Charles Rex

tered down again under the cypress-trees to the water's edge. The se

g very softly-fairy-music that seemed to fill the world with magic to the brim

am. And still his features wore that monkeyish look of unrest, of discontent and quizzical irony

One of them-a girl-had sought somewhat palpably to keep him near her, and he had responded with some show of ar

himself. "She'd give me her

jaded senses. He recognized the indifference of s

le idiot. Why couldn't she realize that she was but one of the hundreds with whom he flirted day by day? She was nothing to him but a pastime-a toy to

he asked himself irritably? She knew him. She knew his reputation. Did she imagine herself the sort of woman to h

anged in a second. He would show her what to expect! Without an instant's pause he turned upon his assailants, caught the one nearest to him, snatching her o

im. Characteristically, he tossed aside all considerations beyond the gratification of the moment's desire. The sinking fire of youth blazed up afresh. He would get the utmost out of this last night of revelry. Wherever he went, a spirit of wild daring, of fevered gaiety, surrounded

me alone along the quay, moving with his own peculiar arrogance of bearing, a cigaret

arewell towards the little town that lay sleeping among its cypress-trees. So standing, he heard again the tinkle of a lute from some hidden garden

and most wicked!" he sa

came a faint sound like the hiss of a serpent in the stillness.

posted to await his coming, snori

confused apology, and Saltas

ker? Well, I suppose dreams are better

ord," said Parker,

ed away. "Well, I'm ready for the open sea n

rms with his sailors who

that awaited him. He turned on the lights of the saloon and stopped there for another cigarette and a drink, first walking to and fro, finally

and presently the yacht began to throb as though suddenly endowed with life. He felt the heave of the

who loved him would spring like a beacon out of the night in moments of depression. Other men found a permanent abiding-place and were content therewith; why not he? But he only played with the notion. It did not seriously attract him. He was not a marrying man, and, as he had said to Larpent, the woman did not exist who could hol

t was in command. He stood for a few seconds in indecision, contemplating going up on to the bridge for a word with his captain and a glance round

he possessed every imaginable contrivance for the comfort of those wh

teward attended to his clothes, and he waited on himself. H

hen he found it. Something made him change his mind. The faint light of stars upon rippling water came to him

er influence caught hi

ne here?

ard a light movement, and he felt a presence a

hed on, and in a moment he stood staring-at a fair-haired, white-faced lad in a br