e. He was saved from the wreck of the _Falcon_--do you
understand whom I mean?"

And then he opened the door. "Brian," he said, in a voice that seemed
strange to Elizabeth, because of its measured quietness, "come here."

Elizabeth was trembling from head to foot. "Don't be afraid, child," he
said, with more of an approach to his old tones and looks than she had
yet heard or seen; "nobody will hurt you. Here he is--and I think I may
fairly say that I have kept my word."

Brian Luttrell had been collecting the possessions which he thought that
his comrades might wish to take with them as mementoes of their stay
upon the island. He sprang up quickly at the first sound of Percival's
voice, and then stood, as if turned to stone, looking at Elizabeth. The
healthy colour faded from his face, leaving it nearly as pale as hers;
he set his lips, and Percival could see that he clenched his hands.
Elizabeth did not look up at all.

"Is this all the thanks I get," said Percival, in an ironical tone, "for
introducing one cousin to another? I have taken a good deal of trouble
for you both; I think that now you have met you might be civil to each
other."

There was a perceptible pause. Elizabeth was the first to recover
herself. She made a step forward and put out her hand, which Brian
instantly took in his. But neither of them spoke. Percival, with his
back against the door, and his arms folded, observed them with a
slightly humorous smile.

"You are surprised," he said to Elizabeth, "and I don't wonder. The last
thing you expected was to find me on good terms with Brian Luttrell, was
it not? And we have been on fairly good terms, have we not, Luttrell?"

"He saved my life twice," said Brian.

"And he nursed me through a fever," interposed Percival, with a huge
laugh, "so we are quits. Oh, we have both played our parts in a highly
creditable manner as long as we were on a desert island; but the island
is inhabited now, and I think it's time that we returned to the habits
of civilised life. As a matter of fact, I consider Brian Luttrell my
deadliest enemy."

"You do nothing of the kind," said Brian, unable to repress a smile,
although it hardly altered the look of pain that had come into his eyes.
"Don't believe him, Miss Murray: I am glad to say that we are good
friends."

"Idyllic simplicity! Don't you know that I did but dissemble, like the
man in the play? How can we be friends when we both----" he stopped
short, look