第9章

Then，havingignoredtheevidenceofthemessage，wasitnotreasonabletoassumethathemeantnevertoclaimhisbirthright？

Ifthiswereso，whatrighthadhe，WilliamCecilClayton，tothwartthewishes，tobalktheself—sacrificeofthisstrangeman？IfTarzanoftheApescoulddothisthingtosaveJanePorterfromunhappiness，whyshouldhe，towhosecareshewasintrustingherwholefuture，doaughttojeopardizeherinterests？

Andsohereasoneduntilthefirstgenerousimpulsetoproclaimthetruthandrelinquishhistitlesandhisestatestotheirrightfulownerwasforgottenbeneaththemassofsophistrieswhichself—interesthadadvanced。Butduringthebalanceofthetrip，andformanydaysthereafter，hewasmoodyanddistraught。OccasionallythethoughtobtrudeditselfthatpossiblyatsomelaterdayTarzanwouldregrethismagnanimity，andclaimhisrights。

SeveraldaysaftertheyreachedBaltimoreClaytonbroachedthesubjectofanearlymarriagetoJane。

"Whatdoyoumeanbyearly？"sheasked。

"Withinthenextfewdays。ImustreturntoEnglandatonce——Iwantyoutoreturnwithme，dear。"

"Ican’tgetreadysosoonasthat，"repliedJane。"Itwilltakeawholemonth，atleast。"

Shewasglad，forshehopedthatwhatevercalledhimtoEnglandmightstillfurtherdelaythewedding。Shehadmadeabadbargain，butsheintendedcarryingherpartloyallytothebitterend——ifshecouldmanagetosecureatemporaryreprieve，though，shefeltthatshewaswarrantedindoingso。

Hisreplydisconcertedher。

"Verywell，Jane，"hesaid。"Iamdisappointed，butIshallletmytriptoEnglandwaitamonth;thenwecangobacktogether。"

Butwhenthemonthwasdrawingtoacloseshefoundstillanotherexcuseuponwhichtohangapostponement，untilatlast，discouragedanddoubting，ClaytonwasforcedtogobacktoEnglandalone。

TheseverallettersthatpassedbetweenthembroughtClaytonnonearertoaconsummationofhishopesthanhehadbeenbefore，andsoitwasthathewrotedirectlytoProfessorPorter，andenlistedhisservices。Theoldmanhadalwaysfavoredthematch。HelikedClayton，and，beingofanoldsouthernfamily，heputratheranexaggeratedvalueontheadvantagesofatitle，whichmeantlittleornothingtohisdaughter。

ClaytonurgedthattheprofessoraccepthisinvitationtobehisguestinLondon，aninvitationwhichincludedtheprofessor’sentirelittlefamily——Mr。Philander，Esmeralda，andall。TheEnglishmanarguedthatonceJanewasthere，andhometieshadbeenbroken，shewouldnotsodreadthestepwhichshehadsolonghesitatedtotake。

SotheeveningthathereceivedClayton’sletterProfessorPorterannouncedthattheywouldleaveforLondonthefollowingweek。

ButonceinLondonJanePorterwasnomoretractablethanshehadbeeninBaltimore。Shefoundoneexcuseafteranother，andwhen，finally，LordTenningtoninvitedthepartytocruisearoundAfricainhisyacht，sheexpressedthegreatestdelightintheidea，butabsolutelyrefusedtobemarrieduntiltheyhadreturnedtoLondon。Asthecruisewastoconsumeayearatleast，fortheyweretostopforindefiniteperiodsatvariouspointsofinterest，ClaytonmentallyanathematizedTenningtonforeversuggestingsucharidiculoustrip。

ItwasLordTennington’splantocruisethroughtheMediterranean，andtheRedSeatotheIndianOcean，andthusdowntheEastCoast，puttinginateveryportthatwasworththeseeing。

AndsoithappenedthatonacertaindaytwovesselspassedintheStraitofGibraltar。Thesmaller，atrimwhiteyacht，wasspeedingtowardtheeast，andonherdecksatayoungwomanwhogazedwithsadeyesuponadiamondstuddedlocketwhichsheidlyfingered。Herthoughtswerefaraway，inthedim，leafyfastnessofatropicaljungle——andherheartwaswithherthoughts。

Shewonderedifthemanwhohadgivenherthebeautifulbauble，thathadmeantsomuchmoretohimthantheintrinsicvaluewhichhehadnotevenknowncouldeverhavemeanttohim，wasbackinhissavageforest。

Anduponthedeckofthelargervessel，apassengersteamerpassingtowardtheeast，themansatwithanotheryoungwoman，andthetwoidlyspeculatedupontheidentityofthedaintycraftglidingsogracefullythroughthegentleswellofthelazysea。

Whentheyachthadpassedthemanresumedtheconversationthatherappearancehadbrokenoff。

"Yes，"hesaid，"IlikeAmericaverymuch，andthatmeans，ofcourse，thatIlikeAmericans，foracountryisonlywhatitspeoplemakeit。ImetsomeverydelightfulpeoplewhileI

wasthere。Irecallonefamilyfromyourowncity，MissStrong，whomIlikedparticularly——ProfessorPorterandhisdaughter。"

"JanePorter！"exclaimedthegirl。"DoyoumeantotellmethatyouknowJanePorter？Why，sheistheverybestfriendIhaveintheworld。Wewerelittlechildrentogether——wehaveknowneachotherforages。"

"Indeed！"heanswered，smiling。"Youwouldhavedifficultyinpersuadinganyoneofthefactwhohadseeneitherofyou。"

"I’llqualifythestatement，then，"sheanswered，withalaugh。

"Wehaveknowneachotherfortwoages——hersandmine。

Butseriouslyweareasdeartoeachotherassisters，andnowthatIamgoingtoloseherIamalmostheartbroken。"

"Goingtoloseher？"exclaimedTarzan。"Why，whatdoyoumean？

Oh，yes，Iunderstand。YoumeanthatnowthatsheismarriedandlivinginEngland，youwillseldomifeverseeher。"

"Yes，"repliedshe;"andthesaddestpartofitallisthatsheisnotmarryingthemansheloves。Oh，itisterrible。

Marryingfromasenseofduty！Ithinkitisperfectlywicked，andItoldherso。IhavefeltsostronglyonthesubjectthatalthoughIwastheonlypersonoutsideofbloodrelationswhowastohavebeenaskedtotheweddingIwouldnotletherinviteme，forIshouldnothavegonetowitnesstheterriblemockery。ButJanePorterispeculiarlypositive。

Shehasconvincedherselfthatsheisdoingtheonlyhonorablethingthatshecando，andnothingintheworldwilleverpreventherfrommarryingLordGreystokeexceptGreystokehimself，ordeath。"

"Iamsorryforher，"saidTarzan。

"AndIamsorryforthemansheloves，"saidthegirl，"forhelovesher。Inevermethim，butfromwhatJanetellsmehemustbeaverywonderfulperson。ItseemsthathewasborninanAfricanjungle，andbroughtupbyfierce，anthropoidapes。HehadneverseenawhitemanorwomanuntilProfessorPorterandhispartyweremaroonedonthecoastrightatthethresholdofhistinycabin。Hesavedthemfromallmannerofterriblebeasts，andaccomplishedthemostwonderfulfeatsimaginable，andthentocaptheclimaxhefellinlovewithJaneandshewithhim，thoughsheneverreallyknewitforsureuntilshehadpromisedherselftoLordGreystoke。"

"Mostremarkable，"murmuredTarzan，cudgelinghisbrainforsomepretextuponwhichtoturnthesubject。HedelightedinhearingHazelStrongtalkofJane，butwhenhewasthesubjectoftheconversationhewasboredandembarrassed。

Buthewassoongivenarespite，forthegirl’smotherjoinedthem，andthetalkbecamegeneral。

Thenextfewdayspasseduneventfully。Theseawasquiet。

Theskywasclear。Thesteamerplowedsteadilyontowardthesouthwithoutpause。TarzanspentquitealittletimewithMissStrongandhermother。Theywhiledawaytheirhoursondeckreading，talking，ortakingpictureswithMissStrong’scamera。Whenthesunhadsettheywalked。

OnedayTarzanfoundMissStronginconversationwithastranger，amanhehadnotseenonboardbefore。Asheapproachedthecouplethemanbowedtothegirlandturnedtowalkaway。

"Wait，MonsieurThuran，"saidMissStrong;"youmustmeetMr。Caldwell。Weareallfellowpassengers，andshouldbeacquainted。"

Thetwomenshookhands。AsTarzanlookedintotheeyesofMonsieurThuranhewasstruckbythestrangefamiliarityoftheirexpression。

"Ihavehadthehonorofmonsieur’sacquaintanceinthepast，Iamsure，"saidTarzan，"thoughIcannotrecallthecircumstances。"

MonsieurThuranappearedillatease。

"Icannotsay，monsieur，"hereplied。"Itmaybeso。Ihavehadthatidenticalsensationmyselfwhenmeetingastranger。"

"MonsieurThuranhasbeenexplainingsomeofthemysteriesofnavigationtome，"explainedthegirl。

Tarzanpaidlittleheedtotheconversationthatensued——hewasattemptingtorecallwherehehadmetMonsieurThuranbefore。

Thatithadbeenunderpeculiarcircumstanceshewaspositive。

Presentlythesunreachedthem，andthegirlaskedMonsieurThurantomoveherchairfartherbackintotheshade。

Tarzanhappenedtobewatchingthemanatthetime，andnoticedtheawkwardmannerinwhichhehandledthechair——hisleftwristwasstiff。Thatclewwassufficient——asuddentrainofassociatedideasdidtherest。

MonsieurThuranhadbeentryingtofindanexcusetomakeagracefuldeparture。Thelullintheconversationfollowingthemovingoftheirpositiongavehimanopportunitytomakehisexcuses。BowinglowtoMissStrong，andinclininghisheadtoTarzan，heturnedtoleavethem。

"Justamoment，"saidTarzan。"IfMissStrongwillpardonmeIwillaccompanyyou。Ishallreturninamoment，MissStrong。"

MonsieurThuranlookeduncomfortable。Whenthetwomenhadpassedoutofthegirl’ssight，Tarzanstopped，layingaheavyhandontheother’sshoulder。

"Whatisyourgamenow，Rokoff？"heasked。

"IamleavingFranceasIpromisedyou，"repliedtheother，inasurlyvoice。

"Iseeyouare，"saidTarzan;"butIknowyousowellthatIcanscarcelybelievethatyourbeingonthesameboatwithmeispurelyacoincidence。IfIcouldbelieveitthefactthatyouareindisguisewouldimmediatelydisabusemymindofanysuchidea。"

"Well，"growledRokoff，withashrug，"Icannotseewhatyouaregoingtodoaboutit。ThisvesselfliestheEnglishflag。

Ihaveasmuchrightonboardherasyou，andfromthefactthatyouarebookedunderanassumednameIimaginethatIhavemoreright。"

"Wewillnotdiscussit，Rokoff。AllIwantedtosaytoyouisthatyoumustkeepawayfromMissStrong——sheisadecentwoman。"

Rokoffturnedscarlet。

"Ifyoudon’tIshallpitchyouoverboard，"continuedTarzan。

"DonotforgetthatIamjustwaitingforsomeexcuse。"

Thenheturnedonhisheel，andleftRokoffstandingtheretremblingwithsuppressedrage。

Hedidnotseethemanagainfordays，butRokoffwasnotidle。InhisstateroomwithPaulvitchhefumedandswore，threateningthemostterribleofrevenges。

"Iwouldthrowhimoverboardtonight，"hecried，"wereI

surethatthosepaperswerenotonhisperson。Icannotchancepitchingthemintotheoceanwithhim。Ifyouwerenotsuchastupidcoward，Alexis，youwouldfindawaytoenterhisstateroomandsearchforthedocuments。"

Paulvitchsmiled。"Youaresupposedtobethebrainsofthispartnership，mydearNikolas，"hereplied。"WhydoyounotfindthemeanstosearchMonsieurCaldwell’sstateroom——eh？"

Twohourslaterfatewaskindtothem，forPaulvitch，whowaseveronthewatch，sawTarzanleavehisroomwithoutlockingthedoor。FiveminuteslaterRokoffwasstationedwherehecouldgivethealarmincaseTarzanreturned，andPaulvitchwasdeftlysearchingthecontentsoftheape—

man’sluggage。

HewasabouttogiveupindespairwhenhesawacoatwhichTarzanhadjustremoved。Amomentlaterhegraspedanofficialenvelopeinhishand。AquickglanceatitscontentsbroughtabroadsmiletotheRussian’sface。

WhenheleftthestateroomTarzanhimselfcouldnothavetoldthatanarticleinithadbeentouchedsinceheleftit——Paulvitchwasapastmasterinhischosenfield。

WhenhehandedthepackettoRokoffintheseclusionoftheirstateroomthelargermanrangforasteward，andorderedapintofchampagne。

"Wemustcelebrate，mydearAlexis，"hesaid。

"Itwasluck，Nikolas，"explainedPaulvitch。"Itisevidentthathecarriesthesepapersalwaysuponhisperson——justbychanceheneglectedtotransferthemwhenhechangedcoatsafewminutessince。Buttherewillbethedeucetopaywhenhediscovershisloss。Iamafraidthathewillimmediatelyconnectyouwithit。Nowthatheknowsthatyouareonboardhewillsuspectyouatonce。"

"Itwillmakenodifferencewhomhesuspects——afterto—night，"

saidRokoff，withanastygrin。

AfterMissStronghadgonebelowthatnightTarzanstoodleaningovertheraillookingfarouttosea。Everynighthehaddonethissincehehadcomeonboard——sometimeshestoodthusforanhour。AndtheeyesthathadbeenwatchinghiseverymovementsincehehadboardedtheshipatAlgiersknewthatthiswashishabit。

Evenashestoodtherethisnightthoseeyeswereonhim。

Presentlythelaststragglerhadleftthedeck。Itwasaclearnight，buttherewasnomoon——objectsondeckwerebarelydiscernible。

Fromtheshadowsofthecabintwofigurescreptstealthilyupontheape—manfrombehind。Thelappingofthewavesagainsttheship’ssides，thewhirringofthepropeller，thethrobbingoftheengines，drownedthealmostsoundlessapproachofthetwo。

Theywerequiteclosetohimnow，andcrouchinglow，liketacklersonagridiron。Oneofthemraisedhishandandloweredit，asthoughcountingoffseconds——one——two——three！

Asonemanthetwoleapedfortheirvictim。Eachgraspedaleg，andbeforeTarzanoftheApes，lightningthoughhewas，couldturntosavehimselfhehadbeenpitchedoverthelowrailandwasfallingintotheAtlantic。

HazelStrongwaslookingfromherdarkenedportacrossthedarksea。Suddenlyabodyshotpasthereyesfromthedeckabove。Itdroppedsoquicklyintothedarkwatersbelowthatshecouldnotbesureofwhatitwas——itmighthavebeenaman，shecouldnotsay。Shelistenedforsomeoutcryfromabove——forthealways—fearsomecall，"Manoverboard！"

butitdidnotcome。Allwassilenceontheshipabove——allwassilenceintheseabelow。

Thegirldecidedthatshehadbutseenabundleofrefusethrownoverboardbyoneoftheship’screw，andamomentlatersoughtherberth。

Chapter13

TheWreckofthe"LadyAlice"

ThenextmorningatbreakfastTarzan’splacewasvacant。

MissStrongwasmildlycurious，forMr。Caldwellhadalwaysmadeitapointtowaitthathemightbreakfastwithherandhermother。AsshewassittingondecklaterMonsieurThuranpausedtoexchangeahalfdozenpleasantwordswithher。Heseemedinmostexcellentspirits——hismannerwastheextremeofaffability。AshepassedonMissStrongthoughtwhataverydelightfulmanwasMonsieurThuran。

Thedaydraggedheavily。ShemissedthequietcompanionshipofMr。Caldwell——therehadbeensomethingabouthimthathadmadethegirllikehimfromthefirst;hehadtalkedsoentertaininglyoftheplaceshehadseen——thepeoplesandtheircustoms——thewildbeasts;andhehadalwayshadadrollwayofdrawingstrikingcomparisonsbetweensavageanimalsandcivilizedmenthatshowedaconsiderableknowledgeoftheformer，andakeen，thoughsomewhatcynical，estimateofthelatter。

WhenMonsieurThuranstoppedagaintochatwithherintheafternoonshewelcomedthebreakintheday’smonotony。

ButshehadbeguntobecomeseriouslyconcernedinMr。

Caldwell’scontinuedabsence;somehowsheconstantlyassociateditwiththestartshehadhadthenightbefore，whenthedarkobjectfellpastherportintothesea。

PresentlyshebroachedthesubjecttoMonsieurThuran。

HadheseenMr。Caldwelltoday？Hehadnot。Why？

"Hewasnotatbreakfastasusual，norhaveIseenhimoncesinceyesterday，"explainedthegirl。

MonsieurThuranwasextremelysolicitous。

"IdidnothavethepleasureofintimateacquaintancewithMr。Caldwell，"hesaid。"Heseemedamostestimablegentleman，however。Canitbethatheisindisposed，andhasremainedinhisstateroom？Itwouldnotbestrange。"

"No，"repliedthegirl，"itwouldnotbestrange，ofcourse;

butforsomeinexplicablereasonIhaveoneofthosefoolishfemininepresentimentsthatallisnotrightwithMr。Caldwell。

Itisthestrangestfeeling——itisasthoughIknewthathewasnotonboardtheship。"

MonsieurThuranlaughedpleasantly。"Mercy，mydearMissStrong，"hesaid;"whereintheworldcouldhebethen？

Wehavenotbeenwithinsightoflandfordays。"

"Ofcourse，itisridiculousofme，"sheadmitted。Andthen:

"ButIamnotgoingtoworryaboutitanylonger;I

amgoingtofindoutwhereMr。Caldwellis，"andshemotionedtoapassingsteward。

"Thatmaybemoredifficultthanyouimagine，mydeargirl，"

thoughtMonsieurThuran，butaloudhesaid:"Byallmeans。"

"FindMr。Caldwell，please，"shesaidtothesteward，"andtellhimthathisfriendsaremuchworriedbyhiscontinuedabsence。"

"YouareveryfondofMr。Caldwell？"suggestedMonsieurThuran。

"Ithinkheissplendid，"repliedthegirl。"Andmammaisperfectlyinfatuatedwithhim。Heisthesortofmanwithwhomonehasafeelingofperfectsecurity——noonecouldhelpbuthaveconfidenceinMr。Caldwell。"

AmomentlaterthestewardreturnedtosaythatMr。Caldwellwasnotinhisstateroom。"Icannotfindhim，MissStrong，and"——hehesitated——"Ihavelearnedthathisberthwasnotoccupiedlastnight。IthinkthatIhadbetterreportthemattertothecaptain。"

"Mostassuredly，"exclaimedMissStrong。"Ishallgowithyoutothecaptainmyself。Itisterrible！Iknowthatsomethingawfulhashappened。Mypresentimentswerenotfalse，afterall。"

Itwasaveryfrightenedyoungwomanandanexcitedstewardwhopresentedthemselvesbeforethecaptainafewmomentslater。

Helistenedtotheirstoriesinsilence——alookofconcernmarkinghisexpressionasthestewardassuredhimthathehadsoughtforthemissingpassengerineverypartoftheshipthatapassengermightbeexpectedtofrequent。

"Andareyousure，MissStrong，thatyousawabodyfalloverboardlastnight？"heasked。

"Thereisnottheslightestdoubtaboutthat，"sheanswered。

"Icannotsaythatitwasahumanbody——therewasnooutcry。

ItmighthavebeenonlywhatIthoughtitwas——abundleofrefuse。

ButifMr。CaldwellisnotfoundonboardIshallalwaysbepositivethatitwashewhomIsawfallpastmyport。"

Thecaptainorderedanimmediateandthoroughsearchoftheentireshipfromstemtostern——nonookorcrannywastobeoverlooked。MissStrongremainedinhiscabin，waitingtheoutcomeofthequest。Thecaptainaskedhermanyquestions，butshecouldtellhimnothingaboutthemissingmanotherthanwhatshehadherselfseenduringtheirbriefacquaintanceonshipboard。ForthefirsttimeshesuddenlyrealizedhowverylittleindeedMr。Caldwellhadtoldherabouthimselforhispastlife。ThathehadbeenborninAfricaandeducatedinPariswasaboutallsheknew，andthismeagerinformationhadbeentheresultofhersurprisethatanEnglishmanshouldspeakEnglishwithsuchamarkedFrenchaccent。

"Didheeverspeakofanyenemies？"askedthecaptain。

"Never。"

"Washeacquaintedwithanyoftheotherpassengers？"

"Onlyashehadbeenwithme——throughthecircumstanceofcasualmeetingasfellowshipmates。"

"Er——washe，inyouropinion，MissStrong，amanwhodranktoexcess？"

"Idonotknowthathedrankatall——hecertainlyhadnotbeendrinkinguptohalfanhourbeforeIsawthatbodyfalloverboard，"sheanswered，"forIwaswithhimondeckuptothattime。"

"Itisverystrange，"saidthecaptain。"Hedidnotlooktomelikeamanwhowassubjecttofaintingspells，oranythingofthatsort。Andevenhadhebeenitisscarcelycrediblethatheshouldhavefallencompletelyovertherailhadhebeentakenwithanattackwhileleaninguponit——hewouldratherhavefalleninside，uponthedeck。Ifheisnotonboard，MissStrong，hewasthrownoverboard——andthefactthatyouheardnooutcrywouldleadtotheassumptionthathewasdeadbeforehelefttheship’sdeck——murdered。"

Thegirlshuddered。

Itwasafullhourlaterthatthefirstofficerreturnedtoreporttheoutcomeofthesearch。

"Mr。Caldwellisnotonboard，sir，"hesaid。

"Ifearthatthereissomethingmoreseriousthanaccidenthere，Mr。Brently，"saidthecaptain。"IwishthatyouwouldmakeapersonalandverycarefulexaminationofMr。Caldwell’seffects，toascertainifthereisanyclewtoamotiveeitherforsuicideormurder——siftthethingtothebottom。"

"Aye，aye，sir！"respondedMr。Brently，andlefttocommencehisinvestigation。

HazelStrongwasprostrated。Fortwodaysshedidnotleavehercabin，andwhenshefinallyventuredondeckshewasverywanandwhite，withgreat，darkcirclesbeneathhereyes。

Wakingorsleeping，itseemedthatsheconstantlysawthatdarkbodydropping，swiftandsilent，intothecold，grimsea。

Shortlyafterherfirstappearanceondeckfollowingthetragedy，MonsieurThuranjoinedherwithmanyexpressionsofkindlysolicitude。

"Oh，butitisterrible，MissStrong，"hesaid。"Icannotridmymindofit。"

"NorI，"saidthegirlwearily。"IfeelthathemighthavebeensavedhadIbutgiventhealarm。"

"Youmustnotreproachyourself，mydearMissStrong，"

urgedMonsieurThuran。"Itwasinnowayyourfault。

Anotherwouldhavedoneasyoudid。Whowouldthinkthatbecausesomethingfellintotheseafromashipthatitmustnecessarilybeaman？Norwouldtheoutcomehavebeendifferenthadyougivenanalarm。Forawhiletheywouldhavedoubtedyourstory，thinkingitbutthenervoushallucinationofawoman——hadyouinsisteditwouldhavebeentoolatetohaverescuedhimbythetimetheshipcouldhavebeenbroughttoastop，andtheboatsloweredandrowedbackmilesinsearchoftheunknownspotwherethetragedyhadoccurred。No，youmustnotcensureyourself。YouhavedonemorethananyotherofusforpoorMr。Caldwell——youweretheonlyonetomisshim。Itwasyouwhoinstitutedthesearch。"

Thegirlcouldnothelpbutfeelgratefultohimforhiskindandencouragingwords。Hewaswithheroften——almostconstantlyfortheremainderofthevoyage——andshegrewtolikehimverymuchindeed。MonsieurThuranhadlearnedthatthebeautifulMissStrong，ofBaltimore，wasanAmericanheiress——averywealthygirlinherownright，andwithfutureprospectsthatquitetookhisbreathawaywhenhecontemplatedthem，andsincehespentmostofhistimeinthatdelectablepastimeitisawonderthathebreathedatall。

IthadbeenMonsieurThuran’sintentiontoleavetheshipatthefirstporttheytouchedafterthedisappearanceofTarzan。

Didhenothaveinhiscoatpocketthethinghehadtakenpassageuponthisveryboattoobtain？Therewasnothingmoretodetainhimhere。HecouldnotreturntotheContinentfastenough，thathemightboardthefirstexpressforSt。Petersburg。

Butnowanotherideahadobtrudeditself，andwasrapidlycrowdinghisoriginalintentionsintothebackground。

ThatAmericanfortunewasnottobesneezedat，norwasitspossessorawhitlessattractive。

"SAPRISTI！butshewouldcauseasensationinSt。Petersburg。"

Andhewould，too，withtheassistanceofherinheritance。

AfterMonsieurThuranhadsquanderedafewmilliondollars，hediscoveredthatthevocationwassoentirelytohislikingthathewouldcontinueondowntoCapeTown，wherehesuddenlydecidedthathehadpressingengagementsthatmightdetainhimthereforsometime。

MissStronghadtoldhimthatsheandhermotherweretovisitthelatter’sbrotherthere——theyhadnotdecideduponthedurationoftheirstay，anditwouldprobablyrunintomonths。

ShewasdelightedwhenshefoundthatMonsieurThuranwastobetherealso。

"Ihopethatweshallbeabletocontinueouracquaintance，"

shesaid。"Youmustcalluponmammaandmeassoonaswearesettled。"

MonsieurThuranwasdelightedattheprospect，andlostnotimeinsayingso。Mrs。Strongwasnotquitesofavorablyimpressedbyhimasherdaughter。

"IdonotknowwhyIshoulddistrusthim，"shesaidtoHazelonedayastheywerediscussinghim。"Heseemsaperfectgentlemanineveryrespect，butsometimesthereissomethingabouthiseyes——afleetingexpressionwhichIcannotdescribe，butwhichwhenIseeitgivesmeaveryuncannyfeeling。"

Thegirllaughed。"Youareasillydear，mamma，"shesaid。

"Isupposeso，butIamsorrythatwehavenotpoorMr。

Caldwellforcompanyinstead。"

"AndI，too，"repliedherdaughter。

MonsieurThuranbecameafrequentvisitoratthehomeofHazelStrong’suncleinCapeTown。Hisattentionswereverymarked，buttheyweresopunctiliouslyarrangedtomeetthegirl’severywishthatshecametodependuponhimmoreandmore。Didsheorhermotheroracousinrequireanescort——wastherealittlefriendlyservicetoberendered，thegenialandubiquitousMonsieurThuranwasalwaysavailable。

Heruncleandhisfamilygrewtolikehimforhisunfailingcourtesyandwillingnesstobeofservice。MonsieurThuranwasbecomingindispensable。Atlength，feelingthemomentpropitious，heproposed。MissStrongwasstartled。

Shedidnotknowwhattosay。

"Ihadneverthoughtthatyoucaredformeinanysuchway，"shetoldhim。"Ihavelookeduponyoualwaysasaverydearfriend。Ishallnotgiveyoumyanswernow。

Forgetthatyouhaveaskedmetobeyourwife。Letusgoonaswehavebeen——thenIcanconsideryoufromanentirelydifferentangleforatime。ItmaybethatIshalldiscoverthatmyfeelingforyouismorethanfriendship。IcertainlyhavenotthoughtforamomentthatIlovedyou。"

ThisarrangementwasperfectlysatisfactorytoMonsieurThuran。