what it
was--revenge. I was deserted in a furrin land, with just my board-bill
paid, and not a penny to bless myself with."

"Ah," said Marchmont. "That's the reason, I suppose, why you came from
Montreal to New York in a parlour car."

The tramp sighed despondently, saying:

"Now whoever told you that, boss?"

"Nobody. I found the Pullman check in your coat-pocket when I was
looking for my diamond ring, which you'd absent-mindedly placed there."

"Humph!" replied the other. "There ain't no foolin' you!"

"I should be a pretty poor journalist if there were," said his employer.
"Now give me the story again, and see if you can get it straight."

"Well, there ain't nothin' much to tell, 'cept I was carried off by them
Spanish conspirators in mistake for a lady, which I in no-wise
resembles, an' the bloke as was the head of the gang was allus called
the Bishop, and a pretty rum Bishop he was."

"Never mind about his qualifications," interrupted Marchmont shortly;
adding to himself, "That explains his son's presence in Montreal."

"Well, this Bishop," continued the tramp, "used to talk about his palace
at Blanford; and when the party give me the go-by, I gathered from the
porter as took their traps that they'd gone to England; and the
elevator-boy, he heard the Bishop say to the little actress as they'd be
as safe at the palace as they would anywhere. And then I come on to New
York and blew it into you."

"Yes," said Marchmont, "and I've given you a first-class passage to
England, paid your board and lodging, and kept you full for the best
part of three weeks; and what do I get out of it?"

"I admit as we haven't had much results as yet," said the tramp. "But
now things is goin' to hum. The Bishop and his whole gang's coming over
to these very ruins to-day."

"How did you find that out?" demanded the journalist.

"Footman up to the palace told me. I give him a little jamboree last
night at the 'Three Jolly Sailor-boys.'"

"Yes, and had to be carried home dead-drunk. Nice one you are to keep a
secret."

"Well, I was only a-doin' me duty," said the tramp in an aggrieved tone
of voice, "and if they don't know you're after 'em, and you should
happen to be inspectin' the ruins at the same time as they are, you
could get chummy with 'em without half tryin'."

"I'll attend to that," said the newspaper man. "I've just had a cable
from the _Daily Leader_ telling me to hustle if I want to get that
position, and I'