was
his next care, and to this end he spared nothing. Whatever money could
purchase, or skill and unwearied enterprise suggest, were all employed
in the search. Rica, whose nature seemed totally changed by the terrible
shock of Linton's culpability, gave himself up implicitly to Cashel's
guidance, and was unceasing in his efforts to discover his missing
child. But with all the practised acuteness of the police at their
command, and all the endeavors which their zeal could practise, the
search was fruitless, and not a trace of her could be detected.

Through the Neapolitan Embassy, orders were transmitted to Naples to
inquire into the case of Enrique, whose innocence the testimony of Keane
went far to establish. The result was, as Cashel ardently hoped, his
complete vindication, and a telegraphic despatch brought tidings that
he was already liberated, and on his way to Paris. While both Roland and
Rica waited impatiently for the arrival of one whose assistance in their
search would be so valuable, the most perfect good understanding grew up
between them, and Cashel began to perceive how, beneath the vices which
a life of reckless debauchery had created, there lay--inactive and
unused for many a day--kindly feelings and warm affections for which
he had never given him credit. As this confidence grew stronger, Rica
became more frank and open in all his intercourse, and at last revealed
to Cashel the whole story of his life,--a strange, eventful history,
whose vicissitudes were the changing fortunes of a gambler's existence.
For such was he,--without a passion, a pursuit of any kind but play, he
had passed his life in that one baneful vice. For it he had toiled and
labored: to indulge that passion he had engaged in deadly duels, and
perilled his life by acts of forgery.

His marriage with Corrigan's daughter was brought about solely to
procure the means of play; nor was there an energy of his mind or an
impulse of his nature had any other direction. Linton's skill as a
gambler, the unceasing resources he seemed to possess, the stratagems
and devices he could deploy, created for him, in Rica's mind, a species
of admiration that soon degenerated into a blind submission to all his
dictates. Such an ally as this, so deeply versed in all the weak points
of his fellow-men,--so thoroughly master of every impulse that moves,
of every hope and fear that sways the gambler's nature,--had been the
cherished desire of his heart for man