ed.

He nodded.

"Yes. You wanted him to get away, didn't you? But I don't think he will,
this time. He will probably be arrested directly we reach New York. But,
meantime, I must watch out."

"Oh!" breathed Cynthia. "Then"--with sudden hope dawning in her
eyes--"it really was your doing, that trick at the card-table last
night?"

West uttered his brief, hard laugh.

"What do you take me for?"

She heaved a great sigh of relief.

"And it wasn't Archie, after all? I'm thankful you told me. I thought--I
thought--But it doesn't matter, does it? Tell me, do tell me, Mr. West,"
drawing very close to him, "which--which is Mr. Nat Verney?"

West seemed to hesitate.

"Oh, do tell me!" she begged. "I know I'm only a woman, but I always
keep my word. And it's only two days more to New York."

He looked closely into her eyes and yielded.

"I'm trusting you with my reputation," he said. "It's the stout,
red-faced man called Rudd."

"Mr. Rudd?" She started back. "You don't say? That man?" There followed
a short pause while she digested the information. Then, as on the
previous morning, she suddenly extended her hand. "Well, I hate that
man, anyway. And I believe you're really clever. If you like, Mr. West,
I'll help you to watch out."

"Thanks!" said West. He took the little hand into a tight grip, still
looking straight into her eyes. There was a light in his own that shone
like a blue flame. "Thanks!" he said again, as he released it. "You're
very good, Miss Mortimer. But you mustn't be seen with me, you know.
You've got to remember that I'm a swindler."

The girl laughed aloud. It pleased her to feel that this taciturn man
had taken her into his confidence at last. "I shall remember," she said
lightly.

And she went away, not only comforted, but gay of heart.

* * * * *

During the remainder of the voyage, West was treated with extreme
coolness by every one. It did not seem to abash him in the least. He
came and went in the crowd with the utmost _sang-froid_, always
preoccupied, always self-contained. Cynthia observed him from a distance
with admiration. The man had taken her fancy. She was keenly interested
in his methods, as well as in his decidedly unusual personality. She
observed Rudd also, and noted the obvious suspicion with which he
regarded West. On the night before their arrival she saw the latter
alone for a moment, and whispered to him that Mr. Rudd seemed uneasy.