulled a chair into the verandah and fell to work. But I could make
+nothing of the situation, save that, by my interview this morning, my
+position with the father was, if possible, rendered even more hopeless
+than before. Who was this more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use my
+going to him and&mdash;but no, that was clearly impossible. Could I induce
+Phyllis to run away with me? That was possible, of course, but I rather
+doubted if she would care to take such an extreme step until every other
+means had proved unsuccessful. Then what was to be done? I began to wish
+that Beckenham would return in order that we might consult together.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later our lunch was ready, but still no sign came of the
+youth. Where could he have got to? I waited an hour and then fell to
+work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign&mdash;four, five, and even six.
+By this time I was in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
+the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's trusting
+good nature. Then and there I resolved, if he did not return before
+half-past seven, to set off for the nearest police-station and have a
+search made for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round, and
+when, at the time stated, he had not appeared, I donned my hat and,
+inquiring the way, set off for the home of the law.</p>
+
+<p>On arriving there and stating my business I was immediately conducted to
+the inspector in charge, who questioned me very closely as to
+Beckenham's appearance, age, profession, etc. Having done this, he
+said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"But what reason have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
+been done away with? He has only been absent from his abode, according
+to your statement, about eight or nine hours."</p>
+
+<p>"Simply because," I answered, "I have the best of reasons for knowing
+that ever since his arrival in Australia he has been shadowed. This
+morning he said he would only go for a short stroll before lunch, and I
+am positively certain, knowing my anxiety about him, he would not have
+remained away so long of his own accord without communicating with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowing?"</p>
+
+<p>"My friend is heir to an enormous property in England. Perhaps that may
+assist you in discovering one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very possibly. But still I am inclined to think you are a little hasty
+in coming to so terrible a conclusion, Mr. &mdash;&mdash;?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the <i>General Officer Hotel</i> in
+Palgrave Street."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Hatteras, if I were you I would go back to your hotel. You
+will probably find your friend there eating his dinner and thinking
+about instituting a search for you. If, however, he has not turned up,
+and does not do so by to-morrow morning, call here again and report the
+matter, and I will give you every assistance."</p>
+
+<p>Thanking him for his courtesy I left the station and walked quickly back
+to the hotel, hoping to find Beckenham safely returned and at his
+dinner. But when the landlady met me in the verandah, and asked if I had
+any news of my friend, I realized that a disappointment was in store for
+me. By this time the excitement and worry were getting too much for me.
+What with Nikola, the spy, Beckenham, Phyllis, the unknown lover, and
+old Mr. Wetherell, I had more than enough to keep my brain occupied. I
+sat down on a chair on the verandah with a sigh and reviewed the whole
+case. Nine o'clock struck by the time my reverie was finished. Just as I
+did so a newspaper boy came down the street lustily crying his wares. To
+divert my mind from its unpleasant thoughts, I called him up and bought
+an <i>Evening Mercury</i>. Having done so I passed into my sitting-room to
+read it. The first, second, and third pages held nothing of much
+interest to me, but on the fourth was an item which was astonishing
+enough to almost make my hair stand on end. It ran as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH LIFE.</p>
+
+<p>We have it on the very best authority that an engagement will
+shortly be announced between a certain illustrious young nobleman,
+now a visitor in our city, and the beautiful daughter of one of
+Sydney's most prominent politicians, who has lately returned from a
+visit to England. The <i>Evening Mercury</i> tenders the young couple
+their sincerest congratulations.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Could this be the solution of the whole mystery?</i> Could it be that the
+engagement of Baxter, the telegram, the idea of travel, the drugging,
+the imprisonment in Port Said, the substitution of the false marquis,
+were all means to this end? Was is possible that this man, who was
+masquerading as a man of title, was to marry Phyllis (for there could be
+no possible doubt as to the person to whom that paragraph referred)? The
+very thought of such a thing was not to be endured.</p>
+
+<p>There must be no delay now, I told myself, in revealing all I knew. The
+villains must be unmasked this very night. Wetherell should know all as
+soon as I could tell him. As I came to this conclusion I crushed my
+paper into my pocket and set off, without a moment's delay, for Potts
+Point. The night was dark, and now a thick drizzle was falling.</p>
+
+<p>Though it really did not take me very long, it seemed an eternity before
+I reached the house and rang the bell. The butler opened the door, and
+was evidently surprised to see me. "Is Mr. Wetherell at home?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment he looked doubtful as to what he should say, then
+compromising matters, answered that he would see.</p>
+
+<p>"I know what that means," I said in reply. "Mr. Wetherell is in, but you
+don't think he'll see me. But he must! I have news for him of the very
+utmost importance. Will you tell him that?"</p>
+
+<p>He left me and went along the hall and upstairs. Presently he returned,
+shaking his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry, sir, but Mr. Wetherell's answer is, if you have
+anything to tell him you must put it in writing; he cannot see you."</p>
+
+<p>"But he must! In this case I can accept no refusal. Tell him, will you,
+that the matter upon which I wish to speak to him has nothing whatsoever
+to do with the request I made to him this morning. I pledge him my word
+on that."</p>
+
+<p>Again the butler departed, and once more I was left to cool my heels in
+the portico. When he returned it was with a smile upon his face. "Mr.
+Wetherell will be glad if you will step this way, sir."</p>
+
+<p>I followed him along the hall and up the massive stone staircase.
+Arriving at the top he opened a door on the left-hand side and announced
+"Mr. Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>I found Mr. Wetherell seated in a low chair opposite the fire, and from
+the fact that his right foot was resting on a sort of small trestle, I
+argued that he was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout.</p>
+
+<p>"Be good enough to take a chair, Mr. Hatteras," he said, when the door
+had been closed. "I must own I am quite at a loss to understand what you
+can have to tell me of so much importance as to bring you to my house at
+this time of night."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I shall be able to satisfy you on that score, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied, taking the <i>Evening Mercury</i> from my pocket and smoothing it
+out. "In the first place, will you be good enough to tell me if there is
+any truth in the inference contained in that paragraph."</p>
+
+<p>I handed the paper to him and pointed to the lines in question. Having
+put on his glasses he examined it carefully. "I am sorry they should
+have made it public so soon, I must admit," he said. "But I don't deny
+that there is a considerable amount of truth in what that paragraph
+reports."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean by that that you intend to try and marry Phyllis to the
+Marquis of Beckenham?"</p>
+
+<p>"The young man has paid her a very considerable amount of attention ever
+since he arrived in the colony, and only last week he did me the honour
+of confiding his views to me. You see I am candid with you."</p>
+
+<p>"I thank you for it. I, too, will be candid with you. Mr. Wetherell, you
+may set your mind at rest at once, this marriage will never take place!"</p>
+
+<p>"And pray be so good as to tell me your reason for such a statement?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you want it bluntly, because the young man now staying at Government
+House is no more the Marquis of Beckenham than I am. He is a fraud, an
+impostor, a cheat of the first water, put up to play his part by one of
+the cleverest scoundrels unhung."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras, this is really going too far. I can quite understand your
+being jealous of his lordship, but I cannot understand your having the
+audacity to bring such a foolish charge against him. I, for one, must
+decline to listen to it. If he had been the fraud you make him out, how
+would his tutor have got those letters from his Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth? Do you imagine his Excellency the Governor, who has known the
+family all his life, would not have discovered him ere this? No, no,
+sir! It won't do! If you think so, who has schooled him so cleverly? Who
+has pulled the strings so wonderfully?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Nikola, to be sure!"</p>
+
+<p>Had I clapped a revolver to the old gentleman's head, or had the walls
+opened and Nikola himself stepped into the room, a greater effect of
+terror and consternation could not have been produced in the old
+gentleman's face than did those five simple words. He fell back in his
+chair gasping for breath, his complexion became ashen in its pallor, and
+for a moment his whole nervous system seemed unstrung. I sprang to his
+assistance, thinking he was going to have a fit, but he waived me off,
+and when he had recovered himself sufficiently to speak, said
+hoarsely&mdash;"What do you know of Dr. Nikola? Tell me, for God's
+sake!&mdash;what do you know of him? Quick, quick!"</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon I set to work and told him my story, from the day of my
+arrival in Sydney from Thursday Island up to the moment of my reaching
+his house, described my meeting and acquaintance with the real
+Beckenham, and all the events consequent upon it. He listened, with an
+awful terror growing in his face, and when I had finished my narrative
+with the disappearance of my friend he nearly choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras," he gasped, "will you swear this is the truth you are
+telling me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I solemnly swear it," I answered. "And will do so in public when and
+where you please."</p>
+
+<p>"Then before I do anything else I will beg your pardon for my conduct to
+you. You have taken a noble revenge. I cannot thank you sufficiently.
+But there is not a moment to lose. My daughter is at a ball at
+Government House at the present moment. I should have accompanied her,
+but my gout would not permit me. Will you oblige me by ringing that
+bell?"</p>
+
+<p>I rang the bell as requested, and then asked what he intended doing.</p>
+
+<p>"Going off to his Excellency at once, gout or no gout, and telling him
+what you have told me. If it is as you have said, we must catch these
+scoundrels and rescue your friend without an instant's delay!"</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later we were at Government House waiting in his
+Excellency's study for an interview. The music of the orchestra in the
+ball-room came faintly in to us, and when Lord Amberley entered the room
+he seemed surprised, as well he might be, to see us. But as soon as he
+had heard what we had to tell him his expression changed. "Mr.
+Wetherell, this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest. Do
+you think it can possibly be true?"</p>
+
+<p>"I sadly fear so," said Mr. Wetherell. "But perhaps Mr. Hatteras will
+tell you the story as he told it to me."</p>
+
+<p>I did so, and, when I had finished, the Governor went to the door and
+called a servant.</p>
+
+<p>"Find Lord Beckenham, Johnson, at once, and ask him to be so good as to
+come to me here. Stay&mdash;on second thoughts I'll go and look for him
+myself."</p>
+
+<p>He went off, leaving us alone again to listen to the ticking of the
+clock upon the mantelpiece, and to wonder what was going to happen next.
+Five minutes went by and then ten, but still he did not return. When he
+did so it was with a still more serious countenance.</p>
+
+<p>"You are evidently right, gentlemen. Neither the spurious marquis, nor
+his tutor, Mr. Baxter, can be found anywhere. I have discovered, too,
+that all their valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the
+house to-night without the knowledge of my servants. This is a terrible
+business. But I have given instructions, and the police will be
+communicated with at once. Now we must do our best to find the real
+Beckenham."</p>
+
+<p>"Lord Amberley," said Wetherell, in a choking voice, "do you think one
+of your servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once? I am not
+feeling very well."</p>
+
+<p>The Governor hesitated a moment, and then said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry to say, Mr. Wetherell, your daughter left the House an hour
+ago. A message was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken ill
+and needed her. She went off at once."</p>
+
+<p>Wetherell's anxiety was piteous to see.</p>
+
+<p>"My God!" he cried in despair. "If that is so, I am ruined. This is
+Nikola's revenge."</p>
+
+<p>Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward, and fell in
+a dead faint upon the floor.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IIA" id="CHAPTER_IIA"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>ON THE TRAIL</h3>
+
+
+<p>As soon as Wetherell was able to speak again he said as feebly as an old
+man of ninety, "Take me home, Mr. Hatteras, take me home, and let us
+think out together what is best to be done to rescue my poor child."</p>
+
+<p>The Governor rose to his feet and gave him his arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I think you're right, Mr. Wetherell," he said. "It is of course just
+probable that you will find your daughter at her home when you arrive.
+God grant she may be! But in case she is not I will communicate all I
+know to the Police Commissioner on his arrival, and send him and his
+officers on to you. We must lose no time if we wish to catch these
+scoundrels." Then turning to me, he continued: "Mr. Hatteras, it is
+owing to your promptness that we are able to take such early steps. I
+shall depend upon your further assistance in this matter."</p>
+
+<p>"You may do so with perfect confidence," I answered. "If you knew all
+you would understand that I am more anxious perhaps than any one to
+discover the whereabouts of the young lady and my unfortunate friend."</p>
+
+<p>Next moment we were being whirled down the drive at a pace which at any
+other time I should have thought dangerous. Throughout the journey we
+sat almost silent, wrapped in our anxieties and forebodings; hoping
+almost against hope that when we arrived at Potts Point we should find
+Phyllis awaiting us there. At last we turned into the grounds, and on
+reaching the house I sprang out and rang the bell, then I went down to
+help my companion to alight. The butler opened the door and descended
+the steps to take the rugs. Wetherell stopped him almost angrily,
+crying:</p>
+
+<p>"Where is your mistress? Has she come home?"</p>
+
+<p>The expression of surprise on the man's face told me, before he had time
+to utter a word, that our hopes were not to be realized. "Miss Phyllis,
+sir?" the man said. "Why, she's at the ball."</p>
+
+<p>Wetherell turned from him with a deep sigh, and taking my arm went
+heavily up the steps into the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Come to my study, Mr. Hatteras," he said, "and let me confer with you.
+For God's sake don't desert me in my hour of need!"</p>
+
+<p>"You need have no fear of that," I answered. "If it is bad for you,
+think what it is for me." And then we went upstairs together.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching his study, Mr. Wetherell led the way in and sat down. I went
+across to the hearthrug and stood before him. "Now," I said, "we must
+think this out from the very beginning, and to do that properly we must
+consider every detail. Have you any objection to answering my
+questions?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ask any questions you like," he replied, "and I will answer them."</p>
+
+<p>"In the first place, then, how soon after his arrival in the colony did
+your daughter get to know that sham Beckenham?"</p>
+
+<p>"Three days," he answered.</p>
+
+<p>"At a dance, dinner party, picnic, or what?"</p>
+
+<p>"At none of these things. The young man, it appears, had seen my
+daughter in the street, and having been struck with her beauty asked one
+of the aides-de-camp at Government House, with whom we are on intimate
+terms, to bring him to call. At the time, I remember, I thought it a
+particularly friendly action on his part."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't doubt it," I answered. "Well that, I think, should tell us one
+thing."</p>
+
+<p>"And what is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"That his instructions were to get to know your daughter without delay."</p>
+
+<p>"But what could his reason have been?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, that I cannot tell you just yet. Now you must pardon what I am
+going to say: do you think he was serious in his intentions regarding
+Phyllis&mdash;I mean your daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly, as far as I could tell. His desire, he said, was, if she
+would have him, to be allowed to marry her on his twenty-first birthday,
+which would be next week, and in proof of permission he showed me a
+cablegram from his father."</p>
+
+<p>"A forgery, I don't doubt. Well, then, the only construction I can put
+upon it is that the arrival of the real Beckenham in Sydney must have
+frightened him, thus compelling the gang to resort to other means of
+obtaining possession of her at once. Now our next business must be to
+find out how that dastardly act was accomplished. May I ring the bell
+and have up the coachman who drove your daughter to the ball?"</p>
+
+<p>"By all means. Please act in every way in this matter as if this house
+were your own."</p>
+
+<p>I rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to answer it Mr. Wetherell
+instructed him to find the man I wanted and send him up. The servant
+left the room again, and for five minutes we awaited his reappearance in
+silence. When he did come back he said, "Thompson has not come home yet,
+sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Not come home yet! Why, it's nearly eleven o'clock! Send him in
+directly he arrives. Hark! What bell is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Front door, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Go down and answer it then, and if it should be the Commissioner of
+Police show him up here at once."</p>
+
+<p>As it turned out it was not the Commissioner of Police, but an
+Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening," said Mr. Wetherell. "You have come from Government
+House, I presume?"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly so, sir," replied the Inspector. "His Excellency gave us some
+particulars and then sent us on."</p>
+
+<p>"You know the nature of the case?"</p>
+
+<p>"His Excellency informed us himself."</p>
+
+<p>"And what steps have you taken?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, to begin with, we have given orders for a thorough search
+throughout the city and suburbs for the tutor and the sham nobleman, at
+the same time more men are out looking for the real Lord Beckenham. We
+are also trying to find your coachman, who was supposed to have driven
+Miss Wetherell away from Government House, and also the carriage, which
+is certain to be found before very long."</p>
+
+<p>He had hardly finished speaking before there was another loud ring at
+the bell, and presently the butler entered once more. Crossing to Mr.
+Wetherell, he said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Two policemen are at the front door, and they have brought Thompson
+home, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! We are likely to have a little light thrown upon the matter now.
+Let them bring him up here."</p>
+
+<p>"He's not in a very nice state, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind that. Bring him up here, instantly!"</p>
+
+<p>Again the butler departed, and a few moments later heavy footsteps
+ascended the stairs and approached the study door. Then two stalwart
+policemen entered the room supporting between them a miserable figure in
+coachman's livery. His hat and coat were gone and his breeches were
+stained with mud, while a large bruise totally obscured his left eye.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand him over there opposite me," said Mr. Wetherell, pointing to the
+side of the room furthest from the door. The policemen did as they were
+ordered, while the man looked more dead than alive.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Thompson," said Wetherell, looking sternly at him, "what have you
+got to say for yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>But the man only groaned. Seeing that in his present state he could say
+nothing, I went across to the table and mixed him a glass of grog. When
+I gave it to him he drank it eagerly. It seemed to sharpen his wits, for
+he answered instantly&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't my fault, sir. If I'd only ha' known what their game was I'd
+have been killed afore I'd have let them do anything to hurt the young
+lady. But they was too cunnin' for me, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Be more explicit, sir!" said Wetherell sternly. "Don't stand there
+whining, but tell your story straight-forwardly and at once."</p>
+
+<p>The poor wretch pulled himself together and did his best. "It was in
+this way, sir," he began. "Last week I was introduced by a friend of
+mine to as nice a spoken man as ever I saw. He was from England, he said
+and having a little money thought he'd like to try his 'and at a bit o'
+racing in Australia, like. He was on the look-out for a smart man, he
+said, who'd be able to put him up to a wrinkle or two, and maybe train
+for him later on. He went on to say that he'd 'eard a lot about me, and
+thought I was just the man for his money. Well, we got more and more
+friendly till the other night, Monday, when he said as how he'd settled
+on a farm a bit out in the country, and was going to sign the agreement,
+as they called it, for to rent it next day. He was goin' to start a stud
+farm and trainin' establishment combined, and would I take the billet of
+manager at three 'undred a year? Anyway, as he said, 'Don't be in a
+'urry to decide; take your time and think it over. Meet me at the
+<i>Canary Bird 'Otel</i> on Thursday night (that's to-night, sir) and give me
+your decision.' Well, sir, I drove Miss Wetherell to Government 'Ouse,
+sir, according to orders, and then, comin' 'ome, went round by the
+<i>Canary Bird</i>, to give 'im my answer, thinkin' no 'arm could ever come
+of it. When I drove up he was standin' at the door smoking his cigar,
+an' bein' an affable sort of fellow, invited me inside to take a drink.
+'I don't like to leave the box,' I said. 'Oh, never mind your horse,'
+says he. ''Ere's a man as will stand by it for five minutes.' He gave a
+respectable lookin' chap, alongside the lamp-post, a sixpence, and he
+'eld the 'orse; so in I went. When we got inside I was for goin' to the
+bar, but 'e says, 'No. This is an important business matter, and we
+don't want to be over'eard.' With that he leads the way into a private
+room at the end of the passage and shuts the door. 'What's yours?' says
+he. 'A nobbler o' rum,' says I. Then he orders a nobbler of rum for me
+and a nobbler of whisky for 'imself. And when it was brought we sat
+talkin' of the place he'd thought o' takin' an' the 'orses he was goin'
+to buy, an' then 'e says, ''Ullo! Somebody listenin' at the door. I
+'eard a step. Jump up and look.' I got up and ran to the door, but there
+was nobody there, so I sat down again and we went on talking. Then he
+says, takin' up his glass: ''Ere's to your 'ealth, Mr. Thompson, and
+success to the farm.' We both drank it an' went on talkin' till I felt
+that sleepy I didn't know what to do. Then I dropped off, an' after that
+I don't remember nothin' of what 'appened till I woke up in the Domain,
+without my hat and coat, and found a policeman shakin' me by the
+shoulder."</p>
+
+<p>"The whole thing is as plain as daylight," cried Wetherell bitterly. "It
+is a thoroughly organized conspiracy, having me for its victim. Oh, my
+poor little girlie! What has my obstinacy brought you to!"</p>
+
+<p>Seeing the old man in this state very nearly broke me down, but I
+mastered myself with an effort and addressed a question to the
+unfortunate coachman&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Pull yourself together, Thompson, and tell me as correctly as you can
+what this friend of yours was like."</p>
+
+<p>I fully expected to hear him give an exact description of the man who
+had followed us from Melbourne, but I was mistaken.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know, sir," said Thompson, "as I could rightly tell you, my
+mind being still a bit dizzy-like. He was tall, but not by any manner of
+means big made; he had very small 'ands 'an feet, a sort o' what they
+call death's-'ead complexion; 'is 'air was black as soot, an' so was 'is
+eyes, an' they sparkled like two diamonds."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you remember noticing if he had a curious gold ring on his little
+finger, like a snake?"</p>
+
+<p>"He had, sir, with two eyes made of some black stone. That's just as
+true as you're born."</p>
+
+<p>"Then it was Nikola," I cried in an outburst of astonishment, "and he
+followed us to Australia after all!"</p>
+
+<p>Wetherell gave a deep sigh that was more like a groan than anything;
+then he became suddenly a new man.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Inspector," he cried to the police officer, "that man, or traces of
+him, must be found before daylight. I know him, and he is as slippery as
+an eel; if you lose a minute he'll be through your fingers."</p>
+
+<p>"One moment first," I cried. "Tell me this, Thompson: when you drove up
+to the <i>Canary Bird Hotel</i> where did you say this man was standing?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the verandah, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Had he his hat on?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"And then you went towards the bar, but it was crowded, so he took you
+to a private room?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"And once there he began giving you the details of this farm he proposed
+starting. Did he work out any figures on paper?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"On what?"</p>
+
+<p>"On a letter or envelope; I'm not certain which."</p>
+
+<p>"Which of course he took from his pocket?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good," I said. Then turning to the police officer, "Now, Mr.
+Inspector, shall we be off to the <i>Canary Bird</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you wish it, sir. In the meantime I'll send instructions back by
+these men to the different stations. Before breakfast time we must have
+the man who held the horse."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know him, I suppose?" I asked Thompson.</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir; but I've seen him before," he answered.</p>
+
+<p>"He's a Sydney fellow, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Then there should be no difficulty in catching him. Now let us be
+going."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Wetherell rose to accompany us, but hard though it was to stop him I
+eventually succeeded in dissuading him from such a course.</p>
+
+<p>"But you will let me know directly you discover anything, won't you, Mr.
+Hatteras?" he cried as we were about to leave the room. "Think of my
+anxiety."</p>
+
+<p>I gave my promise and then, accompanied by the Inspector, left the
+house. Hailing a passing cab we jumped into it and told the driver to
+proceed as fast as he could to the hotel in question. Just as we started
+a clock in the neighbourhood struck twelve. Phyllis had been in Nikola's
+hands three hours.</p>
+
+<p>Pulling up opposite the <i>Canary Bird</i> (the place where the coachman had
+been drugged), we jumped out and bade the cabman wait. The hotel was in
+complete darkness, and it was not until we had pealed the bell twice
+that we succeeded in producing any sign of life. Then the landlord, half
+dressed, carrying a candle in his hand, came downstairs and called out
+to know who was there and what we wanted. My companion immediately said
+"Police," and in answer to that magic word the door was unbarred.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Bartrell," said the Inspector. "May we come in for a
+moment on business?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, Mr. Inspector," said the landlord, who evidently knew my
+companion. "But isn't this rather late for a call. I hope there is
+nothing the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing much," returned the Inspector: "only we want to make a few
+inquiries about a man who was here to-night, and for whom we are
+looking."</p>
+
+<p>"If that is so I'm afraid I must call my barman. I was not in the bar
+this evening. If you'll excuse me I'll go and bring him down. In the
+meantime make yourselves comfortable."</p>
+
+<p>He left us to kick our heels in the hall while he went upstairs again.
+In about ten minutes, and just as my all-consuming impatience was
+well-nigh getting the better of me, he returned, bringing with him the
+sleepy barman.</p>
+
+<p>"These gentlemen want some information about a man who was here
+to-night," the landlord said by way of introduction. "Perhaps you can
+give it?"</p>
+
+<p>"What was he like, sir?" asked the barman of the Inspector. The latter,
+however, turned to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Tall, slim, with a sallow complexion," I said, "black hair and very
+dark restless eyes. He came in here with the Hon. Sylvester Wetherell's
+coachman."</p>
+
+<p>The man seemed to recollect him at once.</p>
+
+<p>"I remember him," he said. "They sat in No. 5 down the passage there,
+and the man you mention ordered a nobbler of rum and a whisky."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the fellow we want," said the Inspector. "Now tell me this, have
+you ever seen him in here before?"</p>
+
+<p>"Never once," said the barman, "and that's a solemn fact, because if I
+had I couldn't have forgotten it. His figure-head wouldn't let you do
+that. No, sir, to-night was the first night he's ever been in the
+<i>Canary Bird</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"Did any one else visit them while they were in the room together?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not as I know of. But stay, I'm not so certain. Yes; I remember seeing
+a tall, good-looking chap come down the passage and go in there. But it
+was some time, half an hour maybe, after I took in the drinks."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you see him come out again?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. But I know the coachman got very drunk, and had to be carried out
+to the carriage."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I saw the other two doing it."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector turned to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Not very satisfactory, is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," I answered. "But do you mind letting us look into No. 5&mdash;the room
+they occupied?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," said the landlord. "Come with me."</p>
+
+<p>So saying he led the way down the passage to a little room on the
+right-hand side, the door of which he threw open with a theatrical
+flourish. It was in pitch darkness, but a few seconds later the gas was
+lit and we could see all that it contained. A small table stood in the
+centre of the room, and round the walls were ranged two or three wooden
+chairs. A small window was at the further end and a fireplace opposite
+the door. On the table was a half-smoked cigar and a torn copy of the
+<i>Evening Mercury</i>. But that was not what I wanted, so I went down on my
+hands and knees and looked about upon the floor. Presently I descried a
+small ball of paper near the grate. Picking it up I seated myself at the
+table and turned to the barman, who was watching my movements
+attentively.</p>
+
+<p>"Was this room used by any other people after the party we are looking
+for left?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir. There was nobody in either of these two bottom rooms."</p>
+
+<p>"You are quite certain of that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly certain."</p>
+
+<p>I took up the ball of paper, unrolled it and spread it out upon the
+table. To my disgust it was only the back half of an envelope, and
+though it had a few figures dotted about upon it, was of no possible use
+to us.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing there?" asked the Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing at all," I answered bitterly, "save a few incomprehensible
+figures."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in that case, we'd better be getting up to the station and see if
+they've discovered anything yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, then," I answered. "We must be quick though, for we've lost
+a lot of precious time, and every minute counts."</p>
+
+<p>I took up the <i>Evening Mercury</i> and followed him out to the cab, after
+having sincerely thanked the hotel proprietor and the barman for their
+courtesy. The Inspector gave the driver his orders and we set off. As we
+went we discussed our next movements, and while we were doing so I idly
+glanced at the paper I held in my hand. There was a lamp in the cab, and
+the light showed me on the bottom right-hand corner a round blue
+india-rubber stamp mark, "W. E. Maxwell, stationer and newsagent, 23,
+Ipswell Street, Woolahra."</p>
+
+<p>"Stop the cab!" I almost shouted. "Tell the man to drive us back to the
+<i>Canary Bird</i> quickly."</p>
+
+<p>The order was given, the cab faced round, and in less than a minute we
+were on our way back.</p>
+
+<p>"What's up now?" asked the astonished Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"Only that I believe I've got a clue," I cried.</p>
+
+<p>I did not explain any further, and in five minutes we had brought the
+landlord downstairs again.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry to trouble you in this fashion," I cried, "but life and death
+depend on it. I want you to let me see No. 5 again."</p>
+
+<p>He conducted us to the room, and once more the gas was lit. The small
+strip of envelope lay upon the table just as I had thrown it down. I
+seated myself and again looked closely at it. Then I sprang to my feet.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought so!" I cried excitedly, pointing to the paper; "I told you I
+had a clue. Now, Mr. Inspector, who wrote those figures?"</p>
+
+<p>"The man you call Nikola, I suppose."</p>
+
+<p>"That's right. Now who would have bought this newspaper? You must
+remember that Thompson only left his box to come in here."</p>
+
+<p>"Nikola, I suppose."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good. Then according to your own showing Nikola owned this piece
+of envelope and this <i>Evening Mercury</i>. If that is certain, look here!"</p>
+
+<p>He came round and looked over my shoulder. I pointed to what was
+evidently part of the gummed edge of the top of the envelope. On it were
+these three important words, "&mdash;&mdash;swell Street, Woolahra."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," he said, "what about it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, look here!" I said, as I opened the <i>Evening Mercury</i> and pointed
+to the stamp-mark at the bottom. "The man who bought this newspaper at
+Mr. Maxwell's shop also bought this envelope there. The letters 'swell'
+before 'street' constitute the last half of Ipswell, the name of the
+street. If that man be Nikola, as we suspect, the person who served him
+is certain to remember him, and it is just within the bounds of
+possibility he may know his address."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," said the Inspector, struck with the force of my argument.
+"I know Mr. Maxwell's shop, and our best plan will be to go on there as
+fast as we can."</p>
+
+<p>Again thanking the landlord for his civility, we returned to our cab and
+once more set off, this time for Mr. Maxwell's shop in Ipswell Street.
+By the time we reached it it was nearly three o'clock, and gradually
+growing light. As the cab drew up alongside the curb the Inspector
+jumped out and rang the bell at the side door. It was opened after
+awhile by a shock-headed youth, who stared at us in sleepy astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Does Mr. Maxwell live at the shop?" asked the Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Where then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ponson Street&mdash;third house on the left-hand side."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you."</p>
+
+<p>Once more we jumped into the cab and rattled off. It seemed to me, so
+anxious and terrified was I for my darling's safety, that we were fated
+never to get the information we wanted; the whole thing was like some
+nightmare, in which, try how I would to move, every step was clogged.</p>
+
+<p>A few minutes' drive brought us to Ponson Street, and we drew up at the
+third house on the left-hand side. It was a pretty little villa, with a
+nice front garden and a creeper-covered verandah. We rang the bell and
+waited. Presently we heard some one coming down the passage, and a
+moment later the door was unlocked.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is there?" cried a voice from within.</p>
+
+<p>"Police," said my companion as before.</p>
+
+<p>The door was immediately opened, and a very small sandy-complexioned
+man, dressed in a flaring suit of striped pyjamas, stood before us. "Is
+anything wrong, gentlemen?" he asked nervously.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing to affect you, Mr. Maxwell," my companion replied. "We only
+want a little important information, if you can give it us. We are
+anxious to discover a man's whereabouts before daylight, and we have
+been led to believe that you are the only person who can give us the
+necessary clue."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious! But I shall be happy to serve you if I can," the little
+man answered, leading the way into his dining-room with an air of
+importance his appearance rather belied. "What is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's this," I replied, producing the piece of envelope and the
+<i>Evening Mercury</i>. "You see these letters on the top of this paper,
+don't you?" He nodded, his attention at once secured by seeing his own
+name. "Well, that envelope was evidently purchased in your shop. So was
+this newspaper."</p>
+
+<p>"How can you tell that?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the case of the envelope, by these letters; in that of the paper, by
+your rubber stamp on the bottom."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! Well, now, and in what way can I help you?"</p>
+
+<p>"We want to know the address of the man who bought them."</p>
+
+<p>"That will surely be difficult. Can you give me any idea of what he was
+like?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tall, slightly foreign in appearance, distinctly handsome, sallow
+complexion, very dark eyes, black hair, small hands and feet."</p>
+
+<p>As my description progressed the little man's face brightened. Then he
+cried with evident triumph&mdash;"I know the man; he came into the shop
+yesterday afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"And his address is?"</p>
+
+<p>His face fell again. His information was not quite as helpful as he had
+expected it would be.</p>
+
+<p>"There I can't help you, I'm sorry to say. He bought a packet of paper
+and envelopes and the <i>Evening Mercury</i> and then left the shop. I was so
+struck by his appearance that I went to the door and watched him cross
+the road."</p>
+
+<p>"And in which direction did he go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Over to Podgers' chemist shop across the way. That was the last I saw
+of him."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maxwell," I said, shaking him by the hand. "But
+I'm sorry you can't tell us something more definite about him." Then
+turning to the Inspector: "I suppose we had better go off and find
+Podgers. But if we have to spend much more time in rushing about like
+this we shall be certain to lose them altogether."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us be off to Podgers', then, as fast as we can go."</p>
+
+<p>Bidding Mr. Maxwell good-bye, we set off again, and in ten minutes had
+arrived at the shop and had Mr. Podgers downstairs. We explained our
+errand briefly, and gave a minute description of the man we wanted.</p>
+
+<p>"I remember him perfectly," said the sedate Podgers. "He came into my
+shop last night and purchased a bottle of chloroform."</p>
+
+<p>"You made him sign the poison book, of course?"</p>
+
+<p>"Naturally I did, Mr. Inspector. Would you like to see his signature?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very much," we both answered at once, and the book was accordingly
+produced.</p>
+
+<p>Podgers ran his finger down the list.</p>
+
+<p>"Brown, Williams, Davis&mdash;ah! here it is. 'Chloroform: J. Venneage, 22,
+Calliope Street, Woolahra.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Venneage!" I cried. "Why, that's not his name!"</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely not," replied Podgers; "but it's the name he gave me."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, we'll try 22, Calliope Street, on the chance," said the
+Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>Again we drove off, this time at increased pace. In less than fifteen
+minutes we had turned into the street we wanted, and pulled up about a
+hundred yards from the junction. It was a small thoroughfare, with a
+long line of second-class villa residences on either side. A policeman
+was sauntering along on the opposite side of the way, and the Inspector
+called him over. He saluted respectfully, and waited to be addressed.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you know of number 22?" asked the Inspector briefly. The
+constable considered for a few moments, and then said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to tell you the truth, sir, I didn't know until yesterday that it
+was occupied."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you seen anybody about there?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw three men go in just as I came on the beat to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"What were they like?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know that I looked much at them. They were all pretty
+big, and they seemed to be laughing and enjoying themselves."</p>
+
+<p>"Did they! Well, we must go in there and have a look at them. You had
+better come with us."</p>
+
+<p>We walked on down the street till we arrived at No. 22. Then opening the
+gate we went up the steps to the hall door. It was quite light enough by
+this time to enable us to see everything distinctly. The Inspector gave
+the bell a good pull and the peal re-echoed inside the house. But not a
+sound of any living being came from within in answer. Again the bell was
+pulled, and once more we waited patiently, but with the same result.</p>
+
+<p>"Either there's nobody at home or they refuse to hear," said the
+Inspector. "Constable, you remain where you are and collar the first man
+you see. Mr. Hatteras, we will go round to the back and try to effect an
+entrance from there."</p>
+
+<p>We left the front door, and finding a path reached the yard. The house
+was only a small one, with a little verandah at the rear on to which the
+back door opened. On either side of the door were two fair-sized
+windows, and by some good fortune it chanced that the catch of one of
+these was broken.</p>
+
+<p>Lifting the sash up, the Inspector jumped into the room, and as soon as
+he was through I followed him. Then we looked about us. The room,
+however, was destitute of furniture or occupants.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't hear anybody about," my companion said, opening the door that
+led into the hall. Just at that moment I heard a sound, and touching his
+arm signed to him to listen. We both did so, and surely enough there
+came again the faint muttering of a human voice. In the half-dark of the
+hall it sounded most uncanny.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody in one of the front rooms," said the Inspector. "I'll slip
+along and open the front door, bring in the man from outside, and then
+we'll burst into the room and take our chance of capturing them."</p>
+
+<p>He did as he proposed, and when the constable had joined us we moved
+towards the room on the left.</p>
+
+<p>Again the mutterings came from the inside, and the Inspector turned the
+handle of the door. It was locked, however. "Let me burst it in," I
+whispered.</p>
+
+<p>He nodded, and I accordingly put my shoulder against it, and bringing my
+strength to bear sent it flying in.</p>
+
+<p>Then we rushed into the room, to find it, at first glance, empty. Just
+at that moment, however, the muttering began again, and we looked
+towards the darkest corner; somebody was there, lying on the ground. I
+rushed across and knelt down to look. <i>It was Beckenham; his mouth
+gagged and his hands and feet bound. The noise we had heard was that
+made by him trying to call us to his assistance.</i></p>
+
+<p>In less time than it takes to tell I had cut his bonds and helped him to
+sit up. Then I explained to the Inspector who he was.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank God you're found!" I cried. "But what does it all mean? How long
+have you been like this? and where is Nikola?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how long I've been here," he answered, "and I don't know
+where Nikola is."</p>
+
+<p>"But you must know something about him!" I cried. "For Heaven's sake
+tell me all you can! I'm in awful trouble, and your story may give me
+the means of saving a life that is dearer to me than my own."</p>
+
+<p>"Get me something to drink first, then," he replied; "I'm nearly dying
+of thirst; after that I'll tell you."</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately I had had the foresight to put a flask of whisky into my
+pocket, and I now took it out and gave him a stiff nobbler. It revived
+him somewhat, and he prepared to begin his tale. But the Inspector
+interrupted&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Before you commence, my lord, I must send word to the Commissioner that
+you have been found."</p>
+
+<p>He wrote a message on a piece of paper and despatched the constable with
+it. Having done so he turned to Beckenham and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now, my lord, pray let us hear your story."</p>
+
+<p>Beckenham forthwith commenced.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IIIA" id="CHAPTER_IIIA"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>LORD BECKENHAM'S STORY</h3>
+
+
+<p>"When you left me, Mr. Hatteras, I remained in the house for half an
+hour or so reading. Then, thinking no harm could possibly come of it, I
+started out for a little excursion on my own account. It was about
+half-past eleven then.</p>
+
+<p>"Leaving the hotel I made for the ferry and crossed Darling Harbour to
+Millers Point; then, setting myself for a good ramble, off I went
+through the city, up one street and down another, to eventually bring up
+in the botanical gardens. The view was so exquisite that I sat myself
+down on a seat and resigned myself to rapturous contemplation of it. How
+long I remained there I could not possibly say. I only know that while I
+was watching the movements of a man-o'-war in the cove below me I became
+aware, by intuition&mdash;for I did not look at him&mdash;that I was the object of
+close scrutiny by a man standing some little distance from me. Presently
+I found him drawing closer to me, until he came boldly up and seated
+himself beside me. He was a queer-looking little chap, in some ways not
+unlike my old tutor Baxter, with a shrewd, clean-shaven face, grey hair,
+bushy eyebrows, and a long and rather hooked nose. He was well dressed,
+and when we had been sitting side by side for some minutes he turned to
+me and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'It is a beautiful picture we have spread before us, is it not?'</p>
+
+<p>"'It is, indeed,' I answered. 'And what a diversity of shipping!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You may well say that,' he continued. 'It would be an interesting
+study, would it not, to make a list of all the craft that pass in and
+out of this harbour in a day&mdash;to put down the places where they were
+built and whence they hail, the characters of their owners and
+commanders, and their errands about the world. What a book it would
+make, would it not? Look at that man-o'-war in Farm Cove; think of the
+money she cost, think of where that money came from&mdash;the rich people who
+paid without thinking, the poor who dreaded the coming of the tax
+collector like a visit from the Evil One; imagine the busy dockyard in
+which she was built&mdash;can't you seem to hear the clang of the riveters
+and the buzzing of the steam saws? Then take that Norwegian boat passing
+the fort there; think of her birthplace in far Norway, think of the
+places she has since seen, imagine her masts growing in the forests on
+the mountain side of lonely fiords, where the silence is so intense that
+a stone rolling down and dropping into the water echoes like thunder.'</p>
+
+<p>"He went on like this for some time, until I said: 'You seem to have
+studied it very carefully.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Perhaps I have,' he answered. 'I am deeply interested in the life of
+the sea&mdash;few more so. Are you a stranger in New South Wales?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Quite a stranger,' I replied. 'I only arrived in Australia a few days
+since.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Indeed! Then you have to make the acquaintance of many entrancing
+beauties yet. Forgive my impertinence, but if you are on a tour, let me
+recommend you to see the islands before you return home.'</p>
+
+<p>"'The South-Sea Islands, I presume you mean?' I said.</p>
+
+<p>"'Yes; the bewitching islands of the Southern Seas! The most
+entrancingly beautiful spots on God's beautiful earth! See them before
+you go. They will amply repay any trouble it may cost you to reach
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I should like to see them very much,' I answered.</p>
+
+<p>"'Perhaps you are interested in them already?' he continued.</p>
+
+<p>"'Very much indeed,' I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"'Then, in that case, I may not be considered presumptuous if I offer to
+assist you. I am an old South-Sea merchant myself, and I have amassed a
+large collection of beautiful objects from the islands. If you would
+allow me the pleasure I should be delighted to show them to you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I should like to see them very much indeed,' I answered, thinking it
+extremely civil of him.</p>
+
+<p>"'If you have time we might perhaps go and over-haul them now. My house
+is but a short distance from the Domain, and my carriage is waiting at
+the gates.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I shall be delighted,' I said, thinking there could be no possible
+harm in my accepting his invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"'But before we go, may I be allowed to introduce myself?' the old
+gentleman said, taking a card-case from his pocket and withdrawing a
+card. This he handed to me, and on it I read&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>'Mr. Mathew Draper.'</p></div>
+
+<p>"'I am afraid I have no card to offer you in return,' I said; 'but I am
+the Marquis of Beckenham.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Indeed! Then I am doubly honoured,' the old gentleman said, with a low
+bow. 'Now shall we wend our way up towards my carriage?'</p>
+
+<p>"We did so, chatting as we went. At the gates a neat brougham was
+waiting for us, and in it we took our places. "'Home,' cried my host,
+and forthwith we set off down the street. Up one thoroughfare and down
+another we passed, until I lost all count of our direction. Throughout
+the drive my companion talked away in his best style; commented on the
+architecture of the houses, had many queer stories to tell of the
+passers-by, and in many other ways kept my attention engaged till the
+carriage came to a standstill before a small but pretty villa in a quiet
+street.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Draper immediately alighted, and when I had done so, dismissed his
+coachman, who drove away as we passed through the little garden and
+approached the dwelling. The front door was opened by a dignified
+man-servant, and we entered. The hall, which was a spacious one for so
+small a dwelling, was filled with curios and weapons, but I had small
+time for observing them, as my host led me towards a room at the back.
+As we entered it he said 'I make you welcome to my house, my lord. I
+hope, now that you have taken the trouble to come, I shall be able to
+show you something that will repay your visit.' Thereupon, bidding me
+seat myself for a few moments, he excused himself and left the room.
+When he returned he began to do the honours of the apartment. First we
+examined a rack of Australian spears, nulla-nullas, and boomerangs, then
+another containing New Zealand hatchets and clubs. After this we crossed
+to a sort of alcove where reposed in cases a great number of curios
+collected from the further islands of the Pacific. I was about to take
+up one of these when the door on the other side of the room opened and
+some one entered. At first I did not look round, but hearing the
+new-comer approaching me I turned, to find myself, to my horrified
+surprise, face to face <i>with Dr. Nikola</i>. He was dressed entirely in
+black, his coat was buttoned and displayed all the symmetry of his
+peculiar figure, while his hair seemed blacker and his complexion even
+paler than before. He had evidently been prepared for my visit, for he
+held out his hand and greeted me without a sign of astonishment upon his
+face.</p>
+
+<p>"'This is indeed a pleasure, my lord,' he said, still with his hand
+out-stretched, looking hard at me with his peculiar cat-like eyes. 'I
+did not expect to see you again so soon. And you are evidently a little
+surprised at meeting me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I am more than surprised,' I answered bitterly. 'I am horribly
+mortified and angry.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Draper said nothing, but Dr. Nikola dropped into a chair and spoke
+for him.</p>
+
+<p>"'You must not blame my old friend Draper,' he said suavely. 'We have
+been wondering for the last twenty-four hours how we might best get hold
+of you, and the means we have employed so successfully seemed the only
+possible way. Have no fear, my lord, you shall not be hurt. In less than
+twenty-four hours you will enjoy the society of your energetic friend
+Mr. Hatteras again.'</p>
+
+<p>"'What is your reason for abducting me like this?' I asked. 'You are
+foolish to do so, for Mr. Hatteras will leave no stone unturned to find
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I do not doubt that at all,' said Dr. Nikola quietly; 'but I think Mr.
+Hatteras will find he will have all his work cut out for him this time.'</p>
+
+<p>"'If you imagine that your plans are not known in Sydney you are
+mistaken,' I cried. 'The farce you are playing at Government House is
+detected, and Mr. Hatteras, directly he finds I am lost, will go to Lord
+Amberley, and reveal everything.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I have not the slightest objection,' returned Dr. Nikola quietly. 'By
+the time Mr. Hatteras can take those steps&mdash;indeed, by the time he
+discovers your absence at all&mdash;we shall be beyond his reach.'</p>
+
+<p>"I could not follow his meaning, of course, but while he had been
+speaking I had been looking stealthily round me for a means of escape.
+The only way out of the room was, of course, by the door, but both
+Nikola and his ally were between me and that. Then a big stone hatchet
+hanging on the wall near me caught my eye. Hardly had I seen it before
+an idea flashed through my brain. Supposing I seized it and fought my
+way out. The door of the room stood open, and I noticed with delight
+that the key was in the lock on the outside. One rush, armed with the
+big hatchet, would take me into the passage; then before my foes could
+recover their wits I might be able to turn the key, and, having locked
+them in, make my escape from the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Without another thought I made up my mind, sprang to the wall, wrenched
+down the hatchet, and prepared for my rush. But by the time I had done
+it both Nikola and Draper were on their feet.</p>
+
+<p>"'Out of my way!' I cried, raising my awful weapon aloft. 'Stop me at
+your peril!'</p>
+
+<p>"With my hatchet in the air I looked at Nikola. He was standing rigidly
+erect, with one arm out-stretched, the hand pointing at me. His eyes
+glared like living coals, and when he spoke his voice came from between
+his teeth like a serpent's hiss.</p>
+
+<p>"'Put down that axe!' he said.</p>
+
+<p>"With that the old horrible fear of him which had seized me on board
+ship came over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look
+away from them. I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he
+gazed at me in the same hideous fashion.</p>
+
+<p>"'Sit down in that chair,' he said quietly. 'You cannot disobey me.' And
+indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful
+dizziness was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those
+terrible eyes. They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every
+moment. Oh! I can feel the horror of them even now. As I gazed his white
+right hand was moving to and fro before me with regular sweeps, and with
+each one I felt my own will growing weaker and weaker. That I was being
+mesmerized, I had no doubt, but if I had been going to be murdered I
+could not have moved a finger to save myself.</p>
+
+<p>"Then there came a sudden but imperative knock at the door, and both
+Nikola and Draper rose. Next moment the man whom we had noticed in the
+train as we came up from Melbourne, and against whom you, Mr. Hatteras,
+had warned me in Sydney, entered the room. He crossed and stood
+respectfully before Nikola.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, Mr. Eastover, what news?' asked the latter. 'Have you done what
+I told you?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Everything,' the man answered, taking an envelope from his pocket.
+'Here is the letter you wanted.'</p>
+
+<p>"Nikola took it from his subordinate's hand, broke the seal, and having
+withdrawn the contents, read it carefully. All this time, seeing
+resistance was quite useless, I did not move. I felt too sick and giddy
+for anything. When he had finished his correspondence Nikola said
+something in an undertone to Draper, who immediately left the room.
+During the time he was absent none of us spoke. Presently he returned,
+bringing with him a wine glass filled with water, which he presented to
+Nikola.</p>
+
+<p>"'Thank you,' said that gentleman, feeling in his waistcoat pocket.
+Presently he found what he wanted and produced what looked like a small
+silver scent-bottle. Unscrewing the top, he poured from it into the wine
+glass a few drops of some dark-coloured liquid. Having done this he
+smelt it carefully and then handed it to me. 'I must ask you to drink
+this, my lord,' he said. 'You need have no fear of the result: it is
+perfectly harmless.'</p>
+
+<p>"Did ever man hear such a cool proposition? Very naturally I declined to
+do as he wished.</p>
+
+<p>"'You <i>must</i> drink it!' he reiterated. 'Pray do so at once. I have no
+time to waste bandying words.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I will not drink it!' I cried, rising to my feet, and prepared to make
+a fight for it if need should be.</p>
+
+<p>"Once more those eyes grew terrible, and once more that hand began to
+make the passes before my face. Again I felt the dizziness stealing over
+me. His will was growing every moment too strong for me. I could not
+resist him. So when he once more said, 'Drink!' I took the glass and did
+as I was ordered. After that I remember seeing Nikola, Draper, and the
+man they called Eastover engaged in earnest conversation on the other
+side of the room. I remember Nikola crossing to where I sat and gazing
+steadfastly into my face, and after that I recollect no more until I
+came to my senses in this room, to find myself bound and gagged. For
+what seemed like hours I lay in agony, then I heard footsteps in the
+verandah, and next moment the sound of voices. I tried to call for help,
+but could utter no words. I thought you would go away without
+discovering me, but fortunately for me you did not do so. Now, Mr.
+Hatteras, I have told you everything."</p>
+
+<p>For some time after the Marquis had concluded his strange story both the
+Inspector and I sat in deep thought. That Beckenham had been kidnapped
+in order that he should be out of the way while the villainous plot for
+abducting Phyllis was being enacted there could be no doubt. But why had
+he been chosen? and what clues were we to gather from what he had told
+us? I turned to the Inspector and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think will be the best course for us to pursue now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have been wondering myself. I think, as there is nothing to be
+learned from this house, the better plan would be for you two gentlemen
+to go back to Mr. Wetherell, while I return to the detective office and
+see if anything has been discovered by the men there. As soon as I have
+found out I will join you at Potts Point. What do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>I agreed that it would be the best course; so, taking the Marquis by the
+arms (for he was still too weak to walk alone), we left the house, and
+were about to step into the street when I stopped, and asking them to
+wait for me ran back into the room again. In the corner, just as it had
+been thrown down, lay the rope with which Beckenham had been bound and
+the pad which had been fitted over his mouth. I picked both up and
+carried them into the verandah.</p>
+
+<p>"Come here, Mr. Inspector," I cried. "I thought I should learn something
+from this. Look at this rope and this pad, and tell me what you make of
+them."</p>
+
+<p>He took each up in turn and looked them over and over. But he only shook
+his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see anything to guide us," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you?" I cried. "Why, they tell me more than I have learnt from
+anything else I've seen. Look at the two ends of this. They're seized!"</p>
+
+<p>I looked triumphantly at him, but he only stared at me in surprise, and
+said, "What do you mean by 'seized'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I mean that the ends are bound up in this way&mdash;look for yourself.
+Now not one landsman in a hundred <i>seizes</i> a rope's end. This line was
+taken from some ship in the harbour, and&mdash;&mdash;By Jove! here's another
+discovery!"</p>
+
+<p>"What now?" he cried, being by this time almost as excited as I was
+myself.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, look here," I said, holding the middle of the rope up to the
+light, so that we could get a better view of it. "Not very many hours
+ago this rope was running through a block, and that block was an
+uncommon one."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know that it was an uncommon one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because it has been newly painted, and what's funnier still, painted
+green, of all other colours. Look at this streak of paint along the
+line; see how it's smudged. Now, let's review the case as we walk
+along."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, with the Marquis between us, we set off down the street,
+hoping to be able to pick up a cab.</p>
+
+<p>"First and foremost," I said, "remember old Draper's talk of the South
+Seas&mdash;remember the collection of curios he possessed. Probably he owns a
+schooner, and it's more than probable that this line and this bit of
+canvas came from it."</p>
+
+<p>"I see what you're driving at," said the Inspector. "It's worth
+considering. Directly I get to the office I will set men to work to try
+and find this mysterious gentleman. You would know him again, my lord?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should know him anywhere," was Beckenham's immediate reply.</p>
+
+<p>"And have you any idea at all where this house, to which he conducted
+you, is located?"</p>
+
+<p>"None at all. I only know that it was about half-way down a street of
+which all the houses, save the one at the corner&mdash;which was a grocer's
+shop&mdash;were one-storied villas."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing a little more definite, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"Stay! I remember that there was an empty house with broken windows
+almost opposite, and that on either side of the steps leading up to the
+front door were two stone eagles with out-stretched wings. The head of
+one of the eagles&mdash;the left, I think&mdash;was missing."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector noted these things in his pocket-book, and just as he had
+finished we picked up a cab and called it to the side walk. When we had
+got in and given the driver Mr. Wetherell's address, I said to the
+Inspector&mdash;"What are you going to do first?"</p>
+
+<p>"Put some men on to find Mr. Draper, and some more to find a schooner
+with her blocks newly painted green."</p>
+
+<p>"You won't be long in letting us know what you discover?" I said.
+"Remember how anxious we are."</p>
+
+<p>"You may count on my coming to you at once with any news I may procure,"
+he answered.</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later we drew up at Mr. Wetherell's door. Bidding the
+Inspector good-bye we went up the steps and rang the bell. By the time
+the cab was out in the street again we were in the house making our way,
+behind the butler, to Mr. Wetherell's study.</p>
+
+<p>The old gentleman had not gone to bed, but sat just as I had left him so
+many hours before. As soon as we were announced he rose to receive us.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank God, Mr. Hatteras, you have come back!" he said. "I have been in
+a perfect fever waiting for you. What have you to report?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not very much, I'm afraid," I answered. "But first let me have the
+pleasure of introducing the real Marquis of Beckenham to you, whom we
+have had the good fortune to find and rescue."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Wetherell bowed gravely and held out his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"My lord," he said, "I am thankful that you have been discovered. I look
+upon it as one step towards the recovery of my poor girl. I hope now
+that both you and Mr. Hatteras will take up your abode with me during
+the remainder of your stay in the colony. You have had a scurvy welcome
+to New South Wales. We must see if we can't make up to you for it. But
+you look thoroughly worn out; I expect you would like to go to bed."</p>
+
+<p>He rang the bell, and when his butler appeared, gave him some
+instructions about preparing rooms for us.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later the man returned and stated that our rooms were ready,
+whereupon Mr. Wetherell himself conducted Beckenham to the apartment
+assigned to him. When he returned to me, he asked if I would not like to
+retire too, but I would not hear of it. I could not have slept a wink,
+so great was my anxiety. Seeing this, he seated himself and listened
+attentively while I gave him an outline of Beckenham's story. I had
+hardly finished before I heard a carriage roll up to the door. There was
+a ring at the bell, and presently the butler, who, like ourselves, had
+not dreamt of going to bed, though his master had repeatedly urged him
+to do so, entered and announced the Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>Wetherell hobbled across to receive him with an anxious face. "Have you
+any better tidings for me?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Not very much, I'm afraid, sir," the Inspector said, shaking his head.
+"The best I have to tell you is that your carriage and horse have been
+found in the yard of an empty house off Pitt Street."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you been able to discover any clue as to who put them there?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not one! The horse was found out of the shafts tied to the wall. There
+was not a soul about the place."</p>
+
+<p>Wetherell sat down again and covered his face with his hands. At that
+instant the telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply. I
+jumped up and went across to it. Placing the receivers to my ears, I
+heard a small voice say, "Is that Mr. Wetherell's house, Potts Point?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," I answered.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is speaking?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hatteras. Mr. Wetherell, however, is in the room. Who are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Detective officer. Will you tell Mr. Wetherell that Mr. Draper's house
+has been discovered?"</p>
+
+<p>I communicated the message to Mr. Wetherell, and then the Inspector
+joined me at the instrument and spoke. "Where is the house?" he
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"83, Charlemagne Street&mdash;north side."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good. Inspector Murdkin speaking. Let plain clothes men be
+stationed at either end of the street, and tell them to be on the look
+out for Draper, and to wait for me. I'll start for the house at once."</p>
+
+<p>He rang off and then turned to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you too tired to come with me, Mr. Hatteras?" he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course not," I answered. "Let us go at once."</p>
+
+<p>"God bless you!" said Wetherell. "I hope you may catch the fellow."</p>
+
+<p>Bidding him good-bye, we went downstairs again, and jumped into the cab,
+which was directed to the street in question.</p>
+
+<p>Though it was a good distance from our starting-point, in less than half
+an hour we had pulled up at the corner. As the cab stopped, a tall man,
+dressed in blue serge, who had been standing near the lamp-post, came
+forward and touched his hat.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning, Williams," said the Inspector. "Any sign of our man?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not one, sir. He hasn't come down the street since I've been here."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good. Now come along and we'll pay the house a visit."</p>
+
+<p>So saying he told the cabman to follow us slowly, and we proceeded down
+the street. About half-way along he stopped and pointed to a house on
+the opposite side.</p>
+
+<p>"That is the house his lordship mentioned, with the broken windows, and
+this is where Mr. Draper dwells, if I am not much mistaken&mdash;see the
+eagles are on either, side of the steps, just as described."</p>
+
+<p>It was exactly as Beckenham had told us, even to the extent of the
+headless eagle on the left of the walk. It was a pretty little place,
+and evidently still occupied, as a maid was busily engaged cleaning the
+steps.</p>
+
+<p>Pushing open the gate, the Inspector entered the little garden and
+accosted the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning," he said politely. "Pray, is your master at home?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir; he's at breakfast just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, would you mind telling him that two gentlemen would like to see
+him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>The girl rose to her feet, and, wiping her hands on her apron, led the
+way into the house. We followed close behind her. Then, asking us to
+wait a moment where we were, she knocked at a door on the right, and
+opening it, disappeared within.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said the Inspector, "our man will probably appear, and we shall
+have him nicely."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector had scarcely spoken before the door opened again, and a
+man came out. To our surprise, however, he was very tall and stout, with
+a round, jovial face, and a decided air of being satisfied with himself
+and the world in general.</p>
+
+<p>"To what do I owe the honour of this visit?" he said, looking at the
+Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"I am an Inspector of Police, as you see," answered my companion, "and
+we are looking for a man named Draper, who yesterday was in possession
+of this house."</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid you have made some little mistake," returned the other. "I
+am the occupier of this house, and have been for some months past. No
+Mr. Draper has anything at all to do with it."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector's face was a study for perfect bewilderment. Nor could
+mine have been much behind it. The Marquis had given such a minute
+description of the dwelling opposite and the two stone birds on the
+steps, that there could be no room for doubt that this <i>was</i> the house.
+And yet it was physically impossible that this man could be Draper; and,
+if it were the place where Beckenham had been drugged, why were the
+weapons, etc., he had described not in the hall?</p>
+
+<p>"I cannot understand it at all," said the Inspector, turning to me.
+"This is the house, and yet where are the things with which it ought to
+be furnished?"</p>
+
+<p>"You have a description of the furniture, then?" said the owner. "That
+is good, for it will enable me to prove to you even more clearly that
+you are mistaken. Pray come and see my sitting-rooms for yourselves."</p>
+
+<p>He led the way into the apartment from which he had been summoned, and
+we followed him. It was small and nicely furnished, but not a South-Sea
+curio or native weapon was to be seen in it. Then we followed him to the
+corresponding room at the back of the house. This was upholstered in the
+latest fashion; but again there was no sign of what Beckenham had led us
+to expect we should find. We were completely nonplussed.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid we have troubled you without cause," said the Inspector, as
+we passed out into the hall again.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mention it," the owner answered; "I find my compensation in the
+knowledge that I am not involved in any police unpleasantness."</p>
+
+<p>"By the way," said the Inspector suddenly, "have you any idea who your
+neighbours may be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, yes!" the man replied. "On my right I have a frigidly
+respectable widow of Low Church tendencies. On my left, the Chief Teller
+of the Bank of New Holland."</p>
+
+<p>"In that case we can only apologize for our intrusion and wish you
+good-morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Pray don't apologize. I should have been glad to have assisted you.
+Good-morning."</p>
+
+<p>We went down the steps again and out into the street. As we passed
+through the gate, the Inspector stopped and examined a mark on the
+right-hand post. Then he stooped and picked up what looked like a
+pebble. Having done so we resumed our walk.</p>
+
+<p>"What on earth can be the meaning of it all?" I asked. "Can his lordship
+have made a mistake?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I think not. We have been cleverly duped, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"What makes you think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't think so until we passed through the gate on our way out. Now
+I'm certain of it. Come across the street."</p>
+
+<p>I followed him across the road to a small plain-looking house, with a
+neatly-curtained bow window and a brass plate on the front door. From
+the latter I discovered that the proprietress of the place was a
+dressmaker, but I was completely at a loss to understand why we were
+visiting her. As soon as the door was opened the Inspector asked if Miss
+Tiffins were at home, and, on being told that she was, inquired if we
+might see her. The maid went away to find out, and presently returned
+and begged us to follow her. We did so down a small passage towards the
+door of the room which contained the bow window.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Tiffins bade us be seated, and then asked in what way she could be
+of service to us.</p>
+
+<p>"In the first place, madam," said the Inspector, "a serious crime has
+been perpetrated, and I have reason to believe that it may be in your
+power to give us a clue to the persons who committed it."</p>
+
+<p>"You frighten me, sir," replied the lady. "I cannot at all see in what
+way I can help you. I lead a life of the greatest quietness."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not wish to imply that you do know anything of them. I only want
+you to carry your memory back as far as yesterday, and to answer me the
+few simple questions I may ask you."</p>
+
+<p>"I will answer them to the best of my ability."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in the first place, may I ask if you remember seeing a brougham
+drive up to that house opposite about mid-day yesterday?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I cannot say that I do," the old lady replied after a moment's
+consideration.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you remember seeing a number of men leave the house during the
+afternoon?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. If they came out I did not notice them."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, think for one moment, if you please, and tell me what vehicles, if
+any, you remember seeing stop there."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me try to remember. There was Judge's baker's cart, about three,
+the milk about five, and a furniture van about half-past six."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what I want to know. And have you any recollection whose
+furniture van it was?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. I remember reading the name as it turned round. Goddard &amp; James,
+George Street. I wondered if the tenant was going to move."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector rose, and I followed his example.</p>
+
+<p>"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Miss Tiffins. You have helped me
+materially."</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad of that," she answered; "but I trust I shall not be wanted to
+give evidence in court."</p>
+
+<p>"You need have no fear on that score," the Inspector answered.
+"Good-day."</p>
+
+<p>When we had left the house the Inspector turned to me and said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"It was a great piece of luck finding a dressmaker opposite. Commend me
+to ladies of that profession for knowing what goes on in the street. Now
+we will visit Messrs. Goddard &amp; James and see who hired the things.
+Meantime, Williams," (here he called the plain-clothes constable to him),
+"you had better remain here and watch that house. If the man we saw
+comes out, follow him, and let me know where he goes."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good, sir," the constable replied, and we left him to his vigil.</p>
+
+<p>Then, hailing a passing cab, we jumped into it and directed the driver
+to convey us to George Street. By this time it was getting on for
+mid-day, and we were both worn out. But I was in such a nervous state
+that I could not remain inactive. Phyllis had been in Nikola's hands
+nearly fourteen hours, and so far we had not obtained one single
+definite piece of information as to her whereabouts.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving at the shop of Messrs. Goddard &amp; James, we went inside and
+asked to see the chief partner. An assistant immediately conveyed us to
+an office at the rear of the building, where we found an elderly
+gentleman writing at a desk. He looked up as we entered, and then,
+seeing the Inspector's uniform, rose and asked our business.</p>
+
+<p>"The day before yesterday," began my companion, "you supplied a
+gentleman with a number of South-Sea weapons and curios on hire, did you
+not?"</p>
+
+<p>"I remember doing so&mdash;yes," was the old gentleman's answer. "What about
+it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only I should be glad if you would favour me with a description of the
+person who called upon you about them&mdash;or a glimpse of his letter, if he
+wrote."</p>
+
+<p>"He called and saw me personally."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! That is good. Now would you be so kind as to describe him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in the first place, he was very tall and rather handsome; he had,
+if I remember rightly, a long brown moustache, and was decidedly well
+dressed."</p>
+
+<p>"That doesn't tell us very much, does it? Was he alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. He had with him, when he came into the office, an individual whose
+face remains fixed in my memory&mdash;indeed I cannot get it out of my head."</p>
+
+<p>Instantly I became all excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"What was this second person like?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can hardly tell you&mdash;that is to say, I can hardly give you a
+good enough description of him to make you see him as I saw him. He was
+tall and yet very slim, had black hair, a sallow complexion, and the
+blackest eyes I ever saw in a man. He was clean-shaven and exquisitely
+dressed, and when he spoke, his teeth glittered like so many pearls. I
+never saw another man like him in my life."</p>
+
+<p>"Nikola, for a thousand!" I cried, bringing my hand down with a thump
+upon the table.</p>
+
+<p>"It looks as if we're on the track at last," said the Inspector. Then,
+turning to Mr. Goddard again: "And may I ask now what excuse they made
+to you for wanting these things!"</p>
+
+<p>"They did not offer any; they simply paid a certain sum down for the
+hire of them, gave me their address, and then left."</p>
+
+<p>"And the address was?"</p>
+
+<p>"83, Charlemagne Street. Our van took the things there and fetched them
+away last night."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you. And now one or two other questions. What name did the hirer
+give?"</p>
+
+<p>"Eastover."</p>
+
+<p>"When they left your shop how did they go away?"</p>
+
+<p>"A cab was waiting at the door for them, and I walked out to it with
+them."</p>
+
+<p>"There were only two of them, you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. There was a third person waiting for them in the cab, and it was
+that very circumstance which made me anxious to have my things brought
+back as soon as possible. If I had been able to, I should have even
+declined to let them go."</p>
+
+<p>"Why so?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to tell you that would involve a story. But perhaps I had better
+tell you. It was in this way. About three years ago, through a distant
+relative, I got to know a man named Draper."</p>
+
+<p>"Draper!" I cried. "You don't mean&mdash;but there, I beg your pardon. Pray
+go on."</p>
+
+<p>"As I say, I got to know this man Draper, who was a South-Sea trader. We
+met once or twice, and then grew more intimate. So friendly did we at
+last become, that I even went so far as to put some money into a scheme
+he proposed to me. It was a total failure. Draper proved a perfect fraud
+and a most unbusiness-like person, and all I got out of the transaction
+was the cases of curios and weapons which this man Eastover hired from
+me. It was because&mdash;when I went out with my customers to their cab&mdash;I
+saw this man Draper waiting for them that I became uneasy about my
+things. However, all's well that ends well, and as they returned my
+goods and paid the hire I must not grumble."</p>
+
+<p>"And now tell me what you know of Draper's present life," the Inspector
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! I'm afraid of that I can tell you but little. He has been twice
+declared bankrupt, and the last time there was some fuss made over his
+schooner, the <i>Merry Duchess</i>."</p>
+
+<p>"He possesses a schooner, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes! A nice boat. She's in harbour now."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you very much, Mr. Goddard. I am obliged to you for your
+assistance in this matter."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mention it. I hope that what I have told you may prove of service
+to you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure it will. Good-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-day, gentlemen."</p>
+
+<p>He accompanied us to the door, and then bade us farewell. "Now what are
+we to do?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, first, I am going back to the office to put a man on to find this
+schooner, and then I'm going to take an hour or two's rest. By that time
+we shall know enough to be able to lay our hands on Dr. Nikola and his
+victim, I hope."</p>
+
+<p>"God grant we may!"</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you going now?"</p>
+
+<p>"Back to Potts Point," I answered.</p>
+
+<p>We thereupon bade each other farewell and set off in different
+directions.</p>
+
+<p>When I reached Mr. Wetherell's house I learned from the butler that his
+master had fallen asleep in the library. Not wishing to disturb him, I
+inquired the whereabouts of my own bedroom, and on being conducted to
+it, laid myself down fully dressed upon the bed. So utterly worn out was
+I, that my head had no sooner touched the pillow than I was fast asleep.
+How long I lay there I do not know, but when I woke it was to find Mr.
+Wetherell standing beside me, holding a letter in his hand. He was white
+as a sheet, and trembling in every limb. "Read this, Mr. Hatteras," he
+cried. "For Heaven's sake tell me what we are to do!"</p>
+
+<p>I sat up on the side of the bed and read the letter he handed to me. It
+was written in what was evidently a disguised hand, on common
+note-paper, and ran:&mdash;&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+<p>"<span class="smcap">To Mr. Wetherell</span>,<br />
+"<span class="smcap">Potts Point, Sydney</span></p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,</p>
+
+<p>"This is to inform you that your daughter is in very safe keeping.
+If you wish to find her you had better be quick about it. What's
+more, you had better give up consulting the police, and such like,
+in the hope of getting hold of her. The only way you <i>can</i> get her
+will be to act as follows: At eight o'clock to-night charter a boat
+and pull down the harbour as far as Shark Point. When you get
+there, light your pipe three times, and some one in a boat near by
+will do the same. Be sure to bring with you the sum of <i>one hundred
+thousand pounds in gold, and&mdash;this is most important&mdash;bring with
+you the little stick you got from China Pete, or do not come at
+all</i>. Above all, do not bring more than one man. If you do not put
+in an appearance you will not hear of your daughter again.</p>
+
+<p>Yours obediently,<br />
+"<span class="smcap">The Man who Knows</span>."</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IVA" id="CHAPTER_IVA"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>FOLLOWING UP A CLUE</h3>
+
+
+<p>For some moments after I had perused the curious epistle Mr. Wetherell
+had brought to my room I remained wrapped in thought.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you make of it?" my companion asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to say," I answered, looking at it again. "One thing,
+however, is quite certain, and that is that, despite its curious
+wording, it is intended you should take it seriously."</p>
+
+<p>"You think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do indeed. But I think when the Inspector arrives it would be just as
+well to show it to him. What do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I agree with you. Let us defer consideration of it until we see him."</p>
+
+<p>When, an hour later, the Inspector put in an appearance, the letter was
+accordingly placed before him, and his opinion asked concerning it. He
+read it through without comment, carefully examined the writing and
+signature, and finally held it up to the light. Having done this he
+turned to me and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Have you that envelope we found at the <i>Canary Bird</i>, Mr. Hatteras?"</p>
+
+<p>I took it out of my pocket and handed it to him. He then placed it on
+the table side by side with the letter, and through a magnifying-glass
+scrutinized both carefully. Having done so, he asked for the envelope in
+which it had arrived. Mr. Wetherell had thrown it into the waste-paper
+basket, but a moment's search brought it to light. Again he scrutinized
+both the first envelope and the letter, and then compared them with the
+second cover. "Yes, I thought so," he said. "This letter was written
+either by Nikola, or at his desire. The paper is the same as that he
+purchased at the stationer's shop we visited."</p>
+
+<p>"And what had we better do now?" queried Wetherell, who had been eagerly
+waiting for his opinion.</p>
+
+<p>"We must think," said the Inspector. "In the first place, I suppose you
+don't feel inclined to pay the large sum mentioned here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not if I can help it, of course," answered Wetherell. "But if the worst
+comes to the worst, and I cannot rescue my poor girl any other way, I
+would sacrifice even more than that."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we'll see if we can find her without compelling you to pay
+anything at all," the Inspector cried. "I've got an idea in my head."</p>
+
+<p>"And what is that?" I cried; for I, too, had been thinking out a plan.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, first and foremost," he answered, "I want you, Mr. Wetherell, to
+tell me all you can about your servants. Let us begin with the butler.
+How long has he been with you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nearly twenty years."</p>
+
+<p>"A good and trustworthy servant, I presume?"</p>
+
+<p>"To the last degree. I have implicit confidence in him."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we may dismiss him from our minds. I think I saw a footman in the
+hall. How long has he been with you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just about three months."</p>
+
+<p>"And what sort of a fellow is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"I really could not tell you very much. He seems intelligent, quick and
+willing, and up to his work."</p>
+
+<p>"Is your cook a man or a woman?"</p>
+
+<p>"A woman. She has been with me since before my wife's death&mdash;that is to
+say, nearly ten years. You need have no suspicion of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Housemaids?"</p>
+
+<p>"Two. Both have been with me some time, and seem steady, respectable
+girls. There is also a kitchen maid; but she has been with me nearly as
+long as my cook, and I would stake my reputation on her integrity."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in that case, the only person who seems at all suspicious is the
+footman. May we have him up?"</p>
+
+<p>"With pleasure. I'll ring for him."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Wetherell rang the bell, and a moment later it was answered by the
+man himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, James, and shut the door behind you," his master said.</p>
+
+<p>The man did as he was ordered, but not without looking, as I thought, a
+little uncomfortable. The Inspector I could see had noticed this too,
+for he had been watching him intently ever since he had appeared in the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>"James," said Mr. Wetherell, "the Inspector of Police wishes to ask you
+a few questions. Answer him to the best of your ability."</p>
+
+<p>"To begin with," said the Inspector, "I want you to look at this
+envelope. Have you seen it before?"</p>
+
+<p>He handed him the envelope of the anonymous letter addressed to Mr.
+Wetherell. The man took it and turned it over in his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," he said, "I have seen it before; I took it in at the front
+door."</p>
+
+<p>"From whom?"</p>
+
+<p>"From a little old woman, sir," the man answered.</p>
+
+<p>"A little old woman!" cried the Inspector, evidently surprised. "What
+sort of woman?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, I don't know that I can give you much of a description of
+her. She was very small, had a sort of nut-cracker face, a little black
+poke bonnet, and walked with a stick."</p>
+
+<p>"Should you know her again if you saw her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh yes, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Did she say anything when she gave you the letter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only, 'For Mr. Wetherell, young man.' That was all, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"And you didn't ask if there was an answer? That was rather a singular
+omission on your part, was it not?"</p>
+
+<p>"She didn't give me time, sir. She just put it into my hand and went
+down the steps again."</p>
+
+<p>"That will do. Now, Mr. Wetherell, I think we'd better see about getting
+that money from the bank. You need not wait, my man."</p>
+
+<p>The footman thereupon left the room, while both Mr. Wetherell and I
+stared at the Inspector in complete astonishment. He laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"You are wondering why I said that," he remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"I must confess it struck me as curious."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, let me tell you I did it with a purpose. Did you notice that
+young man's face when he entered the room and when I gave him the
+letter? There can be no doubt about it, he is in the secret."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean that he is in Nikola's employ? Then why don't you arrest him?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I want to be quite certain first. I said that about the money
+because, if he is Nikola's agent, he will carry the information to him,
+and by so doing keep your daughter in Sydney for at least a day longer.
+Do you see?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do, and I admire your diplomacy. Now what is your plan?"</p>
+
+<p>"May I first tell mine?" I said.</p>
+
+<p>"Do," said the Inspector, "for mine is not quite matured yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," I said, "my idea is this. I propose that Mr. Wetherell shall
+obtain from his bank a number of gold bags, fill them with lead discs to
+represent coin, and let it leak out before this man that he has got the
+money in the house. Then to-night Mr. Wetherell will set off for the
+water-side. I will row him down the harbour disguised as a boatman. We
+will pick up the boat, as arranged in that letter. In the meantime you
+must start from the other side in a police boat, pull up to meet us, and
+arrest the man. Then we will force him to disclose Miss Wetherell's
+whereabouts, and act upon his information. What do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"It certainly sound feasible," said the Inspector, and Mr. Wetherell
+nodded his head approvingly. At that moment the Marquis entered the
+room, looking much better than when we had found him on the preceding
+night, and the conversation branched off into a different channel.</p>
+
+<p>My plot seemed to commend itself so much to Mr. Wetherell's judgment,
+that he ordered his carriage and drove off there and then to his bank,
+while I went down to the harbour, arranged about a boat, and having done
+so, proceeded up to the town, where I purchased a false beard, an old
+dungaree suit, such as a man loafing about the harbour might wear, and a
+slouch hat of villainous appearance. By the time I got back to the house
+Mr. Wetherell had returned. With great delight he conducted me to his
+study, and, opening his safe, showed me a number of canvas bags, on each
+of which was printed &pound;1,000.</p>
+
+<p>"But surely there are not &pound;100,000 there?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the old gentleman with a chuckle. "There is the counterfeit
+of &pound;50,000 there; for the rest I propose to show him these."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, he dived his hand into a drawer and produced a sheaf of crisp
+bank-notes.</p>
+
+<p>"There&mdash;these are notes for the balance of the amount."</p>
+
+<p>"But you surely are not going to pay? I thought we were going to try to
+catch the rascals without letting any money change hands."</p>
+
+<p>"So we are, do not be afraid. If you will only glance at these notes you
+will see that they are dummies, every one of them. They are for me to
+exhibit to the man in the boat; in the dark they'll pass muster, never
+fear."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good indeed," I said with a laugh. "By the time they can be
+properly examined we shall have the police at hand ready to capture
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"I believe we shall," the old gentleman cried, rubbing his hands
+together in delight&mdash;"I believe we shall. And a nice example we'll make
+of the rascals. Nikola thinks he can beat me; I'll show him how mistaken
+he is!"</p>
+
+<p>And for some time the old gentleman continued in this strain,
+confidently believing that he would have his daughter with him again by
+the time morning came. Nor was I far behind him in confidence. Since
+Nikola had not spirited her out of the country my plot seemed the one of
+all others to enable us to regain possession of her; and not only that,
+but we hoped it would give us an opportunity of punishing those who had
+so schemed against her. Suddenly an idea was born in my brain, and
+instantly I acted on it.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Wetherell," I said, "supposing, when your daughter is safe again, I
+presume so far as once more to offer myself for your son-in-law, what
+will you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"What will I say?" he cried. "Why, I will tell you that you shall have
+her, my boy, with ten thousand blessings on your head. I know you now;
+and since I've treated you so badly, and you've taken such a noble
+revenge, why, I'll make it up to you, or my name's not Wetherell. But we
+won't talk any more about that till we have got possession of her; we
+have other and more important things to think of. What time ought we to
+start to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"The letter fixes the meeting for ten o'clock; we had better be in the
+boat by half-past nine. In the meantime I should advise you to take a
+little rest. By the way, do you think your footman realizes that you
+have the money?"</p>
+
+<p>"He ought to, for he carried it up to this room for me; and, what's
+more, he has applied for a holiday this afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"That's to carry the information. Very good; everything is working
+excellently. Now I'm off to rest for a little while."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll follow your example. In the meantime I'll give orders for an early
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>We dined at seven o'clock sharp, and at half-past eight I went off to my
+room to don my disguise; then, bidding the Marquis good-bye&mdash;much to the
+young gentleman's disgust, for he was most anxious to accompany us&mdash;I
+slipped quietly out of my window, crossed the garden&mdash;I hoped
+unobserved&mdash;and then went down to the harbour side, where the boat I had
+chartered was waiting for me. A quarter of an hour later Wetherell's
+carriage drove up, and on seeing it I went across and opened the door.
+My disguise was so perfect that for a moment the old gentleman seemed
+undecided whether to trust me or not. But my voice, when I spoke,
+reassured him, and then we set to work carrying the bags of spurious
+money down to the boat. As soon as this was accomplished we stepped in.
+I seated myself amid-ships and got out the oars, Mr. Wetherell taking
+the yoke-lines in the stern. Then we shoved off, and made our way out
+into the harbour.</p>
+
+<p>It was a dull, cloudy night, with hardly a sign of a star in the whole
+length and breadth of heaven, while every few minutes a cold, cheerless
+wind swept across the water. So chilly indeed was it that before we had
+gone very far I began to wish I had added an overcoat to my other
+disguises. We hardly spoke, but pulled slowly down towards the island
+mentioned in the letter. The strain on our nerves was intense, and I
+must confess to feeling decidedly nervous as I wondered what would
+happen if the police boat did not pull up to meet us, as we had that
+morning arranged.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter to ten chimed from some church ashore as we approached within
+a hundred yards of our destination. Then I rested on my oars and waited.
+All round us were the lights of bigger craft, but no rowing-boat could I
+see. About five minutes before the hour I whispered to Wetherell to make
+ready, and in answer the old gentleman took a matchbox from his pocket.
+Exactly as the town clocks struck the hour he lit a vesta; it flared a
+little and then went out. As it did so a boat shot out of the darkness
+to port. He struck a second, and then a third. As the last one burned up
+and then died away, the man rowing the boat I have just referred to
+struck a light, then another, then another, in rapid succession. Having
+finished his display, he took up his oars and propelled his boat towards
+us. When he was within talking distance he said in a gruff voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Is Mr. Wetherell aboard?"</p>
+
+<p>To this my companion immediately answered, with a tremble in his voice,
+"Yes, here I am!"</p>
+
+<p>"Money all right?"</p>
+
+<p>"Can you see if I hold it up?" asked Mr. Wetherell. As he spoke a long,
+black boat came into view on the other side of our questioner, and
+pulled slowly towards him. It was the police boat.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't want to see," said the voice again. "But this is the
+message I was to give you. Pull in towards Circular Quay and find the
+<i>Maid of the Mist</i> barque. Go aboard her, and take your money down into
+the cuddy. There you'll get your answer."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing more?" cried Mr. Wetherell.</p>
+
+<p>"That's all I was told," answered the man, and then said, "Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>At the same moment the police boat pulled up alongside him and made
+fast. I saw a dark figure enter his boat, and next moment the glare of a
+lantern fell upon the man's face. I picked up my oars and pulled over to
+them, getting there just in time to hear the Inspector ask the man his
+name.</p>
+
+<p>"James Burbidge," was the reply. "I don't know as how you've got
+anything against me. I'm a licensed waterman, I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Very likely," said the Inspector; "but I want a little explanation from
+you. How do you come to be mixed up in this business?"</p>
+
+<p>"What&mdash;about this 'ere message, d'you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, about this message. Where is it from? Who gave it to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you'll let me go, I'll tell you all about it," growled the
+man. "I was up at the <i>Hen and Chickens</i> this evenin', just afore dark,
+takin' a nobbler along with a friend. Presently in comes a cove in a
+cloak. He beckons me outside and says, 'Do you want to earn a
+sufring?'&mdash;a sufring is twenty bob. So I says, 'My word, I do!' Then he
+says, 'Well, you go out on the harbour to-night, and be down agin Shark
+Point at ten?' I said I would, and so I was. 'You'll see a boat there
+with an old gent in it,' says he. 'He'll strike three matches, and you
+do the same. Then ask him if he's Mr. Wetherell. If he says "Yes," ask
+him if the money's all right? And if he says "Yes" to that, tell him to
+pull in towards Circular Quay and find the <i>Maid of the Mist</i> barque.
+He's to take his money down to the cuddy, and he'll get his answer
+there.' That's the truth so 'elp me bob! I don't know what you wants to
+go arrestin' of an honest man for."</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector turned to the water police.</p>
+
+<p>"Does any man here know James Burbidge?"</p>
+
+<p>Two or three voices immediately answered in the affirmative, and this
+seemed to decide the officer, for he turned to the waterman again and
+said, "As some of my men seem to know you, I'll let you off. But for
+your own sake go home and keep a silent tongue."</p>
+
+<p>He thereupon clambered back into his own boat and bade the man depart.
+In less time than it takes to tell he was out of sight. We then drew up
+alongside the police boat.</p>
+
+<p>"What had we better do, Mr. Inspector?" asked Mr. Wetherell.</p>
+
+<p>"Find the <i>Maid of the Mist</i> at once. She's an untenanted ship, being
+for sale. You will go aboard, sir, with your companion, and down to the
+cuddy. Don't take your money, however. We'll draw up alongside as soon
+as you're below, and when one of their gang, whom you'll despatch for
+it, comes up to get the coin, we'll collar him, and then come to your
+assistance. Do you understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perfectly. But how are we to know the vessel?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the better plan would be for you to follow us. We'll pull to
+within a hundred yards of her. I learn from one of my men here that
+she's painted white, so you'll have no difficulty in recognizing her."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, then, go on, and we'll follow you."</p>
+
+<p>The police boat accordingly set off, and we followed about fifty yards
+behind her. A thick drizzle was now falling, and it was by no means an
+easy matter to keep her in sight. For some time we pulled on. Presently
+we began to get closer to her. In a quarter of an hour we were
+alongside.</p>
+
+<p>"There's your craft," said the Inspector, pointing as he spoke to a big
+vessel showing dimly through the scud to starboard of us. "Pull over to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>I followed his instructions, and, arriving at the vessel's side, hitched
+on, made the painter fast, and then, having clambered aboard, assisted
+Mr. Wetherell to do the same. As soon as we had both gained the deck we
+stood and looked about us, at the same time listening for any sound
+which might proclaim the presence of the men we had come to meet; but
+save the sighing of the wind in the shrouds overhead, the dismal
+creaking of blocks, and the drip of moisture upon the deck, no sign was
+to be heard. There was nothing for it, therefore, but to make our way
+below as best we could. Fortunately I had had the forethought to bring
+with me a small piece of candle, which came in very handily at the
+present juncture, seeing that the cuddy, when we reached the companion
+ladder, was wrapt in total darkness. Very carefully I stepped inside,
+lit the candle, and then, with Mr. Wetherell at my heels, made my way
+down the steps.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving at the bottom we found ourselves in a fair-sized saloon of the
+old-fashioned type. Three cabins stood on either side, while from the
+bottom of the companion ladder, by which we had descended, to a long
+cushioned locker right aft under the wheel, ran a table covered with
+American cloth. But there was no man of any kind to be seen. I opened
+cabin after cabin, and searched each with a like result. We were
+evidently quite alone in the ship.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you make of it all?" I asked of Mr. Wetherell.</p>
+
+<p>"It looks extremely suspicious," he answered. "Perhaps we're too early
+for them. But see, Mr. Hatteras, there's something on the table at the
+farther end."</p>
+
+<p>So there was&mdash;something that looked very much like a letter. Together we
+went round to the end of the table, and there, surely enough, found a
+letter pinned to the American cloth, and addressed to my companion in a
+bold but rather quaint handwriting.</p>
+
+<p>"It's for you, Mr. Wetherell," I said, removing the pins and presenting
+it to him. Thereupon we sat down beside the table, and he broke the seal
+with trembling fingers. It was not a very long epistle, and ran:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Mr. Wetherell</span>,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Bags of imitation money and spurious bank-notes will not avail
+you, nor is it politic to arrange that the Water Police should meet
+you on the harbour for the purpose of arresting me. You have lost
+your opportunity, and your daughter accordingly leaves Australia
+to-night. I will, however, give you one more chance&mdash;take care that
+you make the most of it. The sum I now ask is &pound;150,000 <i>with the
+stick given you by China Pete</i>, and must be paid without inquiry of
+any sort. If you are agreeable to this, advertise as follows, 'I
+will Pay&mdash;W., and give stick!' in the agony column <i>Sydney Morning
+Herald</i>, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of this present month.
+Arrangements will then be made with you.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">The Man who Knows.</span>"</p></div>
+
+<p>"Oh, my God, I've ruined all!" cried Mr. Wetherell as he put the letter
+down on the table; "and&mdash;who knows?&mdash;I may have killed my poor child!"</p>
+
+<p>Seeing his misery, I did my best to comfort him; but it was no use. He
+seemed utterly broken down by the failure of our scheme, and, if the
+truth must be told, my own heart was quite as heavy. One thing was very
+certain, there was a traitor in our camp. Some one had overheard our
+plans and carried them elsewhere. Could it be the footman? If so, he
+should have it made hot for him when I got sufficient proof against him;
+I could promise him that most certainly. While I was thinking over this,
+I heard a footstep on the companion stairs, and a moment later the
+Inspector made his appearance. His astonishment at finding us alone,
+reading a letter by the light of one solitary candle, was unmistakable,
+for he said, as he came towards us and sat down, "Why, how's this? Where
+are the men?"</p>
+
+<p>"There are none. We've been nicely sold," I answered, handing him the
+letter. He perused it without further remark, and when he had done so,
+sat drumming with his fingers upon the table in thought.</p>
+
+<p>"We shall have to look in your own house for the person who has given us
+away, Mr. Wetherell!" he said at last. "The folk who are running this
+affair are as cute as men are made nowadays; it's a pleasure to measure
+swords with them."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think our next move had better be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Get home as fast as we can. I'll return with you, and we'll talk it
+over. It's no use our remaining here."</p>
+
+<p>We accordingly went on deck, and descended to our wherry again. This
+time the Inspector accompanied us, while the police boat set off down
+the harbour on other business. When we had seen it pull out into the
+darkness, we threw the imitation money overboard, pushed off for the
+shore, landed where we had first embarked, and then walked up to Mr.
+Wetherell's house. It was considerably after twelve o'clock by the time
+we reached it, but the butler was still sitting up for us. His
+disappointment seemed as keen as ours when he discovered that we had
+returned without his young mistress. He followed us up to the study with
+spirits and glasses, and then at his master's instruction went off to
+bed.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, gentlemen," began Mr. Wetherell, when the door had closed upon
+him, "let us discuss the matter thoroughly. But, before we begin, may I
+offer you cigars?"</p>
+
+<p>The Inspector took one, but I declined, stating that I preferred a pipe.
+But my pipe was in my bedroom, which was on the other side of the
+passage; so asking them to wait for me, I went to fetch it. I left the
+room, shutting the door behind me. But it so happened that the pipe-case
+had been moved, and it was some minutes before I could find it. Having
+done so, however, I blew out my candle, and was about to leave the room,
+which was exactly opposite the study, when I heard the green baize door
+at the end of the passage open, and a light footstep come along the
+corridor. Instantly I stood perfectly still, and waited to see who it
+might be. Closer and closer the step came, till I saw in the half dark
+the pretty figure of one of the parlour maids. On tip-toe she crept up
+to the study door, and then stooping down, listened at the keyhole.
+Instantly I was on the alert, every nerve strained to watch her. For
+nearly five minutes she stood there, and then with a glance round,
+tiptoed quietly along the passage again, closing the baize door after
+her.</p>
+
+<p>When she was safely out of hearing I crossed to the study. Both the
+Inspector and Mr. Wetherell saw that something had happened, and were
+going to question me. But I held up my hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask any questions, but tell me as quickly, and as nearly as you
+can, what you have been talking about during the last five minutes," I
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't stop to ask questions. Believe in the importance of my haste.
+What was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have only been giving Mr. Wetherell a notion of the steps I propose
+to take," said the Inspector.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you. Now I'm off. Don't sit up for me, Mr. Wetherell; I'm going
+to follow up a clue that may put us on the right scent at last. I don't
+think you had better come, Mr. Inspector, but I'll meet you here again
+at six o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't explain, I suppose?" said the latter, looking a little
+huffed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid not," I answered; "but I'll tell you this much&mdash;I saw one of
+the female servants listening at this door. She'll be off, if I mistake
+not, with the news she has picked up, and I want to watch her.
+Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, and good luck to you."</p>
+
+<p>Without another word I slipped off my boots, and carrying them in my
+hand, left the room, and went downstairs to the morning-room. This
+apartment looked out over the garden, and possessed a window shaded by a
+big tree. Opening it, I jumped out and carefully closed it after me.
+Then, pausing for a moment to resume my boots, I crept quietly down the
+path, jumped a low wall, and so passed into the back street. About fifty
+yards from the tradesmen's entrance, but on the opposite side of the
+road, there was a big Moreton Bay fig-tree. Under this I took my stand,
+and turned a watchful eye upon the house. It was a dark night, so that
+it would have been extremely difficult for any one across the way to
+have detected my presence.</p>
+
+<p>For some minutes I waited, and was beginning to wonder if I could have
+been deceived, when I heard the soft click of a latch, and next moment a
+small dark figure passed out into the street, and closed the gate after
+it. Then, pausing a moment as if to make up her mind, for the mysterious
+person was a woman, she set off quickly in the direction of the city. I
+followed about a hundred yards behind her.</p>
+
+<p>With the exception of one policeman, who stared very hard at me, we did
+not meet a soul. Once or twice I nearly lost her, and when we reached
+the city itself I began to see that it would be well for me to decrease
+the difference that separated us, if I did not wish to bid good-bye to
+her altogether. I accordingly hastened my steps, and in this fashion we
+passed up one street and down another, until we reached what I cannot
+help thinking must have been the lowest quarter of Sydney. On either
+hand were Chinese names and sign-boards, marine stores, slop shops, with
+pawnbrokers and public-houses galore; while in this locality few of the
+inhabitants seemed to have any idea of what bed meant. Groups of
+sullen-looking men and women were clustered at the corners, and on one
+occasion the person I was pursuing was stopped by them. But she
+evidently knew how to take care of herself, for she was soon marching on
+her way again.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of one long and filthily dirty street she paused and looked
+about her. I had crossed the road just before this, and was scarcely ten
+yards behind her. Pulling my hat well down to shade my face, and
+sticking my hands in my pockets, I staggered and reeled along, doing my
+best to imitate the gait of a drunken man. Seeing only me about, she
+went up to the window of a corner house and tapped with her knuckles
+thrice upon the glass. Before one could have counted twenty the door of
+the dwelling was opened, and she passed in. Now I was in a nasty
+fix&mdash;either I must be content to abandon my errand, or I must get inside
+the building, and trust to luck to procure the information I wanted.
+Fortunately, in my present disguise the girl would be hardly likely to
+recognize her master's guest. So giving them time to get into a room, I
+also went up to the door and turned the handle. To my delight it was
+unlocked. I opened it, and entered the house.</p>
+
+<p>The passage was in total darkness; but I could make out where the door
+of the room I wanted to find was located by a thin streak of light low
+down upon the floor. As softly as I possibly could, I crept up to it,
+and bent down to look through the keyhole. The view was necessarily
+limited, but I could just make out the girl I had followed sitting upon
+a bed; while leaning against the wall, a dirty clay pipe in her mouth,
+was the vilest old woman I have ever in my life set eyes on. She was
+very small, with a pinched-up nut-cracker face, dressed in an old bit of
+tawdry finery, more than three sizes too large for her. Her hair fell
+upon her shoulders in a tangled mass, and from under it her eyes gleamed
+out like those of a wicked little Scotch terrier ready to bite. As I
+bent down to listen I heard her say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my pretty dear, and what information have you got for the
+gentleman, that brings you down at this time of night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only that the <i>coppers</i> are going to start at daylight looking for the
+<i>Merry Duchess</i>. I heard the Inspector say so himself."</p>
+
+<p>"At daylight, are they?" croaked the old hag. "Well, I wish 'em joy of
+their search, I do&mdash;them&mdash;them! Any more news, my dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"The master and that long-legged slab of a Hatteras went out to-night
+down the harbour. The old man brought home a lot of money bags, but what
+was in 'em was only dummies."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that, too, my dear. Nicely they was sold. Ha! ha!"</p>
+
+<p>She chuckled like an old fiend, and then began to cut up another pipe of
+tobacco in the palm of her hand like a man. She smoked negro head, and
+the reek of it came out through the keyhole to me. But the younger woman
+was evidently impatient, for she rose and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"When do they sail with the girl, Sally?"</p>
+
+<p>"They're gone, my dear. They went at ten to-night."</p>
+
+<p>At this news my heart began to throb painfully.</p>
+
+<p>"They weren't long about it," said the younger girl.</p>
+
+<p>"That Nikola's not long about anything," remarked the old woman.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope Pipa Lannu will agree with her health&mdash;the stuck-up minx&mdash;I do!"
+the younger remarked spitefully. "Now where's the money he said I was to
+have. Give it to me and let me be off. I shall get the sack if this is
+found out."</p>
+
+<p>"It was five pound I was to give yer, wasn't it?" the elder woman said.</p>
+
+<p>"Ten," said the younger sharply. "No larks, Sally. I know too much for
+you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you know a lot, honey, don't you? Of course you'd be expected to
+know more than old Aunt Sally, who's never seen anything at all,
+wouldn't you? Go along with you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hand me over the money, I say, and let me be off!"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you do know a lot more, don't you? There's a pound!"</p>
+
+<p>While they were wrangling over the payment I crept down the passage
+again to the front door. Once I had reached it, I opened it softly and
+went out, closing it carefully behind me. Then I took to my heels and
+ran down the street in the direction I had come. Inquiring my way here
+and there from policemen, I eventually reached home, scaled the wall,
+and went across the garden to the morning-room window. This I opened,
+and by its help made my way into the house and upstairs. As I had
+expected that he would have gone to bed, my astonishment was
+considerable at meeting Mr. Wetherell on the landing.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what have you discovered?" he asked anxiously as I came up to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Information of the greatest importance," I answered; "but one other
+thing first. Call up your housekeeper, and tell her you have reason to
+believe that one of the maids is not in the house. Warn her not to
+mention you in the matter, but to discharge the girl before breakfast.
+By the time you've done that I'll have changed my things and be ready to
+tell you everything."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go and rouse her at once; I'm all impatience to know what you have
+discovered."</p>
+
+<p>He left me and passed through the green baize door to the servants'
+wing; while I went to my bedroom and changed my things. This done, I
+passed into the study, where I found a meal awaiting me. To this I did
+ample justice, for my long walk and the excitement of the evening had
+given me an unusual appetite.</p>
+
+<p>Just as I was cutting myself a third slice of beef Mr. Wetherell
+returned, and informed me that the housekeeper was on the alert, and
+would receive the girl on her reappearance.</p>
+
+<p>"Now tell me of your doings," said the old gentleman.</p>
+
+<p>I thereupon narrated all that had occurred, and when I had finished, he
+said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Do you believe then that my poor girl has been carried off by Nikola to
+this island called Pipa Lannu?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, what are we to do to rescue her? Shall, I ask the
+Government to send a gunboat down?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you think it best; but, for my own part, I must own I should act
+independently of them. You don't want to make a big sensation, I
+presume; and remember, to arrest Nikola would be to open the whole
+affair."</p>
+
+<p>"Then what do you propose?"</p>
+
+<p>"I propose," I answered, "that we charter a small schooner, fit her out,
+select half a dozen trustworthy and silent men, and then take our
+departure for Pipa Lannu. I am well acquainted with the island, and,
+what's more, I hold a master's certificate. We would sail in after dark,
+arm all our party thoroughly, and go ashore. I expect they will be
+keeping your daughter a prisoner in a hut. If that is so, we will
+surround it and rescue her without any trouble, and, what is better
+still, without any public scandal. What do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I quite agree with what you say. I think it's an excellent idea; and,
+while you've been speaking, I too have been thinking of something.
+There's my old friend McMurtough, who has a nice steam yacht. I'm sure
+he'd be willing to let us have the use of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Where does he live?&mdash;far from here?"</p>
+
+<p>"His office would be best; we'll go over and see him directly after
+breakfast if you like."</p>
+
+<p>"By all means. Now I think I'll go and take a little nap; I feel quite
+worn out. When the Inspector arrives you will be able to explain all
+that has happened; but I think I should ask him to keep a quiet tongue
+in his head about the island. If it leaks out at all, it may warn them,
+and they'll be off elsewhere&mdash;to a place perhaps where we may not be
+able to find them."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll remember," said Mr. Wetherell, and thereupon I retired to my room,
+and, having partially undressed, threw myself upon my bed. In less than
+two minutes I was fast asleep, never waking until the first gong sounded
+for breakfast; then, after a good bath, which refreshed me wonderfully,
+I dressed in my usual habiliments, and went downstairs. Mr. Wetherell
+and the Marquis were in the dining-room, and when I entered both he and
+the Marquis, who held a copy of the <i>Sydney Morning Herald</i> in his hand,
+seemed prodigiously excited.</p>
+
+<p>"I say, Mr. Hatteras," said the latter (after I had said
+"Good-morning"), "here's an advertisement which is evidently intended
+for you!"</p>
+
+<p>"What is it about?" I asked. "Who wants to advertise for me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Read for yourself," said the Marquis, giving me the paper.</p>
+
+<p>I took it, and glanced down the column to which he referred me until I
+came to the following:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Richard Hatteras.&mdash;If this should meet the eye of Mr. Richard Hatteras,
+of Thursday Island, Torres Straits, lately returned from England, and
+believed to be now in Sydney; he is earnestly requested to call at the
+office of Messrs. Dawson &amp; Gladman, Solicitors, Castlereagh Street,
+where he will hear of something to his advantage."</p>
+
+<p>There could be no doubt at all that I was the person referred to; but
+what could be the reason of it all? What was there that I could possibly
+hear to my advantage, save news of Phyllis, and it would be most
+unlikely that I would learn anything about the movements of the gang who
+had abducted her from a firm of first-class solicitors such as I
+understood Messrs. Dawson &amp; Gladman to be. However, it was no use
+wondering about it, so I dismissed the matter from my mind for the
+present, and took my place at the table. In the middle of the meal the
+butler left the room, in response to a ring at the front door. When he
+returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall, who wished to
+have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr. Wetherell to excuse
+me, I left the room.</p>
+
+<p>In the hall I found a seedy-looking individual of about middle age. He
+bowed, and on learning that my name was Hatteras, asked if he might be
+permitted five minutes alone with me. In response, I led him to the
+morning-room, and having closed the door, pointed to a seat. "What is
+your business?" I inquired, when he had sat down.</p>
+
+<p>"It is rather a curious affair to approach, Mr. Hatteras," the man
+began. "But to commence, may I be permitted to suggest that you are
+uneasy in your mind about a person who has disappeared?"</p>
+
+<p>"You may certainly suggest that, if you like," I answered cautiously.</p>
+
+<p>"If it were in a man's power to furnish a clue regarding that person's
+whereabouts, it might be useful to you, I suppose," he continued,
+craftily watching me out of the corners of his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Very useful," I replied. "Are you in a position to do so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I might possibly be able to afford you some slight assistance," he went
+on. "That is, of course, provided it were made worth my while."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you call 'worth your while'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, shall we say five hundred pounds? That's not a large sum for
+really trustworthy information. I ought to ask a thousand, considering
+the danger I'm running in mixing myself up with the affair. Only I'm a
+father myself, and that's why I do it."</p>
+
+<p>"I see. Well, let me tell you, I consider five hundred too much."</p>
+
+<p>"Well then I'm afraid we can't trade. I'm sorry."</p>
+
+<p>"So am I. But I'm not going to buy a pig in a poke."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall we say four hundred, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. Nor three&mdash;two, or one. If your information is worth anything, I
+don't mind giving you fifty pounds for it. But I won't give a halfpenny
+more."</p>
+
+<p>As I spoke, I rose as if to terminate the interview. Instantly my
+visitor adopted a different tone.</p>
+
+<p>"My fault is my generosity," he said. "It's the ruin of me. Well, you
+shall have it for fifty. Give me the money, and I'll tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"By no means," I answered. "I must hear the information first. Trust to
+my honour. If what you tell me is worth anything, I'll give you fifty
+pounds for it. Now what is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, to begin with, you must understand that I was standing at
+the corner of Pitt Street an evening or two back, when two men passed me
+talking earnestly together. One of 'em was a tall strapping fellow, the
+other a little chap. I never saw two eviller looking rascals in my life.
+Just as they came alongside me, one says to the other, 'Don't be afraid;
+I'll have the girl at the station all right at eight o'clock sharp.' The
+other said something that I could not catch, and then I lost sight of
+them. But what I had heard stuck in my head, and so I accordingly went
+off to the station, arriving there a little before the hour. I hadn't
+been there long before the smallest of the two chaps I'd seen in the
+street came on to the platform, and began looking about him. By the face
+of him he didn't seem at all pleased at not finding the other man
+waiting for him. A train drew up at the platform, and presently, just
+before it started, I saw the other and a young lady wearing a heavy veil
+come quickly along. The first man saw them, and gave a little cry of
+delight. 'I thought you'd be too late,' says he. 'No fear of that,' says
+the other, and jumps into a first-class carriage, telling the girl to
+get in after him, which she does, crying the while, as I could see. Then
+the chap on the platform says to the other who was leaning out of the
+window, 'Write to me from Bourke, and tell me how she gets on.' 'You
+bet,' says his friend. 'And don't you forget to keep your eye on
+Hatteras.' 'Don't you be afraid,' answered the man on the platform. Then
+the guard whistled, and the train went out of the station. Directly I
+was able to I got away, and first thing this morning came on here. Now
+you have my information, and I'll trouble you for that fifty pound."</p>
+
+<p>"Not so fast, my friend. Your story seems very good, but I want to ask a
+few questions first. Had the bigger man&mdash;the man who went up to Bourke,
+a deep cut over his left eye?"</p>
+
+<p>"Now I come to think of it, he had. I'd forgotten to tell you that."</p>
+
+<p>"So it was he, then? But are you certain it was Miss Wetherell? Remember
+she wore a veil. Could you see if her hair was flaxen in colour?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very light it was; but I couldn't see rightly which colour it was."</p>
+
+<p>"You're sure it was a light colour?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite sure. I could swear to it in a court of law if you wanted me to."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right then, because it shows me your story is a fabrication.
+Come, get out of this house or I'll throw you out. You scoundrel, for
+two pins I'd give you such a thrashing as you'd remember all your life!"</p>
+
+<p>"None o' that, governor. Don't you try it on. Hand us over that fifty
+quid."</p>
+
+<p>With that the scoundrel whipped out a revolver and pointed it at me. But
+before he could threaten again I had got hold of his wrist with one
+hand, snatched the pistol with the other, and sent him sprawling on his
+back upon the carpet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you brute," I cried, "what am I going to do with you, do you
+think? Get up and clear out of the house before I take my boot to you."</p>
+
+<p>He got up and began to brush his clothes.</p>
+
+<p>"I want my fifty pound," he cried.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll get more than you want if you come here again," I said. "Out you
+go!"</p>
+
+<p>With that I got him by the collar and dragged him out of the room across
+the hall, much to the butler's astonishment, through the front door, and
+then kicked him down the steps. He fell in a heap on the gravel.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, my fine bloke," he said as he lay there; "you wait till I
+get you outside. I'll fix you up, and don't you make no mistake."</p>
+
+<p>I went back to the dining-room without paying any attention to his
+threats. Both Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham had been witnesses of what had
+occurred, and now they questioned me concerning his visit. I gave them
+an outline of the story the man had told me and convinced them of its
+absurdity. Then Mr. Wetherell rose to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now shall we go and see McMurtough?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," I said; "I'll be ready as soon as you are."</p>
+
+<p>"You will come with us, I hope, Lord Beckenham?" Wetherell said.</p>
+
+<p>"With every pleasure," answered his lordship, and thereupon we went off
+to get ready.</p>
+
+<p>Three-quarters of an hour later we were sitting in Mr. McMurtough's
+office. The upshot of the interview was that Mr. McMurtough fell in with
+our plans as soon as we had uttered them, and expressed himself
+delighted to lend his yacht in such a good cause.</p>
+
+<p>"I only wish I could come with you," he said; "but unfortunately that is
+quite impossible. However, you are more than welcome to my boat. I will
+give you a letter, or send one to the Captain, so that she may be
+prepared for sea to-day. Will you see about provisioning her, or shall
+I?"</p>
+
+<p>"We will attend to that," said Wetherell. "All the expenses must of
+course be mine."</p>
+
+<p>"As you please about that, my old friend," returned McMurtough.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is she lying?" asked Wetherell.</p>
+
+<p>The owner gave us the direction, and then having sincerely thanked him,
+we set off in search of her. She was a nice craft of about a hundred and
+fifty tons burden, and looked as if she ought to be a good sea boat.
+Chartering a wherry, we were pulled off to her. The captain was below
+when we arrived, but a hail brought him on deck. Mr. Wetherell then
+explained our errand, and gave him his owner's letter. He read it
+through, and having done so, said&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I am at your service, gentlemen. From what Mr. McMurtough says here I
+gather that there is no time to lose, so with your permission I'll get
+to work at once."</p>
+
+<p>"Order all the coal you want, and tell the steward to do the same for
+anything he may require in his department. The bills must be sent in to
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good, Mr. Wetherell. And what time will you be ready?"</p>
+
+<p>"As soon as you are. Can you get away by three o'clock this afternoon,
+think you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it will be a bit of a scramble, but I think we can manage it.
+Anyhow, I'll do my best, you may be sure of that, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure you will. There is grave need for it. Now we'll go back and
+arrange a few matters ashore. My man shall bring our baggage down later
+on."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good, sir. I'll have your berths prepared."</p>
+
+<p>With that we descended to the boat again, and were pulled ashore.
+Arriving there, Mr. Wetherell asked what we should do first.</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't we better go up to the town and purchase a few rifles and some
+ammunition?" I said. "We can have them sent down direct to the boat."</p>
+
+<p>"A very good suggestion. Let us go at once."</p>
+
+<p>We accordingly set off for George Street&mdash;to a shop I remembered having
+seen. There we purchased half a dozen Winchester repeaters, with a good
+supply of ammunition. They were to be sent down to the yacht without
+fail that morning. This done, we stood on the pavement debating what we
+should do next. Finally it was decided that Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham
+should go home to pack, while I made one or two other small purchases,
+and then join them. Accordingly, bidding them good-bye, I went on down
+the street, completed my business, and was about to hail a cab and
+follow them, when a thought struck me: Why should I not visit Messrs.
+Dawson &amp; Gladman, and find out why they were advertising for me? This I
+determined to do, and accordingly set off for Castlereagh Street.</p>
+
+<p>In a small room leading off the main passage, three clerks were seated.
+To them I addressed myself, asking if I might see the partners.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Dawson is the only one in town, sir," said the boy to whom I spoke.
+"If you'll give me your name, I'll take it in to him."</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Hatteras," I said. "Mr. Richard Hatteras."</p>
+
+<p>In less than two minutes the clerk returned, and begged me to follow
+him, which I did. At the end of a long passage we passed through a
+curtained doorway, and I stood in the presence of the chief partner.</p>
+
+<p>"I have great pleasure in making your acquaintance, Mr. Hatteras," he
+said, as I came to an anchor in a chair. "You noticed our advertisement,
+I presume?"</p>
+
+<p>"I saw it this morning," I answered. "And it is on that account I am
+here."</p>
+
+<p>"One moment before we proceed any further. Forgive what I am about to
+say&mdash;but you will see yourself that it is a point I am compelled not to
+neglect. Can you convince me as to your identity?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very easily," I replied, diving my hand into my breast-pocket and
+taking out some papers. "First and foremost, here is my bank-book. Here
+is my card-case. And here are two or three letters addressed to me by
+London and Sydney firms. The Hon. Sylvester Wetherell, Colonial
+Secretary, will be glad, I'm sure, to vouch for me. Is that sufficient
+to convince you?"</p>
+
+<p>"More than sufficient," he answered, smiling. "Now let me tell you for
+what purpose we desired you to call upon us." Here he opened a drawer
+and took out a letter. "First and foremost, you must understand that we
+are the Sydney agents of Messrs, Atwin, Dobbs &amp; Forsyth, of Furnival's
+Inn, London. From them, by the last English mail, we received this
+letter. I gather that you are the son of James Dymoke Hatteras, who was
+drowned at sea in the year 1880?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Your father was the third son of Sir Edward Hatteras of Murdlestone, in
+the county of Hampshire?"</p>
+
+<p>"He was."</p>
+
+<p>"And the brother of Sir William, who had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"That is so."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Hatteras, it is my sad duty to inform you that within a week
+of your departure from England your cousin, the young lady just referred
+to, was drowned by accident in a pond near her home, and that her
+father, who had been ailing for some few days, died of heart disease on
+hearing the sad tidings. In that case, so my correspondents inform me,
+there being no nearer issue, you succeed to the title and estates&mdash;which
+I also learn are of considerable value, including the house and park,
+ten farms, and a large amount of house property, a rent roll of fifteen
+thousand a year, and accumulated capital of nearly a hundred thousand
+pounds."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious! Is this really true?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite true. You can examine the letter for yourself."</p>
+
+<p>I took it up from the table and read it through, hardly able to believe
+my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"You are indeed a man to be envied, Mr. Hatteras," said the lawyer. "The
+title is an old one, and I believe the property is considered one of the
+best in that part of England."</p>
+
+<p>"It is! But I can hardly believe that it is really mine."</p>
+
+<p>"There is no doubt about that, however. You are a baronet as certainly
+as I am a lawyer. I presume you would like us to take whatever action is
+necessary?"</p>
+
+<p>"By all means. This afternoon I am leaving Sydney, for a week or two,
+for the Islands. I will sign any papers when I come back."</p>
+
+<p>"I will bear that in mind. And your address in Sydney is&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Care of the Honourable Sylvester Wetherell, Potts Point."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you. And, by the way, my correspondents have desired me on their
+behalf to pay in to your account at the Oceania the sum of five thousand
+pounds. This I will do to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"I am obliged to you. Now I think I must be going. To tell the truth, I
+hardly know whether I am standing on my head or my heels."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you will soon get over that."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning, Sir Richard."</p>
+
+<p>With that, I bade him farewell, and went out of the office, feeling
+quite dazed by my good fortune. I thought of the poor idiot whose end
+had been so tragic, and of the old man as I had last seen him, shaking
+his fist at me from the window of the house. And to think that that
+lovely home was mine, and that I was a baronet, the principal
+representative of a race as old as any in the country-side! It seemed
+too wonderful to be true!</p>
+
+<p>Hearty were the congratulations showered upon me at Potts Point, you may
+be sure, when I told my tale, and my health was drunk at lunch with much
+goodwill. But our minds were too much taken up with the arrangements for
+our departure that afternoon to allow us to think very much of anything
+else. By two o'clock we were ready to leave the house, by half-past we
+were on board the yacht, at three-fifteen the anchor was up, and a few
+moments later we were ploughing our way down the harbour.</p>
+
+<p>Our search for Phyllis had reached another stage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VA" id="CHAPTER_VA"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>THE ISLANDS, AND WHAT WE FOUND THERE</h3>
+
+
+<p>To those who have had no experience of the South Pacific the constantly
+recurring beauties of our voyage would have seemed like a foretaste of
+Heaven itself. From Sydney, until the Loyalty Group lay behind us, we
+had one long spell of exquisite weather. By night under the winking
+stars, and by day in the warm sunlight, our trim little craft ploughed
+her way across smooth seas, and our only occupation was to promenade or
+loaf about the decks and to speculate as to the result of the expedition
+upon which we had embarked.</p>
+
+<p>Having sighted the Isle of Pines we turned our bows almost due north and
+headed for the New Hebrides. Every hour our impatience was growing
+greater. In less than two days, all being well, we should be at our
+destination, and twenty-four hours after that, if our fortune proved in
+the ascendant, we ought to be on our way back with Phyllis in our
+possession once more. And what this would mean to me I can only leave
+you to guess.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, just as the faint outline of the coast of Aneityum was
+peering up over the horizon ahead, Wetherell and I chanced to be sitting
+in the bows. The sea was as smooth as glass, and the tinkling of the
+water round the little vessel's nose as she turned it off in snowy lines
+from either bow, was the only sound to be heard. As usual the
+conversation, after wandering into other topics, came back to the
+subject nearest our hearts. This led us to make a few remarks anent
+Nikola and his character. I could not help asking him for an
+explanation.</p>
+
+<p>"You want to know how it is that I am so frightened of Nikola?" he
+asked. "Well, to give you my reason will necessitate my telling you a
+story. I don't mind doing that at all, but what I am afraid of is that
+you may be inclined to doubt its probability. However, if you want to
+hear it you shall."</p>
+
+<p>"I should like to above all things," I replied. "I have been longing to
+ask you about it for some time past, but could not quite screw up my
+courage."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in the first place," Mr. Wetherell said, "you must understand
+that before I became a Minister of the Crown, or indeed a Member of
+Parliament at all, I was a barrister with a fairly remunerative
+practice. That was before my wife's death and when Phyllis was at
+school. Up to the time I am going to tell you about I had taken part in
+no very sensational case. But my opportunity for earning notoriety was,
+though I did not know it, near at hand. One day I was briefed to defend
+a man accused of the murder of a Chinaman aboard a Sydney vessel on a
+voyage from Shanghai. At first there seemed to be no doubt at all as to
+his guilt, but by a singular chance, with the details of which I will
+not bore you, I hit upon a scheme which got him off. I remember the man
+perfectly, and a queer fellow he was, half-witted, I thought, and at the
+time of the trial within an ace of dying of consumption. His gratitude
+was the more pathetic because he had not the wherewithal to pay me.
+However, he made it up to me in another way.</p>
+
+<p>"One wet night, a couple of months or so after the trial, I was sitting
+in my drawing-room listening to my wife's music, when a servant entered
+to tell me that a woman wanted to see me. I went out into the passage to
+find waiting there a tall buxom lass of about five-and-twenty years of
+age. She was poorly dressed, but in a great state of excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"'Are you Mr. Wetherell?' she said; 'the gentleman as defended China
+Pete in the trial the other day?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I am,' I answered. 'What can I do for you? I hope China Pete is not in
+trouble again?'</p>
+
+<p>"'He's in a worse trouble this time, sir,' said the woman. 'He's dyin',
+and he sent me to fetch you to 'im before he goes.'</p>
+
+<p>"'But what does he want me for?' I asked rather suspiciously.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm sure I dunno,' was the girl's reply. 'But he's been callin' for
+you all this blessed day: "Send for Mr. Wetherell! send for Mr.
+Wetherell!" So off I came, when I got back from work, to fetch you. If
+you're comin', sir, you'd best be quick, for he won't last till
+mornin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Very well, I'll come with you at once,' I said. Then, having told my
+wife not to sit up for me, I followed my strange messenger out of the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>"For nearly an hour we walked on and on, plunging deeper into the lower
+quarter of the town. All through the march my guide maintained a rigid
+silence, walking a few paces ahead, and only recognizing the fact that I
+was following her by nodding in a certain direction whenever we arrived
+at cross thoroughfares or interlacing lanes.</p>
+
+<p>"At last we arrived at the street she wanted. At the corner she came
+suddenly to a standstill, and putting her two first fingers into her
+mouth blew a shrill whistle, after the fashion of street boys. A moment
+later a shock-headed urchin about ten years old made his appearance from
+a dark alley and came towards us. The woman said something to him, which
+I did not catch, and then turning sharply to her left hand beckoned to
+me to follow her.</p>
+
+<p>"From the street itself we passed, by way of a villainous alley, into a
+large courtyard, where brooded a silence like that of death. Indeed, a
+more weird and desolate place I don't remember ever to have met with.
+Not a soul was to be seen, and though it was surrounded by houses, only
+two feeble lights showed themselves. Towards one of these my guide made
+her way, stopping on the threshold. Upon a panel she rapped with her
+fingers, and as she did so a window on the first floor opened, and the
+boy we had met in the street looked out.</p>
+
+<p>"'How many?' inquired the woman, who had brought me, in a loud whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"'None now,' replied the boy; 'but there's been a power of Chinkies
+hereabouts all the evenin', an' 'arf an hour ago there was a gent in a
+cloak.'</p>
+
+<p>"Without waiting to hear any more the woman entered the house and I
+followed close on her heels. The adventure was clearly coming to a head
+now.</p>
+
+<p>"When the door had been closed behind us the boy appeared at the top of
+a flight of stairs with a lighted candle. We accordingly ascended to
+him, and having done so made our way towards a door at the end of the
+abominably dirty landing. At intervals I could hear the sound of
+coughing coming from a room at the end. My companion, however, bade me
+stop, while she went herself into the room, shutting the door after her.
+I was left alone with the boy, who immediately took me under his
+protection, and for my undivided benefit performed a series of highly
+meritorious acrobatic performances upon the feeble banisters, to his own
+danger, but apparent satisfaction. Suddenly, just as he was about to
+commence what promised to be the most successful item in his
+<i>repertoire</i>, he paused, lay flat on his stomach upon the floor, and
+craned his head over the side, where once banisters had been, and gazed
+into the half dark well below. All was quiet as the grave. Then, without
+warning, an almond-eyed, pigtailed head appeared on the stairs and
+looked upwards. Before I could say anything to stop him, the youth had
+divested himself of his one slipper, taken it in his right hand, leaned
+over a bit farther, and struck the ascending Celestial a severe blow on
+the mouth with the heel of it. There was the noise of a hasty descent
+and the banging of the street door a moment later, then all was still
+again, and the youngster turned to me.</p>
+
+<p>"'That was Ah Chong,' he said confidentially. 'He's the sixth Chinkie
+I've landed that way since dark.'</p>
+
+<p>"This important piece of information he closed with a double-jointed
+oath of remarkable atrocity, and, having done so, would have recommenced
+the performance of acrobatic feats had I not stopped him by asking the
+reason of his action. He looked at me with a grin,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I dunno, but all I cares is that China Pete in there gives me a sprat
+(sixpence) for every Chinkie what I keeps out of the 'ouse. He's a rum
+one is China Pete; an' can't he cough&mdash;my word!" he concluded.</p>
+
+<p>"I was about to put another question when the door opened and the girl
+who had brought me to the house beckoned me into the room. I entered and
+she left me alone with the occupant.</p>
+
+<p>"Of all the filthy places I have ever seen&mdash;and I have had the ill-luck
+to discover a good many in my time&mdash;that one eclipsed them all. On the
+bed, propped up by pillows and evidently in the last stage of collapse,
+was the man called China Pete. When we were alone together he pointed to
+a box near the bed and signified that I should seat myself. I did so, at
+the same time taking occasion to express my sorrow at finding him in
+this lamentable condition. He made no reply to my civilities, but after
+a little pause found strength enough to whisper. 'See if there's anybody
+at the door.' I went across, opened the door and looked into the
+passage, but save the boy, who was now sitting on the top step of the
+stairs at the other end, there was not a soul in sight. I told him this,
+and having again closed the door, sat down on the box and waited for him
+to speak.</p>
+
+<p>"'You did me a good turn, Mr. Wetherell, over that trial,' the invalid
+said at last, 'and I couldn't make it worth your while.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, you mustn't let that worry you,' I answered soothingly. 'You would
+have paid me if you had been able.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Perhaps I should, perhaps I shouldn't, anyhow I didn't, and I want to
+make it up to you now. Feel under my pillow and bring out what you find
+there.'</p>
+
+<p>"I did as he directed me and brought to light a queer little wooden
+stick about three and a half inches long, made of some heavy timber and
+covered all over with Chinese inscriptions; at one end was a tiny bit of
+heavy gold cord much tarnished. I gave it to him and he looked at it
+fondly.</p>
+
+<p>"'Do you know the value of this little stick?' he asked after a while.</p>
+
+<p>"'I have no possible notion,' I replied.</p>
+
+<p>"'Make a guess,' he said.</p>
+
+<p>"To humour him I guessed five pounds. He laughed with scorn.</p>
+
+<p>"'Five pounds! O ye gods! Why, as a bit of stick it's not worth five
+pence, but for what it really is there is not money enough in the world
+to purchase it. If I could get about again I would make myself the
+richest and most powerful man on earth with it. If you could only guess
+one particle of the dangers I've been through to get it you would die of
+astonishment. And the irony of it all is that now I've got it I can't
+make use of it. On six different occasions the priests of the Llamaserai
+in Peking have tried to murder me to get hold of it. I brought it down
+from the centre of China disguised as a wandering beggar. That business
+connected with the murder of the Chinaman on board the ship, against
+which you defended me, was on account of it. And now I lie here dying
+like a dog, with the key to over ten millions in my hand. Nikola has
+tried for five years to obtain it, without success however. He little
+dreams I've got it after all. If he did I'd be a dead man by now.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Who is this Nikola then?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dr. Nikola? Well, he's Nikola, and that's all I can tell you. If
+you're a wise man you'll want to know no more. Ask the Chinese mothers
+nursing their almond-eyed spawn in Peking who he is; ask the Japanese,
+ask the Malays, the Hindoos, the Burmese, the coal porters in Port Said,
+the Buddhist priests of Ceylon; ask the King of Corea, the men up in
+Thibet, the Spanish priests in Manilla, or the Sultan of Borneo, the
+ministers of Siam, or the French in Saigon&mdash;they'll all know Dr. Nikola
+and his cat, and, take my word, they fear him.'</p>
+
+<p>"I looked at the little stick in my hand and wondered if the man had
+gone mad.</p>
+
+<p>"'What do you wish me to do with this?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"'Take it away with you,' he answered, 'and guard it like your life, and
+when you have occasion, use it. Remember you have in your hand what will
+raise a million men and the equivalent of over ten mil&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"At this point a violent fit of coughing seized him and nearly tore him
+to pieces. I lifted him up a little in the bed, but before I could take
+my hands away a stream of blood had gushed from his lips. Like a flash
+of thought I ran to the door to call the girl, the boy on the stairs
+re-echoed my shout, and in less time than it takes to tell the woman was
+in the room. But we were too late&mdash;<i>China Pete was dead</i>.</p>
+
+<p>"After giving her all the money I had about me to pay for the funeral, I
+bade her good-bye, and with the little stick in my pocket returned to my
+home. Once there I sat myself down in my study, took my legacy out of my
+pocket and carefully examined it. As to its peculiar power and value, as
+described to me by the dead man, I hardly knew what to think. My own
+private opinion was that China Pete was not sane at the time he told me.
+And yet, how was I to account for the affray with the Chinaman on the
+boat, and the evident desire the Celestials in Sydney had to obtain
+information concerning it? After half an hour's consideration of it I
+locked it up in a drawer of my safe and went upstairs to bed.</p>
+
+<p>"Next day China Pete was buried, and by the end of the month I had
+well-nigh forgotten that he had ever existed, and had hardly thought of
+his queer little gift, which still reposed in the upper drawer of my
+safe. But I was to hear more of it later on.</p>
+
+<p>"One night, about a month after my coming into possession of the stick,
+my wife and I entertained a few friends at dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"As the clock struck eleven I said good-night to the last of my guests
+upon the door-step. The carriage had not gone fifty yards down the
+street before a hansom drew up before my door and a man dressed in a
+heavy cloak jumped out. Bidding the driver wait for him he ran up my
+steps.</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Wetherell, I believe?' he said. I nodded and wished him
+'good-evening,' at the same time asking his business.</p>
+
+<p>"'I will tell you with pleasure,' he answered, 'if you will permit me
+five minutes alone with you. It is most important, and as I leave Sydney
+early to-morrow morning you will see that there is not much time to
+spare.'</p>
+
+<p>"I led the way into the house and to my study, which was in the rear,
+overlooking the garden. Once there I bade him be seated, taking up my
+position at my desk.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, in the light of the lamp, I became aware of the extraordinary
+personality of my visitor. He looked at me very searchingly for a moment
+and then said: 'My business will surprise you a little I expect, Mr.
+Wetherell. First, if you will allow me I will tell you something about
+myself and then ask you a question. You must understand that I am pretty
+well known as an Eastern traveller; from Port Said to the Kuriles there
+is hardly a place with which I am not acquainted. I have a hobby. I am a
+collector of Eastern curios, but there is one thing I have never been
+able to obtain.'</p>
+
+<p>"'And that is?'</p>
+
+<p>"'A Chinese executioner's symbol of office.'</p>
+
+<p>"'But how can I help you in that direction?' I asked, completely
+mystified.</p>
+
+<p>"'By selling me one that has lately come into your possession,' he said.
+'It is a little black stick, about three inches long and covered with
+Chinese characters. I happened to hear, quite by chance, that you had
+one in your possession, and I have taken a journey of some thousands of
+miles to endeavour to purchase it from you.'</p>
+
+<p>"I went across to the safe, unlocked it, and took out the little stick
+China Pete had given me. When I turned round I almost dropped it with
+surprise as I saw the look of eagerness that rose in my visitor's face.
+But he pulled himself together and said, as calmly as he had yet
+addressed me:</p>
+
+<p>"'That is the very thing. If you will allow me to purchase it, it will
+complete my collection. What value do you place upon it?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I have no sort of notion of its worth,' I answered, putting it down on
+the table and looking at it. Then in a flash a thought came into my
+brain, and I was about to speak when he addressed me again.</p>
+
+<p>"'Of course my reason for wishing to buy it is rather a hare-brained
+one, but if you care to let me have it I will give you fifty pounds for
+it with pleasure.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Not enough, Dr. Nikola,' I said with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"He jumped as if he had been shot, and then clasped his hands tight on
+the arm of his chair. My random bolt had gone straight to the heart of
+the bulls-eye. This man then <i>was</i> Dr. Nikola, the extraordinary
+individual against whom China Pete had warned me. I was determined now
+that, come what might, he should not have the stick.</p>
+
+<p>"'Do you not consider the offer I make you a good one then, Mr.
+Wetherell?' he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm sorry to say I don't think the stick is for sale,' I answered. 'It
+was left to me by a man in return for a queer sort of service I rendered
+him, and I think I should like to keep it as a souvenir.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I will raise my offer to a hundred pounds in that case,' said Nikola.</p>
+
+<p>"'I would rather not part with it,' I said, and as I spoke, as if to
+clinch the matter, I took it up and returned it to the safe, taking care
+to lock the door upon it.</p>
+
+<p>"'I will give you five hundred pounds for it,' cried Nikola, now
+thoroughly excited. 'Surely that will tempt you?'</p>
+
+<p>'I'm afraid an offer of ten times that amount would make no difference,'
+I replied, feeling more convinced than ever that I would not part with
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"He laid himself back in his chair, and for nearly a minute and a half
+stared me full in the face. You have seen Nikola's eyes, so I needn't
+tell you what a queer effect they are able to produce. I could not
+withdraw mine from them, and I felt that if I did not make an effort I
+should soon be mesmerized. So, pulling myself together, I sprang from my
+chair, and, by doing so, let him see that our interview was at an end.
+However, he was not going without a last attempt to drive a bargain.
+When he saw that I was not to be moved his temper gave way, and he
+bluntly told me that I would <i>have</i> to sell it.</p>
+
+<p>"'There is no compulsion in the matter,' I said warmly. 'The curio is my
+own property, and I will do just as I please with it.'</p>
+
+<p>"He thereupon begged my pardon, asked me to attribute his impatience to
+the collector's eagerness, and after a few last words bade me
+'good-night,' and left the house.</p>
+
+<p>"When his cab had rolled away I went back to my study and sat thinking
+for awhile. Then something prompted me to take the stick out from the
+safe. I did so, and sat at my table gazing at it, wondering what the
+mystery might be to which it was the key. That it was not what Dr.
+Nikola had described it I felt certain.</p>
+
+<p>"At the end of half an hour I put it in my pocket, intending to take it
+upstairs to show my wife, locked the safe again and went off to my
+dressing-room. When I had described the interview and shown the stick to
+my wife I placed it in the drawer of the looking-glass and went to bed.</p>
+
+<p>"Next morning, about three o'clock, I was awakened by the sound of some
+one knocking violently at my door. I jumped out of bed and inquired who
+it might be. To my intense surprise the answer was 'Police!' I therefore
+donned my dressing-gown, and went out to find a sergeant of police on
+the landing waiting for me.</p>
+
+<p>"'What is the matter?' I cried.</p>
+
+<p>"'A burglar!' was his answer. 'We've got him downstairs; caught him in
+the act.'</p>
+
+<p>"I followed the officer down to the study. What a scene was there! The
+safe had been forced, and its contents lay scattered in every direction.
+One drawer of my writing-table was wide open, and in a corner,
+handcuffed, and guarded by a stalwart constable, stood a Chinaman.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to make a long story short, the man was tried, and after denying
+all knowledge of Nikola&mdash;who, by the way, could not be found&mdash;was
+convicted, and sentenced to five years' hard labour. For a month I heard
+no more about the curio. Then a letter arrived from an English solicitor
+in Shanghai, demanding from me, on behalf of a Chinaman residing in that
+place, a little wooden stick covered with Chinese characters, which was
+said to have been stolen by an Englishman, known in Shanghai as China
+Pete. This was very clearly another attempt on Nikola's part to obtain
+possession of it, so I replied to the effect that I could not entertain
+the request.</p>
+
+<p>"A month or so later&mdash;I cannot, however, be particular as to the exact
+date&mdash;I found myself again in communication with Nikola, this time from
+South America. But there was this difference this time: he used
+undisguised threats, not only against myself, in the event of my still
+refusing to give him what he wanted, but also against my wife and
+daughter. I took no notice, with the result that my residence was again
+broken into, but still without success. Now I no longer locked the
+talisman up in the safe, but hid it in a place where I knew no one could
+possibly find it. My mind, you will see, was perfectly made up; I was
+not going to be driven into surrendering it.</p>
+
+<p>"One night, a month after my wife's death, returning to my house I was
+garrotted and searched within a hundred yards of my own front door, but
+my assailants could not find it on me. Then peculiar pressure from other
+quarters was brought to bear; my servants were bribed, and my life
+became almost a burden to me. What was more, I began to develop that
+extraordinary fear of Nikola which seems to seize upon every one who has
+any dealings with him. When I went home to England some months back, I
+did it because my spirits had got into such a depressed state that I
+could not remain in Australia. But I took care to deposit the stick with
+my plate in the bank before I left. There it remained till I returned,
+when I put it back in its old hiding-place again.</p>
+
+<p>"The day after I reached London I happened to be crossing Trafalgar
+Square. Believing that I had left him at least ten thousand miles away,
+you may imagine my horror when I saw Dr. Nikola watching me from the
+other side of the road. Then and there I returned to my hotel, bade
+Phyllis pack with all possible despatch, and that same afternoon we
+started to return to Australia. The rest you know. Now what do you think
+of it all?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's an extraordinary story. Where is the stick at the present moment?"</p>
+
+<p>"In my pocket. Would you like to see it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Very much, if you would permit me to do so."</p>
+
+<p>He unbuttoned his coat, and from a carefully contrived pocket under the
+arm drew out a little piece of wood of exactly the length and shape he
+had described. I took it from him and gazed at it carefully. It was
+covered all over with Chinese writing, and had a piece of gold silk
+attached to the handle. There was nothing very remarkable about it; but
+I must own I was strangely fascinated by it when I remembered the misery
+it had caused, the changes and chances it had brought about, the weird
+story told by China Pete, and the efforts that had been made by Nikola
+to obtain possession of it. I gave it back to its owner, and then stood
+looking out over the smooth sea, wondering where Phyllis was and what
+she was doing. Nikola, when I met him, would have a heavy account to
+settle with me, and if my darling reported any further cruelty on his
+part I would show no mercy. But why had Mr. Wetherell brought the curio
+with him now? I put the question.</p>
+
+<p>"For one very good reason," he answered. "If it is the stick Nikola is
+after, as I have every right to suppose, he may demand it as a ransom
+for my girl, and I am quite willing to let him have it. The wretched
+thing has caused sufficient misery to make me only too glad to be rid of
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope, however, we shall be able to get her without giving it up," I
+said. "Now let us go aft to lunch."</p>
+
+<p>The day following we were within a hundred miles of our destination, and
+by mid-day of the day following that again were near enough to render it
+advisable to hold a council over our intended movements. Accordingly, a
+little before lunch time the Marquis, Wetherell, the skipper and myself,
+met under the after awning to consider our plan of war.</p>
+
+<p>"The first matter to be taken into consideration, I think, Mr.
+Wetherell," said the skipper, "is the point as to which side of the
+island we shall bring up on."</p>
+
+<p>"You will be able to settle that," answered Wetherell, looking at me.
+"You are acquainted with the place, and can best advise us."</p>
+
+<p>"I will do so to the best of my ability," I said, sitting down on the
+deck and drawing an outline with a piece of chalk. "The island is shaped
+like this. There is no reef. Here is the best anchorage, without doubt,
+but here is the point where we shall be most likely to approach without
+being observed. The trend of the land is all upward from the shore, and,
+as far as I remember, the most likely spot for a hut, if they are
+detaining Miss Wetherell there, as we suppose, will be on a little
+plateau looking south, and hard by the only water on the island."</p>
+
+<p>"And what sort of anchorage shall we get there, do you think?" asked the
+skipper, who very properly wished to run no risk with his owner's boat.</p>
+
+<p>"Mostly coral. None too good, perhaps, but as we shall have steam up,
+quite safe enough."</p>
+
+<p>"And how do you propose that we shall reach the hut when we land?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have been thinking that out," I said, "and I have come to the
+conclusion that the best plan would be for us to approach the island
+after dark, to heave to about three miles out and pull ashore in the
+boat. We will then ascend the hill by the eastern slope and descend upon
+them. They will probably not expect us from that quarter, and it will at
+least be easier than climbing the hill in the face of a heavy fire. What
+do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>They all agreed that it seemed practicable.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good then," said the skipper, "we'll have lunch, and afterwards
+begin our preparations." Then turning to me, "I'll get you to come into
+my cabin, Mr. Hatteras, by-and-by and take a look at the Admiralty
+chart, if you will. You will be able probably to tell me if you think it
+can be relied on."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do so with pleasure," I answered, and then we went below.</p>
+
+<p>Directly our meal was over I accompanied the skipper to look at the
+chart, and upon it we marked our anchorage. Then an adjournment was made
+aft, and our equipment of rifles and revolvers thoroughly overhauled. We
+had decided earlier that our landing party should consist of eight
+men&mdash;Wetherell, Beckenham, the mate of the yacht, myself, and four of
+the crew, each of whom would be supplied with a Winchester repeating
+rifle, a revolver, and a dozen cartridges. Not a shot was to be fired,
+however, unless absolutely necessary, and the greatest care was to be
+taken in order to approach the hut, if possible, without disturbing its
+inmates.</p>
+
+<p>When the arms had been distributed and carefully examined, the sixteen
+foot surf-boat was uncovered and preparations made for hoisting her
+overboard. By the time this was done it was late in the afternoon, and
+almost soon enough for us to be thinking about overcoming the distance
+which separated us from our destination.</p>
+
+<p>About dusk I was standing aft, leaning against the taff-rail, when
+Beckenham came up and stood beside me. It was wonderful what a
+difference these few months had made in him; he was now as brown as a
+berry, and as fine-looking a young fellow as any man could wish to see.</p>
+
+<p>"We shall be picking up the island directly," I said as he came to an
+anchor alongside me. "Do you think you ought to go to-night? Remember
+you will run the risk of being shot!"</p>
+
+<p>"I have thought of that," he said. "I believe it's my duty to do my best
+to help you and Mr. Wetherell."</p>
+
+<p>"But what would your father say if he knew?"</p>
+
+<p>"He would say that I only did what was right. I have just been writing
+to him, telling him everything. If anything <i>should</i> happen to me you
+will find the letter on the chest of drawers in your cabin. I know you
+will send it on to him. But if we both come out of it safely and rescue
+Miss Wetherell I'm going to ask a favour."</p>
+
+<p>"Granted before I know what it is!"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't a very big one. I want you to let me be your best man at your
+wedding?"</p>
+
+<p>"So you shall. And a better I could not possibly desire."</p>
+
+<p>"I like to hear you say that. We've been through a good deal together
+since we left Europe, haven't we?"</p>
+
+<p>"We have, and to-night will bring it to a climax, or I'm much mistaken."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think Nikola will show fight?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a doubt about it I should think. If he finds himself cornered he'll
+probably fight like a demon."</p>
+
+<p>"It's Baxter I want to meet."</p>
+
+<p>"Nikola is my man. I've a big grudge against him, and I want to pay it."</p>
+
+<p>"How little we thought when we were cruising about Bournemouth Bay
+together that within such a short space of time we should be sailing the
+South Pacific on such an errand! It seems almost too strange to be
+possible."</p>
+
+<p>"So it does! All's well that ends well, however. Let's hope we're going
+to be successful to-night. Now I'm going on the bridge to see if I can
+pick the land up ahead."</p>
+
+<p>I left him and went forward to the captain's side. Dusk had quite fallen
+by this time, rendering it impossible to see very far ahead. A hand had
+been posted in the fore-rigging as a look-out, and every moment we
+expected to hear his warning cry; but nearly an hour passed, and still
+it did not come.</p>
+
+<p>Then suddenly the shout rang out, "Land ahead!" and we knew that our
+destination was in sight. Long before this all our lights had been
+obscured, and so, in the darkness&mdash;for a thick pall of cloud covered the
+sky&mdash;we crept up towards the coast. Within a couple of minutes of
+hearing the hail every man on board was on deck gazing in the direction
+in which we were proceeding.</p>
+
+<p>By tea time we had brought the land considerably nearer, and by eight
+o'clock were within three miles of it. Not a sign, however, of any craft
+could we discover, and the greatest vigilance had to be exercised on our
+part to allow no sign to escape us to show our whereabouts to those
+ashore. Exactly at nine o'clock the shore party, fully armed, assembled
+on deck, and the surf-boat was swung overboard. Then in the darkness we
+crept down the gangway and took our places. The mate was in possession
+of the tiller, and when all was ready we set off for the shore.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIA" id="CHAPTER_VIA"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>CONCLUSION</h3>
+
+
+<p>Once we had left her side and turned our boat's nose towards the land,
+the yacht lay behind us, a black mass, nearly absorbed in the general
+shadow. Not a light showed itself, and everything was as still as the
+grave; the only noise to be heard was the steady dip, dip of the oars in
+the smooth water and now and then the chirp of the rowlocks. For nearly
+half an hour we pulled on, pausing at intervals to listen, but nothing
+of an alarming nature met our ears. The island was every moment growing
+larger, the beach more plain to the eye, and the hill more clearly
+defined.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the boat grounded we sprang out and, leaving one hand to look
+after her, made our way ashore. It was a strange experience that landing
+on a strange beach on such an errand and at such an hour, but we were
+all too much taken up with the work which lay before us to think of
+that. Having left the water's edge we came to a standstill beneath a
+group of palms and discussed the situation. As the command of the
+expedition had fallen upon me I decided upon the following course of
+action: To begin with, I would leave the party behind me and set out by
+myself to ascertain the whereabouts of the hut. Having discovered this I
+would return, and we would thereupon make our way inland and endeavour
+to capture it. I explained the idea in as few words as possible to my
+followers, and then, bidding them wait for me where they were, at the
+same time warning them against letting their presence be discovered, I
+set off up the hill in the direction I knew the plateau to lie. The
+undergrowth was very thick and the ground rocky; for this reason it was
+nearly twenty minutes before I readied the top of the hill. Then down
+the other side I crept, picking my way carefully, and taking infinite
+precautions that no noise should serve to warn our foes of my coming.</p>
+
+<p>At last I reached the plateau and looked about me. A small perpendicular
+cliff, some sixty feet in height, was before me, so throwing myself down
+upon my stomach, I wriggled my way to its edge. When I got there I
+looked over and discovered three well-built huts on a little plateau at
+the cliff's base. At the same moment a roar of laughter greeted my ears
+from the building on the left. It was followed by the voice of a man
+singing to the accompaniment of a banjo. Under cover of his music I rose
+to my feet and crept back through the bushes, by the track along which I
+had come. I knew enough to distribute my forces now.</p>
+
+<p>Having reached my friends again I informed them of what I had seen, and
+we then arranged the mode of attack as follows: The mate of the yacht,
+with two of the hands, would pass round the hill to the left of the
+plateau, Wetherell and another couple of men would take the right side,
+while Beckenham and myself crept down from the back. Not a sound was to
+be made or a shot fired until I blew my whistle. Then, with one last
+word of caution, we started on our climb.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the clouds had cleared off the sky and the stars shone
+brightly. Once more I arrived at the small precipice behind the huts,
+and, having done so, sat down for a few moments to give the other
+parties time to take up their positions. Then, signing to Beckenham to
+accompany me, I followed the trend of the precipice along till I
+discovered a place where we might descend in safety. In less than a
+minute we were on the plateau below, creeping towards the centre hut.
+Still our approach was undetected. Bidding Beckenham in a whisper wait
+for me, I crept cautiously round to the front, keeping as much as
+possible in the shadow. As soon as I had found the door, I tiptoed
+towards it and prepared to force my way inside but I had an adventure in
+store for me which I had not anticipated.</p>
+
+<p>Seated in the doorway, almost hidden in the shadow, was the figure of a
+man. He must have been asleep, for he did not become aware of my
+presence until I was within a foot of him. Then he sprang to his feet
+and was about to give the alarm. Before he could do so, however, I was
+upon him. A desperate hand-to-hand struggle followed, in which I fought
+solely for his throat. This once obtained I tightened my fingers upon it
+and squeezed until he fell back unconscious. It was like a horrible
+nightmare, that combat without noise in the dark entry of the hut, and I
+was more than thankful that it ended so satisfactorily for me. As soon
+as I had disentangled myself, I rose to my feet and proceeded across his
+body into the hut itself. A swing door led from the porch, and this I
+pushed open.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is it, and what do you want?" said a voice which I should have
+recognized anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>In answer I took Phyllis in my arms and, whispering my name, kissed her
+over and over again. She uttered a little cry of astonishment and
+delight. Then, bidding her step quietly, I passed out into the
+starlight, leading her after me. As we were about to make for the path
+by which I had descended, Beckenham stepped forward, and at the same
+instant the man with whom I had been wrestling came to his senses and
+gave a shout of alarm. In an instant there was a noise of scurrying feet
+and a great shouting of orders.</p>
+
+<p>"Make for the boats!" I cried at the top of my voice, and, taking
+Phyllis by the hand, set off as quickly as I could go up the path,
+Beckenham assisting her on the other side.</p>
+
+<p>If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget that rush up the hill. In
+and out of trees and bushes, scratching ourselves and tearing our
+clothes, we dashed; conscious only of the necessity for speed. Before we
+were half-way down the other side Phyllis's strength was quite
+exhausted, so I took her in my arms and carried her the remainder of the
+distance. At last we reached the boat and jumped on board. The rest of
+the party were already there, and the word being given we prepared to
+row out to the yacht. But before we could push off a painful surprise
+was in store for us. The Marquis, who had been counting the party,
+cried: "<i>Where is Mr. Wetherell?</i>"</p>
+
+<p>We looked round upon each other, and surely enough the old gentleman was
+missing. Discovering this, Phyllis nearly gave way, and implored us to
+go back at once to find him. But having rescued her with so much
+difficulty I did not wish to run any risk of letting her fall into her
+enemies' hands again; so selecting four volunteers from the party, I
+bade the rest pull the boat out to the yacht and give Miss Wetherell
+into the captain's charge, while the others accompanied me ashore again
+in search of her father. Having done this the boat was to return and
+wait for us.</p>
+
+<p>Quickly we splashed our way back to the beach, and then, plunging into
+the undergrowth, began our search for the missing man. As we did not
+know where to search, it was like looking for a needle in a bundle of
+hay, but presently one of the hands remembered having seen him
+descending the hill, so we devoted our attentions to that side. For
+nearly two hours we toiled up and down, but without success. Not a sign
+of the old gentleman was to be seen. Could he have mistaken his way and
+be even now searching for us on another beach? To make sure of this we
+set off and thoroughly searched the two bays in the direction he would
+most likely have taken. But still without success. Perhaps he had been
+captured and carried back to the huts? In that case we had better
+proceed thither and try to rescue him. This, however, was a much more
+serious undertaking, and you may imagine it was with considerable care
+that we approached the plateau again.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached it the huts were as quiet as when I had first made their
+acquaintance. Not a sound came up to the top of the little precipice
+save the rustling of the wind in the palms at its foot. It seemed
+difficult to believe that there had been such a tumult on the spot so
+short a time before.</p>
+
+<p>Again with infinite care we crept down to the buildings, this time,
+however, without encountering a soul. The first was empty, so was the
+second, and so was the third. This result was quite unexpected, and
+rendered the situation even more mysterious than before.</p>
+
+<p>By the time we had thoroughly explored the plateau and its surroundings
+it was nearly daylight, and still we had discovered no trace of the
+missing man. Just as the sun rose above the sea line we descended the
+hill again and commenced a second search along the beach, with no better
+luck, however, than on the previous occasion. Wetherell and our
+assailants seemed to have completely disappeared from the island.</p>
+
+<p>About six o'clock, thoroughly worn out, we returned to the spot where
+the boat was waiting for us. What was to be done? We could not for
+obvious reasons leave the island and abandon the old gentleman to his
+fate, and yet it seemed useless to remain there looking for him, when he
+might have been spirited away elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly one of the crew, who had been loitering behind, came into view
+waving something in his hand. As he approached we could see that it was
+a sheet of paper, and when he gave it into my hands I read as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><i>"If you cross the island to the north beach you will find a small cliff
+in which is a large cave, a little above high-water mark. There you will
+discover the man for whom you are searching."</i></p>
+
+<p>There was no signature to this epistle, and the writing was quite
+unfamiliar to me, but I had no reason to doubt its authenticity.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you discover this?" I inquired of the man who had brought it.</p>
+
+<p>"Fastened to one of them prickly bushes up on the beach there, sir," he
+answered.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the only thing for us to do now is to set off to the north shore
+and hunt for the cave. Two of you had better take the boat back to the
+yacht and ask the captain to follow us round."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the boat was under weigh we picked up our rifles and set off
+for the north beach. It was swelteringly hot by this time, and, as may
+be imagined, we were all dead tired after our long night's work.
+However, the men knew they would be amply rewarded if we could effect
+the rescue of the man for whom we had been searching, so they pushed on.</p>
+
+<p>At last we turned the cape and entered the bay which constituted the
+north end of the island. It was not a large beach on this side, but it
+had, at its western end, a curious line of small cliffs, in the centre
+of which a small black spot could be discerned looking remarkably like
+the entrance to a cave. Towards this we pressed, forgetting our
+weariness in the excitement of the search.</p>
+
+<p>It <i>was</i> a cave, and a large one. So far the letter was correct.
+Preparing ourselves, in case of surprise, we approached the entrance,
+calling Mr. Wetherell's name. As our shouts died away a voice came out
+in answer, and thereupon we rushed in.</p>
+
+<p>A remarkable sight met our eyes. In the centre of the cave was a stout
+upright post, some six or eight feet in height, and securely tied to
+this was the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales.</p>
+
+<p>In less time almost than it takes to tell, we had cast loose the ropes
+which bound him, and led him, for he was too weak to stand alone, out
+into the open air. While he was resting he inquired after his daughter,
+and having learned that she was safe, gave us the following explanation.
+Addressing himself to me he said:</p>
+
+<p>"When you cried 'Make for the boats,' I ran up the hill with the others
+as fast as I could go; but I'm an old man and could not get along as
+quickly as I wanted to, and for this reason was soon left far behind. I
+must have been half-way down the hill when a tall man, dressed in white,
+stepped out from behind a bush, and raising a rifle bade me come to a
+standstill. Having no time to lift my own weapon I was obliged to do as
+he ordered me, and he thereupon told me to lay down my weapon and
+right-about face. In this fashion I was marched back to the huts we had
+just left, and then, another man having joined my captor, was conducted
+across the island to this beach, where a boat was in waiting. In it I
+was pulled out to a small schooner lying at anchor in the bay and
+ordered to board her; five minutes later I was conducted to the saloon.</p>
+
+<p>"'Good-evening, Mr. Wetherell. This is indeed a pleasure,' said a man
+sitting at the farther end of the table. He was playing with a big black
+cat, and directly I heard his voice I knew that I was in the presence of
+Dr. Nikola.</p>
+
+<p>"'And how do you think I am going to punish you, my friend, for giving
+me all this trouble?' he said when I made no reply to his first remark.</p>
+
+<p>"'You dare not do anything to me,' I answered. 'I demand that you let me
+go this instant. I have a big score to settle with you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'If you will be warned by me you will cease to demand,' he answered,
+his eyes the while burning like coals. 'You are an obstinate man, but
+though you have put me to so much trouble and expense I will forgive you
+and come to terms with you. Now listen to me. If you will give me&mdash;&mdash;'</p>
+
+<p>"At that moment the little vessel gave a heavy roll, and in trying to
+keep my footing on the sloping deck I fell over upon the table. As I did
+so the little Chinese stick slipped out of my pocket and went rolling
+along directly into Nikola's hands. He sprang forward and seized it, and
+you may imagine his delight. With a cry of triumph that made the cat
+leap from his shoulder, he turned to a tall man by his side and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'I've got it at last! Now let a boat's crew take this man ashore and
+tie him to the stake in the cave. Then devise some means of acquainting
+his friends of his whereabouts. Be quick, for we sail in an hour.'
+Having given these orders he turned to me again and said:</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Wetherell, this is the last transaction we shall probably ever
+have together. All things considered, you are lucky in escaping so
+easily. It would have saved you a good deal if you had complied with my
+request at first. However, all's well that ends well, and I congratulate
+you upon your charming daughter. Now, good-bye; in an hour I am off to
+effect a <i>coup</i> with this stick, the magnitude of which you would never
+dream. One last word of advice: pause a second time, I entreat, before
+you think of baulking Dr. Nikola.'</p>
+
+<p>"I was going to reply, when I was twisted round and led up on deck,
+where that scoundrel Baxter had the impudence to make me a low bow. In
+less than a quarter of an hour I was fastened to the post in that cave.
+The rest you know. Now let us get on board; I see the boat is
+approaching."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the surf-boat had drawn up on the beach we embarked and were
+pulled out to the yacht. In a few moments we were on deck, and Phyllis
+was in her father's arms again. By mid-day the island had disappeared
+under the sea line, and by nightfall we were well on our way back to
+Sydney.</p>
+
+<p>That evening, after dinner, Phyllis and I patrolled the deck together,
+and finally came to a standstill aft. It was as beautiful an evening as
+any man or woman could desire. All round us was the glassy sea, rising
+and falling as if asleep, while overhead the tropic stars shone down
+with their wonderful brilliance.</p>
+
+<p>"Phyllis," I said, taking my darling's hand in mine and looking into her
+face, "what a series of adventures we have both passed through since
+that afternoon I first saw you in the Domain! Do you know that your
+father has at last consented to our marriage?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do. And as it is to you, Dick, I owe my rescue," she said, coming a
+little closer to me, "he could do nothing else; you have a perfect right
+to me."</p>
+
+<p>"I have, and I mean to assert it!" I answered. "If I had not found you,
+I should never have been happy again."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Dick, there is one thing I don't at all understand. At dinner this
+evening the captain addressed you as Sir Richard. What does that mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course you have not heard!" I cried. "Well, I think it means
+that though I cannot make you a marchioness, I can make you a baronet's
+wife. It remains with you to say whether you will be Lady Hatteras or
+not." Then I explained how I had inherited the title and estates.</p>
+
+<p>Her only reply was to kiss me softly on the cheek.</p>
+
+<p>She had scarcely done so before her father and Beckenham came along the
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Phyllis," said the former, leading her to a seat, "supposing you
+give us the history of your adventures. Remember we have heard nothing
+yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well. Where shall I begin? At the moment I left the house for the
+ball? Very good. Well, you must know that when I arrived at Government
+House I met Mrs. Mayford&mdash;the lady who had promised to chaperone me&mdash;in
+the cloak-room, and we passed into the ball-room together. I danced the
+first dance with Captain Hackworth, one of the <i>aides</i>, and engaged
+myself for the fourth to the Marquis of Beckenham."</p>
+
+<p>"The sham Marquis, unfortunately," put in the real one.</p>
+
+<p>"It proved to be unfortunate for me also," continued Phyllis. "As it was
+a square we sat it out in the ante-room leading off the drawing-room,
+and while we were there the young gentleman did me the honour of
+proposing to me. It was terribly embarrassing for me, but I allowed him
+to see, as unmistakably as possible, that I could give him no
+encouragement, and, as the introduction to the next waltz started, we
+parted the best of friends. About half an hour later, just as I was
+going to dance the lancers, Mrs. Mayford came towards me and drew me
+into the drawing-room. Mr. Baxter, his lordship's tutor, was with her,
+and I noticed that they both looked supernaturally grave.</p>
+
+<p>"'What is the matter?' I asked, becoming alarmed by her face.</p>
+
+<p>"'My dear,' said she, 'you must be brave. I have come to tell you that
+your father has been taken ill, and has sent for you.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Papa ill!' I cried. 'Oh, I must go home to him at once'</p>
+
+<p>"'I have taken the liberty of facilitating that,' said Mr. Baxter, 'by
+ordering the servants to call up your carriage, which is now waiting for
+you at the door. If you will allow me, I will conduct you to it?'</p>
+
+<p>"I apologized to my partner for being compelled to leave him, and then
+went to the cloak-room. As soon as I was ready I accompanied Mr. Baxter
+to the door, where the brougham was waiting. Without looking at the
+coachman I got in, at the same time thanking my escort for his kindness.
+He shut the door and cried 'Home' to the coachman. Next moment we were
+spinning down the drive.</p>
+
+<p>"As I was far too much occupied thinking of you, papa, I did not notice
+the direction we were taking, and it was not until the carriage stopped
+before a house in a back street that I realized that something was
+wrong. Then the door was opened, and a gentleman in evening dress begged
+me to alight. I did so, almost without thinking what I was doing.</p>
+
+<p>"'I am sorry to say your father is not at all well, Miss Wetherell,'
+said the person who helped me out. 'If you will be good enough to step
+into my house I will let the nurse take you to him.'</p>
+
+<p>"Like a person in a dream I followed him into the dwelling.</p>
+
+<p>"'Where is my father? and how is it that he is here?' I cried, beginning
+to get frightened.</p>
+
+<p>"'You will know all when you see him,' said my companion, throwing open
+the door of a bedroom. I went in, and that door was also shut upon me.
+Then I turned and faced the man."</p>
+
+<p>"What was he like?" cried Wetherell.</p>
+
+<p>"He was the man you were telling us about at dinner&mdash;Dr. Nikola."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah! And then?"</p>
+
+<p>"He politely but firmly informed me that I was his prisoner, and that
+until you gave up something he had for years been trying to obtain he
+would be compelled to detain me. I threatened, entreated, and finally
+wept, but he was not to be moved. He promised that no effort should be
+spared to make me comfortable, but he could not let me go until you had
+complied with his request. So I was kept there until late one night,
+when I was informed that I must be ready to leave the house. A brougham
+was at the door and in this, securely guarded, I was conducted to the
+harbour, where a boat was in waiting. In this we were rowed out to a
+schooner, and I was placed on board her. A comfortably furnished cabin
+was allotted to me, and everything I could possibly want was given me.
+But though the greatest consideration in all other matters was shown me,
+I could gather nothing of where we were going or what my fate was to be,
+nor could I discover any means of communicating with the shore. About
+midnight we got under weigh and commenced our voyage. Our destination
+was the island where you found me."</p>
+
+<p>"And how did Nikola treat you during the voyage and your stay on Pipa
+Lannu?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"With invariable courtesy," she replied. "A more admirable host no one
+could desire. I had but to express a wish, and it was instantly
+gratified. When we were clear of the land I was allowed on deck; my
+meals were served to me in a cabin adjoining my own, and a stewardess
+had been specially engaged to wait upon me. As far as my own treatment
+went, I have nothing to complain of. But oh, you can't tell how thankful
+I was to get away; I imagined all sorts of horrors."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, God be thanked, it's all done with now," I said earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"And what is more," said Wetherell, "you have won one of the best
+husbands in the world. Mr. Hatteras, your hand, sir; Phyllis, my
+darling, yours! God bless you both."</p>
+
+<p>A week later the eventful voyage was over, and we were back in Sydney
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Then came our marriage. But, with your kind permission, I will only give
+you a very bare description of that. It took place at the cathedral, the
+Primate officiating. The Marquis of Beckenham was kind enough to act as
+my best man, while the Colonial Secretary, of course, gave his daughter
+away.</p>
+
+<p>But now I come to think of it, there is one point I <i>must</i> touch upon in
+connexion with that happy occasion, and that was the arrival of an
+important present on the evening prior to the event.</p>
+
+<p>We were sitting in the drawing-room when the butler brought in a square
+parcel on a salver and handed it to Phyllis. "Another present, I
+expect," she said, and began to untie the string that bound it.</p>
+
+<p>When the first cover was removed a layer of tissue paper revealed
+itself, and after that a large Russia leather case came into view. On
+pressing the spring the cover lifted and revealed a superb <i>collet</i>&mdash;as
+I believe it is called&mdash;of diamonds, and resting against the lid a small
+card bearing this inscription:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>"With heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Lady Hatteras,
+in memory of an unfortunate detention and a voyage to the Southern
+Seas,</i></p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><i>"From her sincere admirer,</i><br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><i>"Dr. Nikola."</i><br /></span>
+</div></div></div>
+
+<p>What do you think of that?</p>
+
+<p>Well, to bring my long story to a close, the Great Event passed off with
+much <i>&eacute;clat</i>. We spent our honeymoon in the Blue Mountains, and a
+fortnight later sailed once more for England in the <i>Orizaba</i>. Both Mr.
+Wetherell&mdash;who has now resigned office&mdash;and the Marquis of Beckenham,
+who is as manly a fellow as you would meet anywhere in England,
+accompanied us home, and it was to the latter's seaside residence that
+we went immediately on our arrival in the mother country. My own New
+Forest residence is being thoroughly renovated, and will be ready for
+occupation in the spring.</p>
+
+<p>And now as to the other persons who have figured most prominently in my
+narrative. Of Nikola, Baxter, Eastover, or Prendergast I have never
+heard since. What gigantic <i>coup</i> the first-named intends to accomplish
+with the little Chinese stick, the possession of which proved so fatal
+to Wetherell, is beyond my power to tell. I am only too thankful,
+however, that I am able to say that I am not in the least concerned in
+it. I am afraid of Nikola, and I confess it. And with this honest
+expression of my feelings, and my thanks for your attention and
+forbearance, I will beg your permission to ring the curtain down upon
+the narrative of my <span class="smcap">Bid for Fortune</span>.</p>
+
+
+<p>THE END</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+</body>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby
+
+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: A Bid for Fortune
+       or Dr. Nikola's Vendetta
+
+Author: Guy Boothby
+
+Release Date: May 29, 2007 [EBook #21640]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BID FOR FORTUNE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Mary Meehan and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                          A BID FOR FORTUNE
+
+                        DR. NIKOLA'S VENDETTA
+
+                           By GUY BOOTHBY
+
+      Author of "Dr. Nikola," "The Beautiful White Devil," etc., etc.
+
+
+
+
+WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED
+LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO
+1918
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Again she turned her face from me."]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+Part I.
+
+PROLOGUE--Dr. Nikola
+
+       CHAPTER I. I determine to take a Holiday,--Sydney, and what Befel me
+                  there
+
+      CHAPTER II. London
+
+    CHAPTER III. I Visit my Relations
+
+     CHAPTER IV. I Save an Important Life
+
+      CHAPTER V. Mystery
+
+     CHAPTER VI. I Meet Dr. Nikola again
+
+    CHAPTER VII. Port Said, and what Befel us there
+
+   CHAPTER VIII. Our Imprisonment and Attempt at Escape
+
+     CHAPTER IX. Dr. Nikola permits us a Free Passage
+
+
+Part II.
+
+      CHAPTER I. We reach Australia, and the Result
+
+     CHAPTER II. On the Trail
+
+    CHAPTER III. Lord Beckenham's Story
+
+     CHAPTER IV. Following up a Clue
+
+      CHAPTER V. The Islands, and what we found there
+
+     CHAPTER VI. Conclusion
+
+
+
+
+A BID FOR FORTUNE
+
+
+
+
+_PART I_
+
+
+
+
+PROLOGUE
+
+DR. NIKOLA
+
+
+The manager of the new Imperial Restaurant on the Thames Embankment went
+into his luxurious private office and shut the door. Having done so, he
+first scratched his chin reflectively, and then took a letter from the
+drawer in which it had reposed for more than two months and perused it
+carefully. Though he was not aware of it, this was the thirtieth time he
+had read it since breakfast that morning. And yet he was not a whit
+nearer understanding it than he had been at the beginning. He turned it
+over and scrutinized the back, where not a sign of writing was to be
+seen; he held it up to the window, as if he might hope to discover
+something from the water-mark; but there was nothing in either of these
+places of a nature calculated to set his troubled mind at rest. Then he
+took a magnificent repeater watch from his waistcoat pocket and glanced
+at the dial; the hands stood at half-past seven. He immediately threw
+the letter on the table, and as he did so his anxiety found relief in
+words.
+
+"It's really the most extraordinary affair I ever had to do with," he
+remarked. "And as I've been in the business just three-and-thirty years
+at eleven a.m. next Monday morning, I ought to know something about it.
+I only hope I've done right, that's all."
+
+As he spoke, the chief bookkeeper, who had the treble advantage of being
+tall, pretty, and just eight-and-twenty years of age, entered the room.
+She noticed the open letter and the look upon her chief's face, and her
+curiosity was proportionately excited.
+
+"You seem worried, Mr. McPherson," she said tenderly, as she put down
+the papers she had brought in for his signature.
+
+"You have just hit it, Miss O'Sullivan," he answered, pushing them
+farther on to the table. "I am worried about many things, but
+particularly about this letter."
+
+He handed the epistle to her, and she, being desirous of impressing him
+with her business capabilities, read it with ostentatious care. But it
+was noticeable that when she reached the signature she too turned back
+to the beginning, and then deliberately read it over again. The manager
+rose, crossed to the mantelpiece, and rang for the head waiter. Having
+relieved his feelings in this way, he seated himself again at his
+writing-table, put on his glasses, and stared at his companion, while
+waiting for her to speak.
+
+"It's very funny," she said. "Very funny indeed!"
+
+"It's the most extraordinary communication I have ever received," he
+replied with conviction. "You see it is written from Cuyaba, Brazil. The
+date is three months ago to a day. Now I have taken the trouble to find
+out where and what Cuyaba is."
+
+He made this confession with an air of conscious pride, and having done
+so, laid himself back in his chair, stuck his thumbs into the armholes
+of his waistcoat, and looked at his fair subordinate for approval. Nor
+was he destined to be disappointed. He was a bachelor in possession of a
+snug income, and she, besides being pretty, was a lady with a keen eye
+to the main chance.
+
+"And where _is_ Cuyaba?" she asked humbly.
+
+"Cuyaba," he replied, rolling his tongue with considerable relish round
+his unconscious mispronunciation of the name, "is a town almost on the
+western or Bolivian border of Brazil. It is of moderate size, is
+situated on the banks of the river Cuyaba, and is considerably connected
+with the famous Brazilian Diamond Fields."
+
+"And does the writer of this letter live there?"
+
+"I cannot say. He writes from there--that is enough for us."
+
+"And he orders dinner for four--here, in a private room overlooking the
+river, three months ahead--punctually at eight o'clock, gives you a list
+of the things he wants, and even arranges the decoration of the table.
+Says he has never seen either of his three friends before; that one of
+them hails from (here she consulted the letter again) Hang-chow, another
+from Bloemfontein, while the third resides, at present, in England. Each
+one is to present an ordinary visiting card with a red dot on it to the
+porter in the hall, and to be shown to the room at once. I don't
+understand it at all."
+
+The manager paused for a moment, and then said deliberately,--"Hang-chow
+is in China, Bloemfontein is in South Africa."
+
+"What a wonderful man you are, to be sure, Mr. McPherson! I never can
+_think_ how you manage to carry so much in your head."
+
+There spoke the true woman. And it was a move in the right direction,
+for the manager was susceptible to her gentle influence, as she had
+occasion to know.
+
+At this juncture the head waiter appeared upon the scene, and took up a
+position just inside the doorway, as if he were afraid of injuring the
+carpet by coming farther.
+
+"Is No. 22 ready, Williams?"
+
+"Quite ready, sir. The wine is on the ice, and cook tells me he'll be
+ready to dish punctual to the moment."
+
+"The letter says, 'no electric light; candles with red shades.' Have you
+put on those shades I got this morning?"
+
+"Just seen it done this very minute, sir."
+
+"And let me see, there was one other thing." He took the letter from the
+chief bookkeeper's hand and glanced at it. "Ah, yes, a porcelain saucer,
+and a small jug of new milk upon the mantelpiece. An extraordinary
+request, but has it been attended to?"
+
+"I put it there myself, sir."
+
+"Who wait?"
+
+"Jones, Edmunds, Brooks, and Tomkins."
+
+"Very good. Then I think that will do. Stay! You had better tell the
+hall porter to look out for three gentlemen presenting plain visiting
+cards with a little red spot on them. Let Brooks wait in the hall, and
+when they arrive tell him to show them straight up to the room."
+
+"It shall be done, sir."
+
+The head waiter left the room, and the manager stretched himself in his
+chair, yawned by way of showing his importance, and then said
+solemnly,--
+
+"I don't believe they'll any of them turn up; but if they do, this Dr.
+Nikola, whoever he may be, won't be able to find fault with my
+arrangements."
+
+Then, leaving the dusty high road of Business, he and his companion
+wandered in the shady bridle-paths of Love--to the end that when the
+chief bookkeeper returned to her own department she had forgotten the
+strange dinner party about to take place upstairs, and was busily
+engaged upon a calculation as to how she would look in white satin and
+orange blossoms, and, that settled, fell to wondering whether it was
+true, as Miss Joyce, a subordinate, had been heard to declare, that the
+manager had once shown himself partial to a certain widow with reputed
+savings and a share in an extensive egg and dairy business.
+
+At ten minutes to eight precisely a hansom drew up at the steps of the
+hotel. As soon as it stopped, an undersized gentleman, with a clean
+shaven countenance, a canonical corporation, and bow legs, dressed in a
+decidedly clerical garb, alighted. He paid and discharged his cabman,
+and then took from his ticket pocket an ordinary white visiting card,
+which he presented to the gold-laced individual who had opened the
+apron. The latter, having noted the red spot, called a waiter, and the
+reverend gentleman was immediately escorted upstairs.
+
+Hardly had the attendant time to return to his station in the hall,
+before a second cab made its appearance, closely followed by a third.
+Out of the second jumped a tall, active, well-built man of about thirty
+years of age. He was dressed in evening dress of the latest fashion, and
+to conceal it from the vulgar gaze, wore a large Inverness cape of heavy
+texture. He also in his turn handed a white card to the porter, and,
+having done so, proceeded into the hall, followed by the occupant of the
+last cab, who had closely copied his example. This individual was also
+in evening dress, but it was of a different stamp. It was old-fashioned
+and had seen much use. The wearer, too, was taller than the ordinary run
+of men, while it was noticeable that his hair was snow-white, and that
+his face was deeply pitted with smallpox. After disposing of their hats
+and coats in an ante-room, they reached room No. 22, where they found
+the gentleman in clerical costume pacing impatiently up and down.
+
+Left alone, the tallest of the trio, who for want of a better title we
+may call the Best Dressed Man, took out his watch, and having glanced at
+it, looked at his companions. "Gentlemen," he said, with a slight
+American accent, "it is three minutes to eight o'clock. My name is
+Eastover!"
+
+"I'm glad to hear it, for I'm most uncommonly hungry," said the next
+tallest, whom I have already described as being so marked by disease.
+"My name is Prendergast!"
+
+"We only wait for our friend and host," remarked the clerical gentleman,
+as if he felt he ought to take a share in the conversation, and then, as
+an afterthought, he continued, "My name is Baxter!"
+
+They shook hands all round with marked cordiality, seated themselves
+again, and took it in turns to examine the clock.
+
+"Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting our host before?" asked Mr.
+Baxter of Mr. Prendergast.
+
+"Never," replied that gentleman, with a shake of his head. "Perhaps Mr.
+Eastover has been more fortunate?"
+
+"Not I," was the brief rejoinder. "I've had to do with him off and on
+for longer than I care to reckon, but I've never set eyes on him up to
+date."
+
+"And where may he have been the first time you heard from him?"
+
+"In Nashville, Tennessee," said Eastover. "After that, Tahupapa, New
+Zealand; after that, Papeete, in the Society Islands; then Pekin, China.
+And you?"
+
+"First time, Brussels; second, Monte Video; third, Mandalay, and then
+the Gold Coast, Africa. It's your turn, Mr. Baxter."
+
+The clergyman glanced at the timepiece. It was exactly eight o'clock.
+"First time, Cabul, Afghanistan; second, Nijni Novgorod, Russia; third,
+Wilcannia, Darling River, Australia; fourth, Valparaiso, Chili; fifth,
+Nagasaki, Japan."
+
+"He is evidently a great traveller and a most mysterious person."
+
+"He is more than that," said Eastover with conviction; "he is late for
+dinner!"
+
+Prendergast looked at his watch.
+
+"That clock is two minutes fast. Hark, there goes Big Ben! Eight
+exactly."
+
+As he spoke the door was thrown open and a voice announced "Dr. Nikola."
+
+The three men sprang to their feet simultaneously, with exclamations of
+astonishment, as the man they had been discussing made his appearance.
+
+It would take more time than I can spare the subject to give you an
+adequate and inclusive description of the person who entered the room at
+that moment. In stature he was slightly above the ordinary, his
+shoulders were broad, his limbs perfectly shaped and plainly muscular,
+but very slim. His head, which was magnificently set upon his shoulders,
+was adorned with a profusion of glossy black hair; his face was
+destitute of beard or moustache, and was of oval shape and handsome
+moulding; while his skin was of a dark olive hue, a colour which
+harmonized well with his piercing black eyes and pearly teeth. His hands
+and feet were small, and the greatest dandy must have admitted that he
+was irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the
+puritanical. In age he might have been anything from eight-and-twenty to
+forty; in reality he was thirty-three. He advanced into the room and
+walked with out-stretched hand directly across to where Eastover was
+standing by the fireplace.
+
+"Mr. Eastover, I feel certain," he said, fixing his glittering eyes upon
+the man he addressed, and allowing a curious smile to play upon his
+face.
+
+"That is my name, Dr. Nikola," the other answered with evident surprise.
+"But how on earth can you distinguish me from your other guests?"
+
+"Ah! it would surprise you if you knew. And Mr. Prendergast, and Mr.
+Baxter. This is delightful; I hope I am not late. We had a collision in
+the Channel this morning, and I was almost afraid I might not be up to
+time. Dinner seems ready; shall we sit down to it?" They seated
+themselves, and the meal commenced. The Imperial Restaurant has earned
+an enviable reputation for doing things well, and the dinner that night
+did not in any way detract from its lustre. But, delightful as it all
+was, it was noticeable that the three guests paid more attention to
+their host than to his excellent _menu_. As they had said before his
+arrival, they had all had dealings with him for several years, but what
+those dealings were they were careful not to describe. It was more than
+possible that they hardly liked to remember them themselves.
+
+When coffee had been served and the servants had withdrawn, Dr. Nikola
+rose from the table, and went across to the massive sideboard. On it
+stood a basket of very curious shape and workmanship. This he opened,
+and as he did so, to the astonishment of his guests, an enormous cat, as
+black as his master's coat, leaped out on to the floor. The reason for
+the saucer and jug of milk became evident.
+
+Seating himself at the table again, the host followed the example of his
+guests and lit a cigar, blowing a cloud of smoke luxuriously through his
+delicately chiselled nostrils. His eyes wandered round the cornice of
+the room, took in the pictures and decorations, and then came down to
+meet the faces of his companions. As they did so, the black cat, having
+finished its meal, sprang on to his shoulder to crouch there, watching
+the three men through the curling smoke drift with its green blinking,
+fiendish eyes. Dr. Nikola smiled as he noticed the effect the animal had
+upon his guests.
+
+"Now shall we get to business?" he said briskly.
+
+The others almost simultaneously knocked the ashes off their cigars and
+brought themselves to attention. Dr. Nikola's dainty, languid manner
+seemed to drop from him like a cloak, his eyes brightened, and his
+voice, when he spoke, was clean cut as chiselled silver.
+
+"You are doubtless anxious to be informed why I summoned you from all
+parts of the globe to meet me here to-night? And it is very natural you
+should be. But then, from what you know of me, you should not be
+surprised at anything I do."
+
+His voice dropped back into its old tone of gentle languor. He drew in a
+great breath of smoke and then sent it slowly out from his lips again.
+His eyes were half closed, and he drummed with one finger on the table
+edge. The cat looked through the smoke at the three men, and it seemed
+to them that he grew every moment larger and more ferocious. Presently
+his owner took him from his perch, and seating him on his knee fell to
+stroking his fur, from head to tail, with his long slim fingers. It was
+as if he were drawing inspiration for some deadly mischief from the
+uncanny beast.
+
+"To preface what I have to say to you, let me tell you that this is by
+far the most important business for which I have ever required your
+help. (Three slow strokes down the centre of the back, and one round
+each ear.) When it first came into my mind I was at a loss who to trust
+in the matter. I thought of Vendon, but I found Vendon was dead. I
+thought of Brownlow, but Brownlow was no longer faithful. (Two strokes
+down the back and two on the throat.) Then bit by bit I remembered you.
+I was in Brazil at the time. So I sent for you. You came. So far so
+good."
+
+He rose, and crossed over to the fireplace. As he went the cat crawled
+back to its original position on his shoulder. Then his voice changed
+once more to its former business-like tone.
+
+"I am not going to tell you very much about it. But from what I do tell
+you, you will be able to gather a great deal and imagine the rest. To
+begin with, there is a man living in this world to-day who has done me a
+great and lasting injury. What that injury is is no concern of yours.
+You would not understand if I told you. So we'll leave that out of the
+question. He is immensely rich. His cheque for L300,000 would be
+honoured by his bank at any minute. Obviously he is a power. He has had
+reason to know that I am pitting my wits against his, and he flatters
+himself that so far he has got the better of me. That is because I am
+drawing him on. I am maturing a plan which will make him a poor and a
+very miserable man at one and the same time. If that scheme succeeds,
+and I am satisfied with the way you three men have performed the parts I
+shall call on you to play in it, I shall pay to each of you the sum of
+L10,000. If it doesn't succeed, then you will each receive a thousand
+and your expenses. Do you follow me?"
+
+It was evident from their faces that they hung upon his every word.
+
+"But, remember, I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While
+you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are
+trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are--pardon the
+expression--unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is
+more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying
+out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for
+my plans!"
+
+He sat down again and took a paper from his pocket. Having perused it,
+he turned to Eastover.
+
+"You will leave at once--that is to say, by the boat on Wednesday--for
+Sydney. You will book your passage to-morrow morning, first thing, and
+join her in Plymouth. You will meet me to-morrow evening at an address I
+will send you, and receive your final instructions. Good-night."
+
+Seeing that he was expected to go, Eastover rose, shook hands, and left
+the room without a word. He was too astonished to hesitate or to say
+anything.
+
+Nikola took another letter from his pocket and turned to Prendergast.
+"_You_ will go down to Dover to-night, cross to Paris to-morrow morning,
+and leave this letter personally at the address you will find written on
+it. On Thursday, at half-past two precisely, you will deliver me an
+answer in the porch at Charing Cross. You will find sufficient money in
+that envelope to pay all your expenses. Now go!"
+
+"At half-past two you shall have your answer. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night."
+
+When Prendergast had left the room, Dr. Nikola lit another cigar and
+turned his attentions to Mr. Baxter.
+
+"Six months ago, Mr. Baxter, I found for you a situation as tutor to the
+young Marquis of Beckenham. You still hold it, I suppose?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Is the father well disposed towards you?"
+
+"In every way. I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. That
+was one of your instructions."
+
+"Yes, yes! But I was not certain that you would succeed. If the old man
+is anything like what he was when I last met him he must still be a
+difficult person to deal with. Does the boy like you?"
+
+"I hope so."
+
+"Have you brought me his photograph as I directed?"
+
+"I have. Here it is."
+
+Baxter took a photograph from his pocket and handed it across the table.
+
+"Good. You have done very well, Mr. Baxter. I am pleased with you.
+To-morrow morning you will go back to Yorkshire----"
+
+"I beg your pardon, Bournemouth. His Grace owns a house near
+Bournemouth, which he occupies during the summer months."
+
+"Very well--then to-morrow morning you will go back to Bournemouth and
+continue to ingratiate yourself with father and son. You will also begin
+to implant in the boy's mind a desire for travel. Don't let him become
+aware that his desire has its source in you--but do not fail to foster
+it all you can. I will communicate with you further in a day or two. Now
+go."
+
+Baxter in his turn left the room. The door closed. Dr. Nikola picked up
+the photograph and studied it.
+
+"The likeness is unmistakable--or it ought to be. My friend, my very
+dear friend, Wetherell, my toils are closing on you. My arrangements are
+perfecting themselves admirably. Presently, when all is complete, I
+shall press the lever, the machinery will be set in motion, and you will
+find yourself being slowly but surely ground into powder. Then you will
+hand over what I want, and be sorry you thought fit to baulk Dr.
+Nikola!"
+
+He rang the bell and ordered his bill. This duty discharged, he placed
+the cat back in its prison, shut the lid, descended with the basket to
+the hall, and called a hansom. The porter inquired to what address he
+should order the cabman to drive. Dr. Nikola did not reply for a moment,
+then he said, as if he had been thinking something out: "The _Green
+Sailor_ public-house, East India Dock Road."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+I DETERMINE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY.--SYDNEY, AND WHAT BEFEL ME THERE
+
+
+First and foremost, my name, age, description, and occupation, as they
+say in the _Police Gazette_. Richard Hatteras, at your service, commonly
+called Dick, of Thursday Island, North Queensland, pearler, copra
+merchant, _beche-de-mer_ and tortoiseshell dealer, and South Sea trader
+generally. Eight-and-twenty years of age, neither particularly
+good-looking nor, if some people are to be believed, particularly
+amiable, six feet two in my stockings, and forty-six inches round the
+chest; strong as a Hakodate wrestler, and perfectly willing at any
+moment to pay ten pounds sterling to the man who can put me on my back.
+
+And big shame to me if I were not so strong, considering the free,
+open-air, devil-may-care life I've led. Why, I was doing man's work at
+an age when most boys are wondering when they're going to be taken out
+of knickerbockers. I'd been half round the world before I was fifteen,
+and had been wrecked twice and marooned once before my beard showed
+signs of sprouting. My father was an Englishman, not very much profit to
+himself, so he used to say, but of a kindly disposition, and the best
+husband to my mother, during their short married life, that any woman
+could possibly have desired. She, poor soul, died of fever in the
+Philippines the year I was born, and he went to the bottom in the
+schooner _Helen of Troy_, a degree west of the Line Islands, within six
+months of her decease; struck the tail end of a cyclone, it was thought,
+and went down, lock, stock, and barrel, leaving only one man to tell the
+tale. So I lost father and mother in the same twelve months, and that
+being so, when I put my cabbage-tree on my head it covered, as far as I
+knew, all my family in the world.
+
+Any way you look at it, it's calculated to give you a turn; at fifteen
+years of age, to know that there's not a living soul on the face of
+God's globe that you can take by the hand and call relation. That old
+saying about "blood being thicker than water" is a pretty true one, I
+reckon: friends may be kind--they were so to me--but after all they're
+not the same thing, nor can they be, as your own kith and kin.
+
+However, I had to look my trouble in the face, and stand up to it as a
+man should, and I suppose this kept me from brooding over my loss as
+much as I should otherwise have done. At any rate, ten days after the
+news reached me, I had shipped aboard the _Little Emily_, trading
+schooner, for Papeete, booked for five years among the islands, where I
+was to learn to water copra, to cook my balances, and to lay the
+foundation of the strange adventures that I am going to tell you about.
+
+After my time expired and I had served my Trading Company on half the
+mudbanks of the Pacific, I returned to Australia and went up inside the
+Great Barrier Reef to Somerset--the pearling station that had just come
+into existence on Cape York. They were good days there then, before all
+the new-fangled laws that now regulate the pearling trade had come into
+force; days when a man could do almost as he liked among the islands in
+those seas. I don't know how other folk liked it, but the life just
+suited me--so much so that when Somerset proved inconvenient and the
+settlement shifted across to Thursday, I went with it, and, what was
+more to the point, with money enough at my back to fit myself out with a
+brand-new lugger and full crew, so that I could go pearling on my own
+account.
+
+For many years I went at it head down, and this brings me up to four
+years ago, when I was a grown man, the owner of a house, two luggers,
+and as good a diving plant as any man could wish to possess. What was
+more, just before this I had put some money into a mining concern on the
+mainland, which had, contrary to most ventures of the sort, turned up
+trumps, giving me as my share the nice round sum of L5,000. With all
+this wealth at my back, and having been in harness for a greater number
+of years on end than I cared to count, I made up my mind to take a
+holiday and go home to England to see the place where my father was
+born, and had lived his early life (I found the name of it written in
+the fly-leaf of an old Latin book he left me), and to have a look at a
+country I'd heard so much about, but never thought to set my foot upon.
+
+Accordingly I packed my traps, let my house, sold my luggers and gear,
+intending to buy new ones when I returned, said good-bye to my friends
+and shipmates, and set off to join an Orient liner in Sydney. You will
+see from this that I intended doing the thing in style! And why not? I'd
+got more money to my hand to play with than most of the swells who
+patronize the first saloon; I had earned it honestly, and was resolved
+to enjoy myself with it to the top of my bent.
+
+I reached Sydney a week before the boat was advertised to sail, but I
+didn't fret much about that. There's plenty to see and do in such a big
+place, and when a man's been shut away from theatres and amusements for
+years at a stretch, he can put in his time pretty well looking about
+him. All the same, not knowing a soul in the place, I must confess there
+were moments when I did think regretfully of the little island hidden
+away up north under the wing of New Guinea, of the luggers dancing to
+the breeze in the harbour, and the warm welcome that always awaited me
+among my friends in the saloons. Take my word for it, there's something
+in even being a leader on a small island. Anyway, it's better than being
+a deadbeat in a big city like Sydney, where nobody knows you, and your
+next-door neighbour wouldn't miss you if he never saw or heard of you
+again.
+
+I used to think of these things as I marched about the streets looking
+in at shop windows, or took excursions up and down the harbour. There's
+no place like Sydney Harbour in the wide, wide world for beauty, and
+before I'd been there a week I was familiar with every part of it.
+Still, it would have been _more_ enjoyable, as I hinted just now, if I
+had had a friend to tour about with me; and by the same token I'm doing
+one man an injustice.
+
+There was _one_ fellow, I remember, who did offer to show me round: I
+fell across him in a saloon in George Street. He was tall and handsome,
+and as spic and span as a new pin till you came to look under the
+surface. When he entered the bar he winked at the girl who was serving
+me, and as soon as I'd finished my drink asked me to take another with
+him. Seeing what his little game was, and wanting to teach him a lesson,
+I lured him on by consenting. I drank with him, and then he drank with
+me.
+
+"Been long in Sydney?" he inquired casually, as he stroked his fair
+moustache.
+
+"Just come in," was my reply.
+
+"Don't you find it dull work going about alone?" he inquired. "I shall
+never forget my first week of it."
+
+"You're about right," I answered. "It is dull! I don't know a soul, bar
+my banker and lawyer."
+
+"Dear me!" (more curling of the moustache). "If I can be of any service
+to you while you're here, I hope you'll command me. I believe we're both
+Englishmen, eh?"
+
+"It's very good of you," I replied modestly, affecting to be overcome by
+his condescension. "I'm just off to lunch. I am staying at the _Quebec_.
+Is it far enough for a hansom?" As he was about to answer, a lawyer,
+with whom I had done a little business the day before, walked into the
+room. I turned to my patronising friend and said, "Will you excuse me
+for one moment? I want to speak to this gentleman."
+
+He was still all graciousness.
+
+"I'll call a hansom and wait for you in it."
+
+When he had left the saloon I spoke to the new arrival. He had noticed
+the man I had been talking to, and was kind enough to warn me against
+him.
+
+"That man," he said, "bears a very bad reputation. He makes it his trade
+to meet new arrivals from England--weak-brained young pigeons with
+money. He shows them round Sydney, and plucks them so clean that, when
+they leave his hands, in nine cases out of ten, they haven't a feather
+left to fly with. You ought not, with your experience of rough
+customers, to be taken in by him."
+
+"Nor am I," I replied. "I am going to teach him a lesson. Come with me."
+
+Arm in arm we walked into the street, watched by Mr. Hawk from his seat
+in the cab. When we got there we stood for a moment chatting, and then
+strolled together down the pavement. Next moment I heard the cab coming
+along after us, and my friend hailing me in his silkiest tones; but
+though I looked him full in the face I pretended not to know him. Seeing
+this he drove past us--pulled up a little farther down and sprang out to
+wait for me.
+
+"I was almost afraid I had missed you," he began, as we came up with
+him. "Perhaps as it is such a fine day you would rather walk than ride?"
+
+"I beg your pardon," I answered. "I'm really afraid you have the
+advantage of me."
+
+"But you have asked me to lunch with you at the _Quebec_. You told me to
+call a hansom."
+
+"Pardon me again! but you are really mistaken. I said I was going to
+lunch at the _Quebec_, and asked you if it was far enough to be worth
+while taking a hansom. That is your hansom, not mine. If you don't
+require it any longer, I should advise you to pay the man and let him
+go."
+
+"You are a swindler, sir. I refuse to pay the cabman. It is your
+hansom."
+
+I took a step closer to my fine gentleman, and, looking him full in the
+face, said as quietly as possible, for I didn't want all the street to
+hear:
+
+"Mr. _Dorunda_ Dodson, let this be a lesson to you. Perhaps you'll think
+twice next time before you try your little games on me!"
+
+He stepped back as if he had been shot, hesitated a moment, and then
+jumped into his cab and drove off in the opposite direction. When he had
+gone I looked at my astonished companion.
+
+"Well, now," he ejaculated at last, "how on earth did you manage that?"
+
+"Very easily," I replied. "I happened to remember having met that
+gentleman up in our part of the world when he was in a very awkward
+position--very awkward. By his action just now I should say that he has
+not forgotten the circumstance any more than I have."
+
+That was the first of the only two adventures of any importance I met
+with during my stay in New South Wales. And there's not much in that, I
+fancy I can hear you saying. Well, that may be so, I don't deny it, but
+it was nevertheless through that that I became mixed up with the folk
+who figure in this book, and indeed it was to that very circumstance,
+and that alone, I owe my connection with the queer story I have set
+myself to tell. And this is how it came about.
+
+Three days before the steamer sailed, and about four o'clock in the
+afternoon, I chanced to be walking down Castlereagh Street, wondering
+what on earth I should do with myself until dinner-time, when I saw
+approaching me the very man whose discomfiture I have just described.
+Being probably occupied planning the plucking of some unfortunate new
+chum, he did not see me. And as I had no desire to meet him again, after
+what had passed between us, I crossed the road and meandered off in a
+different direction, eventually finding myself located on a seat in the
+Domain, lighting a cigarette and looking down over a broad expanse of
+harbour.
+
+One thought led to another, and so I sat on and on long after dusk had
+fallen, never stirring until a circumstance occurred on a neighbouring
+path that attracted my attention. A young and well-dressed lady was
+pursuing her way in my direction, evidently intending to leave the park
+by the entrance I had used to come into it. But unfortunately for her,
+at the junction of two paths to my right, three of Sydney's typical
+larrikins were engaged in earnest conversation. They had observed the
+girl coming towards them, and were evidently preparing some plan for
+accosting her. When she was only about fifty yards away, two of them
+walked to a distance, leaving the third and biggest ruffian to waylay
+her. He did so, but without success; she passed him and continued her
+walk at increased speed.
+
+The man thereupon quickened his pace, and, secure in the knowledge that
+he was unobserved, again accosted her. Again she tried to escape him,
+but this time he would not leave her. What was worse, his two friends
+were now blocking the path in front. She looked to right and left, and
+was evidently uncertain what to do. Then, seeing escape was hopeless,
+she stopped, took out her purse, and gave it to the man who had first
+spoken to her. Thinking this was going too far, I jumped up and went
+quickly across the turf towards them. My footsteps made no sound on the
+soft grass, and as they were too much occupied in examining what she had
+given them, they did not notice my approach.
+
+"You scoundrels!" I said, when I had come up with them. "What do you
+mean by stopping this lady? Let her go instantly; and you, my friend,
+just hand over that purse."
+
+The man addressed looked at me as if he were taking my measure, and were
+wondering what sort of chance he'd have against me in a fight. But I
+suppose my height must have rather scared him, for he changed his tone
+and began to whine.
+
+"I haven't got the lady's purse, s'help me, I ain't! I was only a asking
+of 'er the time!"
+
+"Hand over that purse!" I said sternly, approaching a step nearer to
+him.
+
+One of the others here intervened,--"Let's stowch 'im, Dog! There ain't
+a copper in sight!"
+
+With that they began to close upon me. But, as the saying goes, "I'd
+been there before." I'd not been knocking about the rough side of the
+world for fifteen years without learning how to take care of myself.
+When they had had about enough of it, which was most likely more than
+they had bargained for, I took the purse and went to where the innocent
+cause of it all was standing. She was looking very white and scared, but
+she plucked up sufficient courage to thank me prettily.
+
+I can see her now, standing there looking into my face with big tears in
+her pretty blue eyes. She was a girl of about twenty-one or two years of
+age--tall, but slenderly built, with a sweet oval face, bright brown
+hair, and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life. She was
+dressed in some dark green material, wore a fawn jacket, and, because
+the afternoon was cold, had a boa of marten fur round her neck. I can
+remember also that her hat was of some flimsy make, with lace and
+glittering spear points in it, and that the whole structure was
+surmounted by two bows, one of black ribbon, the other of salmon pink.
+
+"Oh, how can I thank you?" she began, when I had come up with her. "But
+for your appearance I don't know what those men might not have done to
+me."
+
+"I was very glad that I _was_ there to help you," I replied, looking
+into her face with more admiration for its warm young beauty than
+perhaps I ought to have shown. "Here is your purse. I hope you will find
+its contents safe. At the same time will you let me give you a little
+piece of advice. From what I have seen this afternoon this is evidently
+not the sort of place for a young lady to be walking in alone and after
+dark. I don't think I would risk it again if I were you."
+
+She looked at me for a moment and then said:
+
+"You are quite right. I have only myself to thank for my misfortune. I
+met a friend and walked across the green with her; I was on my way back
+to my carriage--which is waiting for me outside--when I met those men.
+However, I can promise you that it will not happen again. I am leaving
+Sydney in a day or two."
+
+Somehow, when I heard that, I began to feel glad I was booked to leave
+the place too. But of course I didn't tell her so.
+
+"May I see you safely to your carriage?" I said at last. "Those fellows
+may still be hanging about on the chance of overtaking you."
+
+Her courage must have come back to her, for she looked up into my face
+with a smile.
+
+"I don't think they will be rude to me again, after the lesson you have
+given them. But if you will walk with me I shall be very grateful."
+
+Side by side we proceeded down the path, through the gates and out into
+the street. A neat brougham was drawn up alongside the kerb, and towards
+this she made her way. I opened the door and held it for her to get in.
+But before she did so she turned to me and stretched out her little
+hand.
+
+"Will you tell me your name, that I may know to whom I am indebted?"
+
+"My name is Hatteras. Richard Hatteras, of Thursday Island, Torres
+Straits. I am staying at the _Quebec_."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Hatteras, again and again. I shall always be grateful to
+you for your gallantry!"
+
+This was attaching too much importance to such a simple action, and I
+was about to tell her so, when she spoke again: "I think I ought to let
+you know who I am. My name is Wetherell, and my father is the Colonial
+Secretary. I'm sure he will be quite as grateful to you as I am.
+Good-bye."
+
+She seemed to forget that we had already shaken hands, for she extended
+her own a second time. I took it and tried to say something polite, but
+she stepped into her carriage and shut the door before I could think of
+anything, and next moment she was being whirled away up the street.
+
+Now old fogies and disappointed spinsters can say what they please about
+love at first sight. I'm not a romantic sort of person--far from it--the
+sort of life I had hitherto led was not of a nature calculated to foster
+a belief in that sort of thing. But if I wasn't over head and ears in
+love when I resumed my walk that evening, well, I've never known what
+the passion is.
+
+A daintier, prettier, sweeter little angel surely never walked the earth
+than the girl I had just been permitted the opportunity of rescuing, and
+from that moment forward I found my thoughts constantly reverting to
+her. I seemed to retain the soft pressure of her fingers in mine for
+hours afterwards, and as a proof of the perturbed state of my feelings I
+may add that I congratulated myself warmly on having worn that day my
+new and fashionable Sydney suit, instead of the garments in which I had
+travelled down from Torres Straits, and which I had hitherto considered
+quite good enough for even high days and holidays. That she herself
+would remember me for more than an hour never struck me as being likely.
+
+Next morning I donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up,
+and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets.
+What reason I had for thinking I should is more than I can tell you, but
+at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George
+Street a carriage passed me, and in it sat the girl whose fair image had
+exercised such an effect upon my mind. That she saw and recognized me
+was evidenced by the gracious bow and smile with which she favoured me.
+Then she passed out of sight, and it was a wonder that that minute
+didn't see the end of my career, for I stood like one in a dream looking
+in the direction in which she had gone, and it was not until two carts
+and a brewer's wagon had nearly run me down that I realized it would be
+safer for me to pursue my meditations on the side walk.
+
+I got back to my hotel by lunch-time, and during the progress of that
+meal a brilliant idea struck me. Supposing I plucked up courage and
+called? Why not? It would be only a polite action to inquire if she were
+any the worse for her fright. The thought was no sooner born in my brain
+than I was eager to be off. But it was too early for such a formal
+business, so I had to cool my heels in the hall for an hour. Then,
+hailing a hansom and inquiring the direction of their residence, I drove
+off to Potts Point. The house was the last in the street--an imposing
+mansion standing in well-laid-out grounds. The butler answered my ring,
+and in response to my inquiry dashed my hopes to the ground by informing
+me that Miss Wetherell was out.
+
+"She's very busy, you see, at present, sir. She and the master leave for
+England on Friday in the _Orizaba_."
+
+"What!" I cried, almost forgetting myself in my astonishment. "You don't
+mean to say that Miss Wetherell goes to England in the _Orizaba_?"
+
+"I do, sir. And I do hear she's goin' 'ome to be presented at Court,
+sir!"
+
+"Ah! Thank you. Will you give her my card, and say that I hope she is
+none the worse for her fright last evening?"
+
+He took the card, and a substantial tip with it, and I went back to my
+cab in the seventh heaven of delight. I was to be shipmates with this
+lovely creature! For four weeks or more I should be able to see her
+every day! It seemed almost too good to be true. Instinctively I began
+to make all sorts of plans and preparations. Who knew but what--but
+stay, we must bring ourselves up here with a round turn, or we shall be
+anticipating what's to come.
+
+To make a long story short--for it must be remembered that what I am
+telling you is only the prelude to all the extraordinary things that
+will have to be told later on--the day of sailing came. I went down to
+the boat on the morning of her departure, and got my baggage safely
+stowed away in my cabin before the rush set in.
+
+About three o'clock we hove our anchor and steamed slowly down the Bay.
+I had been below when the Wetherells arrived on board, so the young lady
+had not yet become aware of my presence. Whether she would betray any
+astonishment when she did find out was beyond my power to tell; at any
+rate, I know that I was by a long way the happiest man aboard the boat
+that day. However, I was not to be kept long in suspense. Before we had
+reached the Heads it was all settled, and satisfactorily so. I was
+standing on the promenade deck, just abaft the main saloon entrance,
+watching the panorama spread out before me, when I heard a voice I
+recognized only too well say behind me:
+
+"Good-bye to you, dear old Sydney. Great things will have happened when
+I set eyes on you again."
+
+Little did she know how prophetic were her words. As she spoke I turned
+and confronted her. For a moment she was overwhelmed with surprise,
+then, stretching out her hand, she said:
+
+"Really, Mr. Hatteras, this is most wonderful. You are the last person I
+expected to meet on board."
+
+"And perhaps," I replied, "I might with justice say the same of you."
+
+She turned to a tall, white-bearded man beside her.
+
+"Papa, I must introduce you to Mr. Hatteras. You will remember I told
+you how kind Mr. Hatteras was when those larrikins were rude to me in
+the Domain."
+
+"I am sincerely obliged to you, Mr. Hatteras," he said, holding out his
+hand and shaking mine heartily. "My daughter did tell me, and I called
+yesterday at your hotel to thank you personally, but you were
+unfortunately not at home. Are you visiting Europe?"
+
+"Yes; I'm going home for a short visit to see the place where my father
+was born."
+
+"Are you then, like myself, an Australian native? I mean, of course, as
+you know, colonial born?" asked Miss Wetherell with a little laugh. The
+idea of her calling herself an Australian native in any other sense! The
+very notion seemed preposterous.
+
+"I was born at sea, a degree and a half south of Mauritius," I answered;
+"so I don't know what you would call me. I hope you have comfortable
+cabins?"
+
+"Very. We have made two or three voyages in this boat before, and we
+always take the same places. And now, papa, we must really go and see
+where poor Miss Thompson is. We are beginning to feel the swell, and
+she'll be wanting to go below. Good-bye for the present."
+
+I raised my cap and watched her walk away down the deck, balancing
+herself as if she had been accustomed to a heaving plank all her life.
+Then I turned to watch the fast receding shore, and to my own thoughts,
+which were none of the saddest, I can assure you. For it must be
+confessed here--and why should I deny it?--that I was in love from the
+soles of my deck shoes to the cap upon my head. But as to the chance,
+that I, a humble pearler, would stand with one of Sydney's most
+beautiful daughters--why, that's another matter, and one that, for the
+present, I was anxious to keep behind me.
+
+Within the week we had left Adelaide behind us, and four days later
+Albany was also a thing of the past. By the time we had cleared the
+Lewin we had all settled down to our life aboard ship, the bad sailors
+were beginning to appear on deck again, and the medium voyagers to make
+various excuses for their absences from meals. One thing was evident,
+that Miss Wetherell was the belle of the ship. Everybody paid her
+attention, from the skipper down to the humblest deck hand. And this
+being so, I prudently kept out of the way, for I had no desire to be
+thought to presume on our previous acquaintance. Whether she noticed
+this I cannot tell, but at any rate her manner to me when we _did_ speak
+was more cordial than I had any right or reason to expect it would be.
+Seeing this, there were not wanting people on board who scoffed and
+sneered at the idea of the Colonial Secretary's daughter noticing so
+humble a person as myself, and when it became known what my exact social
+position was, I promise you these malicious whisperings did not cease.
+
+One evening, two or three days after we had left Colombo behind us, I
+was standing at the rails on the promenade deck a little abaft the
+smoking-room entrance, when Miss Wetherell came up and took her place
+beside me. She looked very dainty and sweet in her evening dress, and I
+felt, if I had known her better, I should have liked to tell her so.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," said she, when we had discussed the weather and the
+sunset, "I have been thinking lately that you desire to avoid me."
+
+"Heaven forbid! Miss Wetherell," I hastened to reply. "What on earth put
+such a notion into your head?"
+
+"All the same I believe it to be true. Now, why do you do it?"
+
+"I have not admitted that I do do it. But, perhaps, if I do seem to deny
+myself the pleasure of being with you as much as some other people I
+could mention, it is only because I fail to see what possible enjoyment
+you can derive from my society."
+
+"That is a very pretty speech," she answered, smiling, "but it does not
+tell me what I want to know."
+
+"And what is it that you want to know, my dear young lady?"
+
+"I want to know why you are so much changed towards me. At first we got
+on splendidly--you used to tell me of your life in Torres Straits, of
+your trading ventures in the Southern Seas, and even of your hopes for
+the future. Now, however, all that is changed. It is, 'Good-morning,
+Miss Wetherell,' 'Good-evening, Miss Wetherell,' and that is all. I must
+own I don't like such treatment."
+
+"I must crave your pardon--but----"
+
+"No, we won't have any 'buts.' If you want to be forgiven, you must come
+and talk to me as you used to do. You will like the rest of the people
+I'm sure when you get to know them. They are very kind to me."
+
+"And you think I shall like them for that reason?"
+
+"No, no. How silly you are. But I do so want you to be friendly."
+
+After that there was nothing for it but for me to push myself into a
+circle where I had the best reasons for knowing that I was not wanted.
+However, it had its good side: I saw more of Miss Wetherell; so much
+more indeed that I began to notice that her father did not quite approve
+of it. But, whatever he may have thought, he said nothing to me on the
+subject.
+
+A fortnight or so later we were at Aden, leaving that barren rock about
+four o'clock, and entering the Red Sea the same evening. The Suez Canal
+passed through, and Port Said behind us, we were in the Mediterranean,
+and for the first time in my life I stood in Europe.
+
+At Naples the Wetherells were to say good-bye to the boat, and continue
+the rest of their journey home across the Continent. As the hour of
+separation approached, I must confess I began to dread it more and more.
+And somehow, I fancy, _she_ was not quite as happy as she used to be.
+You will probably ask what grounds I had for believing that a girl like
+Miss Wetherell would take any interest in a man like myself; and it is a
+question I can no more answer than I can fly. And yet, when I came to
+think it all out, I was not without my hopes.
+
+We were to reach port the following morning. The night was very still,
+the water almost unruffled. Somehow it came about that Miss Wetherell
+and I found ourselves together in the same sheltered spot where she had
+spoken to me on the occasion referred to before. The stars in the east
+were paling, preparatory to the rising of the moon. I glanced at my
+companion as she leant against the rails scanning the quiet sea, and
+noticed the sweet wistfulness of her expression. Then, suddenly, a great
+desire came over me to tell her of my love. Surely, even if she could
+not return it, there would be no harm in letting her know how I felt
+towards her. For this reason I drew a little closer to her.
+
+"And so. Miss Wetherell," I said, "to-morrow we are to say good-bye;
+never, perhaps, to meet again."
+
+"Oh, no, Mr. Hatteras," she answered, "we won't say that. Surely we
+shall see something of each other somewhere. The world is very tiny
+after all."
+
+"To those who desire to avoid each other, perhaps, but for those who
+wish to _find_ it is still too large."
+
+"Well, then, we must hope for the best. Who knows but that we may run
+across each other in London. I think it is very probable."
+
+"And will that meeting be altogether distasteful to you?" I asked, quite
+expecting that she would answer with her usual frankness. But to my
+surprise she did not speak, only turned half away from me. Had I
+offended her?
+
+"Miss Wetherell, pray forgive my rudeness," I said hastily. "I ought to
+have known I had no right to ask you such a question."
+
+"And why shouldn't you?" she replied, this time turning her sweet face
+towards me. "No, I will tell you frankly, I should very much like to see
+you again."
+
+With that all the blood in my body seemed to rush to my head. Could I be
+dreaming? Or had she really said she would like to see me again? I would
+try my luck now whatever came of it.
+
+"You cannot think how pleasant our intercourse has been to me," I said.
+"And now I have to go back to my lonely, miserable existence again."
+
+"But you should not say that; you have your work in life!"
+
+"Yes, but what is that to me when I have no one to work for? Can you
+conceive anything more awful than my loneliness? Remember, as far as I
+know I am absolutely without kith and kin. There is not a single soul to
+care for me in the whole world--not one to whom my death would be a
+matter of the least concern."
+
+"Oh, don't--don't say that!" Her voice faltered so that I turned from
+the sea and contemplated her.
+
+"It is true, Miss Wetherell, bitterly true."
+
+"It is not true. It cannot be true!"
+
+"If only I could think it would be some little matter of concern to you
+I should go back to my work with a happier heart."
+
+Again she turned her face from me. My arm lay beside hers upon the
+bulwarks, and I could feel that she was trembling. Brutal though it may
+seem to say so, this gave me fresh courage. I said slowly, bending my
+face a little towards her:
+
+"Would it affect you, Phyllis?"
+
+One little hand fell from the bulwarks to her side, and I took
+possession of it. She did not appear to have heard my question, so I
+repeated it. Then her head went down upon the bulwarks, but not before I
+had caught the whispered "yes" that escaped her lips.
+
+Before she could guess what was going to happen, I had taken her in my
+arms and smothered her face with kisses. Nor did she offer any
+resistance. I knew the whole truth now. She was mine, she loved
+me--me--me--me! The whole world seemed to re-echo the news, the very sea
+to ring with it, and just as I learned from her own dear lips the story
+of her love, the great moon rose as if to listen. Can you imagine my
+happiness, my delight? She was mine, this lovely girl, my very own!
+bound to me by all the bonds of love. Oh, happy hour! Oh, sweet delight!
+I pressed her to my heart again and again. She looked into my face and
+then away from me, her sweet eyes suffused with tears, then suddenly her
+expression changed. I turned to see what ailed her, and to my
+discomfiture discovered her father stalking along the silent deck
+towards us.
+
+Whispering to her to leave us, she sped away, and I was left alone with
+her angry parent. That he _was_ angry I judged from his face; nor was I
+wrong in my conjecture.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said severely, "pray what does this mean? How is it
+that I find you in this undignified position with my daughter?"
+
+"Mr. Wetherell," I answered, "I can see that an explanation is due to
+you. Just before you came up I was courageous enough to tell your
+daughter that I loved her. She has been generous enough to inform me
+that she returns my affection. And now the best course for me to pursue
+is to ask your permission to make her my wife."
+
+"You presume, sir, upon the service you rendered my daughter in Sydney.
+I did not think you would follow it up in this fashion."
+
+"Your daughter is free to love whom she pleases, I take it," I said, my
+temper getting a little the better of my judgment. "She has been good
+enough to promise to marry me--if I can obtain your permission. Have you
+any objection to raise?"
+
+"Only one, and that one is insuperable! Understand me, I forbid it once
+and for all! In every particular--without hope of change--I forbid it!"
+
+"As you must see it is a matter which affects the happiness of two
+lives, I feel sure you will be good enough to tell me your reasons?"
+
+"I must decline any discussion on the matter at all. You have my answer,
+I forbid it!"
+
+"This is to be final, then? I am to understand that you are not to be
+brought to change your mind by any actions of mine?"
+
+"No, sir, I am not! What I have said is irrevocable. The idea is not to
+be thought of for a moment. And while I am on this subject let me tell
+you that your conduct towards my daughter on board this ship has been
+very distasteful to me. I have the honour to wish you a very
+good-evening."
+
+"Stay, Mr. Wetherell," I said, as he turned to go. "You have been kind
+enough to favour me with your views. Now I will give you mine. Your
+daughter loves me. I am an honest and an industrious man, and I love her
+with my whole heart and soul. I tell you now, and though you decline to
+treat me with proper fairness, I give you warning that I intend to marry
+her if she will still have me--with your consent or without it!"
+
+"You are insolent, sir."
+
+"I assure you I have no desire to be. I endeavour to remember that you
+are her father, though I must own you lack her sense of what is fair and
+right."
+
+"I will not discuss the question any further with you. You know my
+absolute decision. Good-night!"
+
+With anger and happiness struggling in my breast for the mastery, I
+paced that deck for hours. My heart swelled with joy at the knowledge
+that my darling loved me, but it sank like lead when I considered the
+difficulties which threatened us if her father persisted in his present
+determination. At last, just as eight bells was striking (twelve
+o'clock), I went below to my cabin. My fellow-passenger was fast
+asleep--a fact which I was grateful for when I discovered propped
+against my bottle-rack a tiny envelope with my name upon it. Tearing it
+open I read the following:--
+
+     "MY OWN DEAREST,--
+
+     "My father has just informed me of his interview with you. I cannot
+     understand it or ascribe a reason for it. But whatever happens,
+     remember that I will be your wife, and the wife of no other.
+
+     "May God bless and keep you always.
+     "Your own,
+     "PHYLLIS.
+
+     "P.S.--Before we leave the ship you must let me know your address
+     in London."
+
+With such a letter under my pillow, can it be doubted that my dreams
+were good? Little I guessed the accumulation of troubles to which this
+little unpleasantness with Mr. Wetherell was destined to be the prelude!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+LONDON
+
+
+Now that I come to think the matter out, I don't know that I could give
+you any definite idea of what my first impressions of London were. One
+thing at least is certain, I had never had experience of anything
+approaching such a city before, and, between ourselves, I can't say that
+I ever want to again. The constant rush and roar of traffic, the crowds
+of people jostling each other on the pavements, the happiness and the
+misery, the riches and the poverty, all mixed up together in one jumble,
+like good and bad fruit in a basket, fairly took my breath away; and
+when I went down, that first afternoon, and saw the Park in all its
+summer glory, my amazement may be better imagined than described.
+
+I could have watched the carriages, horsemen, and promenaders for hours
+on end without any sense of weariness. And when a bystander, seeing that
+I was a stranger, took compassion upon my ignorance and condescended to
+point out to me the various celebrities present, my pleasure was
+complete. There certainly is no place like London for show and glitter,
+I'll grant you that; but all the same I'd no more think of taking up my
+permanent abode in it than I'd try to cross the Atlantic in a Chinese
+sampan.
+
+Having before I left Sydney been recommended to a quiet hotel in a
+neighbourhood near the Strand, convenient both for sight-seeing and
+business, I had my luggage conveyed thither, and prepared to make myself
+comfortable for a time. Every day I waited eagerly for a letter from my
+sweetheart, the more impatiently because its non-arrival convinced me
+that they had not yet arrived in London. As it turned out, they had
+delayed their departure from Naples for two days, and had spent another
+three in Florence, two in Rome, and a day and a half in Paris.
+
+One morning, however, my faithful watch over the letter rack, which was
+already becoming a standing joke in the hotel, was rewarded. An envelope
+bearing an English stamp and postmark, and addressed in a handwriting as
+familiar to me as my own, stared me in the face. To take it out and
+break the seal was the work of a moment. It was only a matter of a few
+lines, but it brought me news that raised me to the seventh heaven of
+delight.
+
+Mr. and Miss Wetherell had arrived in London the previous afternoon,
+they were staying at the _Hotel Metropole_, would leave town for the
+country at the end of the week, but in the meantime, if I wished to see
+her, my sweetheart would be in the entrance hall of the British Museum
+the following morning at eleven o'clock.
+
+How I conducted myself in the interval between my receipt of the letter
+and the time of the appointment, I have not the least remembrance; I
+know, however, that half-past ten, on the following morning, found me
+pacing up and down the street before that venerable pile, scanning with
+eager eyes every conveyance that approached me. The minutes dragged by
+with intolerable slowness, but at length the time arrived.
+
+A kindly church clock in the neighbourhood struck the hour, and others
+all round it immediately took up the tale. Before the last stroke had
+died away a hansom turned towards the gates from Bury Street, and in it,
+looking the picture of health and beauty, sat the girl who, I had good
+reason to know, was more than all the world to me. To attract her
+attention and signal to the driver to pull up was the work of a second,
+and a minute later I had helped her to alight, and we were strolling
+together across the square towards the building.
+
+"Ah, Dick," she said, with a roguish smile, "you don't know what trouble
+I had to get away this morning. Papa had a dozen places he wished me to
+go to with him. But when I told him that I had some very important
+business of my own to attend to before I could go calling, he was kind
+enough to let me off."
+
+"I'll be bound he thought you meant business with a dressmaker," I
+laughingly replied, determined to show her that I was not unversed in
+the ways of women.
+
+"I'm afraid he did," she answered, blushing, "and I feel horribly
+guilty. But my heart told me I must see you at once, whatever happened."
+
+Could any man desire a prettier speech than that? If so, I was not that
+man. We were inside the building by this time, ascending the great
+staircase.
+
+As we entered the room at the top of the stairs, I thought it a good
+opportunity to ask the question I had been longing to put to her.
+
+"Phyllis, my sweetheart," I said, with a tremor in my voice, "it is a
+fortnight now since I spoke to you. You have had plenty of time to
+consider our position. Have you regretted giving me your love?"
+
+We came to a standstill, and leant over a case together, but what it
+contained I'm sure I haven't the very vaguest idea.
+
+She looked up into my face with a sweet smile.
+
+"Not for one single instant, Dick! Having once given you my love, is it
+likely I should want it back again?"
+
+"I don't know. Somehow I can't discover sufficient reason for your
+giving it to me at all."
+
+"Well, be sure I'm not going to tell you. You might grow conceited.
+Isn't it sufficient that I _do_ love you, and that I am not going to
+give you up, whatever happens?"
+
+"More than sufficient," I answered solemnly. "But, Phyllis, don't you
+think I can induce your father to relent? Surely as a good parent he
+must be anxious to promote your happiness at any cost to himself?"
+
+"I can't understand it at all. He has been so devoted to me all my life
+that his conduct now is quite inexplicable. Never once has he denied me
+anything I really set my heart upon, and he always promised me that I
+should be allowed to marry whomsoever I pleased, provided he was a good
+and honourable man, and one of whom he could in any way approve. And you
+are all that, Dick, or I shouldn't have loved you, I know."
+
+"I don't think I'm any worse than the ordinary run of men, dearest, if I
+am no better. At any rate I love you with a true and honourable love.
+But don't you think he will come round in time?"
+
+"I'm almost afraid not. He referred to it only yesterday, and seemed
+quite angry that I should have dared to entertain any thought of you
+after what he said to me on board ship. It was the first time in my life
+he ever spoke to me in such a tone, and I felt it keenly. No, Dick,
+there is something behind it all that I cannot understand. Some mystery
+that I would give anything to fathom. Papa has not been himself ever
+since we started for England. Indeed, his very reason for coming at all
+is an enigma to me. And now that he _is_ here, he seems in continual
+dread of meeting somebody--but who that somebody is, and why my father,
+who has the name and reputation of being such a courageous, determined,
+honourable man, should be afraid, is a thing I cannot understand."
+
+"It's all very mysterious and unfortunate. But surely something can be
+done? Don't you think if I were to see him again, and put the matter
+more plainly before him, something might be arranged?"
+
+"It would be worse than useless at present, I fear. No, you must just
+leave it to me, and I'll do my best to talk him round. Ever since my
+mother died I have been as his right hand, and it will be strange if he
+does not listen to me and see reason in the end."
+
+Seeing who it was that would plead with him I did not doubt it.
+
+By this time we had wandered through many rooms and now found ourselves
+in the Egyptian Department, surrounded by embalmed dead folk and queer
+objects of all sorts and descriptions. There was something almost
+startling about our love-making in such a place, among these men and
+women, whose wooings had been conducted in a country so widely different
+to ours, and in an age that was dead and gone over two thousand years
+ere we were born. I spoke of this to Phyllis. She laughed and gave a
+little shiver.
+
+"I wonder," she said, looking down on the swathed-up figure of a
+princess of the royal house of Egypt, lying stretched out in the case
+beside which we sat, "if this great lady, who lies so still and silent
+now, had any trouble with her love affair?"
+
+"Perhaps she had more than one beau to her string, and not being allowed
+to have one took the other," I answered; "though from what we can see of
+her now she doesn't look as if she were ever capable of exercising much
+fascination, does she?"
+
+As I spoke I looked from the case to the girl and compared the
+swaddled-up figure with the healthy, living, lovely creature by my side.
+But I hadn't much time for comparison. My sweetheart had taken her watch
+from her pocket and was glancing at the dial.
+
+"A quarter to twelve!" she cried in alarm, "Oh, Dick, I must be going. I
+promised to meet papa at twelve, and I must not keep him waiting."
+
+She rose and was about to pull on her gloves. But before she had time to
+do so I had taken a little case from my pocket and opened it. When she
+saw what it contained she could not help a little womanly cry of
+delight.
+
+"Oh, Dick! you naughty, extravagant boy!"
+
+"Why, dearest? Why naughty or extravagant to give the woman I love a
+little token of my affection?" As I spoke I slipped the ring over her
+pretty ringer and raised the hand to my lips.
+
+"Will you try," I said, "whenever you look at that ring, to remember
+that the man who gave it to you loves you with his whole heart and soul,
+and will count no trouble too great, or no exertion too hard, to make
+you happy?"
+
+"I will remember," she said solemnly, and when I looked I saw that tears
+stood in her eyes. She brushed them hastily away, and after an interlude
+which it hardly becomes me to mention here, we went down the stairs
+again and out into the street, almost in silence.
+
+Having called a cab, I placed her in it and nervously asked the question
+that had been sometime upon my mind:--"When shall I see you again?"
+
+"I cannot tell," she answered. "Perhaps next week. But I'll let you
+know. In the meantime don't despair; all will come right yet. Good-bye."
+
+"Good-bye and God bless you!"
+
+Having seen the last of her I wandered slowly down the pavement towards
+Oxford Street, then turning to my left hand, made my way citywards. My
+mind was full of my interview with the sweet girl who had just left me,
+and I wandered on and on, wrapped in my own thoughts, until I found
+myself in a quarter of London into which I had never hitherto
+penetrated. The streets were narrow, and, as if to be in keeping with
+the general air of gloom, the shops were small and their wares of a
+peculiarly sordid nature.
+
+A church clock somewhere in the neighbourhood struck "One," and as I was
+beginning to feel hungry, and knew myself to be a long way from my
+hotel, I cast about me for a lunching-place. But it was some time before
+I encountered the class of restaurant I wanted. When I did it was
+situated at the corner of two streets, carried a foreign name over the
+door, and, though considerably the worse for wear, presented a cleaner
+appearance than any other I had as yet experienced.
+
+Pushing the door open I entered. An unmistakable Frenchman, whose
+appearance, however, betokened long residence in England, stood behind a
+narrow counter polishing an absinthe glass. He bowed politely and asked
+my business.
+
+"Can I have lunch?" I asked.
+
+"Oui, monsieur! Cer-tain-lee. If monsieur will walk upstairs I will take
+his order."
+
+Waving his hand in the direction of a staircase in the corner of the
+shop he again bowed elaborately, while I, following the direction he
+indicated, proceeded to the room above. It was long and lofty, commanded
+an excellent view of both thoroughfares, and was furnished with a few
+inferior pictures, half a dozen small marble-top tables, and four times
+as many chairs.
+
+When I entered three men were in occupation. Two were playing chess at a
+side table, while the third, who had evidently no connection with them,
+was watching the game from a distance, at the same time pretending to be
+absorbed in his paper. Seating myself at a table near the door, I
+examined the bill of fare, selected my lunch, and in order to amuse
+myself while it was preparing, fell to scrutinizing my companions.
+
+Of the chess-players, one was a big, burly fellow, with enormous arms,
+protruding rheumy eyes, a florid complexion, and a voluminous red beard.
+His opponent was of a much smaller build, with pale features, a tiny
+moustache, and watery blue eyes. He wore a _pince-nez_, and from the
+length of his hair and a dab of crimson lake upon his shirt cuff, I
+argued him an artist.
+
+Leaving the chess-players, my eyes lighted on the stranger on the other
+side. He was more interesting in every way. Indeed, I was surprised to
+see a man of his stamp in the house at all. He was tall and slim, but
+exquisitely formed, and plainly the possessor of enormous strength. His
+head, if only from a phrenological point of view, was a magnificent one,
+crowned with a wealth of jet-black hair. His eyes were dark as night,
+and glittered like those of a snake. His complexion was of a decidedly
+olive hue, though, as he sat in the shadow of the corner, it was
+difficult to tell this at first sight.
+
+But what most fascinated me about this curious individual was the
+interest he was taking in the game the other men were playing. He kept
+his eyes fixed upon the board, looked anxiously from one to the other as
+a move trembled in the balance, smiled sardonically when his desires
+were realized, and sighed almost aloud when a mistake was made.
+
+Every moment I expected his anxiety or disappointment to find vent in
+words, but he always managed to control himself. When he became excited
+I noticed that his whole body quivered under its influence, and once
+when the smaller of the players made an injudicious move a look flew
+into his face that was full of such malignant intensity that I'll own I
+was influenced by it. What effect it would have had upon the innocent
+cause of it all, had he seen it, I should have been sorry to conjecture.
+
+Just as my lunch made its appearance the game reached a conclusion, and
+the taller of the two players, having made a remark in German, rose to
+leave. It was evident that the smaller man had won, and in an excess of
+pride, to which I gathered his nature was not altogether a stranger, he
+looked round the room as if in defiance.
+
+Doing so, his eyes met those of the man in the corner. I glanced from
+one to the other, but my gaze rested longest on the face of the smaller
+man. So fascinated did he seem to be by the other's stare that his eyes
+became set and stony. It was just as if he were being mesmerized. The
+person he looked at rose, approached him, sat down at the table and
+began to arrange the men on the board. Then he looked up again.
+
+"May I have the pleasure of giving you a game?" he asked in excellent
+English, bowing slightly as he spoke, and moving a pawn with his long
+white fingers.
+
+The little man found voice enough to murmur an appropriate reply, and
+they began their game, while I turned to my lunch. But, in spite of
+myself, I found my eyes continually reverting to what was happening at
+the other table. And, indeed, it was a curious sight I saw there. The
+tall man had thrown himself into the business of the game, heart and
+soul. He half sat, half crouched over the board, reminding me of a hawk
+hovering over a poultry yard.
+
+His eyes were riveted first on the men before him and then on his
+opponent--his long fingers twitched and twined over each move, and
+seemed as if they would never release their hold. Not once did he speak,
+but his attitude was more expressive than any words.
+
+The effect on the little man, his companion, was overwhelming. He was
+quite unable to do anything, but sat huddled up in his chair as if
+terrified by his demoniacal companion. The result even a child might
+have foreseen. The tall man won, and the little man, only too glad to
+have come out of the ordeal with a whole skin, seized his hat and, with
+a half-uttered apology, darted from the room.
+
+For a moment or two his extraordinary opponent sat playing with the
+chessmen. Then he looked across at me and without hesitation said,
+accompanying his remark with a curious smile, for which I could not at
+all account:--"I think you will agree with me that the limitations of
+the fool are the birth gifts of the wise!"
+
+Not knowing what reply to make to this singular assertion, I wisely held
+my tongue. This brought about a change in his demeanour; he rose from
+his seat, and came across to where I sat. Seating himself in a chair
+directly opposite me, he folded his hands in his lap, after the manner
+of a demure old spinster, and, having looked at me earnestly, said with
+an almost indescribable sweetness of tone:--
+
+"I think you will allow, Mr. Hatteras, that half the world is born for
+the other half to prey upon!"
+
+For a moment I was too much astonished to speak; how on earth had he
+become aware of my name? I stumbled out some sort of reply, which
+evidently did not impress him very much, for he began again:--
+
+"Our friend who has just left us will most certainly be one of those
+preyed upon. I pity him because he will not have the smallest grain of
+pleasure in his life. You, Mr. Hatteras, on the other hand, will,
+unwittingly, be in the other camp. Circumstances will arrange that for
+you. Some have, of course, no desire to prey; but necessity forces it on
+them. Yourself, for instance. Some only prey when they are quite sure
+there will be no manner of risk. Our German friend who played the
+previous game is an example. Others, again, never lose an opportunity.
+Candidly speaking, to which class should you imagine I belong?"
+
+He smiled as he put the question, and, his thin lips parting, I could
+just catch the glitter of the short teeth with which his mouth was
+furnished. For the third time since I had made his acquaintance I did
+not know which way to answer. However, I made a shot and said something.
+
+"I really know nothing about you," I answered. "But from your kindness
+in giving our artist friend a game, and now in allowing me the benefit
+of your conversation, I should say you only prey upon your fellow-men
+when dire extremity drives you to it."
+
+"And you would be wrong. I am of the last class I mentioned. There is
+only one sport of any interest to me in life, and that is the
+opportunity of making capital out of my fellow humans. You see, I am
+candid with you, Mr. Hatteras!"
+
+"Pray excuse me. But you know my name! As I have never, to my knowledge,
+set eyes on you before, would you mind telling me how you became
+acquainted with it?"
+
+"With every pleasure. But before I do so I think it only fair to tell
+you that you will not believe my explanation. And yet it _should_
+convince you. At any rate we'll try. In your right-hand top waistcoat
+pocket you have three cards." Here he leant his head on his hands and
+shut his eyes. "One is crinkled and torn, but it has written on it, in
+pencil, the name of Edward Braithwaite, Macquarrie Street, Sydney. I
+presume the name is Braithwaite, but the _t_ and _e_ are almost
+illegible. The second is rather a high-sounding one--the Hon. Sylvester
+Wetherell, Potts Point, Sydney, New South Wales; and the third is, I
+take it, your own, Richard Hatteras. Am I right?"
+
+I put my fingers in my pocket, and drew out what it contained--a
+half-sovereign, a shilling, a small piece of pencil, and three cards.
+The first, a well-worn piece of pasteboard, bore, surely enough, the
+name of Edward Braithwaite, and was that of the solicitor with whom I
+transacted my business in Sydney; the second was given me by my
+sweetheart's father the day before we left Australia; and the third was
+certainly my own.
+
+Was this witchcraft or only some clever conjuring trick? I asked myself
+the question, but could give it no satisfactory answer. At any rate you
+may be sure it did not lessen my respect for my singular companion.
+
+"Ah! I am right, then!" he cried exultingly. "Isn't it strange how the
+love of being right remains with us, when we think we have safely
+combated every other self-conceit. Well, Mr. Hatteras, I am very pleased
+to have made your acquaintance. Somehow I think we are destined to meet
+again--where I cannot say. At any rate, let us hope that that meeting
+will be as pleasant and successful as this has been."
+
+But I hardly heard what he said. I was still puzzling my brains over his
+extraordinary conjuring trick--for trick I am convinced it was. He had
+risen and was slowly drawing on his gloves when I spoke.
+
+"I have been thinking over those cards," I said, "and I am considerably
+puzzled. How on earth did you know they were there?"
+
+"If I told you, you would have no more faith in my powers. So with your
+permission I will assume the virtue of modesty. Call it a conjuring
+trick, if you like. Many curious things are hidden under that
+comprehensive term. But that is neither here nor there. Before I go
+would you like to see one more?"
+
+"Very much, indeed, if it's as good as the last!"
+
+In the window stood a large glass dish, half full of water, and having a
+dark brown fly paper floating on the surface. He brought it across to
+the table at which I sat, and having drained the water into a jug near
+by, left the paper sticking to the bottom.
+
+This done, he took a tiny leather case from his pocket and a small
+bottle out of that again. From this bottle he poured a few drops of some
+highly pungent liquid on to the paper, with the result that it grew
+black as ink and threw off a tiny vapour, which licked the edges of the
+bowl and curled upwards in a faint spiral column.
+
+"There, Mr. Hatteras, this is a--well, a trick--I learned from an old
+woman in Benares. It is a better one than the last and will repay your
+interest. If you will look on that paper for a moment, and try to
+concentrate your attention, you will see something that will, I think,
+astonish you."
+
+Hardly believing that I should see anything at all I looked. But for
+some seconds without success. My scepticism, however, soon left me. At
+first I saw only the coarse grain of the paper and the thin vapour
+rising from it. Then the knowledge that I was gazing into a dish
+vanished. I forget my companion and the previous conjuring trick. I saw
+only a picture opening out before me--that of a handsomely furnished
+room, in which was a girl sitting in an easy chair crying as if her
+heart were breaking. The room I had never seen before, but the girl I
+should have known among a thousand. _She was Phyllis, my sweetheart!_
+
+I looked and looked, and as I gazed at her, I heard her call my name.
+"Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!" Instantly I sprang to my feet, meaning to
+cross the room to her. Next moment I became aware of a loud crash. The
+scene vanished, my senses came back to me; and to my astonishment I
+found myself standing alongside the overturned restaurant table. The
+glass dish lay on the floor, shattered into a thousand fragments. My
+friend, the conjuror, had disappeared.
+
+Having righted the table again, I went downstairs and explained my
+misfortune. When I had paid my bill I took my departure, more troubled
+in mind than I cared to confess. That it was only what he had called it,
+a conjuring trick, I felt I ought to be certain, but still it was clever
+and uncanny enough to render me very uncomfortable.
+
+In vain I tried to drive the remembrance of the scene I had witnessed
+from my brain, but it would not be dispelled. At length, to satisfy
+myself, I resolved that if the memory of it remained with me so vividly
+in the morning I would take the bull by the horns and call at the
+_Metropole_ to make inquiries.
+
+I returned to my hotel in time for dinner, but still I could not rid
+myself of the feeling that some calamity was approaching. Having sent my
+meal away almost untouched, I called a hansom and drove to the nearest
+theatre, but the picture of Phyllis crying and calling for me in vain
+kept me company throughout the performance, and brought me home more
+miserable at the end than I had started. All night long I dreamed of it,
+seeing the same picture again and again, and hearing the same despairing
+cry, "Oh, Dick! Dick! come to me!"
+
+In the morning there was only one thing to be done. Accordingly, after
+breakfast I set off to make sure that nothing was the matter. On the way
+I tried to reason with myself. I asked how it was that I, Dick Hatteras,
+a man who thought he knew the world so well, should have been so
+impressed with a bit of wizardry as to be willing to risk making a fool
+of myself before the two last people in the world I wanted to think me
+one. Once I almost determined to turn back, but while the intention held
+me the picture rose again before my mind's eye, and on I went more
+resolved to solve the mystery.
+
+Arriving at the hotel, a gorgeously caparisoned porter, who stood on the
+steps, said in response to my inquiry:--
+
+_"They've left, sir. Started yesterday afternoon, quite suddenly, for
+Paris, on their way back to Australia!"_
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+I VISIT MY RELATIONS
+
+
+For the moment I could hardly believe my ears. Gone? Why had they gone?
+What could have induced them to leave England so suddenly? I questioned
+the hall porter on the subject, but he could tell me nothing save that
+they had departed for Paris the previous day, intending to proceed
+across the Continent in order to catch the first Australian boat at
+Naples.
+
+Feeling that I should only look ridiculous if I stayed questioning the
+man any longer, I pressed a tip into his hand and went slowly back to my
+own hotel to try and think it all out. But though I devoted some hours
+to it, I could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. The one vital point
+remained and was not to be disputed--they were gone. But the mail that
+evening brought me enlightenment in the shape of a letter, written in
+London and posted in Dover. It ran as follows:--
+
+     "MONDAY AFTERNOON.
+
+     "MY OWN DEAREST.--Something terrible has happened to papa!
+     I cannot tell you what, because I do not know myself. He went out
+     this morning in the best of health and spirits, and returned half an
+     hour ago trembling like a leaf and white as a sheet. He had only
+     strength enough left to reach a chair in my sitting-room before he
+     fainted dead away. When he came to himself again he said, 'Tell
+     your maid to pack at once. There is not a moment to lose. We start
+     for Paris this evening to catch the next boat leaving Naples for
+     Australia.' I said, 'But papa!' 'Not a word,' he answered. 'I have
+     seen somebody this morning whose presence renders it impossible for
+     us to remain an instant longer in England. Go and pack at once,
+     unless you wish my death to lie at your door.' After that I could,
+     of course, say nothing. I have packed and now, in half an hour, we
+     leave England again. If I could only see you to say good-bye; but
+     that, too, is impossible. I cannot tell what it all means, but that
+     it is very serious business that takes us away so suddenly I feel
+     convinced. My father seems frightened to remain in London a minute
+     longer than he can help. He even stands at the window as I write,
+     earnestly scrutinizing everybody who enters the hotel. And now, my
+     own----"
+
+But what follows, the reiterations of her affection, her vows to be true
+to me, etc., etc., could have no possible interest for any one save
+lovers.
+
+I sat like one stunned. All enjoyment seemed suddenly to have gone out
+of life for me. I could only sit twirling the paper in my hand and
+picturing the train flying remorselessly across France, bearing away
+from me the girl I loved better than all the world. I went down to the
+Park, but the scene there had no longer any interest in my eyes. I went
+later on to a theatre, but I found no enjoyment in the piece performed.
+London had suddenly become distasteful to me. I felt I must get out of
+it; but where could I go? Every place was alike in my present humour.
+Then one of the original motives of my journey rose before me, and I
+determined to act on the suggestion.
+
+Next morning I accordingly set off for Hampshire to try, if possible, to
+find my father's old home. What sort of a place it would turn out to be
+I had not the very remotest idea.
+
+Leaving the train at Lyndhurst Road--for the village I was in search of
+was situated in the heart of the New Forest--I hired a ramshackle
+conveyance from the nearest innkeeper and started off for it. The man
+who drove me had lived in the neighbourhood, so he found early occasion
+to inform me, all his seventy odd years, and it struck him as a humorous
+circumstance that he had never in his life been even as far as
+Southampton, a matter of only ten minutes by rail.
+
+We had travelled a matter of two miles when it struck me to ask my
+charioteer about the place to which we were proceeding. It was within
+the bounds of possibility, I thought, that he might once have known my
+father. I determined to try him. So waiting till we had passed a load of
+hay coming along the lane, I put the question to him.
+
+To my surprise, he had no sooner heard the name than he became as
+excited as it was possible for him to be.
+
+"Hatteras!" he cried. "Be ye a Hatteras? Well, well, now, dearie me,
+who'd ha' thought it!"
+
+"Do you know the name so well, then?"
+
+"Ay! ay! I know the name well enough; who doesn't in these parts? There
+was the old Squire and Lady Margaret when first I remember. Then Squire
+Jasper and his son, the captain, as was killed in the mutiny in foreign
+parts--and Master James----"
+
+"James--that was my father's name. James Dymoke Hatteras."
+
+"You Master James' son--you don't say! Well! well! Now to think of that
+too! Him that ran away from home after words with the Squire, and went
+to foreign parts. Who'd have thought it! Sir William will be right down
+glad to see ye, I'll be bound."
+
+"Sir William, and who's Sir William?"
+
+"He's the only one left now, sir. Lives up at the House. Ah, dear! ah,
+dear! There's been a power o' trouble in the family these years past."
+
+By this time the aspect of the country was changing. We had left the
+lane behind us, ascended a short hill, and were now descending it again
+through what looked to my eyes more like a stately private avenue than a
+public road. Beautiful elms reared themselves on either hand and
+intermingled their branches overhead; while before us, through a gap in
+the foliage, we could just distinguish the winding river, with the
+thatched roofs of the village, of which we had come in search, lining
+its banks, and the old grey tower of the church keeping watch and ward
+over all.
+
+There was to my mind something indescribably peaceful and even sad about
+that view, a mute sympathy with the Past that I could hardly account
+for, seeing that I was Colonial born and bred. For the first time since
+my arrival in England the real beauty of the place came home upon me. I
+felt as if I could have looked for ever on that quiet and peaceful spot.
+
+When we reached the bottom of the hill, and had turned the corner, a
+broad, well-made stone bridge confronted us. On the other side of this
+was an old-fashioned country inn, with its signboard dangling from the
+house front, and opposite it again a dilapidated cottage lolling beside
+two iron gates. The gates were eight feet or more in height, made of
+finely wrought iron, and supported by big stone posts, on the top of
+which two stone animals--griffins, I believe they are called--holding
+shields in their claws, looked down on passers-by in ferocious grandeur.
+From behind the gates an avenue wound and disappeared into the wood.
+
+Without consulting me, my old charioteer drove into the inn yard, and,
+having thrown the reins to an ostler, descended from the vehicle. I
+followed his example, and then inquired the name of the place inside the
+gates. My guide, philosopher, and friend looked at me rather queerly for
+a second or two, and then recollecting that I was a stranger to the
+place, said:--
+
+"That be the Hall I was telling 'ee about. That's where Sir William
+lives!"
+
+"Then that's where my father was born?"
+
+He nodded his head, and as he did so I noticed that the ostler stopped
+his work of unharnessing the horse, and looked at me in rather a
+surprised fashion.
+
+"Well, that being so," I said, taking my stick from the trap, and
+preparing to stroll off, "I'm just going to investigate a bit. You bring
+yourself to an anchor in yonder, and don't stir till I come for you
+again."
+
+He took himself into the inn without more ado, and I crossed the road
+towards the gates. They were locked, but the little entrance by the
+tumble-down cottage stood open, and passing through this I started up
+the drive. It was a perfect afternoon; the sunshine straggled in through
+the leafy canopy overhead and danced upon my path. To the right were the
+thick fastnesses of the preserves; while on my left, across the meadows
+I could discern the sparkle of water on a weir. I must have proceeded
+for nearly a mile through the wood before I caught sight of the house.
+Then, what a strange experience was mine.
+
+Leaving the shelter of the trees, I opened on to as beautiful a park as
+the mind of man could imagine. A herd of deer were grazing quietly just
+before me, a woodman was eating his dinner in the shadow of an oak; but
+it was not upon deer or woodman that I looked, but at the house that
+stared at me across the undulating sea of grass. It was a noble
+building, of grey stone, in shape almost square, with many curious
+buttresses and angles. The drive ran up to it with a grand sweep, and
+upon the green that fronted it some big trees reared their stately
+heads. In my time I'd heard a lot of talk about the stately homes of
+England, but this was the first time I had ever set eyes on one. And to
+think that this was my father's birthplace, the house where my ancestors
+had lived for centuries! I could only stand and stare at it in sheer
+amazement.
+
+You see, my father had always been a very silent man, and though he used
+sometimes to tell us yarns about scrapes he'd got into as a boy, and how
+his father was a very stern man, and had sent him to a public school,
+because his tutor found him unmanageable, we never thought that he'd
+been anything very much.
+
+To tell the truth, I felt a bit doubtful as to what I'd better do.
+Somehow I was rather nervous about going up to the house and introducing
+myself as a member of the family without any credentials to back my
+assertion up; and yet, on the other hand, I did not want to go away and
+have it always rankling in my mind that I'd seen the old place and been
+afraid to go inside. My mind once made up, however, off I went, crossed
+the park, and made towards the front door. On nearer approach, I
+discovered that everything showed the same neglect I had noticed at the
+lodge. The drive was overgrown with weeds; no carriage seemed to have
+passed along it for ages. Shutters enclosed many of the windows, and
+where they did not, not one but several of the panes were broken.
+Entering the great stone porch, in which it would have been possible to
+seat a score of people, I pulled the antique door-bell, and waited,
+while the peal re-echoed down the corridors, for the curtain to go up on
+the next scene.
+
+Presently I heard footsteps approaching. A key turned in the lock, and
+the great door swung open. An old man, whose years could hardly have
+totalled less than seventy, stood before me, dressed in a suit of solemn
+black, almost green with age. He inquired my business in a wheezy
+whisper. I asked if Sir William Hatteras were at home. Informing me that
+he would find out, he left me to ruminate on the queerness of my
+position. In five minutes or so he returned, and signed to me to follow.
+
+The hall was in keeping with the outside of the building, lofty and
+imposing. The floor was of oak, almost black with age, the walls were
+beautifully wainscoted and carved, and here and there tall armoured
+figures looked down upon me in disdainful silence. But the crowning
+glory of all was the magnificent staircase that ran up from the centre.
+It was wide enough and strong enough to have taken a coach and four, the
+pillars that supported it were exquisitely carved, as were the banisters
+and rails. Half-way up was a sort of landing, from which again the
+stairs branched off to right and left.
+
+Above this landing-place, and throwing a stream of coloured light down
+into the hall, was a magnificent stained-glass window, and on a lozenge
+in the centre of it the arms that had so much puzzled me on the gateway.
+A nobler hall no one could wish to possess, but brooding over it was the
+same air of poverty and neglect I had noticed all about the place. By
+the time I had taken in these things, my guide had reached a door at the
+farther end. He bade me enter, and I did so, to find a tall, elderly man
+of stern aspect awaiting my coming.
+
+He, like his servant, was dressed entirely in black, with the exception
+of a white tie, which gave his figure a semi-clerical appearance. His
+face was long and somewhat pinched, his chin and upper lip were shaven,
+and his snow-white, close-cropped whiskers ran in two straight lines
+from his jaw up to a level with his piercing, hawk-like eyes. He would
+probably have been about seventy-five years of age, but he did not carry
+it well. In a low, monotonous voice he bade me welcome, and pointed to a
+chair, himself remaining standing.
+
+"My servant tells me you say your name is Hatteras?" he began.
+
+"That is so," I replied. "My father was James Dymoke Hatteras."
+
+He looked at me very sternly for almost a minute, not for a second
+betraying the slightest sign of surprise. Then putting his hands
+together, finger tip to finger tip, as I discovered later was his
+invariable habit while flunking, he said solemnly:----
+
+"James was my younger brother. He misconducted himself gravely in
+England and was sent abroad. After a brief career of spendthrift
+extravagance in Australia, we never heard of him again. You may be his
+son, but then, on the other hand, of course, you may not. I have no
+means of judging."
+
+"I give you my word," I answered, a little nettled by his speech and the
+insinuation contained in it; "but if you want further proof, I've got a
+Latin book in my portmanteau with my father's name upon the fly-leaf,
+and an inscription in his own writing setting forth that it was given by
+him to me."
+
+"A Catullus?"
+
+"Exactly! a Catullus."
+
+"Then I'll have to trouble you to return it to me at your earliest
+convenience. The book is my property: I paid eighteenpence for it on the
+3rd of July, 1833, in the shop of John Burns, Fleet Street, London. My
+brother took it from me a week later, and I have not been able to afford
+myself another copy since."
+
+"You admit then that the book is evidence of my father's identity?"
+
+"I admit nothing. What do you want with me? What do you come here for?
+You must see for yourself that I am too poor to be of any service to
+you, and I have long since lost any public interest I may once have
+possessed."
+
+"I want neither one nor the other. I am home from Australia on a trip,
+and I have a sufficient competence to render me independent of any one."
+
+"Ah! That puts a different complexion on the matter. You say you hail
+from Australia? And what may you have been doing there?"
+
+"Gold-mining--pearling--trading!"
+
+He came a step closer, and as he did so I noticed that his face had
+assumed a look of indescribable cunning, that was evidently intended to
+be of an ingratiating nature. He spoke in little jerks, pressing his
+fingers together between each sentence.
+
+"Gold-mining! Ah! And pearling! Well, well! And you have been fortunate
+in your ventures?"
+
+"Very!" I replied, having by this time determined on my line of action.
+"I daresay my cheque for ten thousand pounds would not be dishonoured."
+
+"Ten thousand pounds! Ten thousand pounds! Dear me, dear me!"
+
+He shuffled up and down the dingy room, all the time looking at me out
+of the corners of his eyes, as if to make sure that I was telling him
+the truth.
+
+"Come, come, uncle," I said, resolving to bring him to his bearings
+without further waste of time. "This is not a very genial welcome!"
+
+"Well, well, you mustn't expect too much, my boy! You see for yourself
+the position I'm in. The old place is shut up, going to rack and ruin.
+Poverty is staring me in the face; I am cheated by everybody. Robbed
+right and left, not knowing which way to turn. But I'll not be put upon.
+They may call me what they please, but they can't get blood out of a
+stone. Can they! Answer me that, now!"
+
+This speech showed me everything as plain as a pikestaff. I mean, of
+course, the reason of the deserted and neglected house, and his
+extraordinary reception of myself. I rose to my feet.
+
+"Well, uncle--for my uncle you certainly are, whatever you may say to
+the contrary--I must be going. I'm sorry to find you like this, and from
+what you tell me I couldn't think of worrying you with my society! I
+want to see the old church and have a talk with the parson, and then I
+shall go off never to trouble you again."
+
+He immediately became almost fulsome in his effort to detain me. "No,
+no! You mustn't go like that. It's not hospitable. Besides, you mustn't
+talk with parson. He's a bad lot, is parson--a hard man with a cruel
+tongue. Says terrible things about me, does parson. But I'll be even
+with him yet. Don't speak to him, laddie, for the honour of the family.
+Now ye'll stay and take lunch with me?--potluck, of course--I'm too poor
+to give ye much of a meal; and in the meantime I'll show ye the house
+and estate."
+
+This was just what I wanted, though I did not look forward to the
+prospect of lunch in his company.
+
+With trembling hands he took down an old-fashioned hat from a peg and
+turned towards the door. When we had passed through it he carefully
+locked it and dropped the key into his breeches' pocket. Then he led the
+way upstairs by the beautiful oak staircase I had so much admired on
+entering the house.
+
+When we reached the first landing, which was of noble proportions and
+must have contained upon its walls nearly a hundred family portraits all
+coated with the dust of years, he approached a door and threw it open. A
+feeble light straggled in through the closed shutters, and revealed an
+almost empty room. In the centre stood a large canopied bed, of antique
+design. The walls were wainscoted, and the massive chimney-piece was
+carved with heraldic designs. I inquired what room this might be.
+
+"This is where all our family were born," he answered. "'Twas here your
+father first saw the light of day."
+
+I looked at it with a new interest. It seemed hard to believe that this
+was the birthplace of my own father, the man whom I remembered so well
+in a place and life so widely different. My companion noticed the look
+upon my face, and, I suppose, felt constrained to say something. "Ah!
+James!" he said sorrowfully, "ye were always a giddy, roving lad. I
+remember ye well." (He passed his hand across his eyes, to brush away a
+tear, I thought, but his next speech disabused me of any such notion.)
+"I remember that but a day or two before ye went ye blooded my nose in
+the orchard, and the very morning ye decamped ye borrowed half a crown
+of me, and never paid it back."
+
+A sudden something prompted me to put my hand in my pocket. I took out
+half a crown, and handed it to him without a word. He took it, looked at
+it longingly, put it in his pocket, took it out again, ruminated a
+moment, and then reluctantly handed it back to me.
+
+"Nay, nay! my laddie, keep your money, keep your money. Ye can send me
+the Catullus." Then to himself, unconscious that he was speaking his
+thoughts aloud: "It was a good edition, and I have no doubt would bring
+five shillings any day."
+
+From one room we passed into another, and yet another. They were all
+alike--shut up, dust-ridden, and forsaken. And yet with it all what a
+noble place it was--one which any man might be proud to call his own.
+And to think that it was all going to rack and ruin because of the
+miserly nature of its owner. In the course of our ramble I discovered
+that he kept but two servants, the old man who had admitted me to his
+presence, and his wife, who, as that peculiar phrase has it, cooked and
+did for him. I discovered later that he had not paid either of them
+wages for some years past, and that they only stayed on with him because
+they were too poor and proud to seek shelter elsewhere.
+
+When we had inspected the house we left it by a side door, and crossed a
+courtyard to the stables. There the desolation was, perhaps, even more
+marked than in the house. The great clock on the tower above the main
+building had stopped at a quarter to ten on some long-forgotten day, and
+a spider now ran his web from hand to hand. At our feet, between the
+stones, grass grew luxuriantly, thick moss covered the coping of the
+well, the doors were almost off their hinges, and rats scuttled through
+the empty loose boxes at our approach. So large was the place, that
+thirty horses might have found a lodging comfortably, and as far as I
+could gather, there was room for half as many vehicles in the
+coach-houses that stood on either side. The intense quiet was only
+broken by the cawing of the rooks in the giant elms overhead, the
+squeaking of the rats, and the low grumbling of my uncle's voice as he
+pointed out the ruin that was creeping over everything.
+
+Before we had finished our inspection it was lunch time, and we returned
+to the house. The meal was served in the same room in which I had made
+my relative's acquaintance an hour before. It consisted, I discovered,
+of two meagre mutton chops and some homemade bread and cheese, plain and
+substantial fare enough in its way, but hardly the sort one would expect
+from the owner of such a house. For a beverage, water was placed before
+us, but I could see that my host was deliberating as to whether he
+should stretch his generosity a point or two further.
+
+Presently he rose, and with a muttered apology left the room, to return
+five minutes later carrying a small bottle carefully in his hand. This,
+with much deliberation and sighing, he opened. It proved to be claret,
+and he poured out a glassful for me. As I was not prepared for so much
+liberality, I thought something must be behind it, and in this I was not
+mistaken.
+
+"Nephew," said he after a while, "was it ten thousand pounds you
+mentioned as your fortune?"
+
+I nodded. He looked at me slyly and cleared his throat to gain time for
+reflection. Then seeing that I had emptied my glass, he refilled it with
+another scarce concealed sigh, and sat back in his chair.
+
+"And I understand you to say you are quite alone in the world, my boy?"
+
+"Quite! Until I met you this morning I was unaware that I had a single
+relative on earth. Have I any more connections?"
+
+"Not a soul--only Gwendoline."
+
+"Gwendoline! and who may Gwendoline be?"
+
+"My daughter--your cousin. My only child! Would you like to see her?"
+
+"I had no idea you had a daughter. Of course I should like to see her!"
+
+He left the table and rang the bell. The ancient man-servant answered
+the summons.
+
+"Tell you wife to bring Miss Gwendoline to us."
+
+"Miss Gwendoline here, sir? You do not mean it sure-lie, sir?"
+
+"Numbskull! numbskull! numbskull!" cried the old fellow in an ecstasy of
+fury that seemed to spring up as suddenly as a squall does between the
+islands, "bring her or I'll be the death of you."
+
+Without further remonstrance the old man left the room, and I demanded
+an explanation.
+
+"Good servant, but an impudent rascal, sir!" he said. "Of course you
+must see my daughter, my beautiful daughter, Gwendoline. He's afraid
+you'll frighten her, I suppose! Ha! ha! Frighten my bashful, pretty one.
+Ha! ha!"
+
+Anything so supremely devilish as the dried-up mirth of this old fellow
+it would be difficult to imagine. His very laugh seemed as if it had to
+crack in his throat before it could pass his lips. What would his
+daughter be like, living in such a house, with such companions? While I
+was wondering, I heard footsteps in the corridor, and then an old woman
+entered and curtsied respectfully. My host rose and went over to the
+fireplace, where he stood with his hands behind his back and the same
+devilish grin upon his face.
+
+"Well, where is my daughter?"
+
+"Sir, do you really mean it?"
+
+"Of course I mean it. Where is she?"
+
+In answer the old lady went to the door and called to some one in the
+hall.
+
+"Come in, dearie. It's all right. Come in, do'ee now, that's a little
+dear."
+
+But the girl made no sign of entering, and at last the old woman had to
+go out and draw her in. And then--but I hardly know how to write it. How
+shall I give you a proper description of the--_thing_ that entered.
+
+She--if _she_ it could be called--was about three feet high, dressed in
+a shapeless print costume. Her hair stood and hung in a tangled mass
+upon her head, her eyes were too large for her face, and to complete the
+horrible effect, a great patch of beard grew on one cheek, and descended
+almost to a level with her chin. Her features were all awry, and now and
+again she uttered little moans that were more like those of a wild beast
+than of a human being. In spite of the old woman's endeavours to make
+her do so, she would not venture from her side, but stood slobbering and
+moaning in the half dark of the doorway.
+
+It was a ghastly sight, one that nearly turned me sick with loathing.
+But the worst part of it all was the inhuman merriment of her father.
+
+"There, there!" he cried; "had ever man such a lovely daughter? Isn't
+she a beauty? Isn't she fit to be a prince's bride? Isn't she fit to be
+the heiress of all this place? Won't the young dukes be asking her hand
+in marriage? Oh, you beauty! You--but there, take her away--take her
+away, I say, before I do her mischief."
+
+The words had no sooner left his mouth than the old woman seized her
+charge and bundled her out of the room, moaning as before. I can tell
+you there was at least one person in that apartment who was heartily
+glad to be rid of her.
+
+When the door had closed upon them my host came back to his seat, and
+with another sigh refilled my glass. I wondered what was coming next. It
+was not long, however, before I found out.
+
+"Now you know everything," he said. "You have seen my home, you have
+seen my poverty, and you have seen my daughter. What do you think of it
+all?"
+
+"I don't know what to think."
+
+"Well, then, I'll tell you. That child wants doctors; that child wants
+proper attendance. She can get neither here. I am too poor to help her
+in any way. You're rich by your own telling. I have to-day taken you
+into the bosom of my family, recognized you without doubting your
+assertions. Will you help me? Will you give me one thousand pounds
+towards settling that child in life? With that amount it could be
+managed."
+
+"Will I what?" I cried in utter amazement--dumbfounded by his impudence.
+
+"Will you settle one thousand pounds upon her, to keep her out of her
+grave?"
+
+"Not one penny!" I cried: "and, what's more, you miserable, miserly old
+wretch, I'll give you a bit of my mind."
+
+And thereupon I did! Such a talking to as I suppose the old fellow had
+never had in his life before, and one he'd not be likely to forget in a
+hurry. He sat all the time, white with fury, his eyes blazing, and his
+fingers quivering with impotent rage. When I had done he ordered me out
+of his house. I took him at his word, seized my hat, and strode across
+the hall through the front door, and out into the open air.
+
+But I was not to leave the home of my ancestors without a parting shot.
+As I closed the front door behind me I heard a window go up, and on
+looking round there was the old fellow shaking his fist at me.
+
+"Leave my house--leave my park!" he cried in a shrill falsetto, "or I'll
+send for the constable to turn you off. Bah! You came to steal. You're
+no nephew of mine; I disown you! You're a common cheat--a swindler--an
+impostor! Go!"
+
+I took him at his word, and went. Leaving the park, I walked straight
+across to the rectory, and inquired if I might see the clergyman. To him
+I told my tale, and, among other things, asked if anything could be done
+for the child--my cousin. He only shook his head.
+
+"I fear it is hopeless, Mr. Hatteras," the clergyman said. "The old
+gentleman is a terrible character, and as he owns half the village, and
+every acre of the land hereabouts, we all live in fear and trembling of
+him. We have no shadow of a claim upon the child, and unless we can
+prove that he actually ill-treats it, I'm sorry to say I think there is
+nothing to be done."
+
+So ended my first meeting with my father's family.
+
+From the rectory I returned to my inn. What should I do now? London was
+worse than a desert to me now that my sweetheart was gone from it, and
+every other place seemed as bad. Then an advertisement on the wall of
+the bar parlour caught my eye:
+
+     "FOR SALE OR HIRE,
+     THE YACHT, _ENCHANTRESS_.
+     Ten Tons.
+     Apply, SCREW & MATCHEM,
+     Bournemouth."
+
+It was just the very thing. I was pining for a breath of sea air again.
+It was perfect weather for a cruise. I would go to Bournemouth, inspect
+the yacht at once, and, if she suited me, take her for a month or so. My
+mind once made up, I hunted up my Jehu and set off for the train, never
+dreaming that by so doing I was taking the second step in that important
+chain of events that was to affect all the future of my life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+I SAVE AN IMPORTANT LIFE
+
+
+I travelled to Bournemouth by a fast train, and immediately on arrival
+made my way to the office of Messrs. Screw & Matchem, with a view to
+instituting inquiries regarding the yacht they had advertised for hire.
+It was with the senior partner I transacted my business; a shrewd but
+pleasant gentleman.
+
+Upon my making known my business to him, he brought me a photograph of
+the craft in question, and certainly a nice handy boat she looked. She
+had been built, he went on to inform me, for a young nobleman, who had
+made two very considerable excursions in her before he had been
+compelled to fly the country, and was only three years old. I learned
+also that she was lying in Poole harbour, but he was good enough to say
+that if I wished to see her she should be brought round to Bournemouth
+the following morning, when I could inspect her at my leisure. As this
+arrangement was one that exactly suited me, I closed with it there and
+then, and thanking Mr. Matchem for his courtesy, betook myself to my
+hotel. Having dined, I spent the evening upon the pier--the first of its
+kind I had ever seen--listened to the band and diverted myself with
+thoughts of her to whom I had plighted my troth, and whose unexpected
+departure from England had been such a sudden and bitter disappointment
+to me.
+
+Next morning, faithful to promise, the _Enchantress_ sailed into the bay
+and came to an anchor within a biscuit throw of the pier. Chartering a
+dinghy, I pulled myself off to her, and stepped aboard. An old man and a
+boy were engaged washing down, and to them I introduced myself and
+business. Then for half an hour I devoted myself to overhauling her
+thoroughly. She was a nice enough little craft, well set up, and from
+her run looked as if she might possess a fair turn of speed; the gear
+was in excellent order, and this was accounted for when the old man told
+me she had been repaired and thoroughly overhauled that selfsame year.
+
+Having satisfied myself on a few other minor points, I pulled ashore and
+again went up through the gardens to the agents' office. Mr. Matchem was
+delighted to hear that I liked the yacht well enough to think of hiring
+her at their own price (a rather excessive one, I must admit), and, I
+don't doubt, would have supplied me with a villa in Bournemouth, and a
+yachting box in the Isle of Wight, also on their own terms, had I felt
+inclined to furnish them with the necessary order. But fortunately I was
+able to withstand their temptations, and having given them my cheque for
+the requisite amount, went off to make arrangements, and to engage a
+crew.
+
+Before nightfall I had secured the services of a handy lad in place of
+the old man who had brought the boat round from Poole, and was in a
+position to put to sea. Accordingly next morning I weighed anchor for a
+trip round the Isle of Wight. Before we had brought the Needles abeam I
+had convinced myself that the boat was an excellent sailer, and when the
+first day's cruise was over I had no reason to repent having hired her.
+
+Not having anything to hurry me, and only a small boy and my own
+thoughts to keep me company, I took my time; remained two days in the
+Solent, sailed round the island, put in a day at Ventnor, and so back to
+Bournemouth. Then, after a day ashore, I picked up a nice breeze and ran
+down to Torquay to spend another week, sailing slowly back along the
+coast, touching at various ports, and returning eventually to the place
+I had first hailed from.
+
+In relating these trifling incidents it is not my wish to bore my
+readers, but to work up gradually to that strange meeting to which they
+were the prelude. Now that I can look back in cold blood upon the
+circumstances that brought it about, and reflect how narrowly I escaped
+missing the one event which was destined to change my whole life, I can
+hardly realize that I attached such small importance to it at the time.
+Somehow I have always been a firm believer in Fate, and indeed it would
+be strange, all things considered, if I were not. For when a man has
+passed through so many extraordinary adventures as I have, and not only
+come out of them unharmed, but happier and a great deal more fortunate
+than he has really any right to be, he may claim the privilege, I think,
+of saying he knows something about his subject.
+
+And, mind you, I date it all back to that visit to the old home, and to
+my uncle's strange reception of me, for had I not gone down into the
+country I should never have quarrelled with him, and if I had not
+quarrelled with him I should not have gone back to the inn in such a
+dudgeon, and in that case I should probably have left the place without
+a visit to the bar, never have seen the advertisement, visited
+Bournemouth, hired the yacht or--but there, I must stop. You must work
+out the rest for yourself when you have heard my story.
+
+The morning after my third return to Bournemouth I was up by daybreak,
+and had my breakfast, and was ready to set off on a cruise across the
+bay, before the sun was a hand's breadth above the horizon. It was as
+perfect a morning as any man could wish to see. A faint breeze just
+blurred the surface of the water, tiny waves danced in the sunshine, and
+my barkie nodded to them as if she were anxious to be off. The town
+ashore lay very quiet and peaceful, and so still was the air that the
+cries of a few white gulls could be heard quite distinctly, though they
+were half a mile or more away. Having hove anchor, we tacked slowly
+across the bay, passed the pier-head, and steered for Old Harry Rock and
+Swanage Bay. My crew was for'ard, and I had possession of the tiller.
+
+As we went about between Canford Cliffs and Alum Chine, something moving
+in the water ahead of me attracted my attention. We were too far off to
+make out exactly what it might be, and it was not until five minutes
+later, when we were close abreast of it, that I discovered it to be a
+bather. The foolish fellow had ventured farther out than was prudent,
+had struck a strong current, and was now being washed swiftly out to
+sea. But for the splashing he made to show his whereabouts, I should in
+all probability not have seen him, and in that case his fate would have
+been sealed. As it was, when we came up with him he was quite exhausted.
+
+Heaving my craft to, I leapt into the dinghy, and pulled towards him,
+but before I could reach the spot he had sunk. At first I thought he was
+gone for good and all, but in a few seconds he rose again. Then,
+grabbing him by the hair, I passed an arm under each of his, and dragged
+him unconscious into the boat. In less than three minutes we were
+alongside the yacht again, and with my crew's assistance I got him
+aboard. Fortunately a day or two before I had had the forethought to
+purchase some brandy for use in case of need, and my Thursday Island
+experiences having taught me exactly what was best to be done under such
+circumstances, it was not long before I had brought him back to
+consciousness.
+
+In appearance he was a handsome young fellow, well set up, and possibly
+nineteen or twenty years of age. When I had given him a stiff nobbler of
+brandy to stop the chattering of his teeth, I asked him how he came to
+be so far from shore.
+
+"I am considered a very good swimmer," he replied, "and often come out
+as far as this, but to-day I think I must have got into a strong outward
+current, and certainly but for your providential assistance I should
+never have reached home alive."
+
+"You have had a very narrow escape," I answered, "but thank goodness
+you're none the worse for it. Now, what's the best thing to be done?
+Turn back, I suppose, and set you ashore."
+
+"But what a lot of trouble I'm putting you to."
+
+"Nonsense! I've nothing to do, and I count myself very fortunate in
+having been able to render you this small assistance. The breeze is
+freshening, and it won't take us any time to get back. Where do you
+live?"
+
+"To the left there! That house standing back upon the cliff. I don't
+know how to express my gratitude."
+
+"Just keep that till I ask you for it; and now, as we've got a twenty
+minutes' sail before us, the best thing for you to do would be to slip
+into a spare suit of my things. They'll keep you warm, and you can
+return them to my hotel when you get ashore."
+
+I sang out to the boy to come aft and take the tiller, while I escorted
+my guest below into the little box of a cabin, and gave him a rig out.
+Considering I am six feet two, and he was only five feet eight, the
+things were a trifle large for him; but when he was dressed I couldn't
+help thinking what a handsome, well-built, aristocratic-looking young
+fellow he was. The work of fitting him out accomplished, we returned to
+the deck. The breeze was freshening, and the little hooker was ploughing
+her way through it, nose down, as if she knew that under the
+circumstances her best was expected of her.
+
+"Are you a stranger in Bournemouth?" my companion asked, as I took the
+tiller again.
+
+"Almost," I answered. "I've only been in England three weeks. I'm home
+from Australia."
+
+"Australia! Really! Oh, I should so much like to go out there."
+
+His voice was very soft and low, more like a girl's than a boy's, and I
+noticed that he had none of the mannerisms of a man--at least, not of
+one who has seen much of the world.
+
+"Yes, Australia's as good a place as any other for the man who goes out
+there to work," I said. "But somehow you don't look to me like a chap
+that is used to what is called roughing it. Pardon my bluntness."
+
+"Well, you see, I've never had much chance. My father is considered by
+many a very peculiar man. He has strange ideas about me, and so you see
+I've never been allowed to mix with other people. But I'm stronger than
+you'd think, and I shall be twenty in October next."
+
+"If you don't mind telling me, what is your name?"
+
+"I suppose there can be no harm in letting you know it. I was told if
+ever I met any one and they asked me, not to tell them. But since you
+saved my life it would be ungrateful not to let you know. I am the
+Marquis of Beckenham."
+
+"Is that so? Then your father is the Duke of Glenbarth?"
+
+"Yes. Do you know him?"
+
+"Never set eyes on him in my life, but I heard him spoken of the other
+day."
+
+I did not add that it was Mr. Matchem who, during my conversation with
+him, had referred to his Grace, nor did I think it well to say that he
+had designated him the "Mad Duke." And so the boy I had saved from
+drowning was the young Marquis of Beckenham. Well, I was moving in good
+society with a vengeance. This boy was the first nobleman I had ever
+clapped eyes on, though I knew the Count de Panuroff well enough in
+Thursday Island. But then foreign Counts, and shady ones at that, ought
+not to reckon, perhaps.
+
+"But you don't mean to tell me," I said at length, "that you've got no
+friends? Don't you ever see any one at all?"
+
+"No, I am not allowed to. My father thinks it better not. And as he does
+not wish it, of course I have nothing left but to obey. I must own,
+however, I should like to see the world--to go along voyage to
+Australia, for instance."
+
+"But how do you put in your time? You must have a very dull life of it."
+
+"Oh, no! You see, I have never known anything else, and then I have
+always the future to look forward to. As it is now, I bathe every
+morning, I have my yacht, I ride about the park, I have my studies, and
+I have a tutor who tells me wonderful stories of the world."
+
+"Oh, your tutor has been about, has he?"
+
+"Dear me, yes! He was a missionary in the South Sea Islands, and has
+seen some very stirring adventures."
+
+"A missionary in the South Seas, eh? Perhaps I know him."
+
+"Were you ever in those seas?"
+
+"Why, I've spent almost all my life there."
+
+"Were you a missionary?"
+
+"You bet not. The missionaries and my friends don't cotton to one
+another."
+
+"But they are such good men!"
+
+"That may be. Still, as I say, we don't somehow cotton. I'd like to set
+my eyes upon your tutor."
+
+"Well, you will. I think I see him on the beach now. I expect he has
+been wondering what has become of me. I've never been out so long
+before."
+
+"Well, you're close home now, and as safe as eggs in a basket."
+
+Another minute brought us into as shallow water as I cared to go.
+Accordingly, heaving to, I brought the dinghy alongside, and we got into
+her. Then casting off, I pulled my lord ashore. A small, clean-shaven,
+parsonish-looking man, with the regulation white choker, stood by the
+water waiting for us. As I beached the boat he came forward and said:
+
+"My lord, we have been very anxious about you. We feared you had met
+with an accident."
+
+"I have been very nearly drowned, Mr. Baxter. Had it not been for this
+gentleman's prompt assistance I should never have reached home again."
+
+"You should really be more careful, my lord. I have warned you before.
+Your father has been nearly beside himself with anxiety about you!"
+
+"Eh?" said I to myself. "Somehow this does not sound quite right.
+Anyhow, Mr. Baxter, I've seen your figure-head somewhere before--but you
+were not a missionary then, I'll take my affidavit."
+
+Turning to me, my young lord held out his hand.
+
+"You have never told me your name," he said almost reproachfully.
+
+"Dick Hatteras," I answered, "and very much at your service."
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I shall never forget what you have done for me. That I am
+most grateful to you I hope you will believe. I know that I owe you my
+life."
+
+Here the tutor's voice chipped in again, as I thought, rather
+impatiently. "Come, come, my lord. This delay will not do. Your father
+will be growing still more nervous about you. We must be getting home!"
+
+Then they went off up the cliff path together, and I returned to my
+boat.
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I said to myself again as I pulled off to the yacht, "I
+want to know where I've seen your face before. I've taken a sudden
+dislike to you. I don't trust you; and if your employer's the man they
+say he is, well, he won't either."
+
+Then, having brought the dinghy alongside, I made the painter fast,
+clambered aboard, and we stood out of the bay once more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+MYSTERY
+
+
+The following morning I was sitting in my room at the hotel idly
+scanning the _Standard_, and wondering in what way I should employ
+myself until the time arrived for me to board the yacht, when I heard a
+carriage roll up to the door. On looking out I discovered a gorgeous
+landau, drawn by a pair of fine thoroughbreds, and resplendent with much
+gilded and crested harness, standing before the steps. A footman had
+already opened the door, and I was at the window just in time to see a
+tall, soldierly man alight from it. To my astonishment, two minutes
+later a waiter entered my room and announced "His Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth." It was the owner of the carriage and the father of my young
+friend, if by such a title I might designate the Marquis of Beckenham.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I presume?" said he.
+
+"Yes, that is my name. I am honoured by your visit. Won't you sit down?"
+
+"Thank you."
+
+He paused for a moment, and then continued:
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I have to offer you an apology. I should have called upon
+you yesterday to express the gratitude I feel to you for having saved
+the life of my son, but I was unavoidably prevented."
+
+"I beg you will not mention it," I said. "His lordship thanked me
+sufficiently himself. And after all, when you look at it, it was not
+very much to do. I would, however, venture one little suggestion. Is it
+wise to let him swim so far unaccompanied by a boat? The same thing
+might happen to him on another occasion, and no one be near enough to
+render him any assistance."
+
+"He will not attempt so much again. He has learned a lesson from this
+experience. And now, Mr. Hatteras, I trust you will forgive what I am
+about to say. My son has told me that you have just arrived in England
+from Australia. Is there any way I can be of service to you? If there
+is, and you will acquaint me with it, you will be conferring a great
+favour upon me."
+
+"I thank your Grace," I replied--I hope with some little touch of
+dignity--"it is very kind of you, but I could not think of such a thing.
+But, stay, there is one service, perhaps you _could_ do me."
+
+"I am delighted to hear it, sir. And what may it be?"
+
+"Your son's tutor, Mr. Baxter! His face is strangely familiar to me. I
+have seen him somewhere before, but I cannot recall where. Could you
+tell me anything of his history?"
+
+"Very little, I fear, save that he seems a worthy and painstaking man,
+an excellent scholar, and very capable in his management of young men. I
+received excellent references with him, but of his past history I know
+very little. I believe, however, that he was a missionary in the South
+Seas for some time, and that he was afterwards for many years in India.
+I'm sorry I cannot tell you more about him since you are interested in
+him."
+
+"I've met him somewhere, I'm certain. His face haunts me. But to return
+to your son--I hope he is none the worse for his adventure?"
+
+"Not at all, thank you. Owing to the system I have adopted in his
+education, the lad is seldom ailing."
+
+"Pardon my introducing the subject. But do you think it is quite wise to
+keep a youth so ignorant of the world? I am perhaps rather presumptuous,
+but I cannot help feeling that such a fine young fellow would be all the
+better for a few companions."
+
+"You hit me on rather a tender spot, Mr. Hatteras. But, as you have been
+frank with me, I will be frank with you. I am one of those strange
+beings who govern their lives by theories. I was brought up by my
+father, I must tell you, in a fashion totally different from that I am
+employing with my son. I feel now that I was allowed a dangerous amount
+of license. And what was the result? I mixed with every one, was
+pampered and flattered far beyond what was good for me, derived a false
+notion of my own importance, and when I came to man's estate was, to all
+intents and purposes, quite unprepared and unfitted to undertake the
+duties and responsibilities of my position.
+
+"Fortunately I had the wit to see where the fault lay, and there and
+then I resolved that if ever I were blessed with a son, I would conduct
+his education on far different lines. My boy has not met a dozen
+strangers in his life. His education has been my tenderest care. His
+position, his duties towards his fellow-men, the responsibilities of his
+rank, have always been kept rigorously before him. He has been brought
+up to understand that to be a Duke is not to be a titled nonentity or a
+pampered _roue_, but to be one whom Providence has blessed with an
+opportunity of benefiting and watching over the welfare of those less
+fortunate than himself in the world's good gifts.
+
+"He has no exaggerated idea of his own importance; a humbler lad, I feel
+justified in saying, you would nowhere find. He has been educated
+thoroughly, and he has all the best traditions of his race kept
+continually before his eyes. But you must not imagine, Mr. Hatteras,
+that because he has not mixed with the world he is ignorant of its
+temptations. He may not have come into personal contact with them, but
+he has been warned against their insidious influences, and I shall trust
+to his personal pride and good instincts to help him to withstand them
+when he has to encounter them himself. Now, what do you think of my plan
+for making a nobleman?"
+
+"A very good one, with such a youth as your son, I should think, your
+Grace; but I would like to make one more suggestion, if you would allow
+me?"
+
+"And that is?"
+
+"That you should let him travel before he settles down. Choose some fit
+person to accompany him. Let him have introductions to good people
+abroad, and let him use them; then he will derive different impressions
+from different countries, view men and women from different standpoints,
+and enter gradually into the great world and station which he is some
+day to adorn."
+
+"I had thought of that myself, and his tutor has lately spoken to me a
+good deal upon the subject. I must own it is an idea that commends
+itself strongly to me. I will think it over. And now, sir, I must wish
+you good-day. You will not let me thank you, as I should have wished,
+for the service you have rendered my house, but, believe me, I am none
+the less grateful. By the way, your name is not a common one. May I ask
+if you have any relatives in this county?"
+
+"Only one at present, I fancy--my father's brother, Sir William
+Hatteras, of Murdlestone, in the New Forest."
+
+"Ah! I never met him. I knew his brother James very well in my younger
+days. But he got into sad trouble, poor fellow, and was obliged to fly
+the country."
+
+"You are speaking of my father. You knew him?"
+
+"Knew him? indeed, I did. And a better fellow never stepped; but, like
+most of us in those days, too wild--much too wild! And so you are
+James's son? Well, well! This is indeed a strange coincidence. But, dear
+me, I am forgetting; I must beg your pardon for speaking so candidly of
+your father."
+
+"No offence, I'm sure."
+
+"And pray tell me where my old friend is now?"
+
+"Dead, your Grace! He was drowned at sea."
+
+The worthy old gentleman seemed really distressed at this news. He shook
+his head, and I heard him murmur: "Poor Jim! Poor Jim!"
+
+Then, turning to me again, he took my hand.
+
+"This makes our bond a doubly strong one. You must let me see more of
+you! How long do you propose remaining in England?"
+
+"Not very much longer, I fear. I am already beginning to hunger for the
+South again."
+
+"Well, you must not go before you have paid us a visit. Remember we
+shall always be pleased to see you. You know our house, I think, on the
+cliff. Good-day, sir, good-day."
+
+So saying, the old gentleman accompanied me downstairs to his carriage,
+and, shaking me warmly by the hand, departed. Again I had cause to
+ponder on the strangeness of the fate that had led me to
+Hampshire--first to the village where my father was born, and then to
+Bournemouth, where by saving this young man's life I had made a firm
+friend of a man who again had known my father. By such small
+coincidences are the currents of our lives diverted.
+
+That same afternoon, while tacking slowly down the bay, I met the
+Marquis. He was pulling himself in a small skiff, and when he saw me he
+made haste to come alongside and hitch on. At first I wondered whether
+it would not be against his father's wishes that he should enter into
+conversation with such a worldly person as myself. But he evidently saw
+what was passing in my mind, and banished all doubts by saying:
+
+"I have been on the look-out for you, Mr. Hatteras. My father has given
+me permission to cultivate your acquaintance, if you will allow me."
+
+"I shall be very pleased," I answered. "Won't you come aboard and have a
+chat? I'm not going out of the bay this afternoon."
+
+He clambered over the side and seated himself in the well, clear of the
+boom, as nice-looking and pleasant a young fellow as any man could wish
+to set eyes on.
+
+"You can't imagine how I've been thinking over all you told me the other
+day," he began when we were fairly on our way. "I want you to tell me
+more about Australia and the life you lead out there, if you will."
+
+"I'll tell you all I can with pleasure," I answered. "But you ought to
+go and see the places and things for yourself. That's better than any
+telling. I wish I could take you up and carry you off with me now; away
+down to where you can make out the green islands peeping out of the
+water to port and starboard, like bits of the Garden of Eden gone astray
+and floated out to sea. I'd like you to smell the breezes that come off
+from them towards evening, to hear the 'trades' whistling overhead, and
+the thunder of the surf upon the reef. Or at another time to get inside
+that selfsame reef and look down through the still, transparent water,
+at the rainbow-coloured fish dashing among the coral boulders, in and
+out of the most beautiful fairy grottos the brain of man can conceive."
+
+"Oh, it must be lovely! And to think that I may live my life and never
+see these wonders. Please go on; what else can you tell me?"
+
+"What more do you want to hear? There is the pick of every sort of life
+for you out there. Would you know what real excitement is? Then I shall
+take you to a new gold rush. To begin with, you must imagine yourself
+setting off for the field, with your trusty mate marching step by step
+beside you, pick and shovel on your shoulders, and both resolved to make
+your fortunes in the twinkling of an eye. When you get there, there's
+the digger crowd, composed of every nationality. There's the warden and
+his staff, the police officers, the shanty keepers, the blacks, and
+dogs.
+
+"There's the tented valley stretching away to right and left of you,
+with the constant roar of sluice boxes and cradles, the creak of
+windlasses, and the perpetual noise of human voices. There's the
+excitement of pegging out your claim and sinking your first shaft,
+wondering all the time whether it will turn up trumps or nothing.
+There's the honest, manly labour from dawn to dusk. And then, when
+daylight fails, and the lamps begin to sparkle over the field, songs
+drift up the hillside from the drinking shanties in the valley, and you
+and your mate weigh up your day's returns, and, having done so, turn
+into your blankets to dream of the monster nugget you intend to find
+upon the morrow. Isn't that real life for you?"
+
+He did not answer, but there was a sparkle in his eyes which told me I
+was understood.
+
+"Then if you want other sorts of enterprise, there is Thursday Island,
+where I hail from, with its extraordinary people. Let us suppose
+ourselves wandering down the Front at nightfall, past the Kanaka
+billiard saloons and the Chinese stores, into, say, the _Hotel of All
+Nations_. Who is that handsome, dark, mysterious fellow, smoking a
+cigarette and idly flirting with the pretty bar girl? _You_ don't know
+him, but I do! There's indeed a history for you. You didn't notice,
+perhaps, that rakish schooner that came to anchor in the bay early in
+the forenoon. What lines she had! Well, that was his craft. To-morrow
+she'll be gone, it is whispered, to try for pearl in prohibited Dutch
+waters. Can't you imagine her slinking round the islands, watching for
+the patrolling gunboat, and ready, directly she has passed, to slip into
+the bay, skim it of its shell, and put to sea again. Sometimes they're
+chased."
+
+"What then?"
+
+"Well, a clean pair of heels or trouble with the authorities, and
+possibly a year in a Dutch prison before you're brought to trial! Or
+would you do a pearling trip in less exciting but more honest fashion?
+Would you ship aboard a lugger with five good companions, and go
+a-cruising down the New Guinea coast, working hard all day long, and
+lying out on deck at night, smoking and listening to the lip-lap of the
+water against the counter, or spinning yarns of all the world?"
+
+"What else?"
+
+"Why, what more do you want? Do you hanker after a cruise aboard a
+stinking _beche-de-mer_ boat inside the Barrier Reef, or a run with the
+sandalwood cutters or tortoiseshell gatherers to New Guinea; or do you
+want to go ashore again and try an overlanding trip half across the
+continent, riding behind your cattle all day long, and standing your
+watch at night under dripping boughs, your teeth chattering in your
+head, waiting for the bulls to break, while every moment you expect to
+hear the Bunyip calling in that lonely water-hole beyond the fringe of
+Mulga scrub?"
+
+"You make me almost mad with longing."
+
+"And yet, somehow, it doesn't seem so fine when you're at it. It's when
+you come to look back upon it all from a distance of twelve thousand
+miles that you feel its real charm. Then it calls to you to return in
+every rustle of the leaves ashore, in the blue of the sky above, in the
+ripple of the waves upon the beach. And it eats into your heart, so that
+you begin to think you will never be happy till you're back in the old
+tumultuous devil-may-care existence again."
+
+"What a life you've led! And how much more to be envied it seems than
+the dull monotony of our existence here in sleepy old England."
+
+"Don't you believe it. If you wanted to change I could tell you of
+dozens of men, living exactly the sort of life I've described, who would
+only too willingly oblige you. No, no! Believe me, you've got chances of
+doing things we could never dream of. Do them, then, and let the other
+go. But all the same, I think you ought to see more of the world I've
+told you of before you settle down. In fact, I hinted as much to your
+father only yesterday."
+
+"He said that you had spoken of it to him. Oh, how I wish he would let
+me go!"
+
+"Somehow, d'you know, I think he will."
+
+I put the cutter over on another tack, and we went crashing back through
+the blue water towards the pier. The strains of the band came faintly
+off to us. I had enjoyed my sail, for I had taken a great fancy to this
+bright young fellow sitting by my side. I felt I should like to have
+finished the education his father had so gallantly begun. There was
+something irresistibly attractive about him, so modest, so unassuming,
+and yet so straightforward and gentlemanly.
+
+Dropping him opposite the bathing machines, I went on to my own
+anchorage on the other side of the pier. Then I pulled myself ashore and
+went up to the town. I had forgotten to write an important letter that
+morning, and as it was essential that the business should be attended to
+at once, to repair my carelessness, I crossed the public gardens and
+went through the gardens to the post office to send a telegram.
+
+I must tell you here that since my meeting with Mr. Baxter, the young
+Marquis's tutor, I had been thinking a great deal about him, and the
+more I thought the more certain I became that we had met before. To tell
+the truth, a great distrust of the man was upon me. It was one of those
+peculiar antipathies that no one can explain. I did not like his face,
+and I felt sure that he did not boast any too much love for me.
+
+As my thoughts were still occupied with him, my astonishment may be
+imagined, on arriving at the building, at meeting him face to face upon
+the steps. He seemed much put out at seeing me, and hummed and hawed
+over his "Good-afternoon" for all the world as if I had caught him in
+the middle of some guilty action.
+
+Returning his salutation, I entered the building and looked about me for
+a desk at which to write my wire. There was only one vacant, and I
+noticed that the pencil suspended on the string was still swinging to
+and fro as it had been dropped. Now Baxter had only just left the
+building, so there could be no possible doubt that it was he who had
+last used the stand. I pulled the form towards me and prepared to write.
+But as I did so I noticed that the previous writer had pressed so hard
+upon his pencil that he had left the exact impression of his message
+plainly visible upon the pad. It ran as follows:
+
+     "LETTER RECEIVED. YOU OMMITTED REVEREDN. THE TRAIN IS LAID, BUT A
+     NEW ELEMENT OF DANGER HAS ARISEN."
+
+It was addressed to "Nikola, _Green Sailor Hotel_, East India Dock Road,
+London," and was signed "Nineveh."
+
+The message was so curious that I looked at it again, and the longer I
+looked the more certain I became that Baxter was the sender. Partly
+because its wording interested me, and partly for another reason which
+will become apparent later on, I inked the message over, tore it from
+the pad, and placed it carefully in my pocket-book. One thing at least
+was certain, and that was, if Baxter _were_ the sender, there was
+something underhand going on. If he were not, well, then there could be
+no possible harm in my keeping the form as a little souvenir of a rather
+curious experience.
+
+I wrote my own message, and having paid for it left the office. But I
+was not destined to have the society of my own thoughts for long. Hardly
+had I reached the Invalids' Walk before I felt my arm touched. To my
+supreme astonishment I found myself again confronted by Mr. Baxter. He
+was now perfectly calm and greeted me with extraordinary civility.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, I believe," he said. "I think I had the pleasure of
+meeting you on the sands a few days ago. What a beautiful day it is,
+isn't it? Are you proceeding this way? Yes? Then perhaps I may be
+permitted the honour of walking a short distance with you."
+
+"With pleasure," I replied. "I am going up the cliff to my hotel, and I
+shall be glad of your company. I think we met in the telegraph office
+just now."
+
+"In the post office, I think. I had occasion to go in there to register
+a letter."
+
+His speech struck me as remarkable. My observation was so trivial that
+it hardly needed an answer, and yet not only did he vouchsafe me one,
+but he corrected my statement and volunteered a further one on his own
+account. What reason could he have for wanting to make me understand
+that he had gone in there to post a letter? What would it have mattered
+to me if he _had_ been there, as I suggested, to send a telegram?
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I thought to myself, "I've got a sort of conviction that
+you're not the man you pretend to be, and what's more I'd like to bet a
+shilling to a halfpenny that, if the truth were only known, you're our
+mysterious friend Nineveh."
+
+We walked for some distance in silence. Presently my companion began to
+talk again--this time, however, in a new strain, and perhaps with a
+little more caution.
+
+"You have been a great traveller, I understand."
+
+"A fairly great one, Mr. Baxter. You also, I am told, have seen
+something of the world."
+
+"A little--very little."
+
+"The South Seas, I believe. D'you know Papeete?"
+
+"I have been there."
+
+"D'you know New Guinea at all?"
+
+"No. I was never near it. I am better acquainted with the Far
+East--China, Japan, etc."
+
+Suddenly something, I shall never be able to tell what, prompted me to
+say:
+
+"And the Andamans?"
+
+The effect on my companion was as sudden as it was extraordinary. For a
+moment he staggered on the path like a drunken man; his face grew ashen
+pale, and he had to give utterance to a hoarse choking sound before he
+could get out a word. Then he said:
+
+"No--no--you are quite mistaken, I assure you. I never knew the
+Andamans."
+
+Now, on the Andamans, as all the world knows, are located the Indian
+penal establishments, and noting his behaviour, I became more and more
+convinced in my own mind that there was some mystery about Mr. Baxter
+that had yet to be explained. I had still a trump card to play.
+
+"I'm afraid you are not very well, Mr. Baxter," I said at length.
+"Perhaps the heat is too much for you, or we are walking too fast? This
+is my hotel. Won't you come inside and take a glass of wine or something
+to revive you?"
+
+He nodded his head eagerly. Large drops of perspiration stood on his
+forehead, and I saw that he was quite unstrung. "I am not well--not at
+all well."
+
+As soon as we reached the smoking-room I rang for two brandies and
+sodas. When they arrived he drank his off almost at a gulp, and in a few
+seconds was pretty well himself again.
+
+"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Hatteras," he said. "I think we must
+have walked up the hill a little too fast for my strength. Now, I must
+be going back to the town. I find I have forgotten something."
+
+Almost by instinct I guessed his errand. He was going to despatch
+another telegram. Resolved to try the effect of one parting shot, I
+said:
+
+"Perhaps you do not happen to be going near the telegraph office again?
+If you are, should I be taxing your kindness too much if I asked you to
+leave a message there for me? I find _I_ have forgotten one."
+
+He bowed and simply said: "With much pleasure."
+
+He pronounced it "pleesure," and as he said it he licked his lips in his
+usual self-satisfied fashion. I wondered how he would conduct himself
+when he saw the message I was going to write.
+
+Taking a form from a table near where I sat, I wrote the following:
+
+     "John Nicholson,
+     "_Langham Hotel_, London.
+
+     "The train is laid, but a new danger has arisen.
+
+     "HATTERAS."
+
+Blotting it carefully, I gave it into his hands, at the same time asking
+him to read it, lest my writing should not be decipherable and any
+question might be asked concerning it. As he read I watched his face
+intently. Never shall I forget the expression that swept over it. I had
+scored a complete victory. The shaft went home. But only for an instant.
+With wonderful alacrity he recovered himself and, shaking me feebly by
+the hand, bade me good-bye, promising to see that my message was
+properly delivered. When he had gone I laid myself back in my chair for
+a good think. The situation was a peculiar one in every way. If he were
+up to some devilry I had probably warned him. If not, why had he
+betrayed himself so openly?
+
+Half an hour later an answer to my first telegram arrived, and, such is
+the working of Fate, it necessitated my immediate return to London. I
+had been thinking of going for some days past, but had put it off. Now
+it was decided for me.
+
+As I did not know whether I should return to Bournemouth, I determined
+to call upon the Marquis to bid him good-bye. Accordingly I set off for
+the house.
+
+Now if Burke may be believed, the Duke of Glenbarth possesses houses in
+half the counties of the kingdom; but I am told his seaside residence
+takes precedence of them all in his affections. Standing well out on the
+cliffs, it commands a lovely view of the bay--looks toward the Purbeck
+Hills on the right, and the Isle of Wight and Hengistbury Head on the
+left. The house itself, as far as I could see, left nothing to be
+desired, and the grounds had been beautified in the highest form of
+landscape gardening.
+
+I found my friend and his father in a summer-house upon the lawn. Both
+appeared unaffectedly glad to see me, and equally sorry to hear that I
+had come to bid them good bye. Mr. Baxter was not visible, and it was
+with no little surprise I learned that he, too, was contemplating a trip
+to the metropolis.
+
+"I hope, if ever you visit Bournemouth again, you will come and see us,"
+said the Duke as I rose to leave.
+
+"Thank you," said I, "and I hope if ever your son visits Australia you
+will permit me to be of some service to him."
+
+"You are very kind. I will bear your offer in mind."
+
+Shaking hands with them both, I bade them good-bye, and went out through
+the gate.
+
+But I was not to escape without an interview with my clerical friend
+after all. As I left the grounds and turned into the public road I saw a
+man emerge from a little wicket gate some fifty yards or so further down
+the hedge. From the way he made his appearance, it was obvious he had
+been waiting for me to leave the house.
+
+It was, certainly enough, my old friend Baxter. As I came up with him he
+said, with the same sanctimonious grin that usually encircled his mouth
+playing round it now:
+
+"A nice evening for a stroll, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+"A very nice evening, as you say, Mr. Baxter."
+
+"May I intrude myself upon your privacy for five minutes?"
+
+"With pleasure. What is your business?"
+
+"Of small concern to you, sir, but of immense importance to me. Mr.
+Hatteras, I have it in my mind that you do not like me."
+
+"I hope I have not given you cause to think so. Pray what can have put
+such a notion into your head?"
+
+I half hoped that he would make some allusion to the telegram he had
+despatched for me that morning, but he was far too cunning for that. He
+looked me over and over out of his small ferrety eyes before he replied:
+
+"I cannot tell you why I think so, Mr. Hatteras, but instinct generally
+makes us aware when we are not quite all we might be to other people.
+Forgive me for speaking in this way to you, but you must surely see how
+much it means to me to be on good terms with friends of my employer's
+family."
+
+"You are surely not afraid lest I should prejudice the Duke against
+you?"
+
+"Not afraid, Mr. Hatteras! I have too much faith in your sense of
+justice to believe that you would willingly deprive me of my means of
+livelihood--for of course that is what it would mean in plain English."
+
+"Then you need have no fear. I have just said good-bye to them. I am
+going away to-morrow, and it is improbable that I shall ever see either
+of them again."
+
+"You are leaving for Australia?"
+
+"Very shortly, I think."
+
+"I am much obliged to you for the generous way you have treated me. I
+shall never forget your kindness."
+
+"Pray don't mention it. Is that all you have to say to me? Then
+good-evening!"
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+He turned back, and I continued my way along the cliff, reflecting on
+the curious interview I had just passed through. If the truth must be
+known, I was quite at a loss to understand what he meant by it! Why had
+he asked that question about Australia? Was it only chance that had led
+him to put it, or was it done designedly, and for some reason connected
+with that mysterious "train" mentioned in his telegram?
+
+I was to find out later, and only too thoroughly!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+I MEET DR. NIKOLA AGAIN
+
+
+It is strange with what ease, rapidity, and apparent unconsciousness the
+average man jumps from crisis to crisis in that strange medley he is
+accustomed so flippantly to call His Life. It was so in my case. For two
+days after my return from Bournemouth I was completely immersed in the
+toils of Hatton Garden, had no thought above the sale of pearls and the
+fluctuations in the price of shell; yet, notwithstanding all this, the
+afternoon of the third day found me kicking my heels on the pavement of
+Trafalgar Square, my mind quite made up, my passage booked, and my
+ticket for Australia stowed away in my waistcoat pocket.
+
+As I stood there the grim, stone faces of the lions above me were
+somehow seen obscurely, Nelson's monument was equally unregarded, for my
+thoughts were far away with my mind's eye, following an ocean
+mail-steamer as she threaded her tortuous way between the Heads and
+along the placid waters of Sydney Harbour.
+
+So wrapped up was I in the folds of this agreeable reverie, that when I
+felt a heavy hand upon my shoulder and heard a masculine voice say
+joyfully in my ear, "Dick Hatteras, or I'm a Dutchman," I started as if
+I had been shot.
+
+Brief as was the time given me for reflection, it was long enough for
+that voice to conjure up a complete scene in my mind. The last time I
+had heard it was on the bridge of the steamer _Yarraman_, lying in the
+land-locked harbour of Cairns, on the Eastern Queensland coast; a
+canoeful of darkies were jabbering alongside, and a cargo of bananas was
+being shipped aboard.
+
+I turned and held out my hand. "Jim Percival!" I cried, with as much
+pleasure as astonishment. "How on earth does it come about that you are
+here?"
+
+"Arrived three days ago," the good-looking young fellow replied. "We're
+lying in the River just off the West India Docks. The old man kept us at
+it like galley slaves till I began to think we should never get the
+cargo out. Been up to the office this morning, coming back saw you
+standing here looking as if you were thinking of something ten thousand
+miles away. I tell you I nearly jumped out of my skin with astonishment,
+thought there couldn't be two men with the same face and build, so
+smacked you on the back, discovered I was right, and here we are. Now
+spin your yarn. But stay, let's first find a more convenient place than
+this."
+
+We strolled down the Strand together, and at last had the good fortune
+to discover a "house of call" that met with even his critical approval.
+Here I narrated as much of my doings since we had last met, as I thought
+would satisfy his curiosity. My meeting with that mysterious individual
+at the French restaurant and my suspicions of Baxter particularly amused
+him.
+
+"What a rum beggar you are, to be sure!" was his disconcerting criticism
+when I had finished. "What earthly reason have you for thinking that
+this chap, Baxter, has any designs upon your young swell, Beckenham, or
+whatever his name may be?"
+
+"What makes you stand by to shorten sail, when you see a suspicious look
+about the sky? Instinct, isn't it?"
+
+"That's a poor way out of the argument."
+
+"Well, at any rate, time will show how far I'm right or wrong; though I
+don't suppose I shall hear any more of the affair, as I return to
+Australia in the _Saratoga_ on Friday next."
+
+"And what are you going to do now?"
+
+"I haven't the remotest idea. My business is completed, and I'm just
+kicking my heels in idleness till Friday comes and it is time for me to
+set off."
+
+"Then I have it. You'll just come along down to the docks with me; I'm
+due back at the old hooker at five sharp. You'll dine with us--pot luck,
+of course. Your old friend Riley is still chief officer; I'm second;
+young Cleary, whom you remember as apprentice, is now third; and, if I'm
+not very much mistaken, we'll find old Donald Maclean aboard too,
+tinkering away at his beloved engines. I don't believe that fellow could
+take a holiday away from his thrust blocks and piston rods if he were
+paid to. We'll have a palaver about old times, and I'll put you ashore
+myself when you want to go. There, what do you say?"
+
+"I'm your man," said I, jumping at his offer with an alacrity which must
+have been flattering to him.
+
+The truth was, I was delighted to have secured some sort of
+companionship, for London, despite its multitudinous places of
+amusement, and its five millions of inhabitants, is but a dismal
+caravanserai to be left alone in. Moreover, the _Yarraman_'s officers
+and I were old friends, and, if the truth must be told, my heart yearned
+for the sight of a ship and a talk about days gone by.
+
+Accordingly, we made our way to the docks.
+
+The _Yarraman_, travel-stained, and bearing on her weather-beaten plates
+evidences of the continuous tramp-like life she had led, lay well out in
+the stream. Having chartered a waterman, we were put on board, and I had
+the satisfaction of renewing my acquaintance with the chief officer,
+Riley, at the yawning mouth of the for'ard hatch. The whilom apprentice,
+Cleary, now raised to the dignity of third officer, grinned a welcome to
+me from among the disordered raffle of the fo'c's'le head, while that
+excellent artificer, Maclean, oil-can and spanner in hand, greeted me
+affectionately in Gaelic from the entrance to the engine-room. The
+skipper was ashore, so I seated myself on the steps leading to the
+hurricane deck, and felt at home immediately.
+
+Upon the circumstances attending that reunion there is no necessity for
+me to dwell. Suffice it that we dined in the deserted saloon, and
+adjourned later to my friend Percival's cabin in the alley way just
+for'ard of the engine-room, where several bottles of Scotch whisky, a
+strange collection of glass ware, and an assortment of excellent cigars,
+were produced. Percival and Cleary, being the juniors, ensconced
+themselves on the top bunk; Maclean (who had been induced to abandon his
+machinery in honour of our meeting) was given the washhand-stand. Riley
+took the cushioned locker in the corner, while I, as their guest, was
+permitted the luxury of a canvas-backed deck chair, the initials on the
+back of which were not those of its present owner. At first the
+conversation was circumscribed, and embraced Plimsoll, the attractions
+of London, and the decline in the price of freight; but, as the contents
+of the second bottle waned, speech became more unfettered, and the talk
+drifted into channels and latitudes widely different. Circumstances
+connected with bygone days were recalled; the faces of friends long
+hidden in the mists of time were brought again to mind; anecdotes
+illustrative of various types of maritime character succeeded to each
+other in brisk succession, till Maclean, without warning, finding his
+voice, burst into incongruous melody. One song suggested another; a
+banjo was produced, and tuned to the noise of clinking glasses; and
+every moment the atmosphere grew thicker.
+
+How long this concert would have lasted I cannot say, but I remember,
+after the third repetition of the chorus of the sea-chanty that might
+have been heard a mile away, glancing at my watch and discovering to my
+astonishment that it was past ten o'clock. Then rising to my feet I
+resisted all temptations to stay the night, and reminded my friend
+Percival of his promise to put me ashore again. He was true to his word,
+and five minutes later we were shoving off from the ship's side amid the
+valedictions of my hosts. I have a recollection to this day of the face
+of the chief engineer gazing sadly down upon me from the bulwarks, while
+his quavering voice asserted the fact, in dolorous tones, that
+
+    "Aft hae I rov'd by bonny Doon,
+        To see the rose and woodbine twine;
+    And ilka bird sang o' its luve,
+        And fondly sae did I o' mine."
+
+With this amorous farewell still ringing in my ears I landed at
+Limehouse Pier, and bidding my friend good-bye betook myself by the
+circuitous route of Emmett and Ropemaker Streets and Church Row to that
+aristocratic thoroughfare known as the East India Dock Road.
+
+The night was dark and a thick rain was falling, presenting the
+mean-looking houses, muddy road, and foot-stained pavements in an aspect
+that was even more depressing than was usual to them. Despite the
+inclemency of the weather and the lateness of the hour, however, the
+street was crowded; blackguard men and foul-mouthed women, such a class
+as I had never in all my experience of rough folk encountered before,
+jostled each other on the pavements with scant ceremony; costermongers
+cried their wares, small boys dashed in and out of the crowd at top
+speed, and flaring gin palaces took in and threw out continuous streams
+of victims.
+
+For some minutes I stood watching this melancholy picture, contrasting
+it with others in my mind. Then turning to my left hand I pursued my way
+in the direction I imagined the Stepney railway station to lie. It was
+not pleasant walking, but I was interested in the life about me--the
+people, the shops, the costermongers' barrows, and I might even say the
+public-houses.
+
+I had not made my way more than a hundred yards along the street when an
+incident occurred that was destined to bring with it a train of highly
+important circumstances. As I crossed the entrance to a small side
+street, the door of an ill-looking tavern was suddenly thrust open and
+the body of a man was propelled from it, with a considerable amount of
+violence, directly into my arms. Having no desire to act as his support
+I pushed him from me, and as I did so glanced at the door through which
+he had come. Upon the glass was a picture, presumably nautical, and
+under it this legend, "The Green Sailor." In a flash Bournemouth post
+office rose before my mind's eye, the startled face of Baxter on the
+door-step, the swinging pencil on the telegraph stand, and the imprint
+of the mysterious message addressed to "Nikola, _Green Sailor Hotel_,
+East India Dock Road." So complete was my astonishment that at first I
+could do nothing but stand stupidly staring at it, then my curiosity
+asserted itself and, seeking the private entrance, I stepped inside. A
+short passage conducted me to a small and evil-smelling room abutting on
+the bar. On the popular side of the counter the place was crowded; in
+the chamber where I found myself I was the sole customer. A small table
+stood in the centre, and round this two or three chairs were ranged,
+while several pugnacious prints lent an air of decoration to the walls.
+
+On the other side, to the left of that through which I had entered, a
+curtained doorway hinted at a similar room beyond. A small but
+heavily-built man, whom I rightly judged to be the landlord, was busily
+engaged with an assistant, dispensing liquor at the counter, but when I
+rapped upon the table he forsook his customers, and came to learn my
+wishes. I called for a glass of whisky, and seated myself at the table
+preparatory to commencing my inquiries as to the existence of Baxter's
+mysterious friend. But at the moment that I was putting my first
+question the door behind the half-drawn curtain, which must have been
+insecurely fastened, opened about an inch, and a voice greeted my ears
+that brought me up all standing with surprise. _It was the voice of
+Baxter himself._
+
+"I assure you," he was saying, "it was desperate work from beginning to
+end, and I was never so relieved in my life as when I discovered that he
+had really come to say good-bye."
+
+At this juncture one of them must have realized that the door was open,
+for I heard some one rise from his chair and come towards it. Acting
+under the influence of a curiosity, which was as baneful to himself as
+it was fortunate for me, before closing it he opened the door wider and
+looked into the room where I sat. It was Baxter, and if I live to be an
+hundred I shall not forget the expression on his face as his eyes fell
+upon me.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras!" he gasped, clutching at the wall.
+
+Resolved to take him at a disadvantage, I rushed towards him and shook
+him warmly by the hand, at the same time noticing that he had discarded
+his clerical costume. It was too late now for him to pretend that he did
+not know me, and as I had taken the precaution to place my foot against
+it, it was equally impossible for him to shut the door. Seeing this he
+felt compelled to surrender, and I will do him the justice to admit that
+he did it with as good a grace as possible.
+
+"Mr. Baxter," I said, "this is the last place I should have expected to
+meet you in. May I come in and sit down?"
+
+Without giving him time to reply I entered the room, resolved to see who
+his companion might be. Of course, in my own mind I had quite settled
+that it was the person to whom he had telegraphed from Bournemouth--in
+other words Nikola. But who was Nikola? And had I ever seen him before?
+
+My curiosity was destined to be satisfied, and in a most unexpected
+fashion. For there, sitting at the table, a half-smoked cigarette
+between his fingers, and his face turned towards me, was the man whom I
+had seen playing chess in the restaurant, the man who had told me my
+name by the cards in my pocket, and the man who had warned me in such a
+mysterious fashion about my sweetheart's departure. He was Baxter's
+correspondent! He was Nikola!
+
+Whatever my surprise may have been, he was not in the least
+disconcerted, but rose calmly from his seat and proffered me his hand,
+saying as he did so:
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Hatteras. I am delighted to see you, and still more
+pleased to learn that you and my worthy old friend, Baxter, have met
+before. Won't you sit down?"
+
+I seated myself on a chair at the further end of the table; Baxter
+meanwhile looked from one to the other of us as if uncertain whether to
+go or stay. Presently, however, he seemed to make up his mind, and
+advancing towards Nikola, said, with an earnestness that I could see was
+assumed for the purpose of putting me off the scent:
+
+"And so I cannot induce you, Dr. Nikola, to fit out an expedition for
+the work I have named?"
+
+"If I had five thousand pounds to throw away," replied Nikola, "I might
+think of it, Mr. Baxter, but as I haven't you must understand that it is
+impossible." Then seeing that the other was anxious to be going, he
+continued, "Must you be off? then good-night."
+
+Baxter shook hands with us both with laboured cordiality, and having
+done so slunk from the room. When the door closed upon him Nikola turned
+to me.
+
+"There must be some fascination about a missionary's life after all," he
+said. "My old tutor, Baxter, as you are aware, has a comfortable
+position with the young Marquis of Beckenham, which, if he conducts
+himself properly, may lead to something really worth having in the
+future, and yet here he is anxious to surrender it in order to go back
+to his work in New Guinea, to his hard life, insufficient food, and
+almost certain death."
+
+"He was in New Guinea then?"
+
+"Five years--so he tells me."
+
+"Are you certain of that?"
+
+"Absolutely!"
+
+"Then all I can say is that, in spite of his cloth, Mr. Baxter does not
+always tell the truth."
+
+"I am sorry you should think that. Pray what reason have you for saying
+so?"
+
+"Simply because in a conversation I had with him at Bournemouth he
+deliberately informed me that he had never been near New Guinea in his
+life."
+
+"You must have misunderstood him. However, that has nothing to do with
+us. Let us turn to a pleasanter subject."
+
+He rang the bell, and the landlord having answered it, ordered more
+refreshment. When it arrived he lit another cigarette, and leaning back
+in his chair glanced at me through half-closed eyes.
+
+Then occurred one of the most curious and weird circumstances connected
+with this meeting. Hardly had he laid himself back in his chair before I
+heard a faint scratching against the table leg, and next moment an
+enormous cat, black as the Pit of Tophet, sprang with a bound upon the
+table and stood there steadfastly regarding me, its eyes flashing and
+its back arched. I have seen cats without number, Chinese, Persian,
+Manx, the Australian wild cat, and the English tabby, but never in the
+whole course of my existence such another as that owned by Dr. Nikola.
+When it had regarded me with its evil eyes for nearly a minute, it
+stepped daintily across to its master, and rubbed itself backwards and
+forwards against his arm, then to my astonishment it clambered up on to
+his shoulder and again gave me the benefit of its fixed attention. Dr.
+Nikola must have observed the amazement depicted in my face, for he
+smiled in a curious fashion, and coaxing the beast down into his lap
+fell to stroking its fur with his long, white fingers. It was as uncanny
+a performance as ever I had the privilege of witnessing.
+
+"And so, Mr. Hatteras," he said slowly, "you are thinking of leaving
+us?"
+
+"I am," I replied, with a little start of natural astonishment. "But how
+did you know it?"
+
+"After the conjuring tricks--we agreed to call them conjuring tricks, I
+think--I showed you a week or two ago, I wonder that you should ask such
+a question. You have the ticket in your pocket even now."
+
+All the time he had been speaking his extraordinary eyes had never left
+my face; they seemed to be reading my very soul, and his cat ably
+seconded his efforts.
+
+"By the way, I should like to ask you a few questions about those self
+same conjuring tricks," I said. "Do you know you gave me a most peculiar
+warning?"
+
+"I am very glad to hear it; I hope you profited by it."
+
+"It cost me a good deal of uneasiness, if that's any consolation to you.
+I want to know how you did it?"
+
+"My fame as a wizard would soon evaporate if I revealed my methods," he
+answered, still looking steadfastly at me. "However, I will give you
+another exhibition of my powers. In fact, another warning. Have you
+confidence enough in me to accept it?"
+
+"I'll wait and see what it is first," I replied cautiously, trying to
+remove my eyes from his.
+
+"Well, my warning to you is this--you intend to sail in the _Saratoga_
+for Australia on Friday next, don't you? Well, then, don't go; as you
+love your life, don't go!"
+
+"Good gracious! and why on earth not?" I cried.
+
+He stared fixedly at me for more than half a minute before he answered.
+There was no escaping those dreadful eyes, and the regular sweep of
+those long white fingers on the cat's black fur seemed to send a cold
+shiver right down my spine. Bit by bit I began to feel a curious
+sensation of dizziness creeping over me.
+
+"Because you will _not_ go. You cannot go. I forbid you to go."
+
+I roused myself with an effort, and sprang to my feet, crying as I did
+so:
+
+"And what right have _you_ to forbid me to do anything? I'll go on
+Friday, come what may. And I'd like to see the man who will prevent me."
+
+Though he must have realized that his attempt to hypnotize me (for
+attempt it certainly was) had proved a failure, he was not in the least
+disconcerted.
+
+"My dear fellow," he murmured gently, knocking off the ash of his
+cigarette against the table edge as he did so, "no one is seeking to
+prevent you. I gave you, at your own request--you will do me the justice
+to admit that--a little piece of advice. If you do not care to follow
+it, that is your concern, not mine; but pray do not blame me. Must you
+really go now? Then good-night, and good-bye, for I don't suppose I
+shall see you this side of the Line again."
+
+I took his proffered hand, and wished him good-night. Having done so, I
+left the house, heartily glad to have said good-bye to the only man in
+my life whom I have really feared.
+
+When in the train, on my way back to town, I came to review the meeting
+in the _Green Sailor_, I found myself face to face with a series of
+problems very difficult to work out. How had Nikola first learned my
+name? How had he heard of the Wetherells? Was he the mysterious person
+his meeting with whom had driven Wetherell out of England? Why had
+Baxter telegraphed to him that "the train was laid"? Was I the new
+danger that had arisen? How had Baxter come to be at the _Green Sailor_,
+in non-clerical costume? Why had he been so disturbed at my entry? Why
+had Nikola invented such a lame excuse to account for his presence
+there? Why had he warned me not to sail in the _Saratoga_? and, above
+all, why had he resorted to hypnotism to secure his ends?
+
+I asked myself these questions, but one by one I failed to answer them
+to my satisfaction. Whatever other conclusion I might have come to,
+however, one thing at least was certain: that was, that my original
+supposition was a correct one. There was a tremendous mystery somewhere.
+Whether or not I was to lose my interest in it after Friday remained to
+be seen.
+
+It was nearly twelve o'clock by the time I entered my hotel; but late as
+it was I found time to examine the letter rack. It contained two
+envelopes bearing my name, and taking them out I carried them with me to
+my room. One, to my delight, bore the postmark of Port Said, and was
+addressed in my sweetheart's handwriting. You may guess how eagerly I
+tore it open, and with what avidity I devoured its contents. From it I
+gathered that they had arrived at the entrance of the Suez Canal safely;
+that her father had recovered his spirits more and more with every mile
+that separated him from Europe. He was now almost himself again, she
+said, but still refused with characteristic determination to entertain
+the smallest notion of myself as a son-in-law. But Phyllis herself did
+not despair of being able to talk him round. Then came a paragraph which
+struck me as being so peculiar as to warrant my reproducing it here:
+
+"The passengers, what we have seen of them, appear to be, with one
+exception, a nice enough set of people. That exception, however, is
+intolerable; his name is Prendergast, and his personal appearance is as
+objectionable as his behaviour is extraordinary; his hair is snow-white,
+and his face is deeply pitted with smallpox. This is, of course, not his
+fault, but it seems somehow to aggravate the distaste I have for him.
+Unfortunately we were thrown into his company in Naples, and since then
+the creature has so far presumed upon that introduction, that he
+scarcely leaves me alone for a moment. Papa does not seem to mind him so
+much, but I thank goodness that, as he leaves the boat in Port Said, the
+rest of the voyage will be performed without him."
+
+The remainder of the letter had no concern for any one but myself, so I
+do not give it. Having read it I folded it up and put it in my pocket,
+feeling that if I had been on board the boat I should in all probability
+have allowed Mr. Prendergast to understand that his attentions were
+distasteful and not in the least required. If I could only have foreseen
+that within a fortnight I was to be enjoying the doubtful pleasure of
+that very gentleman's society, under circumstances as important as life
+and death, I don't doubt I should have thought still more strongly on
+the subject.
+
+The handwriting of the second envelope was bold, full of character, but
+quite unknown to me. I opened it with a little feeling of curiosity, and
+glanced at the signature, "Beckenham." It ran as follows:--
+
+     "West Cliff, Bournemouth,
+     "Tuesday Evening.
+
+     "MY DEAR MR. HATTERAS,
+
+     "I have great and wonderful news to tell you! This week has proved
+     an extraordinarily eventful one for me, for what do you think? My
+     father has suddenly decided that I shall travel. All the details
+     have been settled in a great hurry. You will understand this when I
+     tell you that Mr. Baxter and I sail for Sydney in the steamship
+     _Saratoga_ next week. My father telegraphed to Mr. Baxter, who is
+     in London, to book our passages and to choose our cabins this
+     morning. I can only say that my greatest wish is that you were
+     coming with us. Is it so impossible? Cannot you make your
+     arrangements fit in? We shall travel overland to Naples and join
+     the boat there. This is Mr. Baxter's proposition, and you may be
+     sure, considering what I shall see _en route_, I have no objection
+     to urge against it. Our tour will be an extensive one. We visit
+     Australia and New Zealand, go thence to Honolulu, thence to San
+     Francisco, returning, across the United States, _via_ Canada, to
+     Liverpool.
+
+     "You may imagine how excited I am at the prospect, and as I feel
+     that I owe a great measure of my good fortune to you, I want to be
+     the first to acquaint you of it.
+
+     "Yours ever sincerely,
+     "BECKENHAM."
+
+I read the letter through a second time, and then sat down on my bed to
+think it out. One thing was self-evident. I knew now how Nikola had
+become aware that I was going to sail in the mail boat on Friday; Baxter
+had seen my name in the passenger list, and had informed him.
+
+I undressed and went to bed, but not to sleep. I had a problem to work
+out, and a more than usually difficult one it was. Here was the young
+Marquis of Beckenham, I told myself, only son of his father, heir to a
+great name and enormous estates, induced to travel by my
+representations. There was a conspiracy afoot in which, I could not help
+feeling certain, the young man was in some way involved. And yet I had
+no right to be certain about it after all, for my suspicions at best
+were only conjectures. Now the question was whether I ought to warn the
+Duke or not? If I did I might be frightening him without cause, and
+might stop his son's journey; and if I did not, and things went
+wrong--well, in that case, I should be the innocent means of bringing a
+great and lasting sorrow upon his house. Hour after hour I turned this
+question over and over in my mind, uncertain how to act. The clocks
+chimed their monotonous round, the noises died down and rose again in
+the streets, and daylight found me only just come to a decision. I would
+_not_ tell them; but at the same time I would make doubly sure that I
+sailed aboard that ship myself, and that throughout the voyage I was by
+the young man's side to guard him from ill.
+
+Breakfast time came, and I rose from my bed wearied with thought. Even a
+bath failed to restore my spirits. I went downstairs and, crossing the
+hall again, examined the rack. Another letter awaited me. I passed into
+the dining-room and, seating myself at my table, ordered breakfast.
+Having done so, I turned to my correspondence. Fate seemed to pursue me.
+On this occasion the letter was from the lad's father, the Duke of
+Glenbarth himself, and ran as follows:--
+
+     "Sandridge Castle, Bournemouth,
+     "Wednesday.
+
+     "DEAR MR. HATTERAS,
+
+     "My son tells me he has acquainted you with the news of his
+     departure for Australia next week. I don't doubt this will cause
+     you some little surprise; but it has been brought about by a
+     curious combination of circumstances. Two days ago I received a
+     letter from my old friend, the Earl of Amberley, who, as you know,
+     has for the past few years been Governor of the colony of New South
+     Wales, telling me that his term of office will expire in four
+     months. Though he has not seen my boy since the latter was two
+     years old, I am anxious that he should be at the head of affairs
+     when he visits the colony. Hence this haste. I should have liked
+     nothing better than to have accompanied him myself, but business of
+     the utmost importance detains me in England. I am, however, sending
+     Mr. Baxter with him, with powerful credentials, and if it should be
+     in your power to do anything to assist them you will be adding
+     materially to the debt of gratitude I already owe you.
+
+     "Believe me, my dear Mr. Hatteras, to be,
+
+     "Very truly yours,
+     "GLENBARTH."
+
+My breakfast finished, I answered both these letters, informed my
+friends of my contemplated departure by the same steamer, and promised
+that I would do all that lay in my power to ensure both the young
+traveller's pleasure and his safety. For the rest of the morning I was
+occupied inditing a letter to my sweetheart, informing her of my return
+to the Colonies, and telling her all my adventures since her departure.
+
+The afternoon was spent in saying good-bye to the few business friends I
+had made in London, and in the evening I went for the last time to a
+theatre.
+
+Five minutes to eleven o'clock next morning found me at Waterloo sitting
+in a first-class compartment of the West of England express, bound for
+Plymouth and Australia. Though the platform was crowded to excess I had
+the carriage so far to myself, and was about to congratulate myself on
+my good fortune, when a porter appeared on the scene, and deposited a
+bag in the opposite corner. A moment later, and just as the train was in
+motion, a man jumped in the carriage, tipped the servant, and then
+placed a basket upon the rack. The train was half-way out of the station
+before he turned round, and my suspicions were confirmed. _It was Dr.
+Nikola!_
+
+Though he must have known who his companion was, he affected great
+surprise. "Mr. Hatteras," he cried, "I think this is the most
+extraordinary coincidence I have ever experienced in my life."
+
+"Why so?" I asked. "You knew I was going to Plymouth to-day, and one
+moment's reflection must have told you, that as my boat sails at eight,
+I would be certain to take the morning express, which lands me there at
+five. Should I be indiscreet if I asked where you may be going?"
+
+"Like yourself, I am also visiting Plymouth," he answered, taking the
+basket, before mentioned, down from the rack, and drawing a French novel
+from his coat pocket. "I expect an old Indian friend home by the mail
+boat that arrives to-night. I am going down to meet him."
+
+I felt relieved to hear that he was not thinking of sailing in the
+_Saratoga_, and after a few polite commonplaces, we both lapsed into
+silence. I was too suspicious, and he was too wary, to appear over
+friendly. Clapham, Wimbledon, Surbiton, came and went. Weybridge and
+Woking flashed by at lightning speed, and even Basingstoke was reached
+before we spoke again. That station behind us, Dr. Nikola took the
+basket before mentioned on his knee, and opened it. When he had done so,
+the same enormous black cat, whose acquaintance I had made in the East
+India Dock Road, stepped proudly forth. In the daylight the brute looked
+even larger and certainly fiercer than before. I felt I should have
+liked nothing better than to have taken it by the tail and hurled it out
+of the window. Nikola, on the other hand, seemed to entertain for it the
+most extraordinary affection.
+
+Now such was this marvellous man's power of fascination that by the time
+we reached Andover Junction his conversation had roused me quite out of
+myself, had made me forget my previous distrust of him, and enabled me
+to tell myself that this railway journey was one of the most enjoyable I
+had ever undertaken.
+
+In Salisbury we took luncheon baskets on board, with, two bottles of
+champagne, for which my companion, in spite of my vigorous protest,
+would insist upon paying.
+
+As the train rolled along the charming valley, in which lie the
+miniature towns of Wilton, Dinton, and Tisbury, we pledged each other in
+right good fellowship, and by the time Exeter was reached were friendly
+enough to have journeyed round the world together.
+
+Exeter behind us, I began to feel drowsy, and presently was fast asleep.
+
+I remember no more of that ill-fated journey; nor, indeed, have I any
+recollection of anything at all, until I woke up in Room No. 37 of the
+_Ship and Vulture Hotel_ in Plymouth.
+
+The sunshine was streaming in through the slats of the Venetian blinds,
+and a portly gentleman, with a rosy face, and grey hair, was standing by
+my bedside, holding my wrist in his hand, and calmly scrutinizing me. A
+nurse in hospital dress stood beside him.
+
+"I think he'll do now," he said to her as he rubbed his plump hands
+together; "but I'll look round in the course of the afternoon."
+
+"One moment," I said feebly, for I found I was too weak to speak above a
+whisper. "Would you mind telling me where I am, and what is the matter
+with me?"
+
+"I should very much like to be able to do so," was the doctor's reply.
+"My opinion is, if you want me to be candid, that you have been drugged
+and well-nigh poisoned by a remarkably clever chemist. But what the drug
+and poison were, and who administered it to you, and the motive for
+doing so, is more than I can tell you. From what I can learn from the
+hotel proprietors, you were brought here from the railway station in a
+cab last night by a gentleman who happened to find you in the carriage
+in which you travelled down from London. You were in such a curious
+condition that I was sent for and this nurse procured. Now you know all
+about it."
+
+"What day did you say this is?"
+
+"Saturday, to be sure."
+
+"Saturday!" I cried. "You don't mean that! Then, by Jove, I've missed
+the _Saratoga_ after all. Here, let me get up! And tell them downstairs
+to send for the Inspector of Police. I have got to get to the bottom of
+this."
+
+I sat up in bed, but was only too glad to lie down. I looked at the
+doctor.
+
+"How long before you can have me fit to travel?"
+
+"Give yourself three days' rest and quiet," he replied, "and we'll see
+what we can do."
+
+"Three days? And two days and a half to cross the Continent, that's five
+and a half--say six days. Good! I'll catch the boat in Naples, and then,
+Dr. Nikola, if you're aboard, as I suspect, I advise you to look out."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PORT SAID, AND WHAT BEFEL US THERE
+
+
+Fortunately for me my arrangements fitted in exactly, so that at one
+thirty p.m., on the seventh day after my fatal meeting with Dr. Nikola
+in the West of England express, I had crossed the Continent, and stood
+looking out on the blue waters of Naples Bay. To my right was the hill
+of San Martino, behind me that of Capo di Monte, while in the distance,
+to the southward, rose the cloud-tipped summit of Vesuvius. The journey
+from London is generally considered, I believe, a long and wearisome
+one; it certainly proved so to me, for it must be remembered that my
+mind was impatient of every delay, while my bodily health was not as yet
+recovered.
+
+The first thing to be done on arrival at the terminus was to discover a
+quiet hotel; a place where I could rest and recoup during the heat of
+the day, and, what was perhaps more important, where I should run no
+risk of meeting with Dr. Nikola or his satellites. I had originally
+intended calling at the office of the steamship company in order to
+explain the reason of my not joining the boat in Plymouth, planning
+afterwards to cast about me, among the various hotels, for the Marquis
+of Beckenham and Mr. Baxter. But, on second thoughts, I saw the wisdom
+of abandoning both these courses.
+
+Nor for the same reason did I feel inclined to board the steamer, which
+I could see lying out in the harbour, until darkness had fallen. I
+ascertained, however, that she was due to sail at midnight, and that the
+mails were already being got aboard.
+
+Almost exactly as eight o'clock was striking, I mounted the gangway, and
+strolled down the promenade deck to the first saloon entrance; then
+calling a steward to my assistance, I had my baggage conveyed to my
+cabin, where I set to work arranging my little knicknacks, and making
+myself comfortable for the voyage that lay before us. So far I had seen
+nothing of my friends, and, on making inquiries, I discovered that they
+had not yet come aboard. Indeed, they did not do so until the last boat
+had discharged its burden at the gangway. Then I met Lord Beckenham on
+the promenade deck, and unaffected was the young man's delight at seeing
+me.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he cried, running forward to greet me with out-stretched
+hand, "this was all that was wanting to make my happiness complete. I
+_am_ glad to see you. I hope your cabin is near ours."
+
+"I'm on the port side just abaft the pantry," I answered, shaking him by
+the hand. "But tell me about yourself. I expect you had a pleasant
+journey across the Continent."
+
+"Delightful!" was his reply. "We stayed a day in Paris, and another in
+Rome, and since we have been here we have been rushing about seeing
+everything, like a regulation pair of British tourists."
+
+At this moment Mr. Baxter, who had been looking after the luggage, I
+suppose, made his appearance, and greeted me with more cordiality than I
+had expected him to show. To my intense surprise, however, he allowed no
+sign of astonishment to escape him at my having joined the boat after
+all. But a few minutes later, as we were approaching the companion
+steps, he said:--"I understood from his lordship, Mr. Hatteras, that you
+were to embark at Plymouth; was I mistaken, therefore, when I thought I
+saw you coming off with your luggage this evening?"
+
+"No, you were not mistaken," I answered, being able now to account for
+this lack of surprise. "I came across the Continent like yourselves, and
+only joined the vessel a couple of hours ago."
+
+Here the Marquis chimed in, and diverted the conversation into another
+channel.
+
+"Where is everybody?" he asked, when Mr. Baxter had left us and gone
+below. "There are a lot of names on the passenger list, and yet I see
+nobody about!"
+
+"They are all in bed," I answered. "It is getting late, you see, and, if
+I am not mistaken, we shall be under way in a few minutes."
+
+"Then, I think, if you'll excuse me for a few moments, I'll go below to
+my cabin. I expect Mr. Baxter will be wondering where I am."
+
+When he had left me I turned to the bulwarks and stood looking across
+the water at the gleaming lights ashore. One by one the boats alongside
+pushed off, and from the sounds that came from for'ard, I gathered that
+the anchor was being got aboard. Five minutes later we had swung round
+to our course and were facing for the open sea. For the first mile or so
+my thoughts chased each other in rapid succession. You must remember
+that it was in Naples I had learnt that my darling loved me, and it was
+in Naples now that I was bidding good-bye to Europe and to all the
+strange events that had befallen me there. I leant upon the rail, looked
+at the fast receding country in our wake, at old Vesuvius, fire-capped,
+away to port, at the Great Bear swinging in the heavens to the nor'ard,
+and then thought of the Southern Cross which, before many weeks were
+passed, would be lifting its head above our bows to welcome me back to
+the sunny land and to the girl I loved so well. Somehow I felt glad that
+the trip to England was over, and that I was on my way home at last.
+
+The steamer ploughed her almost silent course, and three-quarters of an
+hour later we were abreast of Capri. As I was looking at it, Lord
+Beckenham came down the deck and stood beside me. His first speech told
+me that he was still under the influence of his excitement; indeed, he
+spoke in rapturous terms of the enjoyment he expected to derive from his
+tour.
+
+"Are you sure you will be a good sailor?" I asked.
+
+"Oh, I have no fear of that," he answered confidently. "As you know, I
+have been out in my boat in some pretty rough weather and never felt in
+the least ill, so I don't think it is likely that I shall begin to be a
+bad sailor on a vessel the size of the _Saratoga_. By the way, when are
+we due to reach Port Said?"
+
+"Next Thursday afternoon, I believe, if all goes well."
+
+"Will you let me go ashore with you if you go? I don't want to bother
+you, but after all you have told me about the place, I should like to
+see it in your company."
+
+"I'll take you with pleasure," I answered, "provided Mr. Baxter gives
+his consent. I suppose we must regard him as skipper."
+
+"Oh, I don't think we need fear his refusing. He is very good-natured,
+you know, and lets me have my own way a good deal."
+
+"Where is he now?"
+
+"Down below, asleep. He has had a lot of running about to-day, and
+thought he would turn in before we got under way. I think I had better
+be going now. Good-night."
+
+"Good-night," I answered, and he left me again.
+
+When I was alone I returned to my thoughts of Phyllis and the future,
+and as soon as my pipe was finished, went below to my bunk. My berth
+mate I had discovered earlier in the evening was a portly English
+merchant of the old school, who was visiting his agents in Australia;
+and, from the violence of his snores, I should judge had not much
+trouble on his mind. Fortunately mine was the lower bunk, and, when I
+had undressed, I turned into it to sleep like a top until roused by the
+bath-room steward at half-past seven next morning. After a good bathe I
+went back to my cabin and set to work to dress. My companion by this
+time was awake, but evidently not much inclined for conversation. His
+usual jovial face, it struck me, was not as rosy as when I had made his
+acquaintance the night before, and I judged that his good spirits were
+more than half assumed.
+
+All this time a smart sea was running, and, I must own, the _Saratoga_
+was rolling abominably.
+
+"A very good morning to you, my dear sir," my cabin mate said, with an
+air of enjoyment his pallid face belied, as I entered the berth. "Pray
+how do you feel to-day?"
+
+"In first-class form, and as hungry as a hunter."
+
+He laid himself back on his pillow with a remark that sounded very much
+like "Oh dear," and thereafter I was suffered to shave and complete my
+toilet in silence. Having done so I put on my cap and went on deck.
+
+It was indeed a glorious morning; bright sunshine streamed upon the
+decks, the sea was a perfect blue, and so clear was the air that, miles
+distant though it was from us, the Italian coast-line could be plainly
+discerned above the port bulwarks. By this time I had cross-examined the
+chief steward, and satisfied myself that Nikola was not aboard. His
+absence puzzled me considerably. Was it possible that I could have been
+mistaken in the whole affair, and that Baxter's motives were honest
+after all? But in that case why had Nikola drugged me? And why had he
+warned me against sailing in the _Saratoga_? The better to think it out
+I set myself for a vigorous tramp round the hurricane deck, and was
+still revolving the matter in my mind, when, on turning the corner by
+the smoking-room entrance, I found myself face to face with Baxter
+himself. As soon as he saw me, he came smiling towards me, holding out
+his hand.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Hatteras," he said briskly; "what a delightful
+morning it is, to be sure. You cannot tell how much I am enjoying it.
+The sea air seems to have made a new man of me already."
+
+"I am glad to hear it. And pray how is your charge?" I asked, more
+puzzled than ever by this display of affability.
+
+"Not at all well, I am sorry to say."
+
+"Not well? You don't surely mean to say that he is sea-sick?"
+
+"I'm sorry to say I do. He was perfectly well until he got out of his
+bunk half an hour ago. Then a sudden, but violent, fit of nausea seized
+him, and drove him back to bed again."
+
+"I am very sorry to hear it, I hope he will be better soon. He would
+have been one of the last men I should have expected to be bowled over.
+Are you coming for a turn round?"
+
+"I shall feel honoured," he answered, and thereupon we set off, step for
+step, for a constitutional round the deck. By the time we had finished
+it was nine o'clock, and the saloon gong had sounded for breakfast.
+
+The meal over, I repaired to the Marquis's cabin, and having knocked,
+was bidden enter. I found my lord in bed, retching violently; his
+complexion was the colour of zinc, his hands were cold and clammy, and
+after every spasm his face streamed with perspiration.
+
+"I am indeed sorry to see you like this," I said, bending over him. "How
+do you feel now?"
+
+"Very bad, indeed!" he answered, with a groan. "I cannot understand it
+at all. Before I got out of bed this morning I felt as well as possible.
+Then Mr. Baxter was kind enough to bring me a cup of coffee, and within
+five minutes of drinking it, I was obliged to go back to bed feeling
+hopelessly sick and miserable."
+
+"Well, you must try and get round as soon as you can, and come on deck;
+there's a splendid breeze blowing, and you'll find that will clear the
+sickness out of you before you know where you are."
+
+But his only reply was another awful fit of sickness, that made as if it
+would tear his chest asunder. While he was under the influence of it,
+his tutor entered, and set about ministering to him with a care and
+fatherly tenderness that even deceived me. I can see things more plainly
+now, on looking back at them, than I could then, but I must own that
+Baxter's behaviour towards the boy that morning was of a kind that would
+have hoodwinked the very Master of All Lies himself. I could easily
+understand now how this man had come to have such an influence over the
+kindly-natured Duke of Glenbarth, who, when all was said and done, could
+have had but small experience of men of Baxter's type.
+
+Seeing that, instead of helping, I was only in the way, I expressed a
+hope that the patient would soon be himself again, and returned to the
+deck.
+
+Luncheon came, and still Lord Beckenham was unable to leave his berth.
+In the evening he was no better. The following morning he was, if
+anything, stronger; but towards mid-day, just as he was thinking of
+getting up, his nausea returned upon him, and he was obliged to postpone
+the attempt. On Wednesday there was no improvement, and, indeed, it was
+not until Thursday afternoon, when the low-lying coast of Port Said was
+showing above the sea-line, that he felt in any way fit to leave his
+bunk. In all my experience of sea-sickness I had never known a more
+extraordinary case.
+
+It was almost dark before we dropped our anchor off the town, and as
+soon as we were at a standstill I went below to my friend's cabin. He
+was sitting on the locker fully dressed.
+
+"Port Said," I announced. "Now, how do you feel about going ashore?
+Personally, I don't think you had better try it."
+
+"Oh! but I want to go. I have been looking forward to it so much. I am
+much stronger than I was, believe me, and Mr. Baxter doesn't think it
+could possibly hurt me."
+
+"If you don't tire yourself too much," that gentleman put in.
+
+"Very well, then," I said. "In that case I'm your man. There are plenty
+of boats alongside, so we'll have no difficulty about getting there.
+Won't you come, too, Mr. Baxter?"
+
+"I think not, thank you," he answered. "Port Said is not a place of
+which I am very fond."
+
+"In that case I think we had better be going," I said, turning to his
+lordship.
+
+We made our way on deck, and, after a little chaffering, secured a boat,
+in which we were pulled ashore. Having arrived there, we were
+immediately beset by the usual crowd of beggars and donkey boys, but,
+withstanding their importunities, we turned into the Rue de Commerce and
+made our way inland. To my companion the crowded streets, the diversity
+of nationalities and costume, and the strange variety of shops and
+wares, were matters of absorbing interest. This will be the better
+understood when it is remembered that, poor though Port Said is in
+orientalism, it was nevertheless the first Eastern port he had
+encountered. We had both a few purchases to make, and this business
+satisfactorily accomplished, we started off to see the sights.
+
+Passing out of the Rue de Commerce, our attention was attracted by a
+lame young beggar who, leaning on his crutches, blocked our way while he
+recited his dismal catalogue of woes. Our guide bade him be off, and
+indeed I was not sorry to be rid of him, but I could see, by glancing at
+his face, that my companion had taken his case more seriously. In fact,
+we had not proceeded more than twenty yards before he asked me to wait a
+moment for him, and taking to his heels ran back to the spot where we
+had left him. When he rejoined us I said:--"You don't mean to say that
+you gave that rascal money?"
+
+"Only half a sovereign," he answered. "Perhaps you didn't hear the
+pitiful story he told us? His father is dead, and now, if it were not
+for his begging, his mother and five young sisters would all be
+starving."
+
+I asked our guide if he knew the man, and whether his tale were true.
+
+"No, monsieur," he replied promptly, "it is all one big lie. His father
+is in the jail, and, if she had her rights, his mother would be there
+too."
+
+Not another word was said on the subject, but I could see that the boy's
+generous heart had been hurt. How little he guessed the effect that
+outburst of generosity was to have upon us later on!
+
+At our guide's suggestion, we passed from the commercial, through the
+European quarter, to a large mosque situated in Arab Town. It was a long
+walk, but we were promised that we should see something there that would
+amply compensate us for any trouble we might be put to to reach it. This
+turned out to be the case, but hardly in the fashion he had predicted.
+
+The mosque was certainly a fine building, and at the time of our visit
+was thronged with worshippers. They knelt in two long lines, reaching
+from end to end, their feet were bare, and their heads turned towards
+the east. By our guide's instructions we removed our boots at the
+entrance, but fortunately took the precaution of carrying them into the
+building with us. From the main hall we passed into a smaller one, where
+a number of Egyptian standards, relics of the war of '82, were unrolled
+for our inspection. While we were examining them, our guide, who had for
+a moment left us, returned with a scared face to inform us that there
+were a number of English tourists in the mosque who had refused to take
+their boots off, and were evidently bent on making trouble. As he spoke
+the ominous hum of angry voices drifted in to us, increasing in volume
+as we listened. Our guide pricked up his ears and looked anxiously at
+the door.
+
+"There will be trouble directly," he said solemnly, "if those young men
+do not behave themselves. If messieurs will be guided by me, they will
+be going. I can show them a backway out."
+
+For a moment I felt inclined to follow his advice, but Beckenham's next
+speech decided me to stay.
+
+"You will not go away and leave those stupid fellows to be killed?" he
+said, moving towards the door into the mosque proper. "However foolish
+they may have been, they are still our countrymen, and whatever happens
+we ought to stand by them."
+
+"If you think so, of course we will, but remember it may cost us our
+lives. You still want to stay? Very good, then, come along, but stick
+close to me."
+
+We left the small ante-room, in which we had been examining the flags,
+and passed back into the main hall. Here an extraordinary scene
+presented itself.
+
+In the furthest corner, completely hemmed in by a crowd of furious
+Arabs, were three young Englishmen, whose faces plainly showed how well
+they understood the dangerous position into which their own impudence
+and folly had enticed them.
+
+Elbowing our way through the crowd, we reached their side, and
+immediately called upon them to push their way towards the big doors;
+but before this man[oe]uvre could be executed, some one had given an
+order in Arabic, and we were all borne back against the wall.
+
+"There is no help for it!" I cried to the biggest of the strangers. "We
+must fight our way out. Choose your men and come along."
+
+So saying, I gave the man nearest me one under the jaw to remember me
+by, which laid him on his back, and then, having room to use my arms,
+sent down another to keep him company. All this time my companions were
+not idle, and to my surprise I saw the young Marquis laying about him
+with a science that I had to own afterwards did credit to his education.
+Our assailants evidently did not expect to meet with this resistance,
+for they gave way and began to back towards the door. One or two of them
+drew knives, but the space was too cramped for them to do much harm with
+them.
+
+"One more rush," I cried, "and we'll turn them out."
+
+We made the rush, and next moment the doors were closed and barred on
+the last of them. This done, we paused to consider our position. True we
+had driven the enemy from the citadel, but then, unless we could find a
+means of escape, we ourselves were equally prisoners in it. What was to
+be done?
+
+Leaving three of our party to guard the doors, the remainder searched
+the adjoining rooms for a means of escape; but though we were
+unsuccessful in our attempt to find an exit, we did what was the next
+best thing to do, discovered our cowardly guide in a corner, skulking in
+a curious sort of cupboard.
+
+By the time we had proved to him that the enemy were really driven out,
+and that we had possession of the mosque, he recovered his wits a
+little, and managed, after hearing our promise to throw him to the mob
+outside unless he discovered a means of escape for us, to cudgel his
+brains and announce that he knew of one.
+
+No sooner did we hear this, than we resolved to profit by it. The mob
+outside was growing every moment more impatient, and from the clang of
+steel-shod rifle butts on the stone steps we came to the conclusion that
+the services of a force of soldiery had been called in. The situation
+was critical, and twice imperious demands were made upon us to open the
+door. But, as may be supposed, this we did not feel inclined to do.
+
+"Now, for your way out," I said, taking our trembling guide, whose face
+seemed to blanch whiter and whiter with every knock upon the door, by
+the shoulders, and giving him a preliminary shake. "Mind what you're
+about, and remember, if you lead us into any trap, I'll wring your
+miserable neck, assure as you're alive. Go ahead."
+
+Collecting our boots and shoes, which, throughout the tumult, had been
+lying scattered about upon the floor, we passed into the ante-room, and
+put them on. Then creeping softly out by another door, we reached a
+small courtyard in the rear, surrounded on all sides by high walls. Our
+way, so our guide informed us, lay over one of these. But how we were to
+surmount them was a puzzle, for the lowest scaling place was at least
+twelve feet high. However, the business had to be done, and, what was
+more to the point, done quickly.
+
+Calling the strongest of the tourists, who were by this time all quite
+sober, to my side, I bade him stoop down as if he were playing
+leap-frog; then, mounting his back myself, I stood upright, and
+stretched my arms above my head. To my delight my fingers reached to
+within a few inches of the top of the wall.
+
+"Stand as steady as you can," I whispered, "for I'm going to jump."
+
+I did so, and clutched the edge. When I had pulled myself to the top I
+was so completely exhausted as to be unable to do anything for more than
+a minute. Then I whispered to another man to climb upon the first man's
+back, and stretch his hands up to mine. He did so, and I pulled him up
+beside me. The guide came next, then the other tourist, then Lord
+Beckenham. After which I took off and lowered my coat to the man who had
+stood for us all, and having done so, took a firm grip of the wall with
+my legs, and dragged him up as I had done the others. It had been a
+longer business than I liked, and every moment, while we were about it,
+I expected to hear the cries of the mob inside the mosque, and to find
+them pouring into the yard to prevent our escape. The bolts on the door,
+however, must have possessed greater strength than we gave them credit
+for. At any rate, they did not give way.
+
+When we were all safely on the wall, I asked the guide in which
+direction we should now proceed; he pointed to the adjoining roofs, and
+in Indian file, and with the stealthiness of cats, we accordingly crept
+across them.
+
+The third house surmounted, we found ourselves overlooking a narrow
+alley, into which we first peered carefully, and, having discovered that
+no one was about, eventually dropped.
+
+"Now," said the guide, as soon as we were down, "we must run along here,
+and turn to the left."
+
+We did so, to find ourselves in a broader street, which eventually
+brought us out into the thoroughfare through which we had passed to
+reach the mosque.
+
+Having got our bearings now, we headed for the harbour, or at least for
+that part of the town with which I was best acquainted, as fast as our
+legs would carry us. But, startling as they had been, we had not yet
+done with adventures for the night.
+
+Once in the security of the gaslit streets, we said good-bye to the men
+who had got us into all the trouble, and having come to terms with our
+guide, packed him off and proceeded upon our way alone.
+
+Five minutes later the streaming lights of an open doorway brought us to
+a standstill, and one glance told us we were looking into the Casino.
+The noise of the roulette tables greeted our ears, and as we had still
+plenty of time, and my companion was not tired, I thought it a good
+opportunity to show him another phase of the seamy side of life.
+
+But before I say anything about that I must chronicle a curious
+circumstance. As we were entering the building, something made me look
+round. To my intense astonishment I saw, or believed I saw, Dr. Nikola
+standing in the street, regarding me. Bidding my companion remain where
+he was for a moment, I dashed out again and ran towards the place where
+I had seen the figure. But I was too late. If it were Dr. Nikola, he had
+vanished as suddenly as he had come. I hunted here, there, and
+everywhere, in doorways, under verandahs, and down lanes, but it was no
+use, not a trace of him could I discover. So abandoning my search, I
+returned to the Casino. Beckenham was waiting for me, and together we
+entered the building.
+
+The room was packed, and consequently all the tables were crowded, but
+as we did not intend playing, this was a matter of small concern to us.
+We were more interested in the players than the game. And, indeed, the
+expressions on the faces around us were extraordinary. The effect on the
+young man by my side was peculiar. He looked from face to face, as if he
+were observing the peculiarities of some strange animals. I watched him,
+and then I saw his expression suddenly change.
+
+Following the direction of his eyes, I observed a young man putting down
+his stake upon the board. His face was hidden from me, but by taking a
+step to the right I could command it. It was none other than the young
+cripple who had represented his parents to be in such poverty-stricken
+circumstances; the same young man whom Beckenham had assisted so
+generously only two hours before. As we looked, he staked his last coin,
+and that being lost, turned to leave the building. To do this, it was
+necessary that he should pass close by where we stood. Then his eyes met
+those of his benefactor, and with a look of what might almost have been
+shame upon his face, he slunk down the steps and from the building.
+
+"Come, let us get out of this place," cried my companion impatiently, "I
+believe I should go mad if I stayed here long."
+
+Thereupon we passed out into the street, and without further ado
+proceeded in the direction in which I imagined the _Saratoga_ to lie. A
+youth requested, in broken English, to be permitted the honour of
+piloting us, but feeling confident of being able to find my way I
+declined his services. For fully a quarter of an hour we plodded on,
+until I began to wonder why the harbour did not heave in sight. It was a
+queer part of the town we found ourselves in; the houses were
+perceptibly meaner and the streets narrower. At last I felt bound to
+confess that I was out of my reckoning, and did not know where we were.
+
+"What are we to do?" asked my lord, looking at his watch. "It's twenty
+minutes to eleven, and I promised Mr. Baxter I would not be later than
+the hour."
+
+"What an idiot I was not to take that guide!"
+
+The words were hardly out of my mouth before that personage appeared
+round the corner and came towards us. I hailed his coming with too much
+delight to notice the expression of malignant satisfaction on his face,
+and gave him the name of the vessel we desired to find. He appeared to
+understand, and the next moment we were marching off in an exactly
+contrary direction.
+
+We must have walked for at least ten minutes without speaking a word.
+
+From one small and dirty street we turned into another and broader one.
+By this time not a soul was to be seen, only a vagrant dog or two lying
+asleep in the road. In this portion of the town gas lamps were at a
+discount, consequently more than half the streets lay in deep shadow.
+Our guide walked ahead, we followed half-a-dozen paces or so behind him.
+I remember noticing a Greek cognomen upon a sign board, and recalling a
+similar name in Thursday Island, when something very much resembling a
+thin cord touched my nose and fell over my chin. Before I could put my
+hand up to it it had begun to tighten round my throat. Just at the same
+moment I heard my companion utter a sharp cry, and after that I remember
+no more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+OUR IMPRISONMENT AND ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE
+
+
+For what length of time I lay unconscious after hearing Beckenham's cry,
+and feeling the cord tighten round my throat, as narrated in the
+preceding chapter, I have not the remotest idea; I only know that when
+my senses returned to me again I found myself in complete darkness. The
+cord was gone from my neck, it is true, but something was still
+encircling it in a highly unpleasant fashion. On putting my hand up to
+it, to my intense astonishment, I discovered it to be a collar of iron,
+padlocked at the side, and communicating with a wall at the back by
+means of a stout chain fixed in a ring, which again was attached to a
+swivel.
+
+This ominous discovery set me hunting about to find out where I was, and
+for a clue as to what these things might mean. That I was in a room was
+evident from the fact that, by putting my hands behind me, I could touch
+two walls forming a corner. But in what part of the town such room might
+be was beyond my telling. One thing was evident, however, the walls were
+of brick, unplastered and quite innocent of paper.
+
+As not a ray of light relieved the darkness I put my hand into my ticket
+pocket, where I was accustomed to carry matches, and finding that my
+captors had not deprived me of them, lit one and looked about me. It was
+a dismal scene that little gleam illumined. The room in which I was
+confined was a small one, being only about ten feet long by eight wide,
+while, if I had been able to stand upright, I might have raised my hand
+to within two or three inches of the ceiling. In the furthest left-hand
+corner was a door, while in the wall on the right, but hopelessly beyond
+my reach, was a low window almost completely boarded up. I had no
+opportunity of seeing more, for by the time I had realized these facts
+the match had burnt down to my fingers. I blew it out and hastened to
+light another.
+
+Just as I did so a low moan reached my ear. It came from the further end
+of the room. Again I held the match aloft; this time to discover a
+huddled-up figure in the corner opposite the door. One glance at it told
+me that it was none other than my young friend the Marquis of Beckenham.
+He was evidently still unconscious, for though I called him twice by
+name, he did not answer, but continued in the same position, moaning
+softly as before. I had only time for a hurried glance at him before my
+last match burned down to my fingers, and had to be extinguished. With
+the departure of the light a return of faintness seized me, and I fell
+back into my corner, if not quite insensible, certainly unconscious of
+the immediate awkwardness of our position.
+
+It was daylight when my power of thinking returned to me, and long
+shafts of sunshine were percolating into us through the chinks in the
+boards upon the window. To my dismay the room looked even smaller and
+dingier than when I had examined it by the light of my match some hours
+before. The young Marquis lay unconscious in his corner just as I had
+last seen him, but with the widening light I discovered that his curious
+posture was due more to extraneous circumstances than to his own
+weakness, for I could see that he was fastened to the wall by a similar
+collar to my own.
+
+I took out my watch, which had not been taken from me as I might have
+expected, and examined the dial. It wanted five minutes of six o'clock.
+So putting it back into my pocket, I set myself for the second time to
+try and discover where we were. By reason of my position and the chain
+that bound me, this could only be done by listening, so I shut my eyes
+and put all my being into my ears. For some moments no sound rewarded my
+attention. Then a cock in a neighbouring yard on my right crowed
+lustily, a dog on my left barked, and a moment later I heard the faint
+sound of some one coming along the street. The pedestrian, whoever he
+might be, was approaching from the right hand, and, what was still more
+important, my trained ear informed me that he was lame of one leg, and
+walked with crutches. Closer and closer he came. But to my surprise he
+did not pass the window; indeed, I noticed that when he came level with
+it the sound was completely lost to me. This told me two things: one,
+that the window, which was boarded up, did not look into the main
+thoroughfare; the other, that the street itself ran along on the far
+side of the very wall to which my chain was attached.
+
+As I arrived at the knowledge of this fact, Beckenham opened his eyes;
+he sat up as well as his chain would permit, and gazed about him in a
+dazed fashion. Then his right hand went up to the iron collar enclosing
+his neck, and when he had realized what it meant he appeared even more
+mystified than before. He seemed to doze again for a minute or so, then
+his eyes opened, and as they did so they fell upon me, and his
+perplexity found relief in words.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said, in a voice like that of a man talking in his
+sleep, "where are we and what on earth does this chain mean?"
+
+"You ask me something that I want to know myself," I answered. "I cannot
+tell you where we are, except that we are in Port Said. But if you want
+to know what I think it means, well, I think it means treachery. How do
+you feel now?"
+
+"Very sick indeed, and my head aches horribly. But I can't understand it
+at all. What do you mean by saying that it is treachery?"
+
+This was the one question of all others I had been dreading, for I could
+not help feeling that when all was said and done I was bitterly to
+blame. However, unpleasant or not, the explanation had to be got
+through, and without delay.
+
+"Lord Beckenham," I began, sitting upright and clasping my hands round
+my knees, "this is a pretty bad business for me. I haven't the
+reputation of being a coward, but I'll own I feel pretty rocky and mean
+when I see you sitting there on the floor with that iron collar round
+your neck and that chain holding you to the wall, and know that it's, in
+a measure, all my stupid, blundering folly that has brought it about."
+
+"Oh, don't say that, Mr. Hatteras!" was the young man's generous reply.
+"For whatever or whoever may be to blame for it, I'm sure you're not."
+
+"That's because you don't know everything, my lord. Wait till you have
+heard what I have to tell you before you give me such complete
+absolution."
+
+"I'm not going to blame you whatever you may tell me; but please go on!"
+
+There and then I set to work and told him all that had happened to me
+since my arrival in London; informed him of my meeting with Nikola, of
+Wetherell's hasty departure for Australia, of my distrust for Baxter,
+described the telegram incident and Baxter's curious behaviour
+afterwards, narrated my subsequent meeting with the two men in the
+_Green Sailor Hotel_, described my journey to Plymouth, and finished
+with the catastrophe that had happened to me there.
+
+"Now you see," I said in conclusion, "why I regard myself as being so
+much to blame."
+
+"Excuse me," he answered, "but I cannot say that I see it in the same
+light at all."
+
+"I'm afraid I must be more explicit then. In the first place you must
+understand that, without a shadow of a doubt, Baxter was chosen for your
+tutor by Nikola, whose agent he undoubtedly is, for a specific purpose.
+Now what do you think that purpose was? You don't know? To induce your
+father to let you travel, to be sure. You ask why they should want you
+to travel? We'll come to that directly. Their plan is succeeding
+admirably, when I come upon the scene and, like the great blundering
+idiot I am, must needs set to work unconsciously to assist them in their
+nefarious designs. Your father eventually consents, and it is arranged
+that you shall set off for Australia at once. Then it is discovered that
+I am going to leave in the same boat. This does not suit Nikola's plans
+at all, so he determines to prevent my sailing with you. By a happy
+chance he is unsuccessful, and I follow and join the boat in Naples.
+Good gracious! I see something else now."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"Simply this. I could not help thinking at the time that your bout of
+sea-sickness between Naples and this infernal place was extraordinary.
+Well, if I'm not very much mistaken, _you were physicked, and it was
+Baxter's doing_."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"Ah! That's yet to be discovered. But you may bet your bottom dollar it
+was some part of their devilish conspiracy. I'm as certain of that as
+that we are here now. Now here's another point. Do you remember my
+running out of the Casino last night? Well, that was because I saw
+Nikola standing in the roadway."
+
+"Are you certain? How could he have got here? And what could his reasons
+be for watching us?"
+
+"Why, can't you see? To find out how his plot is succeeding, to be
+sure."
+
+"And that brings us back to our original question--what is that plot?"
+
+"That's rather more difficult to answer! But if you ask my candid
+opinion I should say nothing more nor less than to make you prisoner and
+blackmail your father for a ransom."
+
+For some few minutes neither of us spoke. The outlook seemed too
+hopeless for words, and the Marquis was still too weak to keep up an
+animated conversation for any length of time. He sat leaning his head on
+his hand. But presently he looked up again. "My poor father!" he said.
+"What a state he will be in!"
+
+"And what worries me more," I answered, "is how he will regret ever
+having listened to my advice. What a dolt I was not to have told him of
+my suspicions."
+
+"You must not blame yourself for that. I am sure my father would hold
+you as innocent as I do. Now let us consider our position. In the first
+place, where are we, do you think? In the second, is there any possible
+chance of escape?"
+
+"To the first my answer is, 'don't know'; to the second, 'can't say.' I
+have discovered one thing, however, and that is that the street does not
+lie outside that window, but runs along on the other side of this wall
+behind me. The window, I suspect, looks out on to some sort of a
+courtyard. But unfortunately that information is not much use to us, as
+we can neither of us move away from where we are placed."
+
+"Is there no other way?"
+
+"Not one, as far as I can tell. Can you see anything on your side?"
+
+"Nothing at all, unless we could get at the door. But what's that
+sticking out of the wall near your feet?"
+
+To get a better view of it I stooped as much as I was able. "It looks
+like a pipe."
+
+The end of a pipe it certainly was, and sticking out into the room, but
+where it led to, and why it had been cut off in this peculiar fashion,
+were two questions I could no more answer than I could fly.
+
+"Does it run out into the street, do you think?" was Beckenham's
+immediate query. "If so, you might manage to call through it to some
+passer-by, and ask him to obtain assistance for us!"
+
+"A splendid notion if I could get my mouth anywhere within a foot of it,
+but as this chain will not permit me to do that, it might as well be a
+hundred miles off. It's as much as I can do to touch it with my
+fingers."
+
+"Do you think if you had a stick you could push a piece of paper
+through? We might write a message."
+
+"Possibly, but there's another drawback to that. I haven't the necessary
+piece of stick."
+
+"Here is a stiff piece of straw; try that."
+
+He harpooned a piece of straw, about eight inches long, across the room
+towards me, and, when I had received it, I thrust it carefully into the
+pipe. A disappointment, however, was in store for us.
+
+"It's no use," I reported sorrowfully, as I threw the straw away. "It
+has an elbow half-way down, and that would prevent any message from
+being pushed through."
+
+"Then we must try to discover some other plan. Don't lose heart!"
+
+"Hush! I hear somebody coming."
+
+True enough a heavy footfall was approaching down the passage. It
+stopped at the door of the room in which we were confined, and a key was
+inserted in the lock. Next moment the door swung open and a tall man
+entered the room. A ray of sunlight, penetrating between the boards that
+covered the window, fell upon him, and showed us that his hair was white
+and that his face was deeply pitted with smallpox marks. Now, where had
+I met or heard of a man with those two peculiarities before? Ah! I
+remembered!
+
+He stood for a moment in the doorway looking about him, and then
+strolled into the centre of the room.
+
+"Good-morning, gentlemen," he said, with an airy condescension that
+stung like an insult; "I trust you have no fault to find with the
+lodging our poor hospitality is able to afford you."
+
+"Mr. Prendergast," I answered, determined to try him with the name of
+the man mentioned by my sweetheart in her letter. "What does this mean?
+Why have we been made prisoners like this? I demand to be released at
+once. You will have to answer to our consul for this detention."
+
+For a brief space he appeared to be dumbfounded by my knowledge of his
+name. But he soon recovered himself and leaned his back against the
+wall, looking us both carefully over before he answered.
+
+"I shall be only too pleased," he said sneeringly, "but if you'll allow
+me to say so, I don't think we need trouble about explanations yet
+awhile."
+
+"Pray, what do you mean by that?"
+
+"Exactly what I say; as you are likely to be our guests for some
+considerable time to come, there will be no need for explanation."
+
+"You mean to keep us prisoners, then, do you? Very well, Mr.
+Prendergast, be assured of this, when I _do_ get loose I'll make you
+feel the weight of my arm."
+
+"I think it's very probable there will be a fight if ever we do meet,"
+he answered, coolly taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
+"And it's my impression you'd be a man worth fighting, Mr. Hatteras."
+
+"If you think my father will let me remain here very long you're much
+mistaken," said Beckenham. "And as for the ransom you expect him to pay,
+I don't somehow fancy you'll get a halfpenny."
+
+At the mention of the word "ransom" I noticed that a new and queer
+expression came into our captor's face. He did not reply, however,
+except to utter his usual irritating laugh. Having done so he went to
+the door and called something in Arabic. In answer a gigantic negro made
+his appearance, bearing in his hands a tray on which were set two basins
+of food and two large mugs of water. These were placed before us, and
+Prendergast bade us, if we were hungry, fall to.
+
+"You must not imagine that we wish to starve you," he said. "Food will
+be served to you twice a day. And if you want it, you can even be
+supplied with spirits and tobacco. Now, before I go, one word of advice.
+Don't indulge in any idea of escape. Communication with the outside
+world is absolutely impossible, and you will find that those collars and
+chains will stand a good strain before they will give way. If you behave
+yourselves you will be well looked after; but if you attempt any larks
+you will be confined in different rooms, and there will be a radical
+change in our behaviour."
+
+So saying he left the room, taking the precaution to lock the door
+carefully behind him.
+
+When we were once more alone, a long silence fell upon us. It would be
+idle for me to say that the generous behaviour of the young Marquis with
+regard to my share in this wretched business had set my mind at rest.
+But if it had not done that it had at least served to intensify another
+resolution. Come what might, I told myself, I would find a way of
+escape, and he should be returned to his father safe and sound, if it
+cost me my life to do it. But how _were_, we to escape? We could not
+move from our places on account of the chains that secured us to the
+walls, and, though I put all my whole strength into it, I found I could
+not dislodge the staple a hundredth part of an inch from its
+holding-place.
+
+The morning wore slowly on, mid-day came and went, the afternoon dragged
+its dismal length, and still there was no change in our position.
+Towards sundown the same gigantic negro entered the room again, bringing
+us our evening meal. When he left we were locked up for the night, with
+only the contemplation of our woes, and the companionship of the
+multitudes of mice that scampered about the floor, to enliven us.
+
+The events of the next seven days are hardly worth chronicling, unless
+it is to state that every morning at daylight the same cock crew and the
+same dog barked, while at six o'clock the same cripple invariably made
+his way down the street behind me. At eight o'clock almost to the
+minute, breakfast was served to us, and, just as punctually, the evening
+meal made its appearance as the sun was declining behind the opposite
+house-top. Not again did we see any sign of Mr. Prendergast, and though
+times out of number I tugged at my chain I was never a whit nearer
+loosening it than I had been on the first occasion. One after another
+plans of escape were proposed, discussed, and invariably rejected as
+impracticable. So another week passed and another, until we had been
+imprisoned in that loathsome place not less than twenty days. By the end
+of that time, as may be supposed, we were as desperate as men could well
+be. I must, however, admit that anything like the patience and pluck of
+my companion under such circumstances I had never in my life met with
+before.
+
+One fact had repeatedly struck me as significant, and that was the
+circumstance that every morning between six and half-past, as already
+narrated, the same cripple went down the street; and in connexion with
+this, within the last few days of the time, a curious coincidence had
+revealed itself to me. From the tapping of his crutches on the stones I
+discovered that while one was shod with iron, the other was not. Now
+where and when had I noticed that peculiarity in a cripple before? That
+I had observed it somewhere I felt certain. For nearly half the day I
+turned this over and over in my mind, and then, in the middle of our
+evening meal, enlightenment came to me. I remembered the man whose
+piteous tale had so much affected Beckenham on the day of our arrival,
+and the sound his crutches made upon the pavement as he left us. If my
+surmise proved correct, and we could only manage to communicate with
+him, here was a golden opportunity. But how were we to do this? We
+discussed it, and discussed it, times out of number, but in vain. That
+he must be stopped on his way down the street need not to be argued at
+all. In what way, however, could this be done? The window was out of the
+question, the door was not to be thought of; in that case the only
+communicating place would be the small pipe by my side. But as I have
+already pointed out, by reason of the elbow it would be clearly
+impossible to force a message through it. All day we devoted ourselves
+to attempts to solve what seemed a hopeless difficulty. Then like a
+flash a brilliant inspiration burst upon me.
+
+"By Jove, I have it!" I said, taking care to whisper lest any one might
+be listening at the door. "We must manage by hook or crook to catch a
+mouse _and let him carry our appeal for help to the outside world_."
+
+"A magnificent idea! If we can catch one I do believe you've saved us!"
+
+But to catch a mouse was easier said than done. Though the room was
+alive with them they were so nimble and so cunning, that, try how we
+would, we could not lay hold of one. But at length my efforts were
+rewarded, and after a little struggle I held my precious captive in my
+hand. By this time another idea had come to me. If we wanted to bring
+Nikola and his gang to justice, and to discover their reason for
+hatching this plot against us, it would not do to ask the public at
+large for help--and I must own, in spite of our long imprisonment, I was
+weak enough to feel a curiosity as to their motive. No! It must be to
+the beggar who passed the house every morning that we must appeal.
+
+"This letter concerns you more than me," I said to my fellow-prisoner.
+"Have you a lead pencil in your pocket?"
+
+He had, and immediately threw it across to me. Then, taking a small
+piece of paper from my pocket, I set myself to compose the following in
+French and English, assisted by my companion:--
+
+"If this should meet the eye of the individual to whom a young
+Englishman gave half a sovereign in charity three weeks ago, he is
+implored to assist one who assisted him, and who has been imprisoned
+ever since that day in the room with the blank wall facing the street
+and the boarded-up window on the right-hand side. To do this he must
+obtain a small file and discover a way to convey it into the room by
+means of the small pipe leading through the blank wall into the street;
+perhaps if this could be dislodged it might be pushed in through the
+aperture thus made. On receipt of the file an English five-pound note
+will be conveyed to him in the same way as this letter, and another if
+secrecy is observed and those in the house escape."
+
+This important epistle had hardly been concocted before the door was
+unlocked and our dusky servitor entered with the evening meal. He had
+long since abandoned his first habit of bringing us our food in separate
+receptacles, but conveyed it to us now in the saucepan in which it was
+cooked, dividing it thence into our basins. These latter, it may be
+interesting to state, had not been washed since our arrival.
+
+All the time that our jailer was in the room I held my trembling
+prisoner in my hand, clinging to him as to the one thing which connected
+us with liberty. But the door had no sooner closed upon him than I had
+tilted out my food upon the floor and converted my basin into a trap.
+
+It may be guessed how long that night seemed to us, and with what
+trembling eagerness we awaited the first signs of breaking day. Directly
+it was light I took off and unravelled one of my socks. The thread thus
+obtained I doubled, and having done this, secured one end of it to the
+note, which I had rolled into a small compass, attaching the other to my
+captive mouse's hind leg. Then we set ourselves to wait for six o'clock.
+The hour came; and minute after minute went by before we heard in the
+distance the tapping of the crutches on the stones. Little by little the
+sound grew louder, and then fainter, and when I judged he was nearly at
+my back, I stooped and thrust our curious messenger into the pipe. Then
+we sat down to await the result.
+
+As the mouse, only too glad to escape, ran into the aperture, the
+thread, on which our very lives depended, swiftly followed, dragging its
+message after it. Minutes went by; half an hour; an hour; and then the
+remainder of the day; and still nothing came to tell us that our appeal
+had been successful.
+
+That night I caught another mouse, wrote the letter again, and at six
+o'clock next morning once more despatched it on its journey. Another day
+went by without reply. That night we caught another, and at six-o'clock
+next morning sent it off; a third, and even a fourth, followed, but
+still without success. By this time the mice were almost impossible to
+catch, but our wits were sharpened by despair, and we managed to hit
+upon a method that eventually secured for us a plentiful supply. For the
+sixth time the letter was written and despatched at the moment the
+footsteps were coming down the street. Once more the tiny animal crawled
+into the pipe, and once more the message disappeared upon its journey.
+
+Another day was spent in anxious waiting, but this time we were not
+destined to be disappointed. About eight o'clock that night, just as we
+were giving up hope, I detected a faint noise near my feet; it was for
+all the world as if some one were forcing a stick through a hole in a
+brick wall. I informed Beckenham of the fact in a whisper, and then put
+my head down to listen. Yes, there was the sound again. Oh, if only I
+had a match! But it was no use wishing for what was impossible, so I put
+my hand down to the pipe. _It was moving!_ It turned in my hand, moved
+to and fro for a brief space and then disappeared from my grasp
+entirely; next moment it had left the room. A few seconds later
+something cold was thrust into my hand, _and from its rough edge I knew
+it to be a file_. I drew it out as if it were made of gold and thrust it
+into my pocket. A piece of string was attached to it, and the reason of
+this I was at first at some loss to account for. But a moment's
+reflection told me that it was to assist in the fulfilment of our share
+of the bargain. So, taking a five-pound note from the secret pocket in
+which I carried my paper money, I tied the string to it, and it was
+instantly withdrawn. A minute could not have elapsed before I was at
+work upon the staple of my collar, and in less than half an hour it was
+filed through and the iron was off my neck.
+
+If I tried for a year I could not make you understand what a relief it
+was to me to stand upright. I stretched myself again and again, and then
+crossed the room on tip-toe in the dark to where the Marquis lay.
+
+"You are free," he whispered, clutching and shaking my hand. "Oh, thank
+God!"
+
+"Hush! Put down your head and let me get to work upon your collar before
+you say anything more."
+
+As I was able this time to get at my work standing up, it was not very
+long before Beckenham was as free as I was. He rose to his feet with a
+great sigh of relief, and we shook hands warmly in the dark.
+
+"Now," I said, leading him towards the door, "we will make our escape,
+and I pity the man who attempts to stop us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+DR. NIKOLA PERMITS US A FREE PASSAGE
+
+
+The old saying, "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched," is
+as good a warning as any I know. For if we had not been so completely
+occupied filing through the staples of our collars we should not have
+omitted to take into consideration the fact that, even when we should
+have removed the chains that bound us, we would still be prisoners in
+the room. I'm very much afraid, however, even had we remembered this
+point, we should only have considered it of minor importance and one to
+be easily overcome. As it was, the unwelcome fact remained that the door
+_was_ locked, and, what was worse, that the lock itself had, for
+security's sake, been placed on the outside, so that there was no chance
+of our being able to pick it, even had our accomplishments lain in that
+direction.
+
+"Try the window," whispered Beckenham, in answer to the heavy sigh which
+followed my last discovery.
+
+Accordingly we crossed the room, and I put my hands upon one of the
+boards and pulled. But I might as well have tried to tow a troopship
+with a piece of cotton, for all the satisfactory result I got; the
+planks were trebly screwed to the window frame, and each in turn defied
+me. When I was tired Beckenham put his strength to it, but even our
+united efforts were of no avail, and, panting and exhausted, we were at
+length obliged to give it up as hopeless.
+
+"This is a pretty fix we've got ourselves into," I said as soon as I had
+recovered sufficient breath to speak. "How on earth are we to escape?"
+
+"I can't say, unless we manage to burst that door and fight our way out.
+I wonder if that could be done."
+
+"First, let's look at the door."
+
+We crossed the room again, and I examined the door carefully. It was not
+a very strong one; but I was sufficient of a carpenter to know that it
+would withstand a good deal of pressure before it would give way.
+
+"I've a good mind to try it," I said; "but in that case, remember, it
+will probably mean a hand-to-hand fight on the other side, and, unarmed
+and weak as we are, we shall be pretty sure to get the worst of it."
+
+"Never mind that," my intrepid companion replied, with a confidence in
+his voice that I was very far from feeling. "In for a penny, in for a
+pound; even if we're killed it couldn't be worse than being buried
+alive."
+
+"That's so, and if fighting's your idea, I'm your man," I answered. "Let
+me first take my bearings, and then I'll see what I can do against it.
+You get out of the way, but be sure to stand by to rush the passage
+directly the door goes."
+
+Again I felt the door and wall in order that I might be sure where it
+lay, and having done so crossed the room. My heart was beating like a
+Nasmyth hammer, and it was nearly a minute before I could pull myself
+together sufficiently for my rush. Then summoning every muscle in my
+body to my assistance, I dashed across and at it with all the strength
+my frame was capable of. Considering the darkness of the room, my
+steering was not so bad, for my shoulder caught the door just above its
+centre; there was a great crash--a noise of breaking timbers--and amid a
+shower of splinters and general _debris_ I fell headlong through into
+the passage. By the time it would have taken me to count five, Beckenham
+was beside me helping me to rise.
+
+"Now stand by for big trouble!" I said, rubbing my shoulder, and every
+moment expecting to see a door open and a crowd of Prendergast's
+ruffians come rushing out. "We shall have them on us in a minute."
+
+But to our intense astonishment it was all dead silence. Not a sound of
+any single kind, save our excited breathing, greeted our ears. We might
+have broken into an empty house for all we knew the difference.
+
+For nearly five minutes we stood, side by side, waiting for the battle
+which did not come.
+
+"What on earth does it mean?" I asked my companion. "That crash of mine
+was loud enough to wake the dead. Can they have deserted the place,
+think you, and left us to starve?"
+
+"I can't make it out any more than you can," he answered. "But don't you
+think we'd better take advantage of their not coming to find a way out?"
+
+"Of course. One of us had better creep down the passage and discover how
+the land lies. As I'm the stronger, I'll go. You wait here."
+
+I crept along the passage, treading cautiously as a cat, for I knew that
+both our lives depended on it. Though it could not have been more than
+sixty feet, it seemed of interminable length, and was as black as night.
+Not a glimmer of light, however faint, met my eyes.
+
+On and on I stole, expecting every moment to be pounced upon and seized;
+but no such fate awaited me. If, however, our jailers did not appear,
+another danger was in store for me.
+
+In the middle of my walk my feet suddenly went from under me, and I
+found myself falling I knew not where. In reality it was only a drop of
+about three feet down a short flight of steps. Such a noise as my fall
+made, however, was surely never heard, but still no sound came. Then
+Beckenham fumbled his way cautiously down the steps to my side, and
+whispered an inquiry as to what had happened. I told him in as few words
+as possible, and then struggled to my feet again.
+
+Just as I did so my eyes detected a faint glimmer of light low down on
+the floor ahead of us. From its position it evidently emanated from the
+doorway of a room.
+
+"Oh! if we only had a match," I whispered.
+
+"It's no good wishing," said Beckenham. "What do you advise?"
+
+"It's difficult to say," I answered; "but I should think we'd better
+listen at that door and try to discover if there is any one inside. If
+there is, and he is alone, we must steal in upon him, let him see that
+we are desperate, and, willy-nilly, force him to show us a way out. It's
+ten chances to one, if we go on prowling about here, we shall stumble
+upon the whole nest of them--then we'll be caught like rats in a trap.
+What do you think?"
+
+"I agree with you. Go on."
+
+Without further ado we crept towards the light, which, as I expected,
+came from under a door, and listened. Some one was plainly moving about
+inside; but though we waited for what seemed a quarter of an hour, but
+must in reality have been less than a minute and a half, we could hear
+no voices.
+
+"Whoever he is, he's alone--that's certain," whispered my companion.
+"Open the door softly, and we'll creep in upon him."
+
+In answer, and little by little, a cold shiver running down my back lest
+it should creak and so give warning to the person within, I turned the
+handle, pushed open the door, and we looked inside. Then--but, my
+gracious! if I live to be a thousand I shall never forget the sight that
+met my eyes.
+
+The room itself was a long and low one: its measurements possibly sixty
+feet by fifteen. The roof--for there was no ceiling--was of wood,
+crossed by heavy rafters, and much begrimed with dirt and smoke. The
+floor was of some highly polished wood closely resembling oak, and was
+completely bare. But the shape and construction of the room itself were
+as nothing compared with the strangeness of its furniture and occupants.
+Words would fail me if I tried to give you a true and accurate
+description of it. I only know that, strong man as I was, and used to
+the horrors of life and death, what I saw before me then made my blood
+run cold and my flesh creep as it had never done before.
+
+To begin with, round the walls were arranged, at regular intervals, more
+than a dozen enormous bottles, each of which contained what looked, to
+me, only too much like human specimens pickled in some light-coloured
+fluid resembling spirits of wine. Between these gigantic but more than
+horrible receptacles were numberless smaller ones, holding other and
+even more dreadful remains; while on pedestals and stands, bolt upright
+and reclining, were skeletons of men, monkeys, and quite a hundred sorts
+of animals. The intervening spaces were filled with skulls, bones, and
+the apparatus for every kind of murder known to the fertile brain of
+man. There were European rifles, revolvers, bayonets, and swords;
+Italian stilettos, Turkish scimitars, Greek knives, Central African
+spears and poisoned arrows, Zulu knobkerries, Afghan yataghans, Malay
+krises, Sumatra blow-pipes, Chinese dirks, New Guinea head-catching
+implements, Australian spears and boomerangs, Polynesian stone hatchets,
+and numerous other weapons the names of which I cannot now remember.
+Mixed up with them were implements for every sort of wizardry known to
+the superstitious; from old-fashioned English love charms to African Obi
+sticks, from spiritualistic planchettes to the most horrible of Fijian
+death potions.
+
+In the centre of the wall, opposite to where we stood, was a large
+fireplace of the fashion usually met with in old English manor-houses,
+and on either side of it a figure that nearly turned me sick with
+horror. That on the right hand was apparently a native of Northern
+India, if one might judge by his dress and complexion. He sat on the
+floor in a constrained attitude, accounted for by the fact that his
+head, which was at least three times too big for his body, was so heavy
+as to require an iron tripod with a ring or collar in the top of it to
+keep it from overbalancing him and bringing him to the floor. To add to
+the horror of this awful head, it was quite bald; the skin was drawn
+tensely over the bones, and upon this veins stood out as large as
+macaroni stems.
+
+On the other side of the hearth was a creature half-ape and
+half-man--the like of which I remember once to have seen in a museum of
+monstrosities in Sydney, where, if my memory serves me, he was described
+upon the catalogue as a Burmese monkey-boy. He was chained to the wall
+in somewhat the same fashion as we had been, and was chattering and
+scratching for all the world like a monkey in a Zoo.
+
+But, horrible as these things were, the greatest surprise of all was yet
+to come. For, standing at the heavy oaken table in the centre of the
+room, was a man I should have known anywhere if I had been permitted
+half a glance at him. _It was Dr. Nikola._
+
+When we entered he was busily occupied with a scalpel, dissecting an
+animal strangely resembling a monkey. On the table, and watching the
+work upon which his master was engaged, sat his constant companion, the
+same fiendish black cat I have mentioned elsewhere; while at the end
+nearest us, standing on tip-toe, the better to see what was going on,
+was an albino dwarf, scarcely more than two feet eight inches high. So
+stealthily, however, had our approach been made, and so carefully had I
+opened the door, that we were well into the room before our appearance
+was discovered, and also before I had realized into whose presence we
+had stumbled. Then my foot touched a board that creaked, and Dr. Nikola
+looked up from the work upon which he was engaged.
+
+His pale, thin face did not show the slightest sign of surprise as he
+said, in his usual placid tone,--
+
+"So you have managed to escape from your room, gentlemen. Well, and pray
+what do you want?"
+
+For a moment I was so much overcome with surprise that my tongue refused
+to perform its office. Then I said, advancing towards him as I spoke,
+closely followed by the Marquis,--
+
+"So, Dr. Nikola, we have met at last!"
+
+"At last, Mr. Hatteras, as you say," this singular being replied, still
+without showing a sign of either interest or embarrassment. "All things
+considered, I suppose you would deem me ironical if I ventured to say
+that I am pleased to see you about again. However, don't let me keep you
+standing; won't you sit down? My lord, let me offer you a chair."
+
+All this time we were edging up alongside the table, and I was making
+ready for a rush at him. But he was not to be taken off his guard. His
+extraordinary eyes had been watching me intently, taking in my every
+movement; and a curious effect they had upon me.
+
+"Dr. Nikola," I said, "the game is up. You beat me last time; but now
+you must own I come out on top. Don't utter a word or call for
+assistance--if you do you're a dead man. Now drop that knife you hold in
+your hand, and show us the way out!"
+
+The Marquis was on his right, I was on his left, and we were close upon
+him as I spoke. Still he showed no sign of fear, though he must have
+known the danger of his position. But his eyes glowed in his head like
+living coals.
+
+You will ask why we did not rush at him? Well, if I am obliged to own
+it, I must--the truth was, such was the power that emanated from this
+extraordinary man, that though we both knew the crucial moment of our
+enterprise had arrived, while his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us
+could stir an inch. When he spoke his voice seemed to cut like a knife.
+
+"So you think my game is up, Mr. Hatteras, do you? I'm afraid once more
+I must differ from you. Look behind you."
+
+I did so, and that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped.
+Leaning against the door, watching us with cruel, yet smiling eyes, was
+our old enemy Prendergast, revolver in hand. Just behind me were two
+powerful Soudanese, while near the Marquis was a man looking like a
+Greek--and a very stalwart Greek at that. Observing our discomfiture,
+Nikola seated himself in a big chair near the fireplace and folded his
+hands in the curious fashion I have before described; as he did so his
+black cat sprang to his shoulder and sat there watching us all. Dr.
+Nikola was the first to speak.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he said, with devilish clearness and deliberation, "you
+should really know me better by this time than to think you could outwit
+me so easily. Is my reputation after all so small? And, while I think of
+it, pray let me have the pleasure of returning to you your five pound
+note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers, were they
+not?" As he spoke he handed me the selfsame Bank of England note I had
+despatched through the pipe that very evening in payment for the file;
+then he shook from a box he had taken from the chimney-piece all the
+communications I had written imploring assistance from the outside
+world. To properly estimate my chagrin and astonishment would be very
+difficult. I could only sit and stare, first at the money and then at
+the letters, in blankest amazement. So we had not been rescued by the
+cripple after all. Was it possible that while we had been so busy
+arranging our escape we had in reality been all the time under the
+closest surveillance? If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
+would account for the silence with which my attack upon the door had
+been received. Now we were in an even worse position than before. I
+looked at Beckenham, but his head was down and his right hand was
+picking idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for what was
+coming next.
+
+In sheer despair I turned to Nikola. "Since you have outwitted us again,
+Dr. Nikola, do not play with us--tell us straight out what our fate is
+to be."
+
+"If it means going back to that room again," said Beckenham, in a voice
+I hardly recognized, "I would far rather die and be done with it."
+
+"Do not fear, my lord, you shall not die," Nikola said, turning to him
+with a bow. "Believe me, you will live to enjoy many happier hours than
+those you have been compelled to spend under my roof!"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+The doctor did not answer for nearly a moment; then he took what looked
+to me suspiciously like a cablegram form from his pocket and carefully
+examined it. Having done so, he said quietly,----
+
+"Gentlemen, you ask what I mean? Well, I mean this--if you wish to leave
+this house this very minute, you are free to do so on one condition!"
+
+"And that condition is?"
+
+"That you allow yourselves to be blindfolded in this room and conducted
+by my servants to the harbour side. I must furthermore ask your words of
+honour that you will not seek to remove your bandages until you are
+given permission to do so. Do you agree to this?"
+
+Needless to say we both signified our assent.
+
+This free permission to leave the house was a second surprise, and one
+for which we were totally unprepared.
+
+"Then let it be so. Believe me, my lord Marquis, and you, Mr. Hatteras,
+it is with the utmost pleasure I restore your liberty to you again!"
+
+He made a sign to Prendergast, who instantly stepped forward. But I had
+something to say before we were removed.
+
+"One word first, Dr. Nikola. You have----"
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, if you will be guided by me, you will keep a silent
+tongue in your head. Let well alone. Take warning by the proverb, and
+beware how you disturb a sleeping dog. Why I have acted as I have done
+towards you, you may some day learn; in the meantime rest assured it was
+from no idle motive. Now take me at my word, and go while you have the
+chance. I may change my mind in a moment, and then----"
+
+He stopped and did not say any more. At a sign, Prendergast clapped a
+thick bandage over my eyes, while another man did the same for
+Beckenham; a man on either side of me took my arms, and next moment we
+had passed out of the room, and before I could have counted fifty were
+in the cool air of the street.
+
+How long we were walking, after leaving the house, I could not say, but
+at last our escort called a halt. Prendergast was evidently in command,
+for he said,--
+
+"Gentlemen, before we leave you, you will renew your words of honour not
+to remove your bandages for five full minutes?"
+
+We complied with his request, and instantly our arms were released; a
+moment later we heard our captors leaving us. The minutes went slowly
+by. Presently Beckenham said,--
+
+"How long do you think we've been standing here?"
+
+"Nearly the stipulated time, I should fancy," I answered. "However, we'd
+better give them a little longer, to avoid any chance of mistake."
+
+Again a silence fell on us. Then I tore off my bandage, to find
+Beckenham doing the same.
+
+"They're gone, and we're free again," he cried. "Hurrah!"
+
+We shook hands warmly on our escape, and having done so looked about us.
+A ship's bell out in the stream chimed half an hour after midnight, and
+a precious dark night it was. A number of vessels were to be seen, and
+from the noise that came from them it was evident they were busy
+coaling.
+
+"What's to be done now?" asked Beckenham.
+
+"Find an hotel, I think," I answered; "get a good night's rest, and
+first thing in the morning hunt up our consul and the steamship
+authorities."
+
+"Come along, then. Let's look for a place. I noticed one that should
+suit us close to where we came ashore that day."
+
+Five minutes' walking brought us to the house we sought. The proprietor
+was not very fastidious, and whatever he may have thought of our
+appearances he took us in without demur. A bath and a good meal
+followed, and then after a thorough overhauling of all the details
+connected with our imprisonment we turned into bed, resolved to thrash
+it out upon the morrow.
+
+Next morning, true to our arrangement, as soon as breakfast was over, I
+set off for the steamship company's office, leaving the Marquis behind
+me at the hotel for reasons which had begun to commend themselves to me,
+and which will be quite apparent to you.
+
+I found the _Saratoga's_ agent hard at work in his private office. He
+was a tall, thin man, slightly bald, wearing a pair of heavy gold
+pince-nez, and very slow and deliberate in speech.
+
+"I beg your pardon," he began, when I had taken possession of his
+proffered chair, "but did I understand my clerk to say that your name
+was Hatteras?"
+
+"That is my name," I answered. "I was a passenger in the _Saratoga_ for
+Australia three weeks ago, but had the misfortune to be left behind when
+she sailed."
+
+"Ah! I remember the circumstances thoroughly," he said. "The young
+Marquis of Beckenham went ashore with you, I think, and came within an
+ace of being also left behind."
+
+"Within an ace!" I cried; "but he _was_ left behind."
+
+"No, no! there you are mistaken," was the astounding reply; "he _would_
+have been left behind had not his tutor and I gone ashore at the last
+moment to look for him and found him wandering about on the outskirts of
+Arab Town. I don't remember ever to have seen a man more angry than the
+tutor was, and no wonder, for they only just got out to the boat again
+as the gangway was being hauled aboard."
+
+"Then you mean to tell me that the Marquis went on to Australia after
+all!" I cried. "And pray how did this interesting young gentleman
+explain the fact of his losing sight of me?"
+
+"He lost you in a crowd, he said," the agent continued. "It was a most
+extraordinary business altogether."
+
+It certainly was, and even more extraordinary than he imagined. I could
+hardly believe my ears. The world seemed to be turned upside down. I was
+so bewildered that I stumbled out a few lame inquiries about the next
+boat sailing for Australia, and what would be done with my baggage, and
+then made my way as best I could out of the office. Hastening back to
+the hotel, I told my story from beginning to end to my astonished
+companion, who sat on his bed listening open-mouthed. When I had
+finished he said feebly,--"But what does it all mean? Tell me that! What
+does it mean?"
+
+"It means," I answered, "that our notion about Nikola's abducting us in
+order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong, and, if you ask me,
+I should say not half picturesque enough. No, no! this mystery is a
+bigger one by a hundred times than even we expected, and there are more
+men in it than those we have yet seen. It remains with you to say
+whether you will assist in the attempt to unravel it or not."
+
+"What do you mean by saying it remains with me? Do I understand that you
+intend following it up?"
+
+"Of course I do. Nikola and Baxter between them have completely done
+me--now I'm going to do my best to do them. By Jove!"
+
+"What is it now?"
+
+"I see it all as plain as a pikestaff. I understand exactly now why
+Baxter came for you, why he telegraphed that the train was laid, why I
+was drugged in Plymouth, why you were sea-sick between Naples and this
+place, and why we were both kidnapped!"
+
+"Then explain, for mercy's sake!"
+
+"I will. See here. In the first place, remember your father's peculiar
+education of yourself. If you consider that, you will see that you are
+the only young nobleman of high rank whose face is not well known to his
+brother peers. That being so, Nikola wants to procure you for some
+purpose of his own in Australia. Your father advertises for a tutor; he
+sends one of his agents--Baxter--to secure the position. Baxter, at
+Nikola's instruction, puts into your head a desire for travel. You
+pester your father for the necessary permission. Just as this is granted
+I come upon the scene. Baxter suspects me. He telegraphs to Nikola 'The
+train is laid,' which means that he has begun to sow the seeds of a
+desire for travel, when a third party steps in--in other words, I am the
+new danger that has arisen. He arranges your sailing, and all promises
+to go well. Then Dr. Nikola finds out I intend going in the same boat.
+He tries to prevent me; and I--by Jove! I see another thing. Why did
+Baxter suggest that you should cross the Continent and join the boat at
+Naples? Why, simply because if you had started from Plymouth you would
+soon have got over your sickness, if you had ever been ill at all, and
+in that case the passengers would have become thoroughly familiar with
+your face by the time you reached Port Said. That would never have done,
+so he takes you to Naples, drugs you next morning--for you must remember
+you were ill after the coffee he gave you--and by that means kept you
+ill and confined to your cabin throughout the entire passage to Port
+Said. Then he persuades you to go ashore with me. You do so, with what
+result you know. Presently he begins to bewail your non-return, invites
+the agent to help in the search. They set off, and eventually find you
+near the Arab quarter. You must remember that neither the agent, the
+captain, nor the passengers have seen you, save at night, so the
+substitute, who is certain to have been well chosen and schooled for the
+part he is to play, is not detected. Then the boat goes on her way,
+while we are left behind languishing in durance vile."
+
+"What do you advise me to do? Remember, Baxter has letters to the
+different Governors from my father."
+
+"I know what I should do myself!"
+
+"Go to the consul and get him to warn the authorities in Australia, I
+suppose?"
+
+"No. That would do little or no good--remember, they've got three weeks'
+start of us."
+
+"Then what shall we do? I'm in your hands entirely, and whatever you
+advise I promise you I'll do."
+
+"If I were you I should doff my title, take another name, and set sail
+with me for Australia. Once there, we'll put up in some quiet place and
+set ourselves to unmask these rascals and to defeat their little game,
+whatever it may be. Are you prepared for so much excitement as that?"
+
+"Of course I am. Come what may, I'll go with you, and there's my hand on
+it."
+
+"Then we'll catch the next boat--not a mail-steamer--that sails for an
+Australian port, and once ashore there we'll set the ball a-rolling with
+a vengeance."
+
+"That scoundrel Baxter! I'm not vindictive as a rule, but I feel I
+should like to punish him."
+
+"Well, if they've not flown by the time we reach Australia, you'll
+probably be able to gratify your wish. It's Nikola, however, I want."
+
+Beckenham shuddered as I mentioned the Doctor's name. So to change the
+subject I said,----
+
+"I'm thinking of taking a little walk. Would you care to accompany me?"
+
+"Where are you going?" he asked.
+
+"I'm going to try and find the house where we were shut up," I answered.
+"I want to be able to locate it for future reference, if necessary."
+
+"Is it safe to go near it, do you think?"
+
+"In broad daylight, yes! But, just to make sure, we'll buy a couple of
+revolvers on the way. And, what's more, if it becomes necessary, we'll
+use them."
+
+"Come along, then."
+
+With that we left our hotel and set off in the direction of the Casino,
+stopping, however, on the way to make the purchases above referred to.
+
+We passed down one thoroughfare and up another, and at last reached the
+spot where I had commented on the sign-boards, and where we had been
+garrotted. Surely the house must be near at hand now? But though we
+hunted high and low, up one street and down another, not a single trace
+of any building answering the description of the one we wanted could we
+discover. At last, after nearly an hour's search, we were obliged to
+give it up, and return to our hotel, unsuccessful.
+
+As we finished lunch a large steamer made her appearance in the harbour,
+and brought up opposite the town. When we questioned our landlord, who
+was an authority on the subject, he informed us that she was the s.s.
+_Pescadore_, of Hull, bound to Melbourne.
+
+Hearing this we immediately chartered a boat, pulled off to her, and
+interviewed the captain. As good luck would have it, he had room for a
+couple of passengers. We therefore paid the passage money, went ashore
+again and provided ourselves with a few necessaries, rejoined her, and
+shortly before nightfall steamed into the Canal. Port Said was a thing
+of the past. Our eventful journey was resumed--what was the end of it
+all to be?
+
+
+
+
+_PART II_
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+WE REACH AUSTRALIA, AND THE RESULT
+
+
+The _Pescadore_, if she was slow, was certainly sure, and so the
+thirty-sixth day after our departure from Port Said, as recorded in the
+previous chapter, she landed us safe and sound at Williamstown, which,
+as all the Australian world knows, is one of the principal railway
+termini, and within an hour's journey of Melbourne. Throughout the
+voyage nothing occurred worth chronicling, if I except the curious
+behaviour of Lord Beckenham, who, for the first week or so, seemed sunk
+in a deep lethargy, from which neither chaff nor sympathy could rouse
+him. From morning till night he mooned aimlessly about the decks, had
+visibly to pull himself together to answer such questions as might be
+addressed to him, and never by any chance sustained a conversation
+beyond a few odd sentences. To such a pitch did this depression at last
+bring him that, the day after we left Aden, I felt it my duty to take
+him to task and to try to bully or coax him out of it.
+
+"Come," I said, "I want to know what's the matter with you. You've been
+giving us all the miserables lately, and from the look of your face at
+the present moment I'm inclined to believe it's going to continue. Out
+with it! Are you homesick, or has the monotony of this voyage been too
+much for you?"
+
+He looked into my face rather anxiously, I thought, and then said: "Mr.
+Hatteras, I'm afraid you'll think me an awful idiot when I _do_ tell
+you, but the truth is I've got Dr. Nikola's face on my brain, and do
+what I will I cannot rid myself of it. Those great, searching eyes, as
+we saw them in that terrible room, have got on my nerves, and I can
+think of nothing else. They haunt me night and day!"
+
+"Oh, that's all fancy!" I cried. "Why on earth should you be frightened
+of him? Nikola, in spite of his demoniacal cleverness, is only a man,
+and even then you may consider that we've seen the last of him. So cheer
+up, take as much exercise as you possibly can, and believe me, you'll
+soon forget all about him."
+
+But it was no use arguing with him. Nikola had had an effect upon the
+youth that was little short of marvellous, and it was not until we had
+well turned the Leuwin, and were safely in Australian waters, that he in
+any way recovered his former spirits.
+
+And here, lest you should give me credit for a bravery I did not
+possess, I must own that I was more than a little afraid of another
+meeting with Nikola, myself. I had had four opportunities afforded me of
+judging of his cleverness--once in the restaurant off Oxford Street,
+once in the _Green Sailor_ public-house in the East India Dock Road,
+once in the West of England express, and lastly, in the house in Port
+Said. I had no desire, therefore, to come to close quarters with him
+again.
+
+Arriving in Melbourne we caught the afternoon express for Sydney,
+reaching that city the following morning a little after breakfast. By
+the time we had arrived at our destination we had held many
+consultations over our future, and the result was a decision to look for
+a quiet hotel on the outskirts of the city, and then to attempt to
+discover what the mystery, in which we had been so deeply involved,
+might mean. The merits of all the various suburbs were severally
+discussed, though I knew but little about them, and the Marquis less.
+Paramatta, Penrith, Woolahra, Balmain, and even many of the bays and
+harbours, received attention, until we decided on the last named as the
+most likely place to answer our purpose.
+
+This settled, we crossed Darling harbour, and, after a little hunting
+about, discovered a small but comfortable hotel situated in a side
+street, called the _General Officer_. Here we booked rooms, deposited
+our meagre baggage, and having installed ourselves, sat down and
+discussed the situation.
+
+"So this is Sydney," said Beckenham, stretching himself out comfortably
+upon the sofa as he spoke. "And now that we've got here, what's to be
+done first?"
+
+"Have lunch," I answered promptly.
+
+"And then?" he continued.
+
+"Hunt up the public library and take a glimpse of the _Morning Herald's_
+back numbers. They will tell us a good deal, though not all we want to
+know. Then we'll make a few inquiries. To-morrow morning I shall ask you
+to excuse me for a couple of hours. But in the afternoon we ought to
+have acquired sufficient information to enable us to make a definite
+start."
+
+"Then let's have lunch at once and be off. I'm all eagerness to get to
+work."
+
+We accordingly ordered lunch, and, when it was finished, set off in
+search of a public library. Having found it--and it was not a very
+difficult matter--we sought the reading room and made for a stand of
+_Sydney Morning Heralds_ in the corner. Somehow I felt as certain of
+finding what I wanted there as any man could possibly be, and as it
+happened I was not disappointed. On the second page, beneath a heading
+in bold type, was a long report of a horse show, held the previous
+afternoon, at which it appeared a large vice-regal and fashionable party
+were present. The list included His Excellency the Governor and the
+Countess of Amberley, the Ladies Maud and Ermyntrude, their daughters,
+the Marquis of Beckenham, Captain Barrenden, an aide-de-camp, and Mr.
+Baxter. In a voice that I hardly recognized as my own, so shaken was it
+with excitement, I called Beckenham to my side and pointed out to him
+his name. He stared, looked away, then stared again, hardly able to
+believe his eyes.
+
+"What does it mean?" he whispered, just as he had done in Port Said.
+"What does it mean?"
+
+I led him out of the building before I answered, and then clapped him on
+the shoulder. "It means, my boy," I said, "that there's been a hitch in
+their arrangements, and that we're not too late to circumvent them after
+all."
+
+"But where do you think they are staying--these two scoundrels?"
+
+"At Government House, to be sure. Didn't you see that the report said,
+'The Earl and Countess of Amberley and a distinguished party from
+Government House, including the Marquis of Beckenham,' etc.?"
+
+"Then let us go to Government House at once and unmask them. That is our
+bounden duty to society."
+
+"Then all I can say is, if it is our duty to society, society will have
+to wait. No, no! We must find out first what their little game is. That
+once decided, the unmasking will fall in as a natural consequence. Don't
+you understand?"
+
+"I am afraid I don't quite. However, I expect you're right."
+
+By this time we were back again at the ferry. It was not time for the
+boat to start, so while we waited we amused ourselves staring at the
+placards pasted about on the wharf hoardings. Then a large theatrical
+poster caught my eye and drew me towards it. It announced a grand
+vice-regal "command" night at one of the principal theatres for that
+very evening, and further set forth the fact that the most noble the
+Marquis of Beckenham would be amongst the distinguished company.
+
+"Here we are," I called to my companion, who was at a little distance.
+"We'll certainly go to this. The Marquis of Beckenham shall honour it
+with his patronage and presence after all."
+
+We went back to our hotel for dinner, and as soon as it was eaten
+returned to the city to seek the theatre.
+
+When we entered it the building was crowded, and the arrival of the
+Government House party was momentarily expected. Presently the Governor
+and a brilliant party entered the vice-regal box. You may be sure of all
+that vast concourse of people there were none who stared harder then
+Beckenham and myself. And it was certainly enough to make any man stare,
+for there, sitting on her ladyship's right hand, faultlessly dressed,
+was the exact image of the young man by my side. The likeness was so
+extraordinary that for a moment I could hardly believe that Beckenham
+had not left me to go up and take his seat there. And if I was struck by
+the resemblance, you may be sure that he was a dozen times more so.
+Indeed, his bewilderment was most comical, and must have struck those
+people round us, who were watching, as something altogether
+extraordinary. I looked again, and could just discern behind the front
+row the smug, self-satisfied face of the tutor Baxter. Then the play
+commenced, and we were compelled to turn and give it our attention.
+
+Here I must stop to chronicle one circumstance that throughout the day
+had struck me as peculiar. When our vessel arrived at Williamstown, it
+so happened that we had travelled up in the train to Melbourne with a
+tall, handsome, well-dressed man of about thirty years of age. Whether
+he, like ourselves, was a new arrival in the Colony, and only passing
+through Melbourne, I cannot say; at any rate he went on to Sydney in the
+mail train with us. Then we lost sight of him, only to find him standing
+near the public library when we had emerged from it that afternoon, and
+now here he was sitting in the stalls of the theatre not half a dozen
+chairs from us. Whether this continual companionship was designed or
+only accidental, I could not of course say, but I must own that I did
+not like the look of it. Could it be possible, I asked myself, that
+Nikola, learning our departure for Australia in the _Pescadore_, had
+cabled from Port Said to this man to watch us?
+
+The performance over, we left the theatre, and set off for the ferry,
+only reaching it just as the boat was casting off. As it was I had to
+jump for it, and on reaching the deck should have fallen in a heap but
+for a helping hand that was stretched out to me. I looked up to tender
+my thanks, when to my surprise I discovered that my benefactor was none
+other than the man to whom I have just been referring. His surprise was
+even greater than mine, and muttering something about "a close shave,"
+he turned and walked quickly aft. My mind was now made up, and I
+accordingly reported my discovery to Beckenham, pointing out the man and
+warning him to watch for him when he was abroad without me. This he
+promised to do.
+
+Next morning I donned my best attire (my luggage having safely arrived),
+and shortly before eleven o'clock bade Beckenham good-bye and betook
+myself to Potts Point to call upon the Wetherells.
+
+It would be impossible for me to say with what varied emotions I trod
+that well-remembered street, crossed the garden, and approached the
+ponderous front door, which somehow had always seemed to me so typical
+of Mr. Wetherell himself. The same butler who had opened the door to me
+on the previous occasion opened it now, and when I asked if Miss
+Wetherell were at home, he gravely answered, "Yes, sir," and invited me
+to enter.
+
+I was shown into the drawing-room--a large double chamber beautifully
+furnished and possessing an elegantly painted ceiling--while the butler
+went in search of his mistress. A few moments later I heard a light
+footstep outside, a hand was placed upon the handle of the door, and
+before I could have counted ten, Phyllis--my Phyllis!--was in the room
+and in my arms! Over the next five minutes, gentle reader, we will draw
+a curtain with your kind permission. If you have ever met your
+sweetheart after an absence of several months, you will readily
+understand why!
+
+When we had become rational again I led her to a sofa, and, seating
+myself beside her, asked if her father had in any way relented. At this
+she looked very unhappy, and for a moment I thought was going to burst
+into tears.
+
+"Why! What is the matter, Phyllis, my darling?" I cried in sincere
+alarm. "What is troubling you?"
+
+"Oh, I am so unhappy," she replied. "Dick, there is a gentleman in
+Sydney now to whom papa has taken an enormous fancy, and he is exerting
+all his influence over me to induce me to marry him."
+
+"The deuce he is, and pray who may----" but I got no farther in my
+inquiries, for at that moment I caught the sound of a footstep in the
+hall, and next moment Mr. Wetherell opened the door. He remained for a
+brief period looking from one to the other of us without speaking, then
+he advanced, saying, "Mr. Hatteras, please be so good as to tell me when
+this persecution will cease? Am I not even to be free of you in my own
+house. Flesh and blood won't stand it, I tell you, sir--won't stand it!
+You pursued my daughter to England in a most ungentlemanly fashion, and
+now you have followed her out here again."
+
+"Just as I shall continue to follow her all my life, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied warmly, "wherever you may take her. I told you on board the
+_Orizaba_, months ago, that I loved her: well, I love her ten thousand
+times more now. She loves me--won't you hear her tell you so? Why then
+should you endeavour to keep us apart?"
+
+"Because an alliance with you, sir, is distasteful to me in every
+possible way. I have other views for my daughter, you must learn." Here
+Phyllis could keep silence no longer, and broke in with--"If you mean by
+that that you will force me into this hateful marriage with a man I
+despise, papa, you are mistaken. I will marry no one but Mr. Hatteras,
+and so I warn you."
+
+"Silence, Miss! How dare you adopt that tone with me! You will do as I
+wish in this and all other matters, and so we'll have no more talk about
+it. Now, Mr. Hatteras, you have heard what I have to say, and I warn you
+that, if you persist in this conduct, I'll see if something can't be
+found in the law to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, if you show yourself in
+my grounds again, I'll have my servants throw you out into the street!
+Good-day."
+
+Unjust as his conduct was to me, there was nothing for it but to submit,
+so picking up my hat I bade poor little frightened Phyllis farewell, and
+went towards the door. But before taking my departure I was determined
+to have one final shot at her irascible parent, so I said, "Mr.
+Wetherell, I have warned you before, and I do so again: your daughter
+loves me, and, come what may, I will make her my wife. She is her own
+mistress, and you cannot force her into marrying any one against her
+will. Neither can you prevent her marrying me if she wishes it. You will
+be sorry some day that you have behaved like this to me."
+
+But the only answer he vouchsafed was a stormy one. "Leave my house this
+instant," he said. "Not another word, sir, or I'll call my servants to
+my assistance!"
+
+The stately old butler opened the front door for me, and assuming as
+dignified an air as was possible, I went down the drive and passed out
+into the street.
+
+When I reached home again Beckenham was out, for which I was not sorry,
+as I wanted to have a good quiet think by myself. So lighting a cigar, I
+pulled a chair into the verandah and fell to work. But I could make
+nothing of the situation, save that, by my interview this morning, my
+position with the father was, if possible, rendered even more hopeless
+than before. Who was this more fortunate suitor? Would it be any use my
+going to him and--but no, that was clearly impossible. Could I induce
+Phyllis to run away with me? That was possible, of course, but I rather
+doubted if she would care to take such an extreme step until every other
+means had proved unsuccessful. Then what was to be done? I began to wish
+that Beckenham would return in order that we might consult together.
+
+Half an hour later our lunch was ready, but still no sign came of the
+youth. Where could he have got to? I waited an hour and then fell to
+work. Three o'clock arrived and still no sign--four, five, and even six.
+By this time I was in a fever of anxiety. I remembered the existence of
+the man who had followed us from Melbourne, and Beckenham's trusting
+good nature. Then and there I resolved, if he did not return before
+half-past seven, to set off for the nearest police-station and have a
+search made for him. Slowly the large hand of the clock went round, and
+when, at the time stated, he had not appeared, I donned my hat and,
+inquiring the way, set off for the home of the law.
+
+On arriving there and stating my business I was immediately conducted to
+the inspector in charge, who questioned me very closely as to
+Beckenham's appearance, age, profession, etc. Having done this, he
+said:--
+
+"But what reason have you, sir, for supposing that the young man has
+been done away with? He has only been absent from his abode, according
+to your statement, about eight or nine hours."
+
+"Simply because," I answered, "I have the best of reasons for knowing
+that ever since his arrival in Australia he has been shadowed. This
+morning he said he would only go for a short stroll before lunch, and I
+am positively certain, knowing my anxiety about him, he would not have
+remained away so long of his own accord without communicating with me."
+
+"Is there any motive you can assign for this shadowing?"
+
+"My friend is heir to an enormous property in England. Perhaps that may
+assist you in discovering one?"
+
+"Very possibly. But still I am inclined to think you are a little hasty
+in coming to so terrible a conclusion, Mr. ----?"
+
+"Hatteras is my name, and I am staying at the _General Officer Hotel_ in
+Palgrave Street."
+
+"Well, Mr. Hatteras, if I were you I would go back to your hotel. You
+will probably find your friend there eating his dinner and thinking
+about instituting a search for you. If, however, he has not turned up,
+and does not do so by to-morrow morning, call here again and report the
+matter, and I will give you every assistance."
+
+Thanking him for his courtesy I left the station and walked quickly back
+to the hotel, hoping to find Beckenham safely returned and at his
+dinner. But when the landlady met me in the verandah, and asked if I had
+any news of my friend, I realized that a disappointment was in store for
+me. By this time the excitement and worry were getting too much for me.
+What with Nikola, the spy, Beckenham, Phyllis, the unknown lover, and
+old Mr. Wetherell, I had more than enough to keep my brain occupied. I
+sat down on a chair on the verandah with a sigh and reviewed the whole
+case. Nine o'clock struck by the time my reverie was finished. Just as I
+did so a newspaper boy came down the street lustily crying his wares. To
+divert my mind from its unpleasant thoughts, I called him up and bought
+an _Evening Mercury_. Having done so I passed into my sitting-room to
+read it. The first, second, and third pages held nothing of much
+interest to me, but on the fourth was an item which was astonishing
+enough to almost make my hair stand on end. It ran as follows:
+
+     IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH LIFE.
+
+     We have it on the very best authority that an engagement will
+     shortly be announced between a certain illustrious young nobleman,
+     now a visitor in our city, and the beautiful daughter of one of
+     Sydney's most prominent politicians, who has lately returned from a
+     visit to England. The _Evening Mercury_ tenders the young couple
+     their sincerest congratulations.
+
+_Could this be the solution of the whole mystery?_ Could it be that the
+engagement of Baxter, the telegram, the idea of travel, the drugging,
+the imprisonment in Port Said, the substitution of the false marquis,
+were all means to this end? Was is possible that this man, who was
+masquerading as a man of title, was to marry Phyllis (for there could be
+no possible doubt as to the person to whom that paragraph referred)? The
+very thought of such a thing was not to be endured.
+
+There must be no delay now, I told myself, in revealing all I knew. The
+villains must be unmasked this very night. Wetherell should know all as
+soon as I could tell him. As I came to this conclusion I crushed my
+paper into my pocket and set off, without a moment's delay, for Potts
+Point. The night was dark, and now a thick drizzle was falling.
+
+Though it really did not take me very long, it seemed an eternity before
+I reached the house and rang the bell. The butler opened the door, and
+was evidently surprised to see me. "Is Mr. Wetherell at home?" I asked.
+
+For a moment he looked doubtful as to what he should say, then
+compromising matters, answered that he would see.
+
+"I know what that means," I said in reply. "Mr. Wetherell is in, but you
+don't think he'll see me. But he must! I have news for him of the very
+utmost importance. Will you tell him that?"
+
+He left me and went along the hall and upstairs. Presently he returned,
+shaking his head.
+
+"I am very sorry, sir, but Mr. Wetherell's answer is, if you have
+anything to tell him you must put it in writing; he cannot see you."
+
+"But he must! In this case I can accept no refusal. Tell him, will you,
+that the matter upon which I wish to speak to him has nothing whatsoever
+to do with the request I made to him this morning. I pledge him my word
+on that."
+
+Again the butler departed, and once more I was left to cool my heels in
+the portico. When he returned it was with a smile upon his face. "Mr.
+Wetherell will be glad if you will step this way, sir."
+
+I followed him along the hall and up the massive stone staircase.
+Arriving at the top he opened a door on the left-hand side and announced
+"Mr. Hatteras."
+
+I found Mr. Wetherell seated in a low chair opposite the fire, and from
+the fact that his right foot was resting on a sort of small trestle, I
+argued that he was suffering from an attack of his old enemy the gout.
+
+"Be good enough to take a chair, Mr. Hatteras," he said, when the door
+had been closed. "I must own I am quite at a loss to understand what you
+can have to tell me of so much importance as to bring you to my house at
+this time of night."
+
+"I think I shall be able to satisfy you on that score, Mr. Wetherell," I
+replied, taking the _Evening Mercury_ from my pocket and smoothing it
+out. "In the first place, will you be good enough to tell me if there is
+any truth in the inference contained in that paragraph."
+
+I handed the paper to him and pointed to the lines in question. Having
+put on his glasses he examined it carefully. "I am sorry they should
+have made it public so soon, I must admit," he said. "But I don't deny
+that there is a considerable amount of truth in what that paragraph
+reports."
+
+"You mean by that that you intend to try and marry Phyllis to the
+Marquis of Beckenham?"
+
+"The young man has paid her a very considerable amount of attention ever
+since he arrived in the colony, and only last week he did me the honour
+of confiding his views to me. You see I am candid with you."
+
+"I thank you for it. I, too, will be candid with you. Mr. Wetherell, you
+may set your mind at rest at once, this marriage will never take place!"
+
+"And pray be so good as to tell me your reason for such a statement?"
+
+"If you want it bluntly, because the young man now staying at Government
+House is no more the Marquis of Beckenham than I am. He is a fraud, an
+impostor, a cheat of the first water, put up to play his part by one of
+the cleverest scoundrels unhung."
+
+"Mr. Hatteras, this is really going too far. I can quite understand your
+being jealous of his lordship, but I cannot understand your having the
+audacity to bring such a foolish charge against him. I, for one, must
+decline to listen to it. If he had been the fraud you make him out, how
+would his tutor have got those letters from his Grace the Duke of
+Glenbarth? Do you imagine his Excellency the Governor, who has known the
+family all his life, would not have discovered him ere this? No, no,
+sir! It won't do! If you think so, who has schooled him so cleverly? Who
+has pulled the strings so wonderfully?"
+
+"Why, Nikola, to be sure!"
+
+Had I clapped a revolver to the old gentleman's head, or had the walls
+opened and Nikola himself stepped into the room, a greater effect of
+terror and consternation could not have been produced in the old
+gentleman's face than did those five simple words. He fell back in his
+chair gasping for breath, his complexion became ashen in its pallor, and
+for a moment his whole nervous system seemed unstrung. I sprang to his
+assistance, thinking he was going to have a fit, but he waived me off,
+and when he had recovered himself sufficiently to speak, said
+hoarsely--"What do you know of Dr. Nikola? Tell me, for God's
+sake!--what do you know of him? Quick, quick!"
+
+Thereupon I set to work and told him my story, from the day of my
+arrival in Sydney from Thursday Island up to the moment of my reaching
+his house, described my meeting and acquaintance with the real
+Beckenham, and all the events consequent upon it. He listened, with an
+awful terror growing in his face, and when I had finished my narrative
+with the disappearance of my friend he nearly choked.
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," he gasped, "will you swear this is the truth you are
+telling me?"
+
+"I solemnly swear it," I answered. "And will do so in public when and
+where you please."
+
+"Then before I do anything else I will beg your pardon for my conduct to
+you. You have taken a noble revenge. I cannot thank you sufficiently.
+But there is not a moment to lose. My daughter is at a ball at
+Government House at the present moment. I should have accompanied her,
+but my gout would not permit me. Will you oblige me by ringing that
+bell?"
+
+I rang the bell as requested, and then asked what he intended doing.
+
+"Going off to his Excellency at once, gout or no gout, and telling him
+what you have told me. If it is as you have said, we must catch these
+scoundrels and rescue your friend without an instant's delay!"
+
+Half an hour later we were at Government House waiting in his
+Excellency's study for an interview. The music of the orchestra in the
+ball-room came faintly in to us, and when Lord Amberley entered the room
+he seemed surprised, as well he might be, to see us. But as soon as he
+had heard what we had to tell him his expression changed. "Mr.
+Wetherell, this is a very terrible charge you bring against my guest. Do
+you think it can possibly be true?"
+
+"I sadly fear so," said Mr. Wetherell. "But perhaps Mr. Hatteras will
+tell you the story as he told it to me."
+
+I did so, and, when I had finished, the Governor went to the door and
+called a servant.
+
+"Find Lord Beckenham, Johnson, at once, and ask him to be so good as to
+come to me here. Stay--on second thoughts I'll go and look for him
+myself."
+
+He went off, leaving us alone again to listen to the ticking of the
+clock upon the mantelpiece, and to wonder what was going to happen next.
+Five minutes went by and then ten, but still he did not return. When he
+did so it was with a still more serious countenance.
+
+"You are evidently right, gentlemen. Neither the spurious marquis, nor
+his tutor, Mr. Baxter, can be found anywhere. I have discovered, too,
+that all their valuables and light luggage have been smuggled out of the
+house to-night without the knowledge of my servants. This is a terrible
+business. But I have given instructions, and the police will be
+communicated with at once. Now we must do our best to find the real
+Beckenham."
+
+"Lord Amberley," said Wetherell, in a choking voice, "do you think one
+of your servants could tell my daughter to come to me at once? I am not
+feeling very well."
+
+The Governor hesitated a moment, and then said--
+
+"I am sorry to say, Mr. Wetherell, your daughter left the House an hour
+ago. A message was brought to her that you had been suddenly taken ill
+and needed her. She went off at once."
+
+Wetherell's anxiety was piteous to see.
+
+"My God!" he cried in despair. "If that is so, I am ruined. This is
+Nikola's revenge."
+
+Then he uttered a curious little sigh, moved a step forward, and fell in
+a dead faint upon the floor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+ON THE TRAIL
+
+
+As soon as Wetherell was able to speak again he said as feebly as an old
+man of ninety, "Take me home, Mr. Hatteras, take me home, and let us
+think out together what is best to be done to rescue my poor child."
+
+The Governor rose to his feet and gave him his arm.
+
+"I think you're right, Mr. Wetherell," he said. "It is of course just
+probable that you will find your daughter at her home when you arrive.
+God grant she may be! But in case she is not I will communicate all I
+know to the Police Commissioner on his arrival, and send him and his
+officers on to you. We must lose no time if we wish to catch these
+scoundrels." Then turning to me, he continued: "Mr. Hatteras, it is
+owing to your promptness that we are able to take such early steps. I
+shall depend upon your further assistance in this matter."
+
+"You may do so with perfect confidence," I answered. "If you knew all
+you would understand that I am more anxious perhaps than any one to
+discover the whereabouts of the young lady and my unfortunate friend."
+
+Next moment we were being whirled down the drive at a pace which at any
+other time I should have thought dangerous. Throughout the journey we
+sat almost silent, wrapped in our anxieties and forebodings; hoping
+almost against hope that when we arrived at Potts Point we should find
+Phyllis awaiting us there. At last we turned into the grounds, and on
+reaching the house I sprang out and rang the bell, then I went down to
+help my companion to alight. The butler opened the door and descended
+the steps to take the rugs. Wetherell stopped him almost angrily,
+crying:
+
+"Where is your mistress? Has she come home?"
+
+The expression of surprise on the man's face told me, before he had time
+to utter a word, that our hopes were not to be realized. "Miss Phyllis,
+sir?" the man said. "Why, she's at the ball."
+
+Wetherell turned from him with a deep sigh, and taking my arm went
+heavily up the steps into the hall.
+
+"Come to my study, Mr. Hatteras," he said, "and let me confer with you.
+For God's sake don't desert me in my hour of need!"
+
+"You need have no fear of that," I answered. "If it is bad for you,
+think what it is for me." And then we went upstairs together.
+
+Reaching his study, Mr. Wetherell led the way in and sat down. I went
+across to the hearthrug and stood before him. "Now," I said, "we must
+think this out from the very beginning, and to do that properly we must
+consider every detail. Have you any objection to answering my
+questions?"
+
+"Ask any questions you like," he replied, "and I will answer them."
+
+"In the first place, then, how soon after his arrival in the colony did
+your daughter get to know that sham Beckenham?"
+
+"Three days," he answered.
+
+"At a dance, dinner party, picnic, or what?"
+
+"At none of these things. The young man, it appears, had seen my
+daughter in the street, and having been struck with her beauty asked one
+of the aides-de-camp at Government House, with whom we are on intimate
+terms, to bring him to call. At the time, I remember, I thought it a
+particularly friendly action on his part."
+
+"I don't doubt it," I answered. "Well that, I think, should tell us one
+thing."
+
+"And what is that?"
+
+"That his instructions were to get to know your daughter without delay."
+
+"But what could his reason have been?"
+
+"Ah, that I cannot tell you just yet. Now you must pardon what I am
+going to say: do you think he was serious in his intentions regarding
+Phyllis--I mean your daughter?"
+
+"Perfectly, as far as I could tell. His desire, he said, was, if she
+would have him, to be allowed to marry her on his twenty-first birthday,
+which would be next week, and in proof of permission he showed me a
+cablegram from his father."
+
+"A forgery, I don't doubt. Well, then, the only construction I can put
+upon it is that the arrival of the real Beckenham in Sydney must have
+frightened him, thus compelling the gang to resort to other means of
+obtaining possession of her at once. Now our next business must be to
+find out how that dastardly act was accomplished. May I ring the bell
+and have up the coachman who drove your daughter to the ball?"
+
+"By all means. Please act in every way in this matter as if this house
+were your own."
+
+I rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to answer it Mr. Wetherell
+instructed him to find the man I wanted and send him up. The servant
+left the room again, and for five minutes we awaited his reappearance in
+silence. When he did come back he said, "Thompson has not come home yet,
+sir."
+
+"Not come home yet! Why, it's nearly eleven o'clock! Send him in
+directly he arrives. Hark! What bell is that?"
+
+"Front door, sir."
+
+"Go down and answer it then, and if it should be the Commissioner of
+Police show him up here at once."
+
+As it turned out it was not the Commissioner of Police, but an
+Inspector.
+
+"Good-evening," said Mr. Wetherell. "You have come from Government
+House, I presume?"
+
+"Exactly so, sir," replied the Inspector. "His Excellency gave us some
+particulars and then sent us on."
+
+"You know the nature of the case?"
+
+"His Excellency informed us himself."
+
+"And what steps have you taken?"
+
+"Well, sir, to begin with, we have given orders for a thorough search
+throughout the city and suburbs for the tutor and the sham nobleman, at
+the same time more men are out looking for the real Lord Beckenham. We
+are also trying to find your coachman, who was supposed to have driven
+Miss Wetherell away from Government House, and also the carriage, which
+is certain to be found before very long."
+
+He had hardly finished speaking before there was another loud ring at
+the bell, and presently the butler entered once more. Crossing to Mr.
+Wetherell, he said--
+
+"Two policemen are at the front door, and they have brought Thompson
+home, sir."
+
+"Ah! We are likely to have a little light thrown upon the matter now.
+Let them bring him up here."
+
+"He's not in a very nice state, sir."
+
+"Never mind that. Bring him up here, instantly!"
+
+Again the butler departed, and a few moments later heavy footsteps
+ascended the stairs and approached the study door. Then two stalwart
+policemen entered the room supporting between them a miserable figure in
+coachman's livery. His hat and coat were gone and his breeches were
+stained with mud, while a large bruise totally obscured his left eye.
+
+"Stand him over there opposite me," said Mr. Wetherell, pointing to the
+side of the room furthest from the door. The policemen did as they were
+ordered, while the man looked more dead than alive.
+
+"Now, Thompson," said Wetherell, looking sternly at him, "what have you
+got to say for yourself?"
+
+But the man only groaned. Seeing that in his present state he could say
+nothing, I went across to the table and mixed him a glass of grog. When
+I gave it to him he drank it eagerly. It seemed to sharpen his wits, for
+he answered instantly--
+
+"It wasn't my fault, sir. If I'd only ha' known what their game was I'd
+have been killed afore I'd have let them do anything to hurt the young
+lady. But they was too cunnin' for me, sir."
+
+"Be more explicit, sir!" said Wetherell sternly. "Don't stand there
+whining, but tell your story straight-forwardly and at once."
+
+The poor wretch pulled himself together and did his best. "It was in
+this way, sir," he began. "Last week I was introduced by a friend of
+mine to as nice a spoken man as ever I saw. He was from England, he said
+and having a little money thought he'd like to try his 'and at a bit o'
+racing in Australia, like. He was on the look-out for a smart man, he
+said, who'd be able to put him up to a wrinkle or two, and maybe train
+for him later on. He went on to say that he'd 'eard a lot about me, and
+thought I was just the man for his money. Well, we got more and more
+friendly till the other night, Monday, when he said as how he'd settled
+on a farm a bit out in the country, and was going to sign the agreement,
+as they called it, for to rent it next day. He was goin' to start a stud
+farm and trainin' establishment combined, and would I take the billet of
+manager at three 'undred a year? Anyway, as he said, 'Don't be in a
+'urry to decide; take your time and think it over. Meet me at the
+_Canary Bird 'Otel_ on Thursday night (that's to-night, sir) and give me
+your decision.' Well, sir, I drove Miss Wetherell to Government 'Ouse,
+sir, according to orders, and then, comin' 'ome, went round by the
+_Canary Bird_, to give 'im my answer, thinkin' no 'arm could ever come
+of it. When I drove up he was standin' at the door smoking his cigar,
+an' bein' an affable sort of fellow, invited me inside to take a drink.
+'I don't like to leave the box,' I said. 'Oh, never mind your horse,'
+says he. ''Ere's a man as will stand by it for five minutes.' He gave a
+respectable lookin' chap, alongside the lamp-post, a sixpence, and he
+'eld the 'orse; so in I went. When we got inside I was for goin' to the
+bar, but 'e says, 'No. This is an important business matter, and we
+don't want to be over'eard.' With that he leads the way into a private
+room at the end of the passage and shuts the door. 'What's yours?' says
+he. 'A nobbler o' rum,' says I. Then he orders a nobbler of rum for me
+and a nobbler of whisky for 'imself. And when it was brought we sat
+talkin' of the place he'd thought o' takin' an' the 'orses he was goin'
+to buy, an' then 'e says, ''Ullo! Somebody listenin' at the door. I
+'eard a step. Jump up and look.' I got up and ran to the door, but there
+was nobody there, so I sat down again and we went on talking. Then he
+says, takin' up his glass: ''Ere's to your 'ealth, Mr. Thompson, and
+success to the farm.' We both drank it an' went on talkin' till I felt
+that sleepy I didn't know what to do. Then I dropped off, an' after that
+I don't remember nothin' of what 'appened till I woke up in the Domain,
+without my hat and coat, and found a policeman shakin' me by the
+shoulder."
+
+"The whole thing is as plain as daylight," cried Wetherell bitterly. "It
+is a thoroughly organized conspiracy, having me for its victim. Oh, my
+poor little girlie! What has my obstinacy brought you to!"
+
+Seeing the old man in this state very nearly broke me down, but I
+mastered myself with an effort and addressed a question to the
+unfortunate coachman--
+
+"Pull yourself together, Thompson, and tell me as correctly as you can
+what this friend of yours was like."
+
+I fully expected to hear him give an exact description of the man who
+had followed us from Melbourne, but I was mistaken.
+
+"I don't know, sir," said Thompson, "as I could rightly tell you, my
+mind being still a bit dizzy-like. He was tall, but not by any manner of
+means big made; he had very small 'ands 'an feet, a sort o' what they
+call death's-'ead complexion; 'is 'air was black as soot, an' so was 'is
+eyes, an' they sparkled like two diamonds."
+
+"Do you remember noticing if he had a curious gold ring on his little
+finger, like a snake?"
+
+"He had, sir, with two eyes made of some black stone. That's just as
+true as you're born."
+
+"Then it was Nikola," I cried in an outburst of astonishment, "and he
+followed us to Australia after all!"
+
+Wetherell gave a deep sigh that was more like a groan than anything;
+then he became suddenly a new man.
+
+"Mr. Inspector," he cried to the police officer, "that man, or traces of
+him, must be found before daylight. I know him, and he is as slippery as
+an eel; if you lose a minute he'll be through your fingers."
+
+"One moment first," I cried. "Tell me this, Thompson: when you drove up
+to the _Canary Bird Hotel_ where did you say this man was standing?"
+
+"In the verandah, sir."
+
+"Had he his hat on?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And then you went towards the bar, but it was crowded, so he took you
+to a private room?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And once there he began giving you the details of this farm he proposed
+starting. Did he work out any figures on paper?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"On what?"
+
+"On a letter or envelope; I'm not certain which."
+
+"Which of course he took from his pocket?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Very good," I said. Then turning to the police officer, "Now, Mr.
+Inspector, shall we be off to the _Canary Bird_?"
+
+"If you wish it, sir. In the meantime I'll send instructions back by
+these men to the different stations. Before breakfast time we must have
+the man who held the horse."
+
+"You don't know him, I suppose?" I asked Thompson.
+
+"No, sir; but I've seen him before," he answered.
+
+"He's a Sydney fellow, then?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir."
+
+"Then there should be no difficulty in catching him. Now let us be
+going."
+
+Mr. Wetherell rose to accompany us, but hard though it was to stop him I
+eventually succeeded in dissuading him from such a course.
+
+"But you will let me know directly you discover anything, won't you, Mr.
+Hatteras?" he cried as we were about to leave the room. "Think of my
+anxiety."
+
+I gave my promise and then, accompanied by the Inspector, left the
+house. Hailing a passing cab we jumped into it and told the driver to
+proceed as fast as he could to the hotel in question. Just as we started
+a clock in the neighbourhood struck twelve. Phyllis had been in Nikola's
+hands three hours.
+
+Pulling up opposite the _Canary Bird_ (the place where the coachman had
+been drugged), we jumped out and bade the cabman wait. The hotel was in
+complete darkness, and it was not until we had pealed the bell twice
+that we succeeded in producing any sign of life. Then the landlord, half
+dressed, carrying a candle in his hand, came downstairs and called out
+to know who was there and what we wanted. My companion immediately said
+"Police," and in answer to that magic word the door was unbarred.
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Bartrell," said the Inspector. "May we come in for a
+moment on business?"
+
+"Certainly, Mr. Inspector," said the landlord, who evidently knew my
+companion. "But isn't this rather late for a call. I hope there is
+nothing the matter?"
+
+"Nothing much," returned the Inspector: "only we want to make a few
+inquiries about a man who was here to-night, and for whom we are
+looking."
+
+"If that is so I'm afraid I must call my barman. I was not in the bar
+this evening. If you'll excuse me I'll go and bring him down. In the
+meantime make yourselves comfortable."
+
+He left us to kick our heels in the hall while he went upstairs again.
+In about ten minutes, and just as my all-consuming impatience was
+well-nigh getting the better of me, he returned, bringing with him the
+sleepy barman.
+
+"These gentlemen want some information about a man who was here
+to-night," the landlord said by way of introduction. "Perhaps you can
+give it?"
+
+"What was he like, sir?" asked the barman of the Inspector. The latter,
+however, turned to me.
+
+"Tall, slim, with a sallow complexion," I said, "black hair and very
+dark restless eyes. He came in here with the Hon. Sylvester Wetherell's
+coachman."
+
+The man seemed to recollect him at once.
+
+"I remember him," he said. "They sat in No. 5 down the passage there,
+and the man you mention ordered a nobbler of rum and a whisky."
+
+"That's the fellow we want," said the Inspector. "Now tell me this, have
+you ever seen him in here before?"
+
+"Never once," said the barman, "and that's a solemn fact, because if I
+had I couldn't have forgotten it. His figure-head wouldn't let you do
+that. No, sir, to-night was the first night he's ever been in the
+_Canary Bird_."
+
+"Did any one else visit them while they were in the room together?"
+
+"Not as I know of. But stay, I'm not so certain. Yes; I remember seeing
+a tall, good-looking chap come down the passage and go in there. But it
+was some time, half an hour maybe, after I took in the drinks."
+
+"Did you see him come out again?"
+
+"No. But I know the coachman got very drunk, and had to be carried out
+to the carriage."
+
+"How do you know that?"
+
+"Because I saw the other two doing it."
+
+The Inspector turned to me.
+
+"Not very satisfactory, is it?"
+
+"No," I answered. "But do you mind letting us look into No. 5--the room
+they occupied?"
+
+"Not at all," said the landlord. "Come with me."
+
+So saying he led the way down the passage to a little room on the
+right-hand side, the door of which he threw open with a theatrical
+flourish. It was in pitch darkness, but a few seconds later the gas was
+lit and we could see all that it contained. A small table stood in the
+centre of the room, and round the walls were ranged two or three wooden
+chairs. A small window was at the further end and a fireplace opposite
+the door. On the table was a half-smoked cigar and a torn copy of the
+_Evening Mercury_. But that was not what I wanted, so I went down on my
+hands and knees and looked about upon the floor. Presently I descried a
+small ball of paper near the grate. Picking it up I seated myself at the
+table and turned to the barman, who was watching my movements
+attentively.
+
+"Was this room used by any other people after the party we are looking
+for left?"
+
+"No, sir. There was nobody in either of these two bottom rooms."
+
+"You are quite certain of that?"
+
+"Perfectly certain."
+
+I took up the ball of paper, unrolled it and spread it out upon the
+table. To my disgust it was only the back half of an envelope, and
+though it had a few figures dotted about upon it, was of no possible use
+to us.
+
+"Nothing there?" asked the Inspector.
+
+"Nothing at all," I answered bitterly, "save a few incomprehensible
+figures."
+
+"Well, in that case, we'd better be getting up to the station and see if
+they've discovered anything yet."
+
+"Come along, then," I answered. "We must be quick though, for we've lost
+a lot of precious time, and every minute counts."
+
+I took up the _Evening Mercury_ and followed him out to the cab, after
+having sincerely thanked the hotel proprietor and the barman for their
+courtesy. The Inspector gave the driver his orders and we set off. As we
+went we discussed our next movements, and while we were doing so I idly
+glanced at the paper I held in my hand. There was a lamp in the cab, and
+the light showed me on the bottom right-hand corner a round blue
+india-rubber stamp mark, "W. E. Maxwell, stationer and newsagent, 23,
+Ipswell Street, Woolahra."
+
+"Stop the cab!" I almost shouted. "Tell the man to drive us back to the
+_Canary Bird_ quickly."
+
+The order was given, the cab faced round, and in less than a minute we
+were on our way back.
+
+"What's up now?" asked the astonished Inspector.
+
+"Only that I believe I've got a clue," I cried.
+
+I did not explain any further, and in five minutes we had brought the
+landlord downstairs again.
+
+"I'm sorry to trouble you in this fashion," I cried, "but life and death
+depend on it. I want you to let me see No. 5 again."
+
+He conducted us to the room, and once more the gas was lit. The small
+strip of envelope lay upon the table just as I had thrown it down. I
+seated myself and again looked closely at it. Then I sprang to my feet.
+
+"I thought so!" I cried excitedly, pointing to the paper; "I told you I
+had a clue. Now, Mr. Inspector, who wrote those figures?"
+
+"The man you call Nikola, I suppose."
+
+"That's right. Now who would have bought this newspaper? You must
+remember that Thompson only left his box to come in here."
+
+"Nikola, I suppose."
+
+"Very good. Then according to your own showing Nikola owned this piece
+of envelope and this _Evening Mercury_. If that is certain, look here!"
+
+He came round and looked over my shoulder. I pointed to what was
+evidently part of the gummed edge of the top of the envelope. On it were
+these three important words, "----swell Street, Woolahra."
+
+"Well," he said, "what about it?"
+
+"Why, look here!" I said, as I opened the _Evening Mercury_ and pointed
+to the stamp-mark at the bottom. "The man who bought this newspaper at
+Mr. Maxwell's shop also bought this envelope there. The letters 'swell'
+before 'street' constitute the last half of Ipswell, the name of the
+street. If that man be Nikola, as we suspect, the person who served him
+is certain to remember him, and it is just within the bounds of
+possibility he may know his address."
+
+"That's so," said the Inspector, struck with the force of my argument.
+"I know Mr. Maxwell's shop, and our best plan will be to go on there as
+fast as we can."
+
+Again thanking the landlord for his civility, we returned to our cab and
+once more set off, this time for Mr. Maxwell's shop in Ipswell Street.
+By the time we reached it it was nearly three o'clock, and gradually
+growing light. As the cab drew up alongside the curb the Inspector
+jumped out and rang the bell at the side door. It was opened after
+awhile by a shock-headed youth, who stared at us in sleepy astonishment.
+
+"Does Mr. Maxwell live at the shop?" asked the Inspector.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Where then?"
+
+"Ponson Street--third house on the left-hand side."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Once more we jumped into the cab and rattled off. It seemed to me, so
+anxious and terrified was I for my darling's safety, that we were fated
+never to get the information we wanted; the whole thing was like some
+nightmare, in which, try how I would to move, every step was clogged.
+
+A few minutes' drive brought us to Ponson Street, and we drew up at the
+third house on the left-hand side. It was a pretty little villa, with a
+nice front garden and a creeper-covered verandah. We rang the bell and
+waited. Presently we heard some one coming down the passage, and a
+moment later the door was unlocked.
+
+"Who is there?" cried a voice from within.
+
+"Police," said my companion as before.
+
+The door was immediately opened, and a very small sandy-complexioned
+man, dressed in a flaring suit of striped pyjamas, stood before us. "Is
+anything wrong, gentlemen?" he asked nervously.
+
+"Nothing to affect you, Mr. Maxwell," my companion replied. "We only
+want a little important information, if you can give it us. We are
+anxious to discover a man's whereabouts before daylight, and we have
+been led to believe that you are the only person who can give us the
+necessary clue."
+
+"Good gracious! But I shall be happy to serve you if I can," the little
+man answered, leading the way into his dining-room with an air of
+importance his appearance rather belied. "What is it?"
+
+"Well, it's this," I replied, producing the piece of envelope and the
+_Evening Mercury_. "You see these letters on the top of this paper,
+don't you?" He nodded, his attention at once secured by seeing his own
+name. "Well, that envelope was evidently purchased in your shop. So was
+this newspaper."
+
+"How can you tell that?"
+
+"In the case of the envelope, by these letters; in that of the paper, by
+your rubber stamp on the bottom."
+
+"Ah! Well, now, and in what way can I help you?"
+
+"We want to know the address of the man who bought them."
+
+"That will surely be difficult. Can you give me any idea of what he was
+like?"
+
+"Tall, slightly foreign in appearance, distinctly handsome, sallow
+complexion, very dark eyes, black hair, small hands and feet."
+
+As my description progressed the little man's face brightened. Then he
+cried with evident triumph--"I know the man; he came into the shop
+yesterday afternoon."
+
+"And his address is?"
+
+His face fell again. His information was not quite as helpful as he had
+expected it would be.
+
+"There I can't help you, I'm sorry to say. He bought a packet of paper
+and envelopes and the _Evening Mercury_ and then left the shop. I was so
+struck by his appearance that I went to the door and watched him cross
+the road."
+
+"And in which direction did he go?"
+
+"Over to Podgers' chemist shop across the way. That was the last I saw
+of him."
+
+"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maxwell," I said, shaking him by the hand. "But
+I'm sorry you can't tell us something more definite about him." Then
+turning to the Inspector: "I suppose we had better go off and find
+Podgers. But if we have to spend much more time in rushing about like
+this we shall be certain to lose them altogether."
+
+"Let us be off to Podgers', then, as fast as we can go."
+
+Bidding Mr. Maxwell good-bye, we set off again, and in ten minutes had
+arrived at the shop and had Mr. Podgers downstairs. We explained our
+errand briefly, and gave a minute description of the man we wanted.
+
+"I remember him perfectly," said the sedate Podgers. "He came into my
+shop last night and purchased a bottle of chloroform."
+
+"You made him sign the poison book, of course?"
+
+"Naturally I did, Mr. Inspector. Would you like to see his signature?"
+
+"Very much," we both answered at once, and the book was accordingly
+produced.
+
+Podgers ran his finger down the list.
+
+"Brown, Williams, Davis--ah! here it is. 'Chloroform: J. Venneage, 22,
+Calliope Street, Woolahra.'"
+
+"Venneage!" I cried. "Why, that's not his name!"
+
+"Very likely not," replied Podgers; "but it's the name he gave me."
+
+"Never mind, we'll try 22, Calliope Street, on the chance," said the
+Inspector.
+
+Again we drove off, this time at increased pace. In less than fifteen
+minutes we had turned into the street we wanted, and pulled up about a
+hundred yards from the junction. It was a small thoroughfare, with a
+long line of second-class villa residences on either side. A policeman
+was sauntering along on the opposite side of the way, and the Inspector
+called him over. He saluted respectfully, and waited to be addressed.
+
+"What do you know of number 22?" asked the Inspector briefly. The
+constable considered for a few moments, and then said--
+
+"Well, to tell you the truth, sir, I didn't know until yesterday that it
+was occupied."
+
+"Have you seen anybody about there?"
+
+"I saw three men go in just as I came on the beat to-night."
+
+"What were they like?"
+
+"Well, I don't know that I looked much at them. They were all pretty
+big, and they seemed to be laughing and enjoying themselves."
+
+"Did they! Well, we must go in there and have a look at them. You had
+better come with us."
+
+We walked on down the street till we arrived at No. 22. Then opening the
+gate we went up the steps to the hall door. It was quite light enough by
+this time to enable us to see everything distinctly. The Inspector gave
+the bell a good pull and the peal re-echoed inside the house. But not a
+sound of any living being came from within in answer. Again the bell was
+pulled, and once more we waited patiently, but with the same result.
+
+"Either there's nobody at home or they refuse to hear," said the
+Inspector. "Constable, you remain where you are and collar the first man
+you see. Mr. Hatteras, we will go round to the back and try to effect an
+entrance from there."
+
+We left the front door, and finding a path reached the yard. The house
+was only a small one, with a little verandah at the rear on to which the
+back door opened. On either side of the door were two fair-sized
+windows, and by some good fortune it chanced that the catch of one of
+these was broken.
+
+Lifting the sash up, the Inspector jumped into the room, and as soon as
+he was through I followed him. Then we looked about us. The room,
+however, was destitute of furniture or occupants.
+
+"I don't hear anybody about," my companion said, opening the door that
+led into the hall. Just at that moment I heard a sound, and touching his
+arm signed to him to listen. We both did so, and surely enough there
+came again the faint muttering of a human voice. In the half-dark of the
+hall it sounded most uncanny.
+
+"Somebody in one of the front rooms," said the Inspector. "I'll slip
+along and open the front door, bring in the man from outside, and then
+we'll burst into the room and take our chance of capturing them."
+
+He did as he proposed, and when the constable had joined us we moved
+towards the room on the left.
+
+Again the mutterings came from the inside, and the Inspector turned the
+handle of the door. It was locked, however. "Let me burst it in," I
+whispered.
+
+He nodded, and I accordingly put my shoulder against it, and bringing my
+strength to bear sent it flying in.
+
+Then we rushed into the room, to find it, at first glance, empty. Just
+at that moment, however, the muttering began again, and we looked
+towards the darkest corner; somebody was there, lying on the ground. I
+rushed across and knelt down to look. _It was Beckenham; his mouth
+gagged and his hands and feet bound. The noise we had heard was that
+made by him trying to call us to his assistance._
+
+In less time than it takes to tell I had cut his bonds and helped him to
+sit up. Then I explained to the Inspector who he was.
+
+"Thank God you're found!" I cried. "But what does it all mean? How long
+have you been like this? and where is Nikola?"
+
+"I don't know how long I've been here," he answered, "and I don't know
+where Nikola is."
+
+"But you must know something about him!" I cried. "For Heaven's sake
+tell me all you can! I'm in awful trouble, and your story may give me
+the means of saving a life that is dearer to me than my own."
+
+"Get me something to drink first, then," he replied; "I'm nearly dying
+of thirst; after that I'll tell you."
+
+Fortunately I had had the foresight to put a flask of whisky into my
+pocket, and I now took it out and gave him a stiff nobbler. It revived
+him somewhat, and he prepared to begin his tale. But the Inspector
+interrupted--
+
+"Before you commence, my lord, I must send word to the Commissioner that
+you have been found."
+
+He wrote a message on a piece of paper and despatched the constable with
+it. Having done so he turned to Beckenham and said--
+
+"Now, my lord, pray let us hear your story."
+
+Beckenham forthwith commenced.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+LORD BECKENHAM'S STORY
+
+
+"When you left me, Mr. Hatteras, I remained in the house for half an
+hour or so reading. Then, thinking no harm could possibly come of it, I
+started out for a little excursion on my own account. It was about
+half-past eleven then.
+
+"Leaving the hotel I made for the ferry and crossed Darling Harbour to
+Millers Point; then, setting myself for a good ramble, off I went
+through the city, up one street and down another, to eventually bring up
+in the botanical gardens. The view was so exquisite that I sat myself
+down on a seat and resigned myself to rapturous contemplation of it. How
+long I remained there I could not possibly say. I only know that while I
+was watching the movements of a man-o'-war in the cove below me I became
+aware, by intuition--for I did not look at him--that I was the object of
+close scrutiny by a man standing some little distance from me. Presently
+I found him drawing closer to me, until he came boldly up and seated
+himself beside me. He was a queer-looking little chap, in some ways not
+unlike my old tutor Baxter, with a shrewd, clean-shaven face, grey hair,
+bushy eyebrows, and a long and rather hooked nose. He was well dressed,
+and when we had been sitting side by side for some minutes he turned to
+me and said--
+
+"'It is a beautiful picture we have spread before us, is it not?'
+
+"'It is, indeed,' I answered. 'And what a diversity of shipping!'
+
+"'You may well say that,' he continued. 'It would be an interesting
+study, would it not, to make a list of all the craft that pass in and
+out of this harbour in a day--to put down the places where they were
+built and whence they hail, the characters of their owners and
+commanders, and their errands about the world. What a book it would
+make, would it not? Look at that man-o'-war in Farm Cove; think of the
+money she cost, think of where that money came from--the rich people who
+paid without thinking, the poor who dreaded the coming of the tax
+collector like a visit from the Evil One; imagine the busy dockyard in
+which she was built--can't you seem to hear the clang of the riveters
+and the buzzing of the steam saws? Then take that Norwegian boat passing
+the fort there; think of her birthplace in far Norway, think of the
+places she has since seen, imagine her masts growing in the forests on
+the mountain side of lonely fiords, where the silence is so intense that
+a stone rolling down and dropping into the water echoes like thunder.'
+
+"He went on like this for some time, until I said: 'You seem to have
+studied it very carefully.'
+
+"'Perhaps I have,' he answered. 'I am deeply interested in the life of
+the sea--few more so. Are you a stranger in New South Wales?'
+
+"'Quite a stranger,' I replied. 'I only arrived in Australia a few days
+since.'
+
+"'Indeed! Then you have to make the acquaintance of many entrancing
+beauties yet. Forgive my impertinence, but if you are on a tour, let me
+recommend you to see the islands before you return home.'
+
+"'The South-Sea Islands, I presume you mean?' I said.
+
+"'Yes; the bewitching islands of the Southern Seas! The most
+entrancingly beautiful spots on God's beautiful earth! See them before
+you go. They will amply repay any trouble it may cost you to reach
+them.'
+
+"'I should like to see them very much,' I answered.
+
+"'Perhaps you are interested in them already?' he continued.
+
+"'Very much indeed,' I replied.
+
+"'Then, in that case, I may not be considered presumptuous if I offer to
+assist you. I am an old South-Sea merchant myself, and I have amassed a
+large collection of beautiful objects from the islands. If you would
+allow me the pleasure I should be delighted to show them to you.'
+
+"'I should like to see them very much indeed,' I answered, thinking it
+extremely civil of him.
+
+"'If you have time we might perhaps go and over-haul them now. My house
+is but a short distance from the Domain, and my carriage is waiting at
+the gates.'
+
+"'I shall be delighted,' I said, thinking there could be no possible
+harm in my accepting his invitation.
+
+"'But before we go, may I be allowed to introduce myself?' the old
+gentleman said, taking a card-case from his pocket and withdrawing a
+card. This he handed to me, and on it I read--
+
+     'Mr. Mathew Draper.'
+
+"'I am afraid I have no card to offer you in return,' I said; 'but I am
+the Marquis of Beckenham.'
+
+"'Indeed! Then I am doubly honoured,' the old gentleman said, with a low
+bow. 'Now shall we wend our way up towards my carriage?'
+
+"We did so, chatting as we went. At the gates a neat brougham was
+waiting for us, and in it we took our places. "'Home,' cried my host,
+and forthwith we set off down the street. Up one thoroughfare and down
+another we passed, until I lost all count of our direction. Throughout
+the drive my companion talked away in his best style; commented on the
+architecture of the houses, had many queer stories to tell of the
+passers-by, and in many other ways kept my attention engaged till the
+carriage came to a standstill before a small but pretty villa in a quiet
+street.
+
+"Mr. Draper immediately alighted, and when I had done so, dismissed his
+coachman, who drove away as we passed through the little garden and
+approached the dwelling. The front door was opened by a dignified
+man-servant, and we entered. The hall, which was a spacious one for so
+small a dwelling, was filled with curios and weapons, but I had small
+time for observing them, as my host led me towards a room at the back.
+As we entered it he said 'I make you welcome to my house, my lord. I
+hope, now that you have taken the trouble to come, I shall be able to
+show you something that will repay your visit.' Thereupon, bidding me
+seat myself for a few moments, he excused himself and left the room.
+When he returned he began to do the honours of the apartment. First we
+examined a rack of Australian spears, nulla-nullas, and boomerangs, then
+another containing New Zealand hatchets and clubs. After this we crossed
+to a sort of alcove where reposed in cases a great number of curios
+collected from the further islands of the Pacific. I was about to take
+up one of these when the door on the other side of the room opened and
+some one entered. At first I did not look round, but hearing the
+new-comer approaching me I turned, to find myself, to my horrified
+surprise, face to face _with Dr. Nikola_. He was dressed entirely in
+black, his coat was buttoned and displayed all the symmetry of his
+peculiar figure, while his hair seemed blacker and his complexion even
+paler than before. He had evidently been prepared for my visit, for he
+held out his hand and greeted me without a sign of astonishment upon his
+face.
+
+"'This is indeed a pleasure, my lord,' he said, still with his hand
+out-stretched, looking hard at me with his peculiar cat-like eyes. 'I
+did not expect to see you again so soon. And you are evidently a little
+surprised at meeting me.'
+
+"'I am more than surprised,' I answered bitterly. 'I am horribly
+mortified and angry.'
+
+"Mr. Draper said nothing, but Dr. Nikola dropped into a chair and spoke
+for him.
+
+"'You must not blame my old friend Draper,' he said suavely. 'We have
+been wondering for the last twenty-four hours how we might best get hold
+of you, and the means we have employed so successfully seemed the only
+possible way. Have no fear, my lord, you shall not be hurt. In less than
+twenty-four hours you will enjoy the society of your energetic friend
+Mr. Hatteras again.'
+
+"'What is your reason for abducting me like this?' I asked. 'You are
+foolish to do so, for Mr. Hatteras will leave no stone unturned to find
+me.'
+
+"'I do not doubt that at all,' said Dr. Nikola quietly; 'but I think Mr.
+Hatteras will find he will have all his work cut out for him this time.'
+
+"'If you imagine that your plans are not known in Sydney you are
+mistaken,' I cried. 'The farce you are playing at Government House is
+detected, and Mr. Hatteras, directly he finds I am lost, will go to Lord
+Amberley, and reveal everything.'
+
+"'I have not the slightest objection,' returned Dr. Nikola quietly. 'By
+the time Mr. Hatteras can take those steps--indeed, by the time he
+discovers your absence at all--we shall be beyond his reach.'
+
+"I could not follow his meaning, of course, but while he had been
+speaking I had been looking stealthily round me for a means of escape.
+The only way out of the room was, of course, by the door, but both
+Nikola and his ally were between me and that. Then a big stone hatchet
+hanging on the wall near me caught my eye. Hardly had I seen it before
+an idea flashed through my brain. Supposing I seized it and fought my
+way out. The door of the room stood open, and I noticed with delight
+that the key was in the lock on the outside. One rush, armed with the
+big hatchet, would take me into the passage; then before my foes could
+recover their wits I might be able to turn the key, and, having locked
+them in, make my escape from the house.
+
+"Without another thought I made up my mind, sprang to the wall, wrenched
+down the hatchet, and prepared for my rush. But by the time I had done
+it both Nikola and Draper were on their feet.
+
+"'Out of my way!' I cried, raising my awful weapon aloft. 'Stop me at
+your peril!'
+
+"With my hatchet in the air I looked at Nikola. He was standing rigidly
+erect, with one arm out-stretched, the hand pointing at me. His eyes
+glared like living coals, and when he spoke his voice came from between
+his teeth like a serpent's hiss.
+
+"'Put down that axe!' he said.
+
+"With that the old horrible fear of him which had seized me on board
+ship came over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look
+away from them. I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he
+gazed at me in the same hideous fashion.
+
+"'Sit down in that chair,' he said quietly. 'You cannot disobey me.' And
+indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful
+dizziness was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those
+terrible eyes. They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every
+moment. Oh! I can feel the horror of them even now. As I gazed his white
+right hand was moving to and fro before me with regular sweeps, and with
+each one I felt my own will growing weaker and weaker. That I was being
+mesmerized, I had no doubt, but if I had been going to be murdered I
+could not have moved a finger to save myself.
+
+"Then there came a sudden but imperative knock at the door, and both
+Nikola and Draper rose. Next moment the man whom we had noticed in the
+train as we came up from Melbourne, and against whom you, Mr. Hatteras,
+had warned me in Sydney, entered the room. He crossed and stood
+respectfully before Nikola.
+
+"'Well, Mr. Eastover, what news?' asked the latter. 'Have you done what
+I told you?'
+
+"'Everything,' the man answered, taking an envelope from his pocket.
+'Here is the letter you wanted.'
+
+"Nikola took it from his subordinate's hand, broke the seal, and having
+withdrawn the contents, read it carefully. All this time, seeing
+resistance was quite useless, I did not move. I felt too sick and giddy
+for anything. When he had finished his correspondence Nikola said
+something in an undertone to Draper, who immediately left the room.
+During the time he was absent none of us spoke. Presently he returned,
+bringing with him a wine glass filled with water, which he presented to
+Nikola.
+
+"'Thank you,' said that gentleman, feeling in his waistcoat pocket.
+Presently he found what he wanted and produced what looked like a small
+silver scent-bottle. Unscrewing the top, he poured from it into the wine
+glass a few drops of some dark-coloured liquid. Having done this he
+smelt it carefully and then handed it to me. 'I must ask you to drink
+this, my lord,' he said. 'You need have no fear of the result: it is
+perfectly harmless.'
+
+"Did ever man hear such a cool proposition? Very naturally I declined to
+do as he wished.
+
+"'You _must_ drink it!' he reiterated. 'Pray do so at once. I have no
+time to waste bandying words.'
+
+"'I will not drink it!' I cried, rising to my feet, and prepared to make
+a fight for it if need should be.
+
+"Once more those eyes grew terrible, and once more that hand began to
+make the passes before my face. Again I felt the dizziness stealing over
+me. His will was growing every moment too strong for me. I could not
+resist him. So when he once more said, 'Drink!' I took the glass and did
+as I was ordered. After that I remember seeing Nikola, Draper, and the
+man they called Eastover engaged in earnest conversation on the other
+side of the room. I remember Nikola crossing to where I sat and gazing
+steadfastly into my face, and after that I recollect no more until I
+came to my senses in this room, to find myself bound and gagged. For
+what seemed like hours I lay in agony, then I heard footsteps in the
+verandah, and next moment the sound of voices. I tried to call for help,
+but could utter no words. I thought you would go away without
+discovering me, but fortunately for me you did not do so. Now, Mr.
+Hatteras, I have told you everything."
+
+For some time after the Marquis had concluded his strange story both the
+Inspector and I sat in deep thought. That Beckenham had been kidnapped
+in order that he should be out of the way while the villainous plot for
+abducting Phyllis was being enacted there could be no doubt. But why had
+he been chosen? and what clues were we to gather from what he had told
+us? I turned to the Inspector and said--
+
+"What do you think will be the best course for us to pursue now?"
+
+"I have been wondering myself. I think, as there is nothing to be
+learned from this house, the better plan would be for you two gentlemen
+to go back to Mr. Wetherell, while I return to the detective office and
+see if anything has been discovered by the men there. As soon as I have
+found out I will join you at Potts Point. What do you think?"
+
+I agreed that it would be the best course; so, taking the Marquis by the
+arms (for he was still too weak to walk alone), we left the house, and
+were about to step into the street when I stopped, and asking them to
+wait for me ran back into the room again. In the corner, just as it had
+been thrown down, lay the rope with which Beckenham had been bound and
+the pad which had been fitted over his mouth. I picked both up and
+carried them into the verandah.
+
+"Come here, Mr. Inspector," I cried. "I thought I should learn something
+from this. Look at this rope and this pad, and tell me what you make of
+them."
+
+He took each up in turn and looked them over and over. But he only shook
+his head.
+
+"I don't see anything to guide us," he said.
+
+"Don't you?" I cried. "Why, they tell me more than I have learnt from
+anything else I've seen. Look at the two ends of this. They're seized!"
+
+I looked triumphantly at him, but he only stared at me in surprise, and
+said, "What do you mean by 'seized'?"
+
+"Why, I mean that the ends are bound up in this way--look for yourself.
+Now not one landsman in a hundred _seizes_ a rope's end. This line was
+taken from some ship in the harbour, and----By Jove! here's another
+discovery!"
+
+"What now?" he cried, being by this time almost as excited as I was
+myself.
+
+"Why, look here," I said, holding the middle of the rope up to the
+light, so that we could get a better view of it. "Not very many hours
+ago this rope was running through a block, and that block was an
+uncommon one."
+
+"How do you know that it was an uncommon one?"
+
+"Because it has been newly painted, and what's funnier still, painted
+green, of all other colours. Look at this streak of paint along the
+line; see how it's smudged. Now, let's review the case as we walk
+along."
+
+So saying, with the Marquis between us, we set off down the street,
+hoping to be able to pick up a cab.
+
+"First and foremost," I said, "remember old Draper's talk of the South
+Seas--remember the collection of curios he possessed. Probably he owns a
+schooner, and it's more than probable that this line and this bit of
+canvas came from it."
+
+"I see what you're driving at," said the Inspector. "It's worth
+considering. Directly I get to the office I will set men to work to try
+and find this mysterious gentleman. You would know him again, my lord?"
+
+"I should know him anywhere," was Beckenham's immediate reply.
+
+"And have you any idea at all where this house, to which he conducted
+you, is located?"
+
+"None at all. I only know that it was about half-way down a street of
+which all the houses, save the one at the corner--which was a grocer's
+shop--were one-storied villas."
+
+"Nothing a little more definite, I suppose?"
+
+"Stay! I remember that there was an empty house with broken windows
+almost opposite, and that on either side of the steps leading up to the
+front door were two stone eagles with out-stretched wings. The head of
+one of the eagles--the left, I think--was missing."
+
+The Inspector noted these things in his pocket-book, and just as he had
+finished we picked up a cab and called it to the side walk. When we had
+got in and given the driver Mr. Wetherell's address, I said to the
+Inspector--"What are you going to do first?"
+
+"Put some men on to find Mr. Draper, and some more to find a schooner
+with her blocks newly painted green."
+
+"You won't be long in letting us know what you discover?" I said.
+"Remember how anxious we are."
+
+"You may count on my coming to you at once with any news I may procure,"
+he answered.
+
+A few moments later we drew up at Mr. Wetherell's door. Bidding the
+Inspector good-bye we went up the steps and rang the bell. By the time
+the cab was out in the street again we were in the house making our way,
+behind the butler, to Mr. Wetherell's study.
+
+The old gentleman had not gone to bed, but sat just as I had left him so
+many hours before. As soon as we were announced he rose to receive us.
+
+"Thank God, Mr. Hatteras, you have come back!" he said. "I have been in
+a perfect fever waiting for you. What have you to report?"
+
+"Not very much, I'm afraid," I answered. "But first let me have the
+pleasure of introducing the real Marquis of Beckenham to you, whom we
+have had the good fortune to find and rescue."
+
+Mr. Wetherell bowed gravely and held out his hand.
+
+"My lord," he said, "I am thankful that you have been discovered. I look
+upon it as one step towards the recovery of my poor girl. I hope now
+that both you and Mr. Hatteras will take up your abode with me during
+the remainder of your stay in the colony. You have had a scurvy welcome
+to New South Wales. We must see if we can't make up to you for it. But
+you look thoroughly worn out; I expect you would like to go to bed."
+
+He rang the bell, and when his butler appeared, gave him some
+instructions about preparing rooms for us.
+
+Ten minutes later the man returned and stated that our rooms were ready,
+whereupon Mr. Wetherell himself conducted Beckenham to the apartment
+assigned to him. When he returned to me, he asked if I would not like to
+retire too, but I would not hear of it. I could not have slept a wink,
+so great was my anxiety. Seeing this, he seated himself and listened
+attentively while I gave him an outline of Beckenham's story. I had
+hardly finished before I heard a carriage roll up to the door. There was
+a ring at the bell, and presently the butler, who, like ourselves, had
+not dreamt of going to bed, though his master had repeatedly urged him
+to do so, entered and announced the Inspector.
+
+Wetherell hobbled across to receive him with an anxious face. "Have you
+any better tidings for me?" he asked.
+
+"Not very much, I'm afraid, sir," the Inspector said, shaking his head.
+"The best I have to tell you is that your carriage and horse have been
+found in the yard of an empty house off Pitt Street."
+
+"Have you been able to discover any clue as to who put them there?"
+
+"Not one! The horse was found out of the shafts tied to the wall. There
+was not a soul about the place."
+
+Wetherell sat down again and covered his face with his hands. At that
+instant the telephone bell in the corner of the room rang sharply. I
+jumped up and went across to it. Placing the receivers to my ears, I
+heard a small voice say, "Is that Mr. Wetherell's house, Potts Point?"
+
+"Yes," I answered.
+
+"Who is speaking?"
+
+"Mr. Hatteras. Mr. Wetherell, however, is in the room. Who are you?"
+
+"Detective officer. Will you tell Mr. Wetherell that Mr. Draper's house
+has been discovered?"
+
+I communicated the message to Mr. Wetherell, and then the Inspector
+joined me at the instrument and spoke. "Where is the house?" he
+inquired.
+
+"83, Charlemagne Street--north side."
+
+"Very good. Inspector Murdkin speaking. Let plain clothes men be
+stationed at either end of the street, and tell them to be on the look
+out for Draper, and to wait for me. I'll start for the house at once."
+
+He rang off and then turned to me.
+
+"Are you too tired to come with me, Mr. Hatteras?" he inquired.
+
+"Of course not," I answered. "Let us go at once."
+
+"God bless you!" said Wetherell. "I hope you may catch the fellow."
+
+Bidding him good-bye, we went downstairs again, and jumped into the cab,
+which was directed to the street in question.
+
+Though it was a good distance from our starting-point, in less than half
+an hour we had pulled up at the corner. As the cab stopped, a tall man,
+dressed in blue serge, who had been standing near the lamp-post, came
+forward and touched his hat.
+
+"Good-morning, Williams," said the Inspector. "Any sign of our man?"
+
+"Not one, sir. He hasn't come down the street since I've been here."
+
+"Very good. Now come along and we'll pay the house a visit."
+
+So saying he told the cabman to follow us slowly, and we proceeded down
+the street. About half-way along he stopped and pointed to a house on
+the opposite side.
+
+"That is the house his lordship mentioned, with the broken windows, and
+this is where Mr. Draper dwells, if I am not much mistaken--see the
+eagles are on either, side of the steps, just as described."
+
+It was exactly as Beckenham had told us, even to the extent of the
+headless eagle on the left of the walk. It was a pretty little place,
+and evidently still occupied, as a maid was busily engaged cleaning the
+steps.
+
+Pushing open the gate, the Inspector entered the little garden and
+accosted the girl.
+
+"Good-morning," he said politely. "Pray, is your master at home?"
+
+"Yes, sir; he's at breakfast just now."
+
+"Well, would you mind telling him that two gentlemen would like to see
+him?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+The girl rose to her feet, and, wiping her hands on her apron, led the
+way into the house. We followed close behind her. Then, asking us to
+wait a moment where we were, she knocked at a door on the right, and
+opening it, disappeared within.
+
+"Now," said the Inspector, "our man will probably appear, and we shall
+have him nicely."
+
+The Inspector had scarcely spoken before the door opened again, and a
+man came out. To our surprise, however, he was very tall and stout, with
+a round, jovial face, and a decided air of being satisfied with himself
+and the world in general.
+
+"To what do I owe the honour of this visit?" he said, looking at the
+Inspector.
+
+"I am an Inspector of Police, as you see," answered my companion, "and
+we are looking for a man named Draper, who yesterday was in possession
+of this house."
+
+"I am afraid you have made some little mistake," returned the other. "I
+am the occupier of this house, and have been for some months past. No
+Mr. Draper has anything at all to do with it."
+
+The Inspector's face was a study for perfect bewilderment. Nor could
+mine have been much behind it. The Marquis had given such a minute
+description of the dwelling opposite and the two stone birds on the
+steps, that there could be no room for doubt that this _was_ the house.
+And yet it was physically impossible that this man could be Draper; and,
+if it were the place where Beckenham had been drugged, why were the
+weapons, etc., he had described not in the hall?
+
+"I cannot understand it at all," said the Inspector, turning to me.
+"This is the house, and yet where are the things with which it ought to
+be furnished?"
+
+"You have a description of the furniture, then?" said the owner. "That
+is good, for it will enable me to prove to you even more clearly that
+you are mistaken. Pray come and see my sitting-rooms for yourselves."
+
+He led the way into the apartment from which he had been summoned, and
+we followed him. It was small and nicely furnished, but not a South-Sea
+curio or native weapon was to be seen in it. Then we followed him to the
+corresponding room at the back of the house. This was upholstered in the
+latest fashion; but again there was no sign of what Beckenham had led us
+to expect we should find. We were completely nonplussed.
+
+"I am afraid we have troubled you without cause," said the Inspector, as
+we passed out into the hall again.
+
+"Don't mention it," the owner answered; "I find my compensation in the
+knowledge that I am not involved in any police unpleasantness."
+
+"By the way," said the Inspector suddenly, "have you any idea who your
+neighbours may be?"
+
+"Oh, dear, yes!" the man replied. "On my right I have a frigidly
+respectable widow of Low Church tendencies. On my left, the Chief Teller
+of the Bank of New Holland."
+
+"In that case we can only apologize for our intrusion and wish you
+good-morning."
+
+"Pray don't apologize. I should have been glad to have assisted you.
+Good-morning."
+
+We went down the steps again and out into the street. As we passed
+through the gate, the Inspector stopped and examined a mark on the
+right-hand post. Then he stooped and picked up what looked like a
+pebble. Having done so we resumed our walk.
+
+"What on earth can be the meaning of it all?" I asked. "Can his lordship
+have made a mistake?"
+
+"No, I think not. We have been cleverly duped, that's all."
+
+"What makes you think so?"
+
+"I didn't think so until we passed through the gate on our way out. Now
+I'm certain of it. Come across the street."
+
+I followed him across the road to a small plain-looking house, with a
+neatly-curtained bow window and a brass plate on the front door. From
+the latter I discovered that the proprietress of the place was a
+dressmaker, but I was completely at a loss to understand why we were
+visiting her. As soon as the door was opened the Inspector asked if Miss
+Tiffins were at home, and, on being told that she was, inquired if we
+might see her. The maid went away to find out, and presently returned
+and begged us to follow her. We did so down a small passage towards the
+door of the room which contained the bow window.
+
+Miss Tiffins bade us be seated, and then asked in what way she could be
+of service to us.
+
+"In the first place, madam," said the Inspector, "a serious crime has
+been perpetrated, and I have reason to believe that it may be in your
+power to give us a clue to the persons who committed it."
+
+"You frighten me, sir," replied the lady. "I cannot at all see in what
+way I can help you. I lead a life of the greatest quietness."
+
+"I do not wish to imply that you do know anything of them. I only want
+you to carry your memory back as far as yesterday, and to answer me the
+few simple questions I may ask you."
+
+"I will answer them to the best of my ability."
+
+"Well, in the first place, may I ask if you remember seeing a brougham
+drive up to that house opposite about mid-day yesterday?"
+
+"No, I cannot say that I do," the old lady replied after a moment's
+consideration.
+
+"Do you remember seeing a number of men leave the house during the
+afternoon?"
+
+"No. If they came out I did not notice them."
+
+"Now, think for one moment, if you please, and tell me what vehicles, if
+any, you remember seeing stop there."
+
+"Let me try to remember. There was Judge's baker's cart, about three,
+the milk about five, and a furniture van about half-past six."
+
+"That's just what I want to know. And have you any recollection whose
+furniture van it was?"
+
+"Yes. I remember reading the name as it turned round. Goddard & James,
+George Street. I wondered if the tenant was going to move."
+
+The Inspector rose, and I followed his example.
+
+"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Miss Tiffins. You have helped me
+materially."
+
+"I am glad of that," she answered; "but I trust I shall not be wanted to
+give evidence in court."
+
+"You need have no fear on that score," the Inspector answered.
+"Good-day."
+
+When we had left the house the Inspector turned to me and said--
+
+"It was a great piece of luck finding a dressmaker opposite. Commend me
+to ladies of that profession for knowing what goes on in the street. Now
+we will visit Messrs. Goddard & James and see who hired the things.
+Meantime, Williams," (here he called the plain-clothes constable to him),
+"you had better remain here and watch that house. If the man we saw
+comes out, follow him, and let me know where he goes."
+
+"Very good, sir," the constable replied, and we left him to his vigil.
+
+Then, hailing a passing cab, we jumped into it and directed the driver
+to convey us to George Street. By this time it was getting on for
+mid-day, and we were both worn out. But I was in such a nervous state
+that I could not remain inactive. Phyllis had been in Nikola's hands
+nearly fourteen hours, and so far we had not obtained one single
+definite piece of information as to her whereabouts.
+
+Arriving at the shop of Messrs. Goddard & James, we went inside and
+asked to see the chief partner. An assistant immediately conveyed us to
+an office at the rear of the building, where we found an elderly
+gentleman writing at a desk. He looked up as we entered, and then,
+seeing the Inspector's uniform, rose and asked our business.
+
+"The day before yesterday," began my companion, "you supplied a
+gentleman with a number of South-Sea weapons and curios on hire, did you
+not?"
+
+"I remember doing so--yes," was the old gentleman's answer. "What about
+it?"
+
+"Only I should be glad if you would favour me with a description of the
+person who called upon you about them--or a glimpse of his letter, if he
+wrote."
+
+"He called and saw me personally."
+
+"Ah! That is good. Now would you be so kind as to describe him?"
+
+"Well, in the first place, he was very tall and rather handsome; he had,
+if I remember rightly, a long brown moustache, and was decidedly well
+dressed."
+
+"That doesn't tell us very much, does it? Was he alone?"
+
+"No. He had with him, when he came into the office, an individual whose
+face remains fixed in my memory--indeed I cannot get it out of my head."
+
+Instantly I became all excitement.
+
+"What was this second person like?" I asked.
+
+"Well, I can hardly tell you--that is to say, I can hardly give you a
+good enough description of him to make you see him as I saw him. He was
+tall and yet very slim, had black hair, a sallow complexion, and the
+blackest eyes I ever saw in a man. He was clean-shaven and exquisitely
+dressed, and when he spoke, his teeth glittered like so many pearls. I
+never saw another man like him in my life."
+
+"Nikola, for a thousand!" I cried, bringing my hand down with a thump
+upon the table.
+
+"It looks as if we're on the track at last," said the Inspector. Then,
+turning to Mr. Goddard again: "And may I ask now what excuse they made
+to you for wanting these things!"
+
+"They did not offer any; they simply paid a certain sum down for the
+hire of them, gave me their address, and then left."
+
+"And the address was?"
+
+"83, Charlemagne Street. Our van took the things there and fetched them
+away last night."
+
+"Thank you. And now one or two other questions. What name did the hirer
+give?"
+
+"Eastover."
+
+"When they left your shop how did they go away?"
+
+"A cab was waiting at the door for them, and I walked out to it with
+them."
+
+"There were only two of them, you think?"
+
+"No. There was a third person waiting for them in the cab, and it was
+that very circumstance which made me anxious to have my things brought
+back as soon as possible. If I had been able to, I should have even
+declined to let them go."
+
+"Why so?"
+
+"Well, to tell you that would involve a story. But perhaps I had better
+tell you. It was in this way. About three years ago, through a distant
+relative, I got to know a man named Draper."
+
+"Draper!" I cried. "You don't mean--but there, I beg your pardon. Pray
+go on."
+
+"As I say, I got to know this man Draper, who was a South-Sea trader. We
+met once or twice, and then grew more intimate. So friendly did we at
+last become, that I even went so far as to put some money into a scheme
+he proposed to me. It was a total failure. Draper proved a perfect fraud
+and a most unbusiness-like person, and all I got out of the transaction
+was the cases of curios and weapons which this man Eastover hired from
+me. It was because--when I went out with my customers to their cab--I
+saw this man Draper waiting for them that I became uneasy about my
+things. However, all's well that ends well, and as they returned my
+goods and paid the hire I must not grumble."
+
+"And now tell me what you know of Draper's present life," the Inspector
+said.
+
+"Ah! I'm afraid of that I can tell you but little. He has been twice
+declared bankrupt, and the last time there was some fuss made over his
+schooner, the _Merry Duchess_."
+
+"He possesses a schooner, then?"
+
+"Oh, yes! A nice boat. She's in harbour now."
+
+"Thank you very much, Mr. Goddard. I am obliged to you for your
+assistance in this matter."
+
+"Don't mention it. I hope that what I have told you may prove of service
+to you."
+
+"I'm sure it will. Good-day."
+
+"Good-day, gentlemen."
+
+He accompanied us to the door, and then bade us farewell. "Now what are
+we to do?" I asked.
+
+"Well, first, I am going back to the office to put a man on to find this
+schooner, and then I'm going to take an hour or two's rest. By that time
+we shall know enough to be able to lay our hands on Dr. Nikola and his
+victim, I hope."
+
+"God grant we may!"
+
+"Where are you going now?"
+
+"Back to Potts Point," I answered.
+
+We thereupon bade each other farewell and set off in different
+directions.
+
+When I reached Mr. Wetherell's house I learned from the butler that his
+master had fallen asleep in the library. Not wishing to disturb him, I
+inquired the whereabouts of my own bedroom, and on being conducted to
+it, laid myself down fully dressed upon the bed. So utterly worn out was
+I, that my head had no sooner touched the pillow than I was fast asleep.
+How long I lay there I do not know, but when I woke it was to find Mr.
+Wetherell standing beside me, holding a letter in his hand. He was white
+as a sheet, and trembling in every limb. "Read this, Mr. Hatteras," he
+cried. "For Heaven's sake tell me what we are to do!"
+
+I sat up on the side of the bed and read the letter he handed to me. It
+was written in what was evidently a disguised hand, on common
+note-paper, and ran:----
+
+     "TO MR. WETHERELL,
+     "POTTS POINT, SYDNEY
+
+     "DEAR SIR,
+
+     "This is to inform you that your daughter is in very safe keeping.
+     If you wish to find her you had better be quick about it. What's
+     more, you had better give up consulting the police, and such like,
+     in the hope of getting hold of her. The only way you _can_ get her
+     will be to act as follows: At eight o'clock to-night charter a boat
+     and pull down the harbour as far as Shark Point. When you get
+     there, light your pipe three times, and some one in a boat near by
+     will do the same. Be sure to bring with you the sum of _one hundred
+     thousand pounds in gold, and--this is most important--bring with
+     you the little stick you got from China Pete, or do not come at
+     all_. Above all, do not bring more than one man. If you do not put
+     in an appearance you will not hear of your daughter again.
+
+     Yours obediently,
+     "THE MAN WHO KNOWS."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+FOLLOWING UP A CLUE
+
+
+For some moments after I had perused the curious epistle Mr. Wetherell
+had brought to my room I remained wrapped in thought.
+
+"What do you make of it?" my companion asked.
+
+"I don't know what to say," I answered, looking at it again. "One thing,
+however, is quite certain, and that is that, despite its curious
+wording, it is intended you should take it seriously."
+
+"You think so?"
+
+"I do indeed. But I think when the Inspector arrives it would be just as
+well to show it to him. What do you say?"
+
+"I agree with you. Let us defer consideration of it until we see him."
+
+When, an hour later, the Inspector put in an appearance, the letter was
+accordingly placed before him, and his opinion asked concerning it. He
+read it through without comment, carefully examined the writing and
+signature, and finally held it up to the light. Having done this he
+turned to me and said:
+
+"Have you that envelope we found at the _Canary Bird_, Mr. Hatteras?"
+
+I took it out of my pocket and handed it to him. He then placed it on
+the table side by side with the letter, and through a magnifying-glass
+scrutinized both carefully. Having done so, he asked for the envelope in
+which it had arrived. Mr. Wetherell had thrown it into the waste-paper
+basket, but a moment's search brought it to light. Again he scrutinized
+both the first envelope and the letter, and then compared them with the
+second cover. "Yes, I thought so," he said. "This letter was written
+either by Nikola, or at his desire. The paper is the same as that he
+purchased at the stationer's shop we visited."
+
+"And what had we better do now?" queried Wetherell, who had been eagerly
+waiting for his opinion.
+
+"We must think," said the Inspector. "In the first place, I suppose you
+don't feel inclined to pay the large sum mentioned here?"
+
+"Not if I can help it, of course," answered Wetherell. "But if the worst
+comes to the worst, and I cannot rescue my poor girl any other way, I
+would sacrifice even more than that."
+
+"Well, we'll see if we can find her without compelling you to pay
+anything at all," the Inspector cried. "I've got an idea in my head."
+
+"And what is that?" I cried; for I, too, had been thinking out a plan.
+
+"Well, first and foremost," he answered, "I want you, Mr. Wetherell, to
+tell me all you can about your servants. Let us begin with the butler.
+How long has he been with you?"
+
+"Nearly twenty years."
+
+"A good and trustworthy servant, I presume?"
+
+"To the last degree. I have implicit confidence in him."
+
+"Then we may dismiss him from our minds. I think I saw a footman in the
+hall. How long has he been with you?"
+
+"Just about three months."
+
+"And what sort of a fellow is he?"
+
+"I really could not tell you very much. He seems intelligent, quick and
+willing, and up to his work."
+
+"Is your cook a man or a woman?"
+
+"A woman. She has been with me since before my wife's death--that is to
+say, nearly ten years. You need have no suspicion of her."
+
+"Housemaids?"
+
+"Two. Both have been with me some time, and seem steady, respectable
+girls. There is also a kitchen maid; but she has been with me nearly as
+long as my cook, and I would stake my reputation on her integrity."
+
+"Well, in that case, the only person who seems at all suspicious is the
+footman. May we have him up?"
+
+"With pleasure. I'll ring for him."
+
+Mr. Wetherell rang the bell, and a moment later it was answered by the
+man himself.
+
+"Come in, James, and shut the door behind you," his master said.
+
+The man did as he was ordered, but not without looking, as I thought, a
+little uncomfortable. The Inspector I could see had noticed this too,
+for he had been watching him intently ever since he had appeared in the
+room.
+
+"James," said Mr. Wetherell, "the Inspector of Police wishes to ask you
+a few questions. Answer him to the best of your ability."
+
+"To begin with," said the Inspector, "I want you to look at this
+envelope. Have you seen it before?"
+
+He handed him the envelope of the anonymous letter addressed to Mr.
+Wetherell. The man took it and turned it over in his hands.
+
+"Yes, sir," he said, "I have seen it before; I took it in at the front
+door."
+
+"From whom?"
+
+"From a little old woman, sir," the man answered.
+
+"A little old woman!" cried the Inspector, evidently surprised. "What
+sort of woman?"
+
+"Well, sir, I don't know that I can give you much of a description of
+her. She was very small, had a sort of nut-cracker face, a little black
+poke bonnet, and walked with a stick."
+
+"Should you know her again if you saw her?"
+
+"Oh yes, sir."
+
+"Did she say anything when she gave you the letter?"
+
+"Only, 'For Mr. Wetherell, young man.' That was all, sir."
+
+"And you didn't ask if there was an answer? That was rather a singular
+omission on your part, was it not?"
+
+"She didn't give me time, sir. She just put it into my hand and went
+down the steps again."
+
+"That will do. Now, Mr. Wetherell, I think we'd better see about getting
+that money from the bank. You need not wait, my man."
+
+The footman thereupon left the room, while both Mr. Wetherell and I
+stared at the Inspector in complete astonishment. He laughed.
+
+"You are wondering why I said that," he remarked.
+
+"I must confess it struck me as curious."
+
+"Well, let me tell you I did it with a purpose. Did you notice that
+young man's face when he entered the room and when I gave him the
+letter? There can be no doubt about it, he is in the secret."
+
+"You mean that he is in Nikola's employ? Then why don't you arrest him?"
+
+"Because I want to be quite certain first. I said that about the money
+because, if he is Nikola's agent, he will carry the information to him,
+and by so doing keep your daughter in Sydney for at least a day longer.
+Do you see?"
+
+"I do, and I admire your diplomacy. Now what is your plan?"
+
+"May I first tell mine?" I said.
+
+"Do," said the Inspector, "for mine is not quite matured yet."
+
+"Well," I said, "my idea is this. I propose that Mr. Wetherell shall
+obtain from his bank a number of gold bags, fill them with lead discs to
+represent coin, and let it leak out before this man that he has got the
+money in the house. Then to-night Mr. Wetherell will set off for the
+water-side. I will row him down the harbour disguised as a boatman. We
+will pick up the boat, as arranged in that letter. In the meantime you
+must start from the other side in a police boat, pull up to meet us, and
+arrest the man. Then we will force him to disclose Miss Wetherell's
+whereabouts, and act upon his information. What do you say?"
+
+"It certainly sound feasible," said the Inspector, and Mr. Wetherell
+nodded his head approvingly. At that moment the Marquis entered the
+room, looking much better than when we had found him on the preceding
+night, and the conversation branched off into a different channel.
+
+My plot seemed to commend itself so much to Mr. Wetherell's judgment,
+that he ordered his carriage and drove off there and then to his bank,
+while I went down to the harbour, arranged about a boat, and having done
+so, proceeded up to the town, where I purchased a false beard, an old
+dungaree suit, such as a man loafing about the harbour might wear, and a
+slouch hat of villainous appearance. By the time I got back to the house
+Mr. Wetherell had returned. With great delight he conducted me to his
+study, and, opening his safe, showed me a number of canvas bags, on each
+of which was printed L1,000.
+
+"But surely there are not L100,000 there?"
+
+"No," said the old gentleman with a chuckle. "There is the counterfeit
+of L50,000 there; for the rest I propose to show him these."
+
+So saying, he dived his hand into a drawer and produced a sheaf of crisp
+bank-notes.
+
+"There--these are notes for the balance of the amount."
+
+"But you surely are not going to pay? I thought we were going to try to
+catch the rascals without letting any money change hands."
+
+"So we are, do not be afraid. If you will only glance at these notes you
+will see that they are dummies, every one of them. They are for me to
+exhibit to the man in the boat; in the dark they'll pass muster, never
+fear."
+
+"Very good indeed," I said with a laugh. "By the time they can be
+properly examined we shall have the police at hand ready to capture
+him."
+
+"I believe we shall," the old gentleman cried, rubbing his hands
+together in delight--"I believe we shall. And a nice example we'll make
+of the rascals. Nikola thinks he can beat me; I'll show him how mistaken
+he is!"
+
+And for some time the old gentleman continued in this strain,
+confidently believing that he would have his daughter with him again by
+the time morning came. Nor was I far behind him in confidence. Since
+Nikola had not spirited her out of the country my plot seemed the one of
+all others to enable us to regain possession of her; and not only that,
+but we hoped it would give us an opportunity of punishing those who had
+so schemed against her. Suddenly an idea was born in my brain, and
+instantly I acted on it.
+
+"Mr. Wetherell," I said, "supposing, when your daughter is safe again, I
+presume so far as once more to offer myself for your son-in-law, what
+will you say?"
+
+"What will I say?" he cried. "Why, I will tell you that you shall have
+her, my boy, with ten thousand blessings on your head. I know you now;
+and since I've treated you so badly, and you've taken such a noble
+revenge, why, I'll make it up to you, or my name's not Wetherell. But we
+won't talk any more about that till we have got possession of her; we
+have other and more important things to think of. What time ought we to
+start to-night?"
+
+"The letter fixes the meeting for ten o'clock; we had better be in the
+boat by half-past nine. In the meantime I should advise you to take a
+little rest. By the way, do you think your footman realizes that you
+have the money?"
+
+"He ought to, for he carried it up to this room for me; and, what's
+more, he has applied for a holiday this afternoon."
+
+"That's to carry the information. Very good; everything is working
+excellently. Now I'm off to rest for a little while."
+
+"I'll follow your example. In the meantime I'll give orders for an early
+dinner."
+
+We dined at seven o'clock sharp, and at half-past eight I went off to my
+room to don my disguise; then, bidding the Marquis good-bye--much to the
+young gentleman's disgust, for he was most anxious to accompany us--I
+slipped quietly out of my window, crossed the garden--I hoped
+unobserved--and then went down to the harbour side, where the boat I had
+chartered was waiting for me. A quarter of an hour later Wetherell's
+carriage drove up, and on seeing it I went across and opened the door.
+My disguise was so perfect that for a moment the old gentleman seemed
+undecided whether to trust me or not. But my voice, when I spoke,
+reassured him, and then we set to work carrying the bags of spurious
+money down to the boat. As soon as this was accomplished we stepped in.
+I seated myself amid-ships and got out the oars, Mr. Wetherell taking
+the yoke-lines in the stern. Then we shoved off, and made our way out
+into the harbour.
+
+It was a dull, cloudy night, with hardly a sign of a star in the whole
+length and breadth of heaven, while every few minutes a cold, cheerless
+wind swept across the water. So chilly indeed was it that before we had
+gone very far I began to wish I had added an overcoat to my other
+disguises. We hardly spoke, but pulled slowly down towards the island
+mentioned in the letter. The strain on our nerves was intense, and I
+must confess to feeling decidedly nervous as I wondered what would
+happen if the police boat did not pull up to meet us, as we had that
+morning arranged.
+
+A quarter to ten chimed from some church ashore as we approached within
+a hundred yards of our destination. Then I rested on my oars and waited.
+All round us were the lights of bigger craft, but no rowing-boat could I
+see. About five minutes before the hour I whispered to Wetherell to make
+ready, and in answer the old gentleman took a matchbox from his pocket.
+Exactly as the town clocks struck the hour he lit a vesta; it flared a
+little and then went out. As it did so a boat shot out of the darkness
+to port. He struck a second, and then a third. As the last one burned up
+and then died away, the man rowing the boat I have just referred to
+struck a light, then another, then another, in rapid succession. Having
+finished his display, he took up his oars and propelled his boat towards
+us. When he was within talking distance he said in a gruff voice:
+
+"Is Mr. Wetherell aboard?"
+
+To this my companion immediately answered, with a tremble in his voice,
+"Yes, here I am!"
+
+"Money all right?"
+
+"Can you see if I hold it up?" asked Mr. Wetherell. As he spoke a long,
+black boat came into view on the other side of our questioner, and
+pulled slowly towards him. It was the police boat.
+
+"No, I don't want to see," said the voice again. "But this is the
+message I was to give you. Pull in towards Circular Quay and find the
+_Maid of the Mist_ barque. Go aboard her, and take your money down into
+the cuddy. There you'll get your answer."
+
+"Nothing more?" cried Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"That's all I was told," answered the man, and then said, "Good-night."
+
+At the same moment the police boat pulled up alongside him and made
+fast. I saw a dark figure enter his boat, and next moment the glare of a
+lantern fell upon the man's face. I picked up my oars and pulled over to
+them, getting there just in time to hear the Inspector ask the man his
+name.
+
+"James Burbidge," was the reply. "I don't know as how you've got
+anything against me. I'm a licensed waterman, I am."
+
+"Very likely," said the Inspector; "but I want a little explanation from
+you. How do you come to be mixed up in this business?"
+
+"What--about this 'ere message, d'you mean?"
+
+"Yes, about this message. Where is it from? Who gave it to you?"
+
+"Well, if you'll let me go, I'll tell you all about it," growled the
+man. "I was up at the _Hen and Chickens_ this evenin', just afore dark,
+takin' a nobbler along with a friend. Presently in comes a cove in a
+cloak. He beckons me outside and says, 'Do you want to earn a
+sufring?'--a sufring is twenty bob. So I says, 'My word, I do!' Then he
+says, 'Well, you go out on the harbour to-night, and be down agin Shark
+Point at ten?' I said I would, and so I was. 'You'll see a boat there
+with an old gent in it,' says he. 'He'll strike three matches, and you
+do the same. Then ask him if he's Mr. Wetherell. If he says "Yes," ask
+him if the money's all right? And if he says "Yes" to that, tell him to
+pull in towards Circular Quay and find the _Maid of the Mist_ barque.
+He's to take his money down to the cuddy, and he'll get his answer
+there.' That's the truth so 'elp me bob! I don't know what you wants to
+go arrestin' of an honest man for."
+
+The Inspector turned to the water police.
+
+"Does any man here know James Burbidge?"
+
+Two or three voices immediately answered in the affirmative, and this
+seemed to decide the officer, for he turned to the waterman again and
+said, "As some of my men seem to know you, I'll let you off. But for
+your own sake go home and keep a silent tongue."
+
+He thereupon clambered back into his own boat and bade the man depart.
+In less time than it takes to tell he was out of sight. We then drew up
+alongside the police boat.
+
+"What had we better do, Mr. Inspector?" asked Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"Find the _Maid of the Mist_ at once. She's an untenanted ship, being
+for sale. You will go aboard, sir, with your companion, and down to the
+cuddy. Don't take your money, however. We'll draw up alongside as soon
+as you're below, and when one of their gang, whom you'll despatch for
+it, comes up to get the coin, we'll collar him, and then come to your
+assistance. Do you understand?"
+
+"Perfectly. But how are we to know the vessel?"
+
+"Well, the better plan would be for you to follow us. We'll pull to
+within a hundred yards of her. I learn from one of my men here that
+she's painted white, so you'll have no difficulty in recognizing her."
+
+"Very well, then, go on, and we'll follow you."
+
+The police boat accordingly set off, and we followed about fifty yards
+behind her. A thick drizzle was now falling, and it was by no means an
+easy matter to keep her in sight. For some time we pulled on. Presently
+we began to get closer to her. In a quarter of an hour we were
+alongside.
+
+"There's your craft," said the Inspector, pointing as he spoke to a big
+vessel showing dimly through the scud to starboard of us. "Pull over to
+her."
+
+I followed his instructions, and, arriving at the vessel's side, hitched
+on, made the painter fast, and then, having clambered aboard, assisted
+Mr. Wetherell to do the same. As soon as we had both gained the deck we
+stood and looked about us, at the same time listening for any sound
+which might proclaim the presence of the men we had come to meet; but
+save the sighing of the wind in the shrouds overhead, the dismal
+creaking of blocks, and the drip of moisture upon the deck, no sign was
+to be heard. There was nothing for it, therefore, but to make our way
+below as best we could. Fortunately I had had the forethought to bring
+with me a small piece of candle, which came in very handily at the
+present juncture, seeing that the cuddy, when we reached the companion
+ladder, was wrapt in total darkness. Very carefully I stepped inside,
+lit the candle, and then, with Mr. Wetherell at my heels, made my way
+down the steps.
+
+Arriving at the bottom we found ourselves in a fair-sized saloon of the
+old-fashioned type. Three cabins stood on either side, while from the
+bottom of the companion ladder, by which we had descended, to a long
+cushioned locker right aft under the wheel, ran a table covered with
+American cloth. But there was no man of any kind to be seen. I opened
+cabin after cabin, and searched each with a like result. We were
+evidently quite alone in the ship.
+
+"What do you make of it all?" I asked of Mr. Wetherell.
+
+"It looks extremely suspicious," he answered. "Perhaps we're too early
+for them. But see, Mr. Hatteras, there's something on the table at the
+farther end."
+
+So there was--something that looked very much like a letter. Together we
+went round to the end of the table, and there, surely enough, found a
+letter pinned to the American cloth, and addressed to my companion in a
+bold but rather quaint handwriting.
+
+"It's for you, Mr. Wetherell," I said, removing the pins and presenting
+it to him. Thereupon we sat down beside the table, and he broke the seal
+with trembling fingers. It was not a very long epistle, and ran:--
+
+     "MY DEAR MR. WETHERELL,--
+
+     "Bags of imitation money and spurious bank-notes will not avail
+     you, nor is it politic to arrange that the Water Police should meet
+     you on the harbour for the purpose of arresting me. You have lost
+     your opportunity, and your daughter accordingly leaves Australia
+     to-night. I will, however, give you one more chance--take care that
+     you make the most of it. The sum I now ask is L150,000 _with the
+     stick given you by China Pete_, and must be paid without inquiry of
+     any sort. If you are agreeable to this, advertise as follows, 'I
+     will Pay--W., and give stick!' in the agony column _Sydney Morning
+     Herald_, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of this present month.
+     Arrangements will then be made with you.
+
+     "THE MAN WHO KNOWS."
+
+"Oh, my God, I've ruined all!" cried Mr. Wetherell as he put the letter
+down on the table; "and--who knows?--I may have killed my poor child!"
+
+Seeing his misery, I did my best to comfort him; but it was no use. He
+seemed utterly broken down by the failure of our scheme, and, if the
+truth must be told, my own heart was quite as heavy. One thing was very
+certain, there was a traitor in our camp. Some one had overheard our
+plans and carried them elsewhere. Could it be the footman? If so, he
+should have it made hot for him when I got sufficient proof against him;
+I could promise him that most certainly. While I was thinking over this,
+I heard a footstep on the companion stairs, and a moment later the
+Inspector made his appearance. His astonishment at finding us alone,
+reading a letter by the light of one solitary candle, was unmistakable,
+for he said, as he came towards us and sat down, "Why, how's this? Where
+are the men?"
+
+"There are none. We've been nicely sold," I answered, handing him the
+letter. He perused it without further remark, and when he had done so,
+sat drumming with his fingers upon the table in thought.
+
+"We shall have to look in your own house for the person who has given us
+away, Mr. Wetherell!" he said at last. "The folk who are running this
+affair are as cute as men are made nowadays; it's a pleasure to measure
+swords with them."
+
+"What do you think our next move had better be?"
+
+"Get home as fast as we can. I'll return with you, and we'll talk it
+over. It's no use our remaining here."
+
+We accordingly went on deck, and descended to our wherry again. This
+time the Inspector accompanied us, while the police boat set off down
+the harbour on other business. When we had seen it pull out into the
+darkness, we threw the imitation money overboard, pushed off for the
+shore, landed where we had first embarked, and then walked up to Mr.
+Wetherell's house. It was considerably after twelve o'clock by the time
+we reached it, but the butler was still sitting up for us. His
+disappointment seemed as keen as ours when he discovered that we had
+returned without his young mistress. He followed us up to the study with
+spirits and glasses, and then at his master's instruction went off to
+bed.
+
+"Now, gentlemen," began Mr. Wetherell, when the door had closed upon
+him, "let us discuss the matter thoroughly. But, before we begin, may I
+offer you cigars?"
+
+The Inspector took one, but I declined, stating that I preferred a pipe.
+But my pipe was in my bedroom, which was on the other side of the
+passage; so asking them to wait for me, I went to fetch it. I left the
+room, shutting the door behind me. But it so happened that the pipe-case
+had been moved, and it was some minutes before I could find it. Having
+done so, however, I blew out my candle, and was about to leave the room,
+which was exactly opposite the study, when I heard the green baize door
+at the end of the passage open, and a light footstep come along the
+corridor. Instantly I stood perfectly still, and waited to see who it
+might be. Closer and closer the step came, till I saw in the half dark
+the pretty figure of one of the parlour maids. On tip-toe she crept up
+to the study door, and then stooping down, listened at the keyhole.
+Instantly I was on the alert, every nerve strained to watch her. For
+nearly five minutes she stood there, and then with a glance round,
+tiptoed quietly along the passage again, closing the baize door after
+her.
+
+When she was safely out of hearing I crossed to the study. Both the
+Inspector and Mr. Wetherell saw that something had happened, and were
+going to question me. But I held up my hand.
+
+"Don't ask any questions, but tell me as quickly, and as nearly as you
+can, what you have been talking about during the last five minutes," I
+said.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Don't stop to ask questions. Believe in the importance of my haste.
+What was it?"
+
+"I have only been giving Mr. Wetherell a notion of the steps I propose
+to take," said the Inspector.
+
+"Thank you. Now I'm off. Don't sit up for me, Mr. Wetherell; I'm going
+to follow up a clue that may put us on the right scent at last. I don't
+think you had better come, Mr. Inspector, but I'll meet you here again
+at six o'clock."
+
+"You can't explain, I suppose?" said the latter, looking a little
+huffed.
+
+"I'm afraid not," I answered; "but I'll tell you this much--I saw one of
+the female servants listening at this door. She'll be off, if I mistake
+not, with the news she has picked up, and I want to watch her.
+Good-night."
+
+"Good-night, and good luck to you."
+
+Without another word I slipped off my boots, and carrying them in my
+hand, left the room, and went downstairs to the morning-room. This
+apartment looked out over the garden, and possessed a window shaded by a
+big tree. Opening it, I jumped out and carefully closed it after me.
+Then, pausing for a moment to resume my boots, I crept quietly down the
+path, jumped a low wall, and so passed into the back street. About fifty
+yards from the tradesmen's entrance, but on the opposite side of the
+road, there was a big Moreton Bay fig-tree. Under this I took my stand,
+and turned a watchful eye upon the house. It was a dark night, so that
+it would have been extremely difficult for any one across the way to
+have detected my presence.
+
+For some minutes I waited, and was beginning to wonder if I could have
+been deceived, when I heard the soft click of a latch, and next moment a
+small dark figure passed out into the street, and closed the gate after
+it. Then, pausing a moment as if to make up her mind, for the mysterious
+person was a woman, she set off quickly in the direction of the city. I
+followed about a hundred yards behind her.
+
+With the exception of one policeman, who stared very hard at me, we did
+not meet a soul. Once or twice I nearly lost her, and when we reached
+the city itself I began to see that it would be well for me to decrease
+the difference that separated us, if I did not wish to bid good-bye to
+her altogether. I accordingly hastened my steps, and in this fashion we
+passed up one street and down another, until we reached what I cannot
+help thinking must have been the lowest quarter of Sydney. On either
+hand were Chinese names and sign-boards, marine stores, slop shops, with
+pawnbrokers and public-houses galore; while in this locality few of the
+inhabitants seemed to have any idea of what bed meant. Groups of
+sullen-looking men and women were clustered at the corners, and on one
+occasion the person I was pursuing was stopped by them. But she
+evidently knew how to take care of herself, for she was soon marching on
+her way again.
+
+At the end of one long and filthily dirty street she paused and looked
+about her. I had crossed the road just before this, and was scarcely ten
+yards behind her. Pulling my hat well down to shade my face, and
+sticking my hands in my pockets, I staggered and reeled along, doing my
+best to imitate the gait of a drunken man. Seeing only me about, she
+went up to the window of a corner house and tapped with her knuckles
+thrice upon the glass. Before one could have counted twenty the door of
+the dwelling was opened, and she passed in. Now I was in a nasty
+fix--either I must be content to abandon my errand, or I must get inside
+the building, and trust to luck to procure the information I wanted.
+Fortunately, in my present disguise the girl would be hardly likely to
+recognize her master's guest. So giving them time to get into a room, I
+also went up to the door and turned the handle. To my delight it was
+unlocked. I opened it, and entered the house.
+
+The passage was in total darkness; but I could make out where the door
+of the room I wanted to find was located by a thin streak of light low
+down upon the floor. As softly as I possibly could, I crept up to it,
+and bent down to look through the keyhole. The view was necessarily
+limited, but I could just make out the girl I had followed sitting upon
+a bed; while leaning against the wall, a dirty clay pipe in her mouth,
+was the vilest old woman I have ever in my life set eyes on. She was
+very small, with a pinched-up nut-cracker face, dressed in an old bit of
+tawdry finery, more than three sizes too large for her. Her hair fell
+upon her shoulders in a tangled mass, and from under it her eyes gleamed
+out like those of a wicked little Scotch terrier ready to bite. As I
+bent down to listen I heard her say:--
+
+"Well, my pretty dear, and what information have you got for the
+gentleman, that brings you down at this time of night?"
+
+"Only that the _coppers_ are going to start at daylight looking for the
+_Merry Duchess_. I heard the Inspector say so himself."
+
+"At daylight, are they?" croaked the old hag. "Well, I wish 'em joy of
+their search, I do--them--them! Any more news, my dear?"
+
+"The master and that long-legged slab of a Hatteras went out to-night
+down the harbour. The old man brought home a lot of money bags, but what
+was in 'em was only dummies."
+
+"I know that, too, my dear. Nicely they was sold. Ha! ha!"
+
+She chuckled like an old fiend, and then began to cut up another pipe of
+tobacco in the palm of her hand like a man. She smoked negro head, and
+the reek of it came out through the keyhole to me. But the younger woman
+was evidently impatient, for she rose and said:--
+
+"When do they sail with the girl, Sally?"
+
+"They're gone, my dear. They went at ten to-night."
+
+At this news my heart began to throb painfully.
+
+"They weren't long about it," said the younger girl.
+
+"That Nikola's not long about anything," remarked the old woman.
+
+"I hope Pipa Lannu will agree with her health--the stuck-up minx--I do!"
+the younger remarked spitefully. "Now where's the money he said I was to
+have. Give it to me and let me be off. I shall get the sack if this is
+found out."
+
+"It was five pound I was to give yer, wasn't it?" the elder woman said.
+
+"Ten," said the younger sharply. "No larks, Sally. I know too much for
+you!"
+
+"Oh, you know a lot, honey, don't you? Of course you'd be expected to
+know more than old Aunt Sally, who's never seen anything at all,
+wouldn't you? Go along with you!"
+
+"Hand me over the money, I say, and let me be off!"
+
+"Of course you do know a lot more, don't you? There's a pound!"
+
+While they were wrangling over the payment I crept down the passage
+again to the front door. Once I had reached it, I opened it softly and
+went out, closing it carefully behind me. Then I took to my heels and
+ran down the street in the direction I had come. Inquiring my way here
+and there from policemen, I eventually reached home, scaled the wall,
+and went across the garden to the morning-room window. This I opened,
+and by its help made my way into the house and upstairs. As I had
+expected that he would have gone to bed, my astonishment was
+considerable at meeting Mr. Wetherell on the landing.
+
+"Well, what have you discovered?" he asked anxiously as I came up to
+him.
+
+"Information of the greatest importance," I answered; "but one other
+thing first. Call up your housekeeper, and tell her you have reason to
+believe that one of the maids is not in the house. Warn her not to
+mention you in the matter, but to discharge the girl before breakfast.
+By the time you've done that I'll have changed my things and be ready to
+tell you everything."
+
+"I'll go and rouse her at once; I'm all impatience to know what you have
+discovered."
+
+He left me and passed through the green baize door to the servants'
+wing; while I went to my bedroom and changed my things. This done, I
+passed into the study, where I found a meal awaiting me. To this I did
+ample justice, for my long walk and the excitement of the evening had
+given me an unusual appetite.
+
+Just as I was cutting myself a third slice of beef Mr. Wetherell
+returned, and informed me that the housekeeper was on the alert, and
+would receive the girl on her reappearance.
+
+"Now tell me of your doings," said the old gentleman.
+
+I thereupon narrated all that had occurred, and when I had finished, he
+said:--
+
+"Do you believe then that my poor girl has been carried off by Nikola to
+this island called Pipa Lannu?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Well, then, what are we to do to rescue her? Shall, I ask the
+Government to send a gunboat down?"
+
+"If you think it best; but, for my own part, I must own I should act
+independently of them. You don't want to make a big sensation, I
+presume; and remember, to arrest Nikola would be to open the whole
+affair."
+
+"Then what do you propose?"
+
+"I propose," I answered, "that we charter a small schooner, fit her out,
+select half a dozen trustworthy and silent men, and then take our
+departure for Pipa Lannu. I am well acquainted with the island, and,
+what's more, I hold a master's certificate. We would sail in after dark,
+arm all our party thoroughly, and go ashore. I expect they will be
+keeping your daughter a prisoner in a hut. If that is so, we will
+surround it and rescue her without any trouble, and, what is better
+still, without any public scandal. What do you think?"
+
+"I quite agree with what you say. I think it's an excellent idea; and,
+while you've been speaking, I too have been thinking of something.
+There's my old friend McMurtough, who has a nice steam yacht. I'm sure
+he'd be willing to let us have the use of her."
+
+"Where does he live?--far from here?"
+
+"His office would be best; we'll go over and see him directly after
+breakfast if you like."
+
+"By all means. Now I think I'll go and take a little nap; I feel quite
+worn out. When the Inspector arrives you will be able to explain all
+that has happened; but I think I should ask him to keep a quiet tongue
+in his head about the island. If it leaks out at all, it may warn them,
+and they'll be off elsewhere--to a place perhaps where we may not be
+able to find them."
+
+"I'll remember," said Mr. Wetherell, and thereupon I retired to my room,
+and, having partially undressed, threw myself upon my bed. In less than
+two minutes I was fast asleep, never waking until the first gong sounded
+for breakfast; then, after a good bath, which refreshed me wonderfully,
+I dressed in my usual habiliments, and went downstairs. Mr. Wetherell
+and the Marquis were in the dining-room, and when I entered both he and
+the Marquis, who held a copy of the _Sydney Morning Herald_ in his hand,
+seemed prodigiously excited.
+
+"I say, Mr. Hatteras," said the latter (after I had said
+"Good-morning"), "here's an advertisement which is evidently intended
+for you!"
+
+"What is it about?" I asked. "Who wants to advertise for me?"
+
+"Read for yourself," said the Marquis, giving me the paper.
+
+I took it, and glanced down the column to which he referred me until I
+came to the following:--
+
+"Richard Hatteras.--If this should meet the eye of Mr. Richard Hatteras,
+of Thursday Island, Torres Straits, lately returned from England, and
+believed to be now in Sydney; he is earnestly requested to call at the
+office of Messrs. Dawson & Gladman, Solicitors, Castlereagh Street,
+where he will hear of something to his advantage."
+
+There could be no doubt at all that I was the person referred to; but
+what could be the reason of it all? What was there that I could possibly
+hear to my advantage, save news of Phyllis, and it would be most
+unlikely that I would learn anything about the movements of the gang who
+had abducted her from a firm of first-class solicitors such as I
+understood Messrs. Dawson & Gladman to be. However, it was no use
+wondering about it, so I dismissed the matter from my mind for the
+present, and took my place at the table. In the middle of the meal the
+butler left the room, in response to a ring at the front door. When he
+returned, it was to inform me that a man was in the hall, who wished to
+have a few moments' conversation with me. Asking Mr. Wetherell to excuse
+me, I left the room.
+
+In the hall I found a seedy-looking individual of about middle age. He
+bowed, and on learning that my name was Hatteras, asked if he might be
+permitted five minutes alone with me. In response, I led him to the
+morning-room, and having closed the door, pointed to a seat. "What is
+your business?" I inquired, when he had sat down.
+
+"It is rather a curious affair to approach, Mr. Hatteras," the man
+began. "But to commence, may I be permitted to suggest that you are
+uneasy in your mind about a person who has disappeared?"
+
+"You may certainly suggest that, if you like," I answered cautiously.
+
+"If it were in a man's power to furnish a clue regarding that person's
+whereabouts, it might be useful to you, I suppose," he continued,
+craftily watching me out of the corners of his eyes.
+
+"Very useful," I replied. "Are you in a position to do so?"
+
+"I might possibly be able to afford you some slight assistance," he went
+on. "That is, of course, provided it were made worth my while."
+
+"What do you call 'worth your while'?"
+
+"Well, shall we say five hundred pounds? That's not a large sum for
+really trustworthy information. I ought to ask a thousand, considering
+the danger I'm running in mixing myself up with the affair. Only I'm a
+father myself, and that's why I do it."
+
+"I see. Well, let me tell you, I consider five hundred too much."
+
+"Well then I'm afraid we can't trade. I'm sorry."
+
+"So am I. But I'm not going to buy a pig in a poke."
+
+"Shall we say four hundred, then?"
+
+"No. Nor three--two, or one. If your information is worth anything, I
+don't mind giving you fifty pounds for it. But I won't give a halfpenny
+more."
+
+As I spoke, I rose as if to terminate the interview. Instantly my
+visitor adopted a different tone.
+
+"My fault is my generosity," he said. "It's the ruin of me. Well, you
+shall have it for fifty. Give me the money, and I'll tell you."
+
+"By no means," I answered. "I must hear the information first. Trust to
+my honour. If what you tell me is worth anything, I'll give you fifty
+pounds for it. Now what is it?"
+
+"Well, sir, to begin with, you must understand that I was standing at
+the corner of Pitt Street an evening or two back, when two men passed me
+talking earnestly together. One of 'em was a tall strapping fellow, the
+other a little chap. I never saw two eviller looking rascals in my life.
+Just as they came alongside me, one says to the other, 'Don't be afraid;
+I'll have the girl at the station all right at eight o'clock sharp.' The
+other said something that I could not catch, and then I lost sight of
+them. But what I had heard stuck in my head, and so I accordingly went
+off to the station, arriving there a little before the hour. I hadn't
+been there long before the smallest of the two chaps I'd seen in the
+street came on to the platform, and began looking about him. By the face
+of him he didn't seem at all pleased at not finding the other man
+waiting for him. A train drew up at the platform, and presently, just
+before it started, I saw the other and a young lady wearing a heavy veil
+come quickly along. The first man saw them, and gave a little cry of
+delight. 'I thought you'd be too late,' says he. 'No fear of that,' says
+the other, and jumps into a first-class carriage, telling the girl to
+get in after him, which she does, crying the while, as I could see. Then
+the chap on the platform says to the other who was leaning out of the
+window, 'Write to me from Bourke, and tell me how she gets on.' 'You
+bet,' says his friend. 'And don't you forget to keep your eye on
+Hatteras.' 'Don't you be afraid,' answered the man on the platform. Then
+the guard whistled, and the train went out of the station. Directly I
+was able to I got away, and first thing this morning came on here. Now
+you have my information, and I'll trouble you for that fifty pound."
+
+"Not so fast, my friend. Your story seems very good, but I want to ask a
+few questions first. Had the bigger man--the man who went up to Bourke,
+a deep cut over his left eye?"
+
+"Now I come to think of it, he had. I'd forgotten to tell you that."
+
+"So it was he, then? But are you certain it was Miss Wetherell? Remember
+she wore a veil. Could you see if her hair was flaxen in colour?"
+
+"Very light it was; but I couldn't see rightly which colour it was."
+
+"You're sure it was a light colour?"
+
+"Quite sure. I could swear to it in a court of law if you wanted me to."
+
+"That's all right then, because it shows me your story is a fabrication.
+Come, get out of this house or I'll throw you out. You scoundrel, for
+two pins I'd give you such a thrashing as you'd remember all your life!"
+
+"None o' that, governor. Don't you try it on. Hand us over that fifty
+quid."
+
+With that the scoundrel whipped out a revolver and pointed it at me. But
+before he could threaten again I had got hold of his wrist with one
+hand, snatched the pistol with the other, and sent him sprawling on his
+back upon the carpet.
+
+"Now, you brute," I cried, "what am I going to do with you, do you
+think? Get up and clear out of the house before I take my boot to you."
+
+He got up and began to brush his clothes.
+
+"I want my fifty pound," he cried.
+
+"You'll get more than you want if you come here again," I said. "Out you
+go!"
+
+With that I got him by the collar and dragged him out of the room across
+the hall, much to the butler's astonishment, through the front door, and
+then kicked him down the steps. He fell in a heap on the gravel.
+
+"All right, my fine bloke," he said as he lay there; "you wait till I
+get you outside. I'll fix you up, and don't you make no mistake."
+
+I went back to the dining-room without paying any attention to his
+threats. Both Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham had been witnesses of what had
+occurred, and now they questioned me concerning his visit. I gave them
+an outline of the story the man had told me and convinced them of its
+absurdity. Then Mr. Wetherell rose to his feet.
+
+"Now shall we go and see McMurtough?"
+
+"Certainly," I said; "I'll be ready as soon as you are."
+
+"You will come with us, I hope, Lord Beckenham?" Wetherell said.
+
+"With every pleasure," answered his lordship, and thereupon we went off
+to get ready.
+
+Three-quarters of an hour later we were sitting in Mr. McMurtough's
+office. The upshot of the interview was that Mr. McMurtough fell in with
+our plans as soon as we had uttered them, and expressed himself
+delighted to lend his yacht in such a good cause.
+
+"I only wish I could come with you," he said; "but unfortunately that is
+quite impossible. However, you are more than welcome to my boat. I will
+give you a letter, or send one to the Captain, so that she may be
+prepared for sea to-day. Will you see about provisioning her, or shall
+I?"
+
+"We will attend to that," said Wetherell. "All the expenses must of
+course be mine."
+
+"As you please about that, my old friend," returned McMurtough.
+
+"Where is she lying?" asked Wetherell.
+
+The owner gave us the direction, and then having sincerely thanked him,
+we set off in search of her. She was a nice craft of about a hundred and
+fifty tons burden, and looked as if she ought to be a good sea boat.
+Chartering a wherry, we were pulled off to her. The captain was below
+when we arrived, but a hail brought him on deck. Mr. Wetherell then
+explained our errand, and gave him his owner's letter. He read it
+through, and having done so, said--
+
+"I am at your service, gentlemen. From what Mr. McMurtough says here I
+gather that there is no time to lose, so with your permission I'll get
+to work at once."
+
+"Order all the coal you want, and tell the steward to do the same for
+anything he may require in his department. The bills must be sent in to
+me."
+
+"Very good, Mr. Wetherell. And what time will you be ready?"
+
+"As soon as you are. Can you get away by three o'clock this afternoon,
+think you?"
+
+"Well, it will be a bit of a scramble, but I think we can manage it.
+Anyhow, I'll do my best, you may be sure of that, sir."
+
+"I'm sure you will. There is grave need for it. Now we'll go back and
+arrange a few matters ashore. My man shall bring our baggage down later
+on."
+
+"Very good, sir. I'll have your berths prepared."
+
+With that we descended to the boat again, and were pulled ashore.
+Arriving there, Mr. Wetherell asked what we should do first.
+
+"Hadn't we better go up to the town and purchase a few rifles and some
+ammunition?" I said. "We can have them sent down direct to the boat."
+
+"A very good suggestion. Let us go at once."
+
+We accordingly set off for George Street--to a shop I remembered having
+seen. There we purchased half a dozen Winchester repeaters, with a good
+supply of ammunition. They were to be sent down to the yacht without
+fail that morning. This done, we stood on the pavement debating what we
+should do next. Finally it was decided that Mr. Wetherell and Beckenham
+should go home to pack, while I made one or two other small purchases,
+and then join them. Accordingly, bidding them good-bye, I went on down
+the street, completed my business, and was about to hail a cab and
+follow them, when a thought struck me: Why should I not visit Messrs.
+Dawson & Gladman, and find out why they were advertising for me? This I
+determined to do, and accordingly set off for Castlereagh Street.
+
+In a small room leading off the main passage, three clerks were seated.
+To them I addressed myself, asking if I might see the partners.
+
+"Mr. Dawson is the only one in town, sir," said the boy to whom I spoke.
+"If you'll give me your name, I'll take it in to him."
+
+"My name is Hatteras," I said. "Mr. Richard Hatteras."
+
+In less than two minutes the clerk returned, and begged me to follow
+him, which I did. At the end of a long passage we passed through a
+curtained doorway, and I stood in the presence of the chief partner.
+
+"I have great pleasure in making your acquaintance, Mr. Hatteras," he
+said, as I came to an anchor in a chair. "You noticed our advertisement,
+I presume?"
+
+"I saw it this morning," I answered. "And it is on that account I am
+here."
+
+"One moment before we proceed any further. Forgive what I am about to
+say--but you will see yourself that it is a point I am compelled not to
+neglect. Can you convince me as to your identity?"
+
+"Very easily," I replied, diving my hand into my breast-pocket and
+taking out some papers. "First and foremost, here is my bank-book. Here
+is my card-case. And here are two or three letters addressed to me by
+London and Sydney firms. The Hon. Sylvester Wetherell, Colonial
+Secretary, will be glad, I'm sure, to vouch for me. Is that sufficient
+to convince you?"
+
+"More than sufficient," he answered, smiling. "Now let me tell you for
+what purpose we desired you to call upon us." Here he opened a drawer
+and took out a letter. "First and foremost, you must understand that we
+are the Sydney agents of Messrs, Atwin, Dobbs & Forsyth, of Furnival's
+Inn, London. From them, by the last English mail, we received this
+letter. I gather that you are the son of James Dymoke Hatteras, who was
+drowned at sea in the year 1880?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Your father was the third son of Sir Edward Hatteras of Murdlestone, in
+the county of Hampshire?"
+
+"He was."
+
+"And the brother of Sir William, who had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary?"
+
+"That is so."
+
+"Well, Mr. Hatteras, it is my sad duty to inform you that within a week
+of your departure from England your cousin, the young lady just referred
+to, was drowned by accident in a pond near her home, and that her
+father, who had been ailing for some few days, died of heart disease on
+hearing the sad tidings. In that case, so my correspondents inform me,
+there being no nearer issue, you succeed to the title and estates--which
+I also learn are of considerable value, including the house and park,
+ten farms, and a large amount of house property, a rent roll of fifteen
+thousand a year, and accumulated capital of nearly a hundred thousand
+pounds."
+
+"Good gracious! Is this really true?"
+
+"Quite true. You can examine the letter for yourself."
+
+I took it up from the table and read it through, hardly able to believe
+my eyes.
+
+"You are indeed a man to be envied, Mr. Hatteras," said the lawyer. "The
+title is an old one, and I believe the property is considered one of the
+best in that part of England."
+
+"It is! But I can hardly believe that it is really mine."
+
+"There is no doubt about that, however. You are a baronet as certainly
+as I am a lawyer. I presume you would like us to take whatever action is
+necessary?"
+
+"By all means. This afternoon I am leaving Sydney, for a week or two,
+for the Islands. I will sign any papers when I come back."
+
+"I will bear that in mind. And your address in Sydney is----"
+
+"Care of the Honourable Sylvester Wetherell, Potts Point."
+
+"Thank you. And, by the way, my correspondents have desired me on their
+behalf to pay in to your account at the Oceania the sum of five thousand
+pounds. This I will do to-day."
+
+"I am obliged to you. Now I think I must be going. To tell the truth, I
+hardly know whether I am standing on my head or my heels."
+
+"Oh, you will soon get over that."
+
+"Good-morning."
+
+"Good-morning, Sir Richard."
+
+With that, I bade him farewell, and went out of the office, feeling
+quite dazed by my good fortune. I thought of the poor idiot whose end
+had been so tragic, and of the old man as I had last seen him, shaking
+his fist at me from the window of the house. And to think that that
+lovely home was mine, and that I was a baronet, the principal
+representative of a race as old as any in the country-side! It seemed
+too wonderful to be true!
+
+Hearty were the congratulations showered upon me at Potts Point, you may
+be sure, when I told my tale, and my health was drunk at lunch with much
+goodwill. But our minds were too much taken up with the arrangements for
+our departure that afternoon to allow us to think very much of anything
+else. By two o'clock we were ready to leave the house, by half-past we
+were on board the yacht, at three-fifteen the anchor was up, and a few
+moments later we were ploughing our way down the harbour.
+
+Our search for Phyllis had reached another stage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE ISLANDS, AND WHAT WE FOUND THERE
+
+
+To those who have had no experience of the South Pacific the constantly
+recurring beauties of our voyage would have seemed like a foretaste of
+Heaven itself. From Sydney, until the Loyalty Group lay behind us, we
+had one long spell of exquisite weather. By night under the winking
+stars, and by day in the warm sunlight, our trim little craft ploughed
+her way across smooth seas, and our only occupation was to promenade or
+loaf about the decks and to speculate as to the result of the expedition
+upon which we had embarked.
+
+Having sighted the Isle of Pines we turned our bows almost due north and
+headed for the New Hebrides. Every hour our impatience was growing
+greater. In less than two days, all being well, we should be at our
+destination, and twenty-four hours after that, if our fortune proved in
+the ascendant, we ought to be on our way back with Phyllis in our
+possession once more. And what this would mean to me I can only leave
+you to guess.
+
+One morning, just as the faint outline of the coast of Aneityum was
+peering up over the horizon ahead, Wetherell and I chanced to be sitting
+in the bows. The sea was as smooth as glass, and the tinkling of the
+water round the little vessel's nose as she turned it off in snowy lines
+from either bow, was the only sound to be heard. As usual the
+conversation, after wandering into other topics, came back to the
+subject nearest our hearts. This led us to make a few remarks anent
+Nikola and his character. I could not help asking him for an
+explanation.
+
+"You want to know how it is that I am so frightened of Nikola?" he
+asked. "Well, to give you my reason will necessitate my telling you a
+story. I don't mind doing that at all, but what I am afraid of is that
+you may be inclined to doubt its probability. However, if you want to
+hear it you shall."
+
+"I should like to above all things," I replied. "I have been longing to
+ask you about it for some time past, but could not quite screw up my
+courage."
+
+"Well, in the first place," Mr. Wetherell said, "you must understand
+that before I became a Minister of the Crown, or indeed a Member of
+Parliament at all, I was a barrister with a fairly remunerative
+practice. That was before my wife's death and when Phyllis was at
+school. Up to the time I am going to tell you about I had taken part in
+no very sensational case. But my opportunity for earning notoriety was,
+though I did not know it, near at hand. One day I was briefed to defend
+a man accused of the murder of a Chinaman aboard a Sydney vessel on a
+voyage from Shanghai. At first there seemed to be no doubt at all as to
+his guilt, but by a singular chance, with the details of which I will
+not bore you, I hit upon a scheme which got him off. I remember the man
+perfectly, and a queer fellow he was, half-witted, I thought, and at the
+time of the trial within an ace of dying of consumption. His gratitude
+was the more pathetic because he had not the wherewithal to pay me.
+However, he made it up to me in another way.
+
+"One wet night, a couple of months or so after the trial, I was sitting
+in my drawing-room listening to my wife's music, when a servant entered
+to tell me that a woman wanted to see me. I went out into the passage to
+find waiting there a tall buxom lass of about five-and-twenty years of
+age. She was poorly dressed, but in a great state of excitement.
+
+"'Are you Mr. Wetherell?' she said; 'the gentleman as defended China
+Pete in the trial the other day?'
+
+"'I am,' I answered. 'What can I do for you? I hope China Pete is not in
+trouble again?'
+
+"'He's in a worse trouble this time, sir,' said the woman. 'He's dyin',
+and he sent me to fetch you to 'im before he goes.'
+
+"'But what does he want me for?' I asked rather suspiciously.
+
+"'I'm sure I dunno,' was the girl's reply. 'But he's been callin' for
+you all this blessed day: "Send for Mr. Wetherell! send for Mr.
+Wetherell!" So off I came, when I got back from work, to fetch you. If
+you're comin', sir, you'd best be quick, for he won't last till
+mornin'.'
+
+"'Very well, I'll come with you at once,' I said. Then, having told my
+wife not to sit up for me, I followed my strange messenger out of the
+house.
+
+"For nearly an hour we walked on and on, plunging deeper into the lower
+quarter of the town. All through the march my guide maintained a rigid
+silence, walking a few paces ahead, and only recognizing the fact that I
+was following her by nodding in a certain direction whenever we arrived
+at cross thoroughfares or interlacing lanes.
+
+"At last we arrived at the street she wanted. At the corner she came
+suddenly to a standstill, and putting her two first fingers into her
+mouth blew a shrill whistle, after the fashion of street boys. A moment
+later a shock-headed urchin about ten years old made his appearance from
+a dark alley and came towards us. The woman said something to him, which
+I did not catch, and then turning sharply to her left hand beckoned to
+me to follow her.
+
+"From the street itself we passed, by way of a villainous alley, into a
+large courtyard, where brooded a silence like that of death. Indeed, a
+more weird and desolate place I don't remember ever to have met with.
+Not a soul was to be seen, and though it was surrounded by houses, only
+two feeble lights showed themselves. Towards one of these my guide made
+her way, stopping on the threshold. Upon a panel she rapped with her
+fingers, and as she did so a window on the first floor opened, and the
+boy we had met in the street looked out.
+
+"'How many?' inquired the woman, who had brought me, in a loud whisper.
+
+"'None now,' replied the boy; 'but there's been a power of Chinkies
+hereabouts all the evenin', an' 'arf an hour ago there was a gent in a
+cloak.'
+
+"Without waiting to hear any more the woman entered the house and I
+followed close on her heels. The adventure was clearly coming to a head
+now.
+
+"When the door had been closed behind us the boy appeared at the top of
+a flight of stairs with a lighted candle. We accordingly ascended to
+him, and having done so made our way towards a door at the end of the
+abominably dirty landing. At intervals I could hear the sound of
+coughing coming from a room at the end. My companion, however, bade me
+stop, while she went herself into the room, shutting the door after her.
+I was left alone with the boy, who immediately took me under his
+protection, and for my undivided benefit performed a series of highly
+meritorious acrobatic performances upon the feeble banisters, to his own
+danger, but apparent satisfaction. Suddenly, just as he was about to
+commence what promised to be the most successful item in his
+_repertoire_, he paused, lay flat on his stomach upon the floor, and
+craned his head over the side, where once banisters had been, and gazed
+into the half dark well below. All was quiet as the grave. Then, without
+warning, an almond-eyed, pigtailed head appeared on the stairs and
+looked upwards. Before I could say anything to stop him, the youth had
+divested himself of his one slipper, taken it in his right hand, leaned
+over a bit farther, and struck the ascending Celestial a severe blow on
+the mouth with the heel of it. There was the noise of a hasty descent
+and the banging of the street door a moment later, then all was still
+again, and the youngster turned to me.
+
+"'That was Ah Chong,' he said confidentially. 'He's the sixth Chinkie
+I've landed that way since dark.'
+
+"This important piece of information he closed with a double-jointed
+oath of remarkable atrocity, and, having done so, would have recommenced
+the performance of acrobatic feats had I not stopped him by asking the
+reason of his action. He looked at me with a grin,--
+
+"'I dunno, but all I cares is that China Pete in there gives me a sprat
+(sixpence) for every Chinkie what I keeps out of the 'ouse. He's a rum
+one is China Pete; an' can't he cough--my word!" he concluded.
+
+"I was about to put another question when the door opened and the girl
+who had brought me to the house beckoned me into the room. I entered and
+she left me alone with the occupant.
+
+"Of all the filthy places I have ever seen--and I have had the ill-luck
+to discover a good many in my time--that one eclipsed them all. On the
+bed, propped up by pillows and evidently in the last stage of collapse,
+was the man called China Pete. When we were alone together he pointed to
+a box near the bed and signified that I should seat myself. I did so, at
+the same time taking occasion to express my sorrow at finding him in
+this lamentable condition. He made no reply to my civilities, but after
+a little pause found strength enough to whisper. 'See if there's anybody
+at the door.' I went across, opened the door and looked into the
+passage, but save the boy, who was now sitting on the top step of the
+stairs at the other end, there was not a soul in sight. I told him this,
+and having again closed the door, sat down on the box and waited for him
+to speak.
+
+"'You did me a good turn, Mr. Wetherell, over that trial,' the invalid
+said at last, 'and I couldn't make it worth your while.'
+
+"'Oh, you mustn't let that worry you,' I answered soothingly. 'You would
+have paid me if you had been able.'
+
+"'Perhaps I should, perhaps I shouldn't, anyhow I didn't, and I want to
+make it up to you now. Feel under my pillow and bring out what you find
+there.'
+
+"I did as he directed me and brought to light a queer little wooden
+stick about three and a half inches long, made of some heavy timber and
+covered all over with Chinese inscriptions; at one end was a tiny bit of
+heavy gold cord much tarnished. I gave it to him and he looked at it
+fondly.
+
+"'Do you know the value of this little stick?' he asked after a while.
+
+"'I have no possible notion,' I replied.
+
+"'Make a guess,' he said.
+
+"To humour him I guessed five pounds. He laughed with scorn.
+
+"'Five pounds! O ye gods! Why, as a bit of stick it's not worth five
+pence, but for what it really is there is not money enough in the world
+to purchase it. If I could get about again I would make myself the
+richest and most powerful man on earth with it. If you could only guess
+one particle of the dangers I've been through to get it you would die of
+astonishment. And the irony of it all is that now I've got it I can't
+make use of it. On six different occasions the priests of the Llamaserai
+in Peking have tried to murder me to get hold of it. I brought it down
+from the centre of China disguised as a wandering beggar. That business
+connected with the murder of the Chinaman on board the ship, against
+which you defended me, was on account of it. And now I lie here dying
+like a dog, with the key to over ten millions in my hand. Nikola has
+tried for five years to obtain it, without success however. He little
+dreams I've got it after all. If he did I'd be a dead man by now.'
+
+"'Who is this Nikola then?' I asked.
+
+"'Dr. Nikola? Well, he's Nikola, and that's all I can tell you. If
+you're a wise man you'll want to know no more. Ask the Chinese mothers
+nursing their almond-eyed spawn in Peking who he is; ask the Japanese,
+ask the Malays, the Hindoos, the Burmese, the coal porters in Port Said,
+the Buddhist priests of Ceylon; ask the King of Corea, the men up in
+Thibet, the Spanish priests in Manilla, or the Sultan of Borneo, the
+ministers of Siam, or the French in Saigon--they'll all know Dr. Nikola
+and his cat, and, take my word, they fear him.'
+
+"I looked at the little stick in my hand and wondered if the man had
+gone mad.
+
+"'What do you wish me to do with this?' I asked.
+
+"'Take it away with you,' he answered, 'and guard it like your life, and
+when you have occasion, use it. Remember you have in your hand what will
+raise a million men and the equivalent of over ten mil----'
+
+"At this point a violent fit of coughing seized him and nearly tore him
+to pieces. I lifted him up a little in the bed, but before I could take
+my hands away a stream of blood had gushed from his lips. Like a flash
+of thought I ran to the door to call the girl, the boy on the stairs
+re-echoed my shout, and in less time than it takes to tell the woman was
+in the room. But we were too late--_China Pete was dead_.
+
+"After giving her all the money I had about me to pay for the funeral, I
+bade her good-bye, and with the little stick in my pocket returned to my
+home. Once there I sat myself down in my study, took my legacy out of my
+pocket and carefully examined it. As to its peculiar power and value, as
+described to me by the dead man, I hardly knew what to think. My own
+private opinion was that China Pete was not sane at the time he told me.
+And yet, how was I to account for the affray with the Chinaman on the
+boat, and the evident desire the Celestials in Sydney had to obtain
+information concerning it? After half an hour's consideration of it I
+locked it up in a drawer of my safe and went upstairs to bed.
+
+"Next day China Pete was buried, and by the end of the month I had
+well-nigh forgotten that he had ever existed, and had hardly thought of
+his queer little gift, which still reposed in the upper drawer of my
+safe. But I was to hear more of it later on.
+
+"One night, about a month after my coming into possession of the stick,
+my wife and I entertained a few friends at dinner.
+
+"As the clock struck eleven I said good-night to the last of my guests
+upon the door-step. The carriage had not gone fifty yards down the
+street before a hansom drew up before my door and a man dressed in a
+heavy cloak jumped out. Bidding the driver wait for him he ran up my
+steps.
+
+"'Mr. Wetherell, I believe?' he said. I nodded and wished him
+'good-evening,' at the same time asking his business.
+
+"'I will tell you with pleasure,' he answered, 'if you will permit me
+five minutes alone with you. It is most important, and as I leave Sydney
+early to-morrow morning you will see that there is not much time to
+spare.'
+
+"I led the way into the house and to my study, which was in the rear,
+overlooking the garden. Once there I bade him be seated, taking up my
+position at my desk.
+
+"Then, in the light of the lamp, I became aware of the extraordinary
+personality of my visitor. He looked at me very searchingly for a moment
+and then said: 'My business will surprise you a little I expect, Mr.
+Wetherell. First, if you will allow me I will tell you something about
+myself and then ask you a question. You must understand that I am pretty
+well known as an Eastern traveller; from Port Said to the Kuriles there
+is hardly a place with which I am not acquainted. I have a hobby. I am a
+collector of Eastern curios, but there is one thing I have never been
+able to obtain.'
+
+"'And that is?'
+
+"'A Chinese executioner's symbol of office.'
+
+"'But how can I help you in that direction?' I asked, completely
+mystified.
+
+"'By selling me one that has lately come into your possession,' he said.
+'It is a little black stick, about three inches long and covered with
+Chinese characters. I happened to hear, quite by chance, that you had
+one in your possession, and I have taken a journey of some thousands of
+miles to endeavour to purchase it from you.'
+
+"I went across to the safe, unlocked it, and took out the little stick
+China Pete had given me. When I turned round I almost dropped it with
+surprise as I saw the look of eagerness that rose in my visitor's face.
+But he pulled himself together and said, as calmly as he had yet
+addressed me:
+
+"'That is the very thing. If you will allow me to purchase it, it will
+complete my collection. What value do you place upon it?'
+
+"'I have no sort of notion of its worth,' I answered, putting it down on
+the table and looking at it. Then in a flash a thought came into my
+brain, and I was about to speak when he addressed me again.
+
+"'Of course my reason for wishing to buy it is rather a hare-brained
+one, but if you care to let me have it I will give you fifty pounds for
+it with pleasure.'
+
+"'Not enough, Dr. Nikola,' I said with a smile.
+
+"He jumped as if he had been shot, and then clasped his hands tight on
+the arm of his chair. My random bolt had gone straight to the heart of
+the bulls-eye. This man then _was_ Dr. Nikola, the extraordinary
+individual against whom China Pete had warned me. I was determined now
+that, come what might, he should not have the stick.
+
+"'Do you not consider the offer I make you a good one then, Mr.
+Wetherell?' he asked.
+
+"'I'm sorry to say I don't think the stick is for sale,' I answered. 'It
+was left to me by a man in return for a queer sort of service I rendered
+him, and I think I should like to keep it as a souvenir.'
+
+"'I will raise my offer to a hundred pounds in that case,' said Nikola.
+
+"'I would rather not part with it,' I said, and as I spoke, as if to
+clinch the matter, I took it up and returned it to the safe, taking care
+to lock the door upon it.
+
+"'I will give you five hundred pounds for it,' cried Nikola, now
+thoroughly excited. 'Surely that will tempt you?'
+
+'I'm afraid an offer of ten times that amount would make no difference,'
+I replied, feeling more convinced than ever that I would not part with
+it.
+
+"He laid himself back in his chair, and for nearly a minute and a half
+stared me full in the face. You have seen Nikola's eyes, so I needn't
+tell you what a queer effect they are able to produce. I could not
+withdraw mine from them, and I felt that if I did not make an effort I
+should soon be mesmerized. So, pulling myself together, I sprang from my
+chair, and, by doing so, let him see that our interview was at an end.
+However, he was not going without a last attempt to drive a bargain.
+When he saw that I was not to be moved his temper gave way, and he
+bluntly told me that I would _have_ to sell it.
+
+"'There is no compulsion in the matter,' I said warmly. 'The curio is my
+own property, and I will do just as I please with it.'
+
+"He thereupon begged my pardon, asked me to attribute his impatience to
+the collector's eagerness, and after a few last words bade me
+'good-night,' and left the house.
+
+"When his cab had rolled away I went back to my study and sat thinking
+for awhile. Then something prompted me to take the stick out from the
+safe. I did so, and sat at my table gazing at it, wondering what the
+mystery might be to which it was the key. That it was not what Dr.
+Nikola had described it I felt certain.
+
+"At the end of half an hour I put it in my pocket, intending to take it
+upstairs to show my wife, locked the safe again and went off to my
+dressing-room. When I had described the interview and shown the stick to
+my wife I placed it in the drawer of the looking-glass and went to bed.
+
+"Next morning, about three o'clock, I was awakened by the sound of some
+one knocking violently at my door. I jumped out of bed and inquired who
+it might be. To my intense surprise the answer was 'Police!' I therefore
+donned my dressing-gown, and went out to find a sergeant of police on
+the landing waiting for me.
+
+"'What is the matter?' I cried.
+
+"'A burglar!' was his answer. 'We've got him downstairs; caught him in
+the act.'
+
+"I followed the officer down to the study. What a scene was there! The
+safe had been forced, and its contents lay scattered in every direction.
+One drawer of my writing-table was wide open, and in a corner,
+handcuffed, and guarded by a stalwart constable, stood a Chinaman.
+
+"Well, to make a long story short, the man was tried, and after denying
+all knowledge of Nikola--who, by the way, could not be found--was
+convicted, and sentenced to five years' hard labour. For a month I heard
+no more about the curio. Then a letter arrived from an English solicitor
+in Shanghai, demanding from me, on behalf of a Chinaman residing in that
+place, a little wooden stick covered with Chinese characters, which was
+said to have been stolen by an Englishman, known in Shanghai as China
+Pete. This was very clearly another attempt on Nikola's part to obtain
+possession of it, so I replied to the effect that I could not entertain
+the request.
+
+"A month or so later--I cannot, however, be particular as to the exact
+date--I found myself again in communication with Nikola, this time from
+South America. But there was this difference this time: he used
+undisguised threats, not only against myself, in the event of my still
+refusing to give him what he wanted, but also against my wife and
+daughter. I took no notice, with the result that my residence was again
+broken into, but still without success. Now I no longer locked the
+talisman up in the safe, but hid it in a place where I knew no one could
+possibly find it. My mind, you will see, was perfectly made up; I was
+not going to be driven into surrendering it.
+
+"One night, a month after my wife's death, returning to my house I was
+garrotted and searched within a hundred yards of my own front door, but
+my assailants could not find it on me. Then peculiar pressure from other
+quarters was brought to bear; my servants were bribed, and my life
+became almost a burden to me. What was more, I began to develop that
+extraordinary fear of Nikola which seems to seize upon every one who has
+any dealings with him. When I went home to England some months back, I
+did it because my spirits had got into such a depressed state that I
+could not remain in Australia. But I took care to deposit the stick with
+my plate in the bank before I left. There it remained till I returned,
+when I put it back in its old hiding-place again.
+
+"The day after I reached London I happened to be crossing Trafalgar
+Square. Believing that I had left him at least ten thousand miles away,
+you may imagine my horror when I saw Dr. Nikola watching me from the
+other side of the road. Then and there I returned to my hotel, bade
+Phyllis pack with all possible despatch, and that same afternoon we
+started to return to Australia. The rest you know. Now what do you think
+of it all?"
+
+"It's an extraordinary story. Where is the stick at the present moment?"
+
+"In my pocket. Would you like to see it?"
+
+"Very much, if you would permit me to do so."
+
+He unbuttoned his coat, and from a carefully contrived pocket under the
+arm drew out a little piece of wood of exactly the length and shape he
+had described. I took it from him and gazed at it carefully. It was
+covered all over with Chinese writing, and had a piece of gold silk
+attached to the handle. There was nothing very remarkable about it; but
+I must own I was strangely fascinated by it when I remembered the misery
+it had caused, the changes and chances it had brought about, the weird
+story told by China Pete, and the efforts that had been made by Nikola
+to obtain possession of it. I gave it back to its owner, and then stood
+looking out over the smooth sea, wondering where Phyllis was and what
+she was doing. Nikola, when I met him, would have a heavy account to
+settle with me, and if my darling reported any further cruelty on his
+part I would show no mercy. But why had Mr. Wetherell brought the curio
+with him now? I put the question.
+
+"For one very good reason," he answered. "If it is the stick Nikola is
+after, as I have every right to suppose, he may demand it as a ransom
+for my girl, and I am quite willing to let him have it. The wretched
+thing has caused sufficient misery to make me only too glad to be rid of
+it."
+
+"I hope, however, we shall be able to get her without giving it up," I
+said. "Now let us go aft to lunch."
+
+The day following we were within a hundred miles of our destination, and
+by mid-day of the day following that again were near enough to render it
+advisable to hold a council over our intended movements. Accordingly, a
+little before lunch time the Marquis, Wetherell, the skipper and myself,
+met under the after awning to consider our plan of war.
+
+"The first matter to be taken into consideration, I think, Mr.
+Wetherell," said the skipper, "is the point as to which side of the
+island we shall bring up on."
+
+"You will be able to settle that," answered Wetherell, looking at me.
+"You are acquainted with the place, and can best advise us."
+
+"I will do so to the best of my ability," I said, sitting down on the
+deck and drawing an outline with a piece of chalk. "The island is shaped
+like this. There is no reef. Here is the best anchorage, without doubt,
+but here is the point where we shall be most likely to approach without
+being observed. The trend of the land is all upward from the shore, and,
+as far as I remember, the most likely spot for a hut, if they are
+detaining Miss Wetherell there, as we suppose, will be on a little
+plateau looking south, and hard by the only water on the island."
+
+"And what sort of anchorage shall we get there, do you think?" asked the
+skipper, who very properly wished to run no risk with his owner's boat.
+
+"Mostly coral. None too good, perhaps, but as we shall have steam up,
+quite safe enough."
+
+"And how do you propose that we shall reach the hut when we land?"
+
+"I have been thinking that out," I said, "and I have come to the
+conclusion that the best plan would be for us to approach the island
+after dark, to heave to about three miles out and pull ashore in the
+boat. We will then ascend the hill by the eastern slope and descend upon
+them. They will probably not expect us from that quarter, and it will at
+least be easier than climbing the hill in the face of a heavy fire. What
+do you say?"
+
+They all agreed that it seemed practicable.
+
+"Very good then," said the skipper, "we'll have lunch, and afterwards
+begin our preparations." Then turning to me, "I'll get you to come into
+my cabin, Mr. Hatteras, by-and-by and take a look at the Admiralty
+chart, if you will. You will be able probably to tell me if you think it
+can be relied on."
+
+"I'll do so with pleasure," I answered, and then we went below.
+
+Directly our meal was over I accompanied the skipper to look at the
+chart, and upon it we marked our anchorage. Then an adjournment was made
+aft, and our equipment of rifles and revolvers thoroughly overhauled. We
+had decided earlier that our landing party should consist of eight
+men--Wetherell, Beckenham, the mate of the yacht, myself, and four of
+the crew, each of whom would be supplied with a Winchester repeating
+rifle, a revolver, and a dozen cartridges. Not a shot was to be fired,
+however, unless absolutely necessary, and the greatest care was to be
+taken in order to approach the hut, if possible, without disturbing its
+inmates.
+
+When the arms had been distributed and carefully examined, the sixteen
+foot surf-boat was uncovered and preparations made for hoisting her
+overboard. By the time this was done it was late in the afternoon, and
+almost soon enough for us to be thinking about overcoming the distance
+which separated us from our destination.
+
+About dusk I was standing aft, leaning against the taff-rail, when
+Beckenham came up and stood beside me. It was wonderful what a
+difference these few months had made in him; he was now as brown as a
+berry, and as fine-looking a young fellow as any man could wish to see.
+
+"We shall be picking up the island directly," I said as he came to an
+anchor alongside me. "Do you think you ought to go to-night? Remember
+you will run the risk of being shot!"
+
+"I have thought of that," he said. "I believe it's my duty to do my best
+to help you and Mr. Wetherell."
+
+"But what would your father say if he knew?"
+
+"He would say that I only did what was right. I have just been writing
+to him, telling him everything. If anything _should_ happen to me you
+will find the letter on the chest of drawers in your cabin. I know you
+will send it on to him. But if we both come out of it safely and rescue
+Miss Wetherell I'm going to ask a favour."
+
+"Granted before I know what it is!"
+
+"It isn't a very big one. I want you to let me be your best man at your
+wedding?"
+
+"So you shall. And a better I could not possibly desire."
+
+"I like to hear you say that. We've been through a good deal together
+since we left Europe, haven't we?"
+
+"We have, and to-night will bring it to a climax, or I'm much mistaken."
+
+"Do you think Nikola will show fight?"
+
+"Not a doubt about it I should think. If he finds himself cornered he'll
+probably fight like a demon."
+
+"It's Baxter I want to meet."
+
+"Nikola is my man. I've a big grudge against him, and I want to pay it."
+
+"How little we thought when we were cruising about Bournemouth Bay
+together that within such a short space of time we should be sailing the
+South Pacific on such an errand! It seems almost too strange to be
+possible."
+
+"So it does! All's well that ends well, however. Let's hope we're going
+to be successful to-night. Now I'm going on the bridge to see if I can
+pick the land up ahead."
+
+I left him and went forward to the captain's side. Dusk had quite fallen
+by this time, rendering it impossible to see very far ahead. A hand had
+been posted in the fore-rigging as a look-out, and every moment we
+expected to hear his warning cry; but nearly an hour passed, and still
+it did not come.
+
+Then suddenly the shout rang out, "Land ahead!" and we knew that our
+destination was in sight. Long before this all our lights had been
+obscured, and so, in the darkness--for a thick pall of cloud covered the
+sky--we crept up towards the coast. Within a couple of minutes of
+hearing the hail every man on board was on deck gazing in the direction
+in which we were proceeding.
+
+By tea time we had brought the land considerably nearer, and by eight
+o'clock were within three miles of it. Not a sign, however, of any craft
+could we discover, and the greatest vigilance had to be exercised on our
+part to allow no sign to escape us to show our whereabouts to those
+ashore. Exactly at nine o'clock the shore party, fully armed, assembled
+on deck, and the surf-boat was swung overboard. Then in the darkness we
+crept down the gangway and took our places. The mate was in possession
+of the tiller, and when all was ready we set off for the shore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Once we had left her side and turned our boat's nose towards the land,
+the yacht lay behind us, a black mass, nearly absorbed in the general
+shadow. Not a light showed itself, and everything was as still as the
+grave; the only noise to be heard was the steady dip, dip of the oars in
+the smooth water and now and then the chirp of the rowlocks. For nearly
+half an hour we pulled on, pausing at intervals to listen, but nothing
+of an alarming nature met our ears. The island was every moment growing
+larger, the beach more plain to the eye, and the hill more clearly
+defined.
+
+As soon as the boat grounded we sprang out and, leaving one hand to look
+after her, made our way ashore. It was a strange experience that landing
+on a strange beach on such an errand and at such an hour, but we were
+all too much taken up with the work which lay before us to think of
+that. Having left the water's edge we came to a standstill beneath a
+group of palms and discussed the situation. As the command of the
+expedition had fallen upon me I decided upon the following course of
+action: To begin with, I would leave the party behind me and set out by
+myself to ascertain the whereabouts of the hut. Having discovered this I
+would return, and we would thereupon make our way inland and endeavour
+to capture it. I explained the idea in as few words as possible to my
+followers, and then, bidding them wait for me where they were, at the
+same time warning them against letting their presence be discovered, I
+set off up the hill in the direction I knew the plateau to lie. The
+undergrowth was very thick and the ground rocky; for this reason it was
+nearly twenty minutes before I readied the top of the hill. Then down
+the other side I crept, picking my way carefully, and taking infinite
+precautions that no noise should serve to warn our foes of my coming.
+
+At last I reached the plateau and looked about me. A small perpendicular
+cliff, some sixty feet in height, was before me, so throwing myself down
+upon my stomach, I wriggled my way to its edge. When I got there I
+looked over and discovered three well-built huts on a little plateau at
+the cliff's base. At the same moment a roar of laughter greeted my ears
+from the building on the left. It was followed by the voice of a man
+singing to the accompaniment of a banjo. Under cover of his music I rose
+to my feet and crept back through the bushes, by the track along which I
+had come. I knew enough to distribute my forces now.
+
+Having reached my friends again I informed them of what I had seen, and
+we then arranged the mode of attack as follows: The mate of the yacht,
+with two of the hands, would pass round the hill to the left of the
+plateau, Wetherell and another couple of men would take the right side,
+while Beckenham and myself crept down from the back. Not a sound was to
+be made or a shot fired until I blew my whistle. Then, with one last
+word of caution, we started on our climb.
+
+By this time the clouds had cleared off the sky and the stars shone
+brightly. Once more I arrived at the small precipice behind the huts,
+and, having done so, sat down for a few moments to give the other
+parties time to take up their positions. Then, signing to Beckenham to
+accompany me, I followed the trend of the precipice along till I
+discovered a place where we might descend in safety. In less than a
+minute we were on the plateau below, creeping towards the centre hut.
+Still our approach was undetected. Bidding Beckenham in a whisper wait
+for me, I crept cautiously round to the front, keeping as much as
+possible in the shadow. As soon as I had found the door, I tiptoed
+towards it and prepared to force my way inside but I had an adventure in
+store for me which I had not anticipated.
+
+Seated in the doorway, almost hidden in the shadow, was the figure of a
+man. He must have been asleep, for he did not become aware of my
+presence until I was within a foot of him. Then he sprang to his feet
+and was about to give the alarm. Before he could do so, however, I was
+upon him. A desperate hand-to-hand struggle followed, in which I fought
+solely for his throat. This once obtained I tightened my fingers upon it
+and squeezed until he fell back unconscious. It was like a horrible
+nightmare, that combat without noise in the dark entry of the hut, and I
+was more than thankful that it ended so satisfactorily for me. As soon
+as I had disentangled myself, I rose to my feet and proceeded across his
+body into the hut itself. A swing door led from the porch, and this I
+pushed open.
+
+"Who is it, and what do you want?" said a voice which I should have
+recognized anywhere.
+
+In answer I took Phyllis in my arms and, whispering my name, kissed her
+over and over again. She uttered a little cry of astonishment and
+delight. Then, bidding her step quietly, I passed out into the
+starlight, leading her after me. As we were about to make for the path
+by which I had descended, Beckenham stepped forward, and at the same
+instant the man with whom I had been wrestling came to his senses and
+gave a shout of alarm. In an instant there was a noise of scurrying feet
+and a great shouting of orders.
+
+"Make for the boats!" I cried at the top of my voice, and, taking
+Phyllis by the hand, set off as quickly as I could go up the path,
+Beckenham assisting her on the other side.
+
+If I live to be a hundred I shall never forget that rush up the hill. In
+and out of trees and bushes, scratching ourselves and tearing our
+clothes, we dashed; conscious only of the necessity for speed. Before we
+were half-way down the other side Phyllis's strength was quite
+exhausted, so I took her in my arms and carried her the remainder of the
+distance. At last we reached the boat and jumped on board. The rest of
+the party were already there, and the word being given we prepared to
+row out to the yacht. But before we could push off a painful surprise
+was in store for us. The Marquis, who had been counting the party,
+cried: "_Where is Mr. Wetherell?_"
+
+We looked round upon each other, and surely enough the old gentleman was
+missing. Discovering this, Phyllis nearly gave way, and implored us to
+go back at once to find him. But having rescued her with so much
+difficulty I did not wish to run any risk of letting her fall into her
+enemies' hands again; so selecting four volunteers from the party, I
+bade the rest pull the boat out to the yacht and give Miss Wetherell
+into the captain's charge, while the others accompanied me ashore again
+in search of her father. Having done this the boat was to return and
+wait for us.
+
+Quickly we splashed our way back to the beach, and then, plunging into
+the undergrowth, began our search for the missing man. As we did not
+know where to search, it was like looking for a needle in a bundle of
+hay, but presently one of the hands remembered having seen him
+descending the hill, so we devoted our attentions to that side. For
+nearly two hours we toiled up and down, but without success. Not a sign
+of the old gentleman was to be seen. Could he have mistaken his way and
+be even now searching for us on another beach? To make sure of this we
+set off and thoroughly searched the two bays in the direction he would
+most likely have taken. But still without success. Perhaps he had been
+captured and carried back to the huts? In that case we had better
+proceed thither and try to rescue him. This, however, was a much more
+serious undertaking, and you may imagine it was with considerable care
+that we approached the plateau again.
+
+When we reached it the huts were as quiet as when I had first made their
+acquaintance. Not a sound came up to the top of the little precipice
+save the rustling of the wind in the palms at its foot. It seemed
+difficult to believe that there had been such a tumult on the spot so
+short a time before.
+
+Again with infinite care we crept down to the buildings, this time,
+however, without encountering a soul. The first was empty, so was the
+second, and so was the third. This result was quite unexpected, and
+rendered the situation even more mysterious than before.
+
+By the time we had thoroughly explored the plateau and its surroundings
+it was nearly daylight, and still we had discovered no trace of the
+missing man. Just as the sun rose above the sea line we descended the
+hill again and commenced a second search along the beach, with no better
+luck, however, than on the previous occasion. Wetherell and our
+assailants seemed to have completely disappeared from the island.
+
+About six o'clock, thoroughly worn out, we returned to the spot where
+the boat was waiting for us. What was to be done? We could not for
+obvious reasons leave the island and abandon the old gentleman to his
+fate, and yet it seemed useless to remain there looking for him, when he
+might have been spirited away elsewhere.
+
+Suddenly one of the crew, who had been loitering behind, came into view
+waving something in his hand. As he approached we could see that it was
+a sheet of paper, and when he gave it into my hands I read as follows:--
+
+_"If you cross the island to the north beach you will find a small cliff
+in which is a large cave, a little above high-water mark. There you will
+discover the man for whom you are searching."_
+
+There was no signature to this epistle, and the writing was quite
+unfamiliar to me, but I had no reason to doubt its authenticity.
+
+"Where did you discover this?" I inquired of the man who had brought it.
+
+"Fastened to one of them prickly bushes up on the beach there, sir," he
+answered.
+
+"Well, the only thing for us to do now is to set off to the north shore
+and hunt for the cave. Two of you had better take the boat back to the
+yacht and ask the captain to follow us round."
+
+As soon as the boat was under weigh we picked up our rifles and set off
+for the north beach. It was swelteringly hot by this time, and, as may
+be imagined, we were all dead tired after our long night's work.
+However, the men knew they would be amply rewarded if we could effect
+the rescue of the man for whom we had been searching, so they pushed on.
+
+At last we turned the cape and entered the bay which constituted the
+north end of the island. It was not a large beach on this side, but it
+had, at its western end, a curious line of small cliffs, in the centre
+of which a small black spot could be discerned looking remarkably like
+the entrance to a cave. Towards this we pressed, forgetting our
+weariness in the excitement of the search.
+
+It _was_ a cave, and a large one. So far the letter was correct.
+Preparing ourselves, in case of surprise, we approached the entrance,
+calling Mr. Wetherell's name. As our shouts died away a voice came out
+in answer, and thereupon we rushed in.
+
+A remarkable sight met our eyes. In the centre of the cave was a stout
+upright post, some six or eight feet in height, and securely tied to
+this was the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales.
+
+In less time almost than it takes to tell, we had cast loose the ropes
+which bound him, and led him, for he was too weak to stand alone, out
+into the open air. While he was resting he inquired after his daughter,
+and having learned that she was safe, gave us the following explanation.
+Addressing himself to me he said:
+
+"When you cried 'Make for the boats,' I ran up the hill with the others
+as fast as I could go; but I'm an old man and could not get along as
+quickly as I wanted to, and for this reason was soon left far behind. I
+must have been half-way down the hill when a tall man, dressed in white,
+stepped out from behind a bush, and raising a rifle bade me come to a
+standstill. Having no time to lift my own weapon I was obliged to do as
+he ordered me, and he thereupon told me to lay down my weapon and
+right-about face. In this fashion I was marched back to the huts we had
+just left, and then, another man having joined my captor, was conducted
+across the island to this beach, where a boat was in waiting. In it I
+was pulled out to a small schooner lying at anchor in the bay and
+ordered to board her; five minutes later I was conducted to the saloon.
+
+"'Good-evening, Mr. Wetherell. This is indeed a pleasure,' said a man
+sitting at the farther end of the table. He was playing with a big black
+cat, and directly I heard his voice I knew that I was in the presence of
+Dr. Nikola.
+
+"'And how do you think I am going to punish you, my friend, for giving
+me all this trouble?' he said when I made no reply to his first remark.
+
+"'You dare not do anything to me,' I answered. 'I demand that you let me
+go this instant. I have a big score to settle with you.'
+
+"'If you will be warned by me you will cease to demand,' he answered,
+his eyes the while burning like coals. 'You are an obstinate man, but
+though you have put me to so much trouble and expense I will forgive you
+and come to terms with you. Now listen to me. If you will give me----'
+
+"At that moment the little vessel gave a heavy roll, and in trying to
+keep my footing on the sloping deck I fell over upon the table. As I did
+so the little Chinese stick slipped out of my pocket and went rolling
+along directly into Nikola's hands. He sprang forward and seized it, and
+you may imagine his delight. With a cry of triumph that made the cat
+leap from his shoulder, he turned to a tall man by his side and said:
+
+"'I've got it at last! Now let a boat's crew take this man ashore and
+tie him to the stake in the cave. Then devise some means of acquainting
+his friends of his whereabouts. Be quick, for we sail in an hour.'
+Having given these orders he turned to me again and said:
+
+"'Mr. Wetherell, this is the last transaction we shall probably ever
+have together. All things considered, you are lucky in escaping so
+easily. It would have saved you a good deal if you had complied with my
+request at first. However, all's well that ends well, and I congratulate
+you upon your charming daughter. Now, good-bye; in an hour I am off to
+effect a _coup_ with this stick, the magnitude of which you would never
+dream. One last word of advice: pause a second time, I entreat, before
+you think of baulking Dr. Nikola.'
+
+"I was going to reply, when I was twisted round and led up on deck,
+where that scoundrel Baxter had the impudence to make me a low bow. In
+less than a quarter of an hour I was fastened to the post in that cave.
+The rest you know. Now let us get on board; I see the boat is
+approaching."
+
+As soon as the surf-boat had drawn up on the beach we embarked and were
+pulled out to the yacht. In a few moments we were on deck, and Phyllis
+was in her father's arms again. By mid-day the island had disappeared
+under the sea line, and by nightfall we were well on our way back to
+Sydney.
+
+That evening, after dinner, Phyllis and I patrolled the deck together,
+and finally came to a standstill aft. It was as beautiful an evening as
+any man or woman could desire. All round us was the glassy sea, rising
+and falling as if asleep, while overhead the tropic stars shone down
+with their wonderful brilliance.
+
+"Phyllis," I said, taking my darling's hand in mine and looking into her
+face, "what a series of adventures we have both passed through since
+that afternoon I first saw you in the Domain! Do you know that your
+father has at last consented to our marriage?"
+
+"I do. And as it is to you, Dick, I owe my rescue," she said, coming a
+little closer to me, "he could do nothing else; you have a perfect right
+to me."
+
+"I have, and I mean to assert it!" I answered. "If I had not found you,
+I should never have been happy again."
+
+"But, Dick, there is one thing I don't at all understand. At dinner this
+evening the captain addressed you as Sir Richard. What does that mean?"
+
+"Why, of course you have not heard!" I cried. "Well, I think it means
+that though I cannot make you a marchioness, I can make you a baronet's
+wife. It remains with you to say whether you will be Lady Hatteras or
+not." Then I explained how I had inherited the title and estates.
+
+Her only reply was to kiss me softly on the cheek.
+
+She had scarcely done so before her father and Beckenham came along the
+deck.
+
+"Now, Phyllis," said the former, leading her to a seat, "supposing you
+give us the history of your adventures. Remember we have heard nothing
+yet."
+
+"Very well. Where shall I begin? At the moment I left the house for the
+ball? Very good. Well, you must know that when I arrived at Government
+House I met Mrs. Mayford--the lady who had promised to chaperone me--in
+the cloak-room, and we passed into the ball-room together. I danced the
+first dance with Captain Hackworth, one of the _aides_, and engaged
+myself for the fourth to the Marquis of Beckenham."
+
+"The sham Marquis, unfortunately," put in the real one.
+
+"It proved to be unfortunate for me also," continued Phyllis. "As it was
+a square we sat it out in the ante-room leading off the drawing-room,
+and while we were there the young gentleman did me the honour of
+proposing to me. It was terribly embarrassing for me, but I allowed him
+to see, as unmistakably as possible, that I could give him no
+encouragement, and, as the introduction to the next waltz started, we
+parted the best of friends. About half an hour later, just as I was
+going to dance the lancers, Mrs. Mayford came towards me and drew me
+into the drawing-room. Mr. Baxter, his lordship's tutor, was with her,
+and I noticed that they both looked supernaturally grave.
+
+"'What is the matter?' I asked, becoming alarmed by her face.
+
+"'My dear,' said she, 'you must be brave. I have come to tell you that
+your father has been taken ill, and has sent for you.'
+
+"'Papa ill!' I cried. 'Oh, I must go home to him at once'
+
+"'I have taken the liberty of facilitating that,' said Mr. Baxter, 'by
+ordering the servants to call up your carriage, which is now waiting for
+you at the door. If you will allow me, I will conduct you to it?'
+
+"I apologized to my partner for being compelled to leave him, and then
+went to the cloak-room. As soon as I was ready I accompanied Mr. Baxter
+to the door, where the brougham was waiting. Without looking at the
+coachman I got in, at the same time thanking my escort for his kindness.
+He shut the door and cried 'Home' to the coachman. Next moment we were
+spinning down the drive.
+
+"As I was far too much occupied thinking of you, papa, I did not notice
+the direction we were taking, and it was not until the carriage stopped
+before a house in a back street that I realized that something was
+wrong. Then the door was opened, and a gentleman in evening dress begged
+me to alight. I did so, almost without thinking what I was doing.
+
+"'I am sorry to say your father is not at all well, Miss Wetherell,'
+said the person who helped me out. 'If you will be good enough to step
+into my house I will let the nurse take you to him.'
+
+"Like a person in a dream I followed him into the dwelling.
+
+"'Where is my father? and how is it that he is here?' I cried, beginning
+to get frightened.
+
+"'You will know all when you see him,' said my companion, throwing open
+the door of a bedroom. I went in, and that door was also shut upon me.
+Then I turned and faced the man."
+
+"What was he like?" cried Wetherell.
+
+"He was the man you were telling us about at dinner--Dr. Nikola."
+
+"Ah! And then?"
+
+"He politely but firmly informed me that I was his prisoner, and that
+until you gave up something he had for years been trying to obtain he
+would be compelled to detain me. I threatened, entreated, and finally
+wept, but he was not to be moved. He promised that no effort should be
+spared to make me comfortable, but he could not let me go until you had
+complied with his request. So I was kept there until late one night,
+when I was informed that I must be ready to leave the house. A brougham
+was at the door and in this, securely guarded, I was conducted to the
+harbour, where a boat was in waiting. In this we were rowed out to a
+schooner, and I was placed on board her. A comfortably furnished cabin
+was allotted to me, and everything I could possibly want was given me.
+But though the greatest consideration in all other matters was shown me,
+I could gather nothing of where we were going or what my fate was to be,
+nor could I discover any means of communicating with the shore. About
+midnight we got under weigh and commenced our voyage. Our destination
+was the island where you found me."
+
+"And how did Nikola treat you during the voyage and your stay on Pipa
+Lannu?" I asked.
+
+"With invariable courtesy," she replied. "A more admirable host no one
+could desire. I had but to express a wish, and it was instantly
+gratified. When we were clear of the land I was allowed on deck; my
+meals were served to me in a cabin adjoining my own, and a stewardess
+had been specially engaged to wait upon me. As far as my own treatment
+went, I have nothing to complain of. But oh, you can't tell how thankful
+I was to get away; I imagined all sorts of horrors."
+
+"Well, God be thanked, it's all done with now," I said earnestly.
+
+"And what is more," said Wetherell, "you have won one of the best
+husbands in the world. Mr. Hatteras, your hand, sir; Phyllis, my
+darling, yours! God bless you both."
+
+A week later the eventful voyage was over, and we were back in Sydney
+again.
+
+Then came our marriage. But, with your kind permission, I will only give
+you a very bare description of that. It took place at the cathedral, the
+Primate officiating. The Marquis of Beckenham was kind enough to act as
+my best man, while the Colonial Secretary, of course, gave his daughter
+away.
+
+But now I come to think of it, there is one point I _must_ touch upon in
+connexion with that happy occasion, and that was the arrival of an
+important present on the evening prior to the event.
+
+We were sitting in the drawing-room when the butler brought in a square
+parcel on a salver and handed it to Phyllis. "Another present, I
+expect," she said, and began to untie the string that bound it.
+
+When the first cover was removed a layer of tissue paper revealed
+itself, and after that a large Russia leather case came into view. On
+pressing the spring the cover lifted and revealed a superb _collet_--as
+I believe it is called--of diamonds, and resting against the lid a small
+card bearing this inscription:--
+
+     _"With heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Lady Hatteras,
+     in memory of an unfortunate detention and a voyage to the Southern
+     Seas,_
+
+     _"From her sincere admirer,_
+     _"Dr. Nikola."_
+
+What do you think of that?
+
+Well, to bring my long story to a close, the Great Event passed off with
+much _eclat_. We spent our honeymoon in the Blue Mountains, and a
+fortnight later sailed once more for England in the _Orizaba_. Both Mr.
+Wetherell--who has now resigned office--and the Marquis of Beckenham,
+who is as manly a fellow as you would meet anywhere in England,
+accompanied us home, and it was to the latter's seaside residence that
+we went immediately on our arrival in the mother country. My own New
+Forest residence is being thoroughly renovated, and will be ready for
+occupation in the spring.
+
+And now as to the other persons who have figured most prominently in my
+narrative. Of Nikola, Baxter, Eastover, or Prendergast I have never
+heard since. What gigantic _coup_ the first-named intends to accomplish
+with the little Chinese stick, the possession of which proved so fatal
+to Wetherell, is beyond my power to tell. I am only too thankful,
+however, that I am able to say that I am not in the least concerned in
+it. I am afraid of Nikola, and I confess it. And with this honest
+expression of my feelings, and my thanks for your attention and
+forbearance, I will beg your permission to ring the curtain down upon
+the narrative of my BID FOR FORTUNE.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Bid for Fortune, by Guy Boothby
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