r, "I
happen to have a friend who is at the present time confined on a
certain island. He is in delicate health, and his friends are anxious
to get him away. Now, I have been informed that, if suitable terms can
be arranged, it would be possible for you to effect this escape. Is
this so?"

"Mine goot frien," returned the German, "let me tell you dat you speak
too plain. The words dat you talk mit me would make trouble mit my
friens de police. Besides, dere is no esgaping from der jail ubon dis
island."

"I did not say anything about the jail upon this island," retorted
Browne; "the place I mean is a very long way from here."

"Well then, Noumea, perhaps?"

"No, not Noumea," answered Browne. "If I am to enter into more
explanations, I might say that my friend is a Russian, and that he is
also a political prisoner." He stopped and watched Herr Schmidt's face
anxiously. The latter was sitting bolt upright in his chair, with a
fat hand resting on either knee; his spectacles were pushed on to the
top of his head, and his long pipe was still in his mouth. Not a sign
escaped him to show that he understood.

"I dink dat mein old comrade, Herr Sauber, must have been drunken mit
too much schnapps when he talk mit you. What should Johann Schmidt
have to do mit Russian bolitical brisoners? His piziness is mit de
curios of China, mit silk, rice, ginger, but not mit de tings you do
speak to him about."

"Then I am to understand that you can do nothing to help me?" said
Browne, rising from his chair as if to take leave.

"For mineself it is not possible," returned the other, with great
deliberation. "But since you are a frien of mein old comrade Sauber,
den I tink over tings and gause inquiries to be made. Dis a very
strange work is, and dere are many men in it. I do not tell you dat it
gannot be done, but it will be difficult. Perhaps dere may be a man to
be found who will gommunicate mit your friend."

The meaning of this speech was perfectly clear to him. In plain
English, it, of course, meant that, while Herr Schmidt was not going to
commit himself, he would find some one else who would.

"I should be under a life-long obligation if you would do so," answered
Browne. "And what is more, I may as well say now I am not afraid to
pay handsomely for the service rendered."

This time there was a twinkle to be seen in the German's eye. "I know
noddings at all about what you speak; you will remember dot," co