e other's
identity; "or rather, I should say, Monsieur----"

"Petrovitch will do very well for the present," the other replied in a
querulous voice, as if he were tired, and did not want to be bothered
by such minor details. "You are Monsieur Browne, I presume--my
Katherine's affianced husband?"

"Yes, that is my name," the young man answered. "I cannot tell you how
thankful your daughter will be to have you back with her once more."

To this the man offered no reply, but sat staring into the fire with
half-closed eyes. His behaviour struck Browne unpleasantly. Could the
man have lost his former affection for his daughter? If not, why was
it he refrained from making further inquiries about the girl, who had
risked so much to save him? MacAndrew, however, stepped into the
breach.

"You will have to be a bit easy with him at first, Mr. Browne," he
said. "They are always like this when they first get free. You must
remember that, for a good many years, he has never been asked to act or
think for himself. I have seen many like this before. Once get him on
board your yacht, away from every thought and association of his old
life, and you will find that he will soon pick up again."

"And Madame Bernstein?" asked the man in the chair, as if he were
continuing a train of thoughts suggested by their previous conversation.

"She is very well," said Browne, "and is also anxiously awaiting your
coming. She has taken the greatest possible interest in your escape."

"Ah!" said the man, and then fell to musing again.

By this time Browne had placed before him a large bowl of smoking
beef-extract, which had been prepared by a merchant in England, who had
little dreamt the use it would be put to in the Farthest East. As soon
as the old man had satisfied his hunger, Browne led him to his own
sleeping-place, and placed him upon it, covering him with the fur rugs.
Then he returned to the table, and, seating himself at it, questioned
MacAndrew, while the other stowed away an enormous meal, as if to make
up for the privations he had lately endured. From him Browne learnt
all the incidents of their journey. Disguised as a Russian fur
merchant, MacAndrew had made his way to the town of Dui, where he had
made inquiries, and located the man he wanted. At first it was
difficult to get communication with him; but once that was done the
rest was comparatively easy. They reached the forest and made for the
coast, with the re