hes of meat, game
pies, new rolls, fruit, and the whole was finished with ices and
bon-bons in the true American fashion. My new friend, the doctor, said
nothing as I ate; but when the repast was removed he pushed the cigars
to me, and, taking one himself, he began to talk at once.

"I regret," he said, "that I cannot supply you with a morning
newspaper; but the latest journal that I can lend you is a copy of the
_New York World_ of Saturday last. There is a passage in it which may
interest you."

The paper was folded and marked in a certain spot. I read it with blank
amazement, for it was a full account of the nameless ship's attack upon
the American cruiser and the _Ocean King_. The paper stated shortly
that both ships had been impudently stopped in mid-Atlantic by a big
war-vessel flying the Chilian flag; that the cruiser had been seriously
damaged and had lost twenty of her men; while a shell had been fired
into the fo'castle of the passenger ship and two of her men killed,
with other such details as you know. The matter was the subject of a
profound sensation, not only in America, but throughout the world. The
Chilian Government had been approached at once, but had repudiated all
knowledge of the mysterious ship. Meanwhile war-vessels from England,
America, and from France had set out to scour the seas and bring such
intelligence as they could. The whole account concluded with the rumour
that a gentleman in New York had knowledge of the affair, and would at
once be interviewed, with the result, it was hoped, of disclosing that
which would be one of the sensations of the century.

When I had put the paper down, the doctor, who followed me with his
eyes, said laughingly--

"You see that interview was unfortunately interrupted. You are the
gentleman with the full particulars, for we know that your friend
Stewart plays a very small part in the affair. Without your energy, I
think I may say that he is little less than a fool."

"Hardly that, as you may yet discover," I said, seeing instantly which
way safety lay; "he knows as much as I know."

"Which is not very much after all, is it?--but that we must have fuller
knowledge of. I am here to ask you to write accurately for us a
complete account of every step you have taken in this matter since you
were fool enough to follow Martin Hall, and poke your nose into
business which did not concern you. As you know, Hall was punished in
the Channel: you saw his end, as I