ve got the key to the puzzle. Madame
was aware that Miss Petrovitch would do anything to rescue her father,
and so would the man she loved. Therefore, when you, with your money,
your influence, and, above all, your yacht, came upon the scene, she
took advantage of the opportunity Providence had sent her, and laid her
plans accordingly. You know the result."

"And while Miss Petrovitch has been wearing her heart out with anxiety
to save her father, this heartless woman has been deceiving her--to
whom she owes everything--and adapting our means to secure her own
ends."

"It looks like it--does it not?" said Jimmy. "Now, what do you intend
doing? Remember, you have two traitors to deal with--Madame Bernstein
and Mr. Maas."

"I don't know what to do," replied poor Browne, "It is sufficiently
vexatious. I shall have to tell Miss Petrovitch, and it will break her
heart. As for Maas, we must consider what is best to be done with him.
I'll have no mercy on the brute."

"Oh yes, you will," argued Jimmy. "Whatever you are, you are not
vindictive, Jack. Don't try to make me believe you are."

Leaving the two men together, Browne went in search of his sweetheart.
When he found her, he summoned up all the courage he possessed and told
her everything from the beginning to the end. She was braver than he
had expected, and heard him out without comment. Only when he had
finished, she rose from her seat, and asked him to excuse her, saying
that she would go to her cabin for a little while.

A little before sunset that afternoon a small brig was sighted, five
miles or so away to the south-west. A course was immediately shaped to
intercept her. Her attention having been attracted, she hove to and
waited for the boat, that Mason warned her he was sending. When she
put off the third officer was in charge, and MacAndrew was sitting
beside him in the stern sheets. They returned in something under an
hour, and immediately on his arrival on board MacAndrew made his way to
the smoking-room, where he was closeted with Browne for upwards of an
hour. After that he went below with Jimmy Foote.

The orb of day lay like a ball of fire upon the horizon when they
reappeared. This time they escorted no less a person than Maas
himself, who looked as if he were scarcely awake. Without inquiring
for them or asking leave to bid his host and hostess farewell, he
disappeared down the accommodation-ladder, and took his place in the
bo