s to say there was no sign of any
fugitive there. Browne's own cabin followed next, with the same
result. At last they reached the deck once more.

"You are satisfied, I presume, sir, that the man you want is not on
board my yacht?" asked Browne, with considerable hauteur.

"Quite satisfied," replied the other. "And yet I can assure you,
monsieur, that we had the best reasons for believing that you were
conniving at his escape."

"I am very much obliged to you, I am sure," retorted Browne. "I fancy,
however, that, even presuming I contemplated anything of the sort, I
have convinced you that I have not carried it out yet. And now I have
the honour to wish you a very good morning. My engineer informs me
that the break-down in the engine-room has been repaired; and, if you
have any suspicions left, you will have the satisfaction of seeing us
get under way without further delay. I tell you this in case you
should imagine, that I intend hanging about here, in the hope of
picking up the man to whom you allude. By the way, did you say that
his name is Kleinkopf, and that he was originally a diamond-thief?"

"He was the most expert diamond-thief in Europe, monsieur," the officer
replied. "Now, permit me to offer my apologies for the trouble to
which I have put you, and to bid you farewell. At the same time, if
you will allow me to do so, I will give you a little advice. If I were
in your place I should leave this coast as soon as possible."

"I shall do so within a quarter of an hour, at latest," Browne answered.

With that the officer saluted once more and disappeared down the
companion-ladder. A few moments later his boat was to be seen making
her way in the direction of the man-of-war. Browne stood and watched
her, scarcely able to realize that all danger was now passed and clone
with. Then he turned to go in search of his friends, and as he did so
a thought came into his mind, and brought him to a standstill once
more. What could the officer have meant when he had said that the
escaped convict's name was Kleinkopf, and that he was not a Nihilist,
as they had been informed, but a diamond-thief; not a man who plotted
and risked his life for the welfare of his country, but a common felon,
who lived by defrauding the general public? Was it possible that
Katherine's father could have been such a man? No; a thousand times
no! He would never believe such a thing. But if it were not so, what
did it all mean