oned this
project, and she almost thought that he had given it up.

One result of this accession of wealth was that he took a pleasant house
in Kensington, where he and his sister spent their days together. He had
a young man to act as his secretary and as a companion in expeditions
which would have been beyond Angela's strength; and on his return from
the docks, where he met Captain Somers, he seemed to have a good deal to
say to this young fellow. He sent him out on an errand which took up a
good deal of time. Angela guessed that he was making inquiries about
Captain Somers. And she was right.

Vivian went next day to the address which the sea-captain had given him;
and he took with him his secretary, Mr. Fane. They found Captain Somers
at home, in a neat little room for which he looked too big; a room
furnished like the cabin of a ship, and decorated with the various
things usually seen in a seaman's dwelling--some emu's eggs, a lump of
brain coral, baskets of tamarind seeds, and bunches of blackened
seaweed. There were maps and charts on the table, and to one of these
Captain Somers directed his guest's attention.

"There, sir," he said. "There's the Rocas Reef; off Pernambuco, as you
see. That's the point where the _Arizona_ struck, I'm pretty sure of
that."

"Show it to my friend, Mr. Fane," said Vivian, gently pushing the chart
away from him. "I can't see. I'm blind."

"Lord!" ejaculated the captain. Then, after an instant of astonished
silence, "One would never have guessed it. I'm sure I beg your pardon,
sir."

"What for?" said Vivian, smiling. "I am glad to hear that I don't look
like a blind man. And now tell me about your shipwreck on the Rocas
Reef."

Captain Somers launched at once into his story. He gave a very graphic
description of the island, and of the days that he had spent upon it;
and he wound up by saying that he had known of two parties of
shipwrecked mariners who had made their way to the place, and that, in
his opinion, there was no reason why there should not be a third.

"But, mind you, sir," he said, "it's only a strong man and a good
swimmer that would have any chance. There wasn't one of us that escaped
but could swim like a fish. Was your friend a good swimmer, do you
happen to know?"

"Remarkably good."

"Ah, then, he had a chance; you know, after all, the chance is very
small."

"But you think," said Vivian, deliberately, "that possibly there are now
men on that island,