proached, and he also was amazed to find Edith's wondering eyes
fixed upon him at a distance of only a few feet.

She nodded her head and placed a warning finger upon her lips. As it
happened, Daubeney caught her in the act, and for the next few moments
that gentleman's emotions were intense, not to say painful.

"Who would have thought it?" he muttered to himself. "A girl like her
making secret signs to a dirty scoundrel of that sort. The beggar was
good-looking, of course; but what--well, I give it up. Poor old
Fairholme! What funny creatures women are, to be sure!"

How much further this soliloquy might have proceeded he knew not, for
Edith sharply interrupted his thoughts.

"You seem to be preoccupied, Mr. Daubeney. What has happened?" she
inquired.

"I--I--really don't know."

His distress was so unmistakable that her quick woman's wit divined the
true cause. They had now sauntered some distance away from the part of
the tower that might be marked "dangerous," so she grasped Jimmy's
ponderous arm, and whispered with a delightful smile--

"You saw me make signs to that Frenchman, didn't you?"

"Well--er--I--er----"

"Oh, yes, I understand. Of course you were surprised. But don't jump
now, or say anything; he is my brother!"

She need not have warned Daubeney as to any remarks he might feel
inclined to make, for her announcement again rendered him speechless.

"It is a mystery," she whispered, "a deep secret. We will tell you all
about it at lunch."

CHAPTER XVIII

TALBOT'S ADVENTURES

Although Miss Talbot spoke so confidently of revelations to accompany
the expected meal, it is idle to pretend that any of the three people
who were cognizant of Talbot's mysterious appearance on the island
betrayed undue haste to return to the waiting lunch.

Sublimely unconscious of the excitement raging in their breasts, Sir
Hubert Fitzjames could not understand why they each and all answered him
in such a flurried manner when he dilated upon the beauties of the bay.
Finally he turned to Edith with an air of apprehension.

"I fear," he said, "that your expedition of last night has upset you.
Have you a headache?"

Then she could contain her news no longer. Drawing him close to the
rampart, and bending down so as to apparently take a deep interest in
the laughing excursionists beneath, she murmured--

"Listen to me carefully, uncle. Don't look around. Have you noticed the
party of Turks and a Frenchman