eft between me and Virginia Beverly. Listen! We are talking
frankly to each other, you and I. We never thought to be such
friends--but we are friends, and must trust each other to succeed. You
often speak, half-jestingly, of being poor. I have money--I don't say
enough; who has enough? But I am not a poor man. Watch Virginia for me;
watch Sir Roger Broom. Let me know where this yacht is taking you, whom
she carries, all that happens on board of her. Advise me, from what you
see of passing events; and for all these services, worth an inestimable
sum to me, I will give you what I can afford--say, a thousand pounds. You
shall have half down the day you start, and the other half the day that
you return."

"You are generous; and--I will be loyal," said Kate. "It will not be my
fault, I promise you, if the yacht sails without me. Now I must go. We
must have been talking here for more than an hour, for Virginia's
carriage, which she lent me, has just driven up to the door. Whenever
there is a new development of this mystery, which interests us both, you
shall know it. I wish I could take you up to Cap Martin with me, if you
are ready to go that way, but perhaps it would be wiser not--especially
as the victoria isn't my own."

Kate Gardiner had not been in the hotel an hour when a box was brought to
her door by the Marchese Loria's valet. Inside was the diamond serpent.
She told herself that she had done a very good afternoon's work.

* * * * *

Soon every one knew that the American heiress and beauty, Miss Virginia
Beverly, had bought, for twenty thousand pounds, the famous steam yacht
which the mad Spanish Prince d'Almidares had used as a despatch boat at
the time of the American war with Spain. For some time it had been for
sale, lying in harbour at Nice; but it had been too costly a toy; the
cannon with which it was armed were worth only the price of old iron to
most buyers of yachts. They were equally useless to Miss Beverly and her
party, as she and George Trent and Roger Broom impressed upon all who
asked questions; but, then, what was the use in wasting time enough to
dismantle the yacht, as she was wanted immediately, and the cannon were
too cleverly concealed to injure the smart appearance of the little
craft?

It was given out that the _Bella Cuba_ would touch at Greece, go on to
Egypt, and perhaps visit Algiers and Lisbon, steaming at last up the
Thames to Tilbury. Virginia Beverl