forward with outstretched hands to greet him.

"Jack, Jack," she cried, her voice trembling with delight, "I had no
idea that you had arrived. How long have you been in Japan?"

"We dropped our anchor scarcely an hour ago," he answered. "I came
ashore the instant the launch was ready for me."

"How glad I am to see you!" she exclaimed. "It seems years since we
said good-bye to each other that miserable day at Marseilles."

"Years!" he cried. "It seems like an eternity to me." Then, looking
up at her, as she stood on the steps above him, he continued:
"Katherine, you are more beautiful than ever."

A rosy blush spread over her face. "It is because of my delight at
seeing you," she whispered. This pretty speech was followed by a
little pause, during which he came up the steps and led her along the
verandah towards two empty chairs at the farther end. They seated
themselves, and, after their more immediate affairs had received
attention, he inquired after Madame Bernstein.

"And now tell me what you have arranged to do?" she said, when she had
satisfied him that the lady in question was enjoying the best of
health. "I received your cablegram from Hong-kong, saying that
everything was progressing satisfactorily. You do not know how
anxiously I have been waiting to see you."

"And only to hear that?" he asked, with a smile.

"Of course not," she answered. "Still, I think you can easily
understand my impatience."

"Of course I understand it, dear," he replied; "and it is only right
you should know all I have arranged."

He thereupon narrated to her his interview with MacAndrew, speaking in
a low voice, and taking care that no one should overhear him. When he
had finished he sat silent for a few moments; then, leaning a little
nearer her, he continued, "I want to remind you, dear, to be
particularly careful to say nothing at all on the subject to any one,
not even to Madame Bernstein. I was warned myself not to say anything;
but in your case, of course, it is different."

"You can trust me," she returned; "I shall say nothing. And so you
really think it is likely we shall be able to save him?"

"I feel sure it is," said Browne; "though, of course, I, like you, am
somewhat in the dark. Every one who is in the business is so chary of
being discovered, that they take particular care not to divulge
anything, however small, that may give a hint or clue as to their
complicity."

For some time they cont