doubt
about the matter. Anyone who had ever seen Max would have been sure to
recognise him in the picture.

It was indeed a happy party that retired to rest that night. At last it
looked as if the lost one would be found, and the wandering sheep
brought back to the fold.

Early next day, after bidding those at home a fond good-bye, I travelled
to Southampton, and by nightfall was on board ship and in mid-Channel.
Fortunately, there were no passengers travelling by the boat with whom I
was acquainted, or who even knew me by sight. This at least was
something to be thankful for. To make assurance doubly sure, however, I
had adopted another plan. Feeling certain that, if it became known that
Prince Paul of Pannonia were visiting Brazil, telegrams would be
dispatched to the newspapers of that country, and thus Max would be
given sufficient warning to enable him to get out of my way; I had
followed his example, and booked my passage in the name of Mortimer. As
plain Mr. Mortimer, therefore, I was known on board.

Of the voyage out nothing need be said. We touched at Lisbon and St.
Vincent in due course, and, when that island lay behind us, settled
ourselves down to while away the voyage across the Atlantic as
pleasantly as we knew how.

At last we reached Rio. It would be impossible for me to describe the
varied emotions that filled my breast as we steamed through those
wonderful straits into the harbour behind. Save for short excursions to
Paris, I had not been out of England since we had taken up our abode in
it, and, in consequence, this South American port was like a new world
to me. The brightness, the variety of colour, the picturesque placing of
the city, and the giant mountain Corcovado, rising behind it, made up a
picture that I shall never forget as long as I live. As soon as it was
possible for me to do so, I made my way ashore, and, chartering a cab,
set off in search of Senor Montezma's office. The cab drivers in Brazil
are like their brothers all the world over. They are excellent drivers,
but their workmanship is occasionally leavened with a recklessness that
is sufficient to bring your heart into your mouth half a dozen times in
a hundred yards. It was so in my case. We had not proceeded more than
that distance before we as nearly as possible knocked down a pedestrian.
Had I only known that that man was Max, what a very different tale I
should have to tell! But I did not recognise him, and, in consequenc