alny, accepting Dave's hand, "I feel
that I am indeed honored in being able to meet one who, I understand,
has been such a friend to my friend the Count of Surigny. I shall hope
to see much of you."

Dalny was then introduced to Dalzell, after which, at Dave's
invitation, the newcomers seated themselves. Fresh coffee was ordered.

But Dave Darrin's head was now in a good deal of a whirl.

As to the identity of M. Dalny, there could be no mistake whatever.
And here was the Count of Surigny, evidently in the friendship of this
plotter against the American Navy. It was not unlikely that the Count,
too, was in the employ of this enemy of the United States.

"What can this whole thing mean, and does Surigny _know_ that he is
working against the peace and honor of my country?" Dave asked
himself, his pulses throbbing.

"Are you to be here long at Naples, Monsieur Darrin?" Dalny soon asked
in his most velvet-like tones.

"I really haven't the least idea, Monsieur Dalny," Dave replied
truthfully, forcing a smile. "I am not deep in the confidence of
Admiral Timworth."

"I thought it very likely," purred Monsieur Dalny, "that you might
have heard from your officers as to how many days of shore liberty are
likely to be granted your sailors."

"Oh, probably we shall--" began Dan, who found the French conversation
easy to understand in this instance.

But the slightest of signs from Darrin was sufficient to check
Dalzell's intended statement. So Danny Grin merely finished:

"Probably we shall hear soon how long our stay here is to be."

"Are you interested, Monsieur Dalny, in the length of our stay here?"
queried Ensign Dave, gazing carelessly into the eyes of the stranger.

"Oh, it is but a matter of idle curiosity to me," replied the other,
shrugging his shoulders amiably. "Just as you understand it would be a
matter of a little curiosity, my dear Monsieur Darrin, to know whether
the American fleet now in the harbor here will keep together for the
next few weeks, and what ports you will visit. But I imagine that you
have, as yet, no information on such points."

Dave did not reply to M. Dalny's remarks, who, however, did not appear
to notice the omission. Drawing forth a long cigar and lighting it,
Dalny puffed away, seeming to prefer, after that, to listen to the
conversation of the others.

"Who can this Monsieur Dalny be?" Dave asked himself, racking his
brain. "And of what nationality? The word 'Monsieur' is F