him in a way that would have melted many a
man into agreeing to her wishes, but Dan answered promptly:

"I regret, Countess, to be compelled to refuse your request, but I
would not play for myself, nor for anyone else."

"If you so detest Monte Carlo and its pursuits," replied the Countess
with a pout, "I cannot understand why you are here."

"There was something useful to be gained from witnessing the sights
here, but I have seen as much as I wish," Dalzell went on, "and now I
am ready to leave. I am returning to my ship as soon as Darrin is
ready to go."

"And he, also, is tired of Monte Carlo?" asked Countess Ripoli.

"Darrin's views are much the same as my own," Dan responded quietly.

Countess Ripoli bit her lip, then surveyed Dalzell with a sidelong
look which she did not believe he saw, but Dan, trained in habits of
observation, had missed nothing.

"Will you take me back to the tables?" asked the Countess suddenly.

"With pleasure," bowed Dan.

Lightly resting a hand on his arm the Countess guided Dalzell rather
than walked with him. Back into the largest salon they moved.

Dan's eye roved about in search of Darrin, but that young ensign was
not in sight.

* * * * *

At that very moment, in fact, Dave Darrin was very much concerned in
a matter upon which he had stumbled.

A few moments before his quick eye had espied Emil Gortchky crossing
the room at a distance. Gortchky paused barely more than a few seconds
to say a few words to a white-bearded, rather distinguished-looking
foreigner. The older man returned Gortchky's look, then smiled
slightly and moved on.

It was a trivial incident, but it was sufficient to set Dave's mind to
working swiftly, on account of what he already knew about Mr. Green
Hat.

For a few moments longer Ensign Darrin stood where he was; then,
tiring of the scene, and wondering what had become of Danny Grin, he
moved out upon one of the verandas, strolling slowly along. Reaching a
darker part of the veranda, where a clump of small potted trees formed
a toy grove, Dave paused, looking past the trees out upon the vague
glimpses to be had of the Mediterranean by night.

There, in the near distance, gleamed the lights of the "Hudson."
Darrin's face glowed with pride in the ship and in the Nation that
stood behind her.

Almost unconsciously he stepped inside the little grove. For a few
minutes longer his gaze rested on the sea. Then, hearing