The Fate of a Crown

leans to Rio de Janiero. I had formed a slight acquaintance with the master, Pedro Lertine, and was not surprised when he placed hi

firm, when the old gentleman came to the head of the levee to bid me good by; this Uncle Nelson 17did by means of a gentle pressure of my hand. I am told the Harcliffes are always remarkable for their reserve, and certainly the head of our house was an adept at repressing his emotions. Neither he nor

the Castina to look after the placing of my trunks. Before I had fairly settled myself

Guarde. He expressed great delight at finding me able to speak his native tongue, and rendered himself so agreeable that we had soon established very cordial relations. He loved to talk, and I love to listen, especially when I am able to gather info

to monopolize the conversation. I noticed that Captain Lertine treated de Guarde with fully as much consideration as he did me, while the other passengers h

ents began to happen with a rapidity that startled me. Indeed, it was not long before I re

ht be stirring. It was certainly cooler than below, and reclining in the shadow beside a poop I had nearly succeeded in falling asleep when aroused by the voices of two men who approac

ou should suspect young Ha

ost fitted to act as de Pintra's secretary," wa

his father's death, one of the great firm of Harcliffe Brothers. It is absur

ive tones. "He is but lately from college, and his uncle may wish him to know so

my dear Valcour! However, this suspicion of young Harcliffe is nonsense, I assure you

Harcliffe is known to act promptly in all business matters. Moreover, I have studied carefully the personality of each of your passengers, and none of them seems 21fitte

in whistl

re?" he

gravely, "it is my duty to preve

him arrested wh

f their citizens, however criminal he may be. The situation demands delicate treatment

elody with many false and uncertain

feeling of delicacy prevented my straining my ears to catc

less, my de

e, if you

arcliffe may be innocent, and merel

hough forced at times to act with seeming cruelty. I must be sure that Harcliffe is going to Brazil as secretary to the rebel leader, and you must aid me in

it is

st, and should Mr. Harcliffe leave the tabl

inly,

ing to bed. Good

ght, de

minutes later I followed, regaining my

of the Emperor, masquerading under the title of Senhor Manuel Cortes de Guarde. A clever fellow, indeed, despite his soft, feminine ways and innocent chatter, and one who regarded even murder as

Doubtless the secret police had read and made a copy of it before the blue envelope had been permitted to lea

ecretary of the revolutionary leader. Yet he had no positive proof, and it was pleasant to reflect that in my possession

red. Others have remarked upon the strong resemblance I bear my father, and I had no doubt de Pintra would reco

ment that I could not resist undertaking it. It may be that I was influenced by a mild chagrin at the deception practised upon me by de Guarde, 25or the repulsion that a secret-service man al

rred to me. There were many blank pages, for my life had been rather barren of incident of late; but I had resolved to keep

due to curiosity, and that my uncle had placed several minor business matters in my hands to attend to. My return to New Orleans would depend entirely up

Valcour, well known in the secret service of his majesty the Emperor of Brazil. Valcour is on board because he knows the contents of a letter written by de Pintra to my uncle, asking for a shrewd American to become his private secretary; also Valcour is instructed to dispose of the rebel secretary before we land at Rio-meaning, of course, to murder him secretly. This seemingly horrible plot but amuses our secretary, for Valcour has only poor Captain Lertine to aid him, whereas the wonderful American has a following of desperate men traine

is too unscrupulous to suit me. He has actually corrupted the entire crew, from the engineers down, and at his word I am assured the fellows would mutin

ontained. These last were of a trivial nature, dating back for some months. They would interest no one but myself; yet I expected them to be read, for I left the diary lying upon my she

r 28behind me and cheerfully joined t

and we lingered long in light conversation over the meal,

und, and the sight of his face, white and stern, positively startled me. The soft dark eyes had lost their confident, merry look, and bore a trace of fear. No n