he pretended.

"From the very first I felt sure there was some mystery about him," said
the latter to himself one evening, when he had left the sick-room for a
well-earned rest. "I don't fancy, however, that I have quite got to the
bottom of it yet. But there, it's his secret and not mine, and, if he
doesn't care to tell me, why should I bother myself?"

So saying, the kindly old fellow returned once more to the sick-room to
minister as patiently to the wants of his restless patient as if he had
been a nurse all his life. Strangely enough, as Brockford has since told
me, it was of myself that Max talked most. "His constant cry," said the
latter, "was something to this effect: 'As I cannot win her for myself,
I will not spoil Paul's life. No! Paul shall have his chance with her!'
and so he would continue for hours at a time. Sometimes he would vary it
by informing the world that 'Paul should have her, for he could make her
happier than I could ever do.' Then he would suddenly sit up in bed and
call wildly for a horse, adding that he had made an appointment to meet
the Princess in the Park, and must not, on any account, keep her
waiting."

At last consciousness returned, and little by little he grew stronger,
until, in due course, he was pronounced to be out of danger. Some time,
however, elapsed before he was in a position to return to his duties. He
had now been in Brazil upwards of eighteen months, and was beginning to
regard himself as an old inhabitant.

On the day that he was sufficiently recovered to be able to return to
the office he was invited to dine in the evening at the house of his
employer.

It was a jovial party that sat down to dinner. The old merchant kept a
liberal table, and he and the Senora, between them, did the honours with
regal dignity. The two pretty daughters of the house laid themselves out
to be charming, the younger, Estrella, taking care that Max wanted
nothing. After dinner they adjourned to the verandah, where a lovely
view of the city, stretched out on the plain below, and of the harbour
was obtainable. Max was in the best possible spirits, and seemed to be
thoroughly enjoying the society of the pretty Estrella, who was seated
beside him, fanning herself, as only a Spanish girl can, with a
coquettish lace fan, and airing her scanty knowledge of the English
language. The elder sister, Maraquinha, who was an accomplished
musician, was playing a variety of dreamy melodies in the room