The Castle Of The Shadows

ed to turn the key. The door opened,

hich Kate had been shown yesterday were comfortable, but not particularly luxurious, and she had wondered, since this was ostensi

ng-bag stood open on a cushioned seat, showing silver-topped bottles; and the wall on one side of the cabin was almost hidden with photographs and sketches which had been tacked up, over a low book-shelf, filled with volumes in uniform binding of blue and gold. The photograp

e yacht by her mistress to finish a few preparations for the voyage, and was surprised to see Lady Gardiner. Kate, however, was prepared with her story of t

she had only suspected. There was to be a passenger on board the Bella Cuba, whose expected presence had carefully been concealed from her. For this passenger elaborate preparations had been made. Everything behind that locked door was beautiful, but nothing was new. In the fleeting glimpse Ka

ed to return to the Cap Martin without the expected talk. In her room she found a line from the Italian. Sir Roger Broom had seen him at Rumpelmayer's, he explained, and had joined him there. Fearing that Lady Gardiner might come in while they wer

s confused in the necessity for haste, she merely scrawled: "Don't think Sir Roger or any one suspects. Must have been an accident. Key worked well. I saw cabin. It is ready for a passenger. I would

d barely had a chance to press it into Loria's palm as

timacy had been brought to a sudden end. Nevertheless, he sent her flowers-a great basket of roses big enough to fill up half of her stateroom on the Bella Cuba-which she promptly gave to

was only a little dark, keen-eyed English doctor, taken from his practice in Mentone. He looked like a man who wo

ecame certain that they would stop there. "She is well known in Mentone, no d

suppressed nervous excitement. She was restless, capricious, took an interest in nothing for more than ten minutes together. She had never been to Naples before, yet she

ng for pleasure, as of course she must be, since what other object could the trip have? "I am i

ight have been very happy in these long, lazy, blue-and-gold days, if George Trent had been his old self. But the frost which had withered the flower of his f

alk of a "heated bearing on the crankshaft," which might have to be taken off, thus delaying them a coup

ht of it," answe

ing up the

Cuba is rather

e excursion boats

for sight-seeing as for a complete rest. While the repairs are being done we shall run up to Cairo by

inary people!" ejaculated Kate. "

Lady Gardiner, who had insisted upon coming on this trip, knew what to make of her hosts and ho

a hidden occupant. To be sure, so far as she knew, no other passengers had come on board at Naples; but, then, they had all been away from the yacht for several hours, and some one migh

e yacht was bound for New Caledonia, to take the girl out to her convict brother. In that case, perhaps, it might conceivably be necessary to keep the captain and crew in ignorance of her presence, lest they should gossip in port. Still, Vi

crankshaft could be repaired sooner than they supposed? Then they would be wasting time. But she w

tle boats were pink and golden as mother-o'-pearl, reflecting the crimson glory of the sky. A woman sitting alone at a little table looked up as they

y, flushed under the American girl's intent gaze, drew up a sable cape which had pa

wfully made up!" whispered Kate,

walked on, looking as if sh

rceptible, though scarcely definable thrill of interest, and a tall woman in sequined black tulle, glittering with diamonds, came slowly up the room. She must have known that all eyes were upon her, yet she appeared unconsciou

"yet I can't think where, if ever, I have seen it. I suppos

r way, and saw that she had suddenly grown pale. "I wish you or George would find out who she is," the gi

dn't be safe to say more." And, true to his word, an hour after dinner he came to the p

er here alone, except for her maid. She is much admired, especially by men, but apparently does not care to make acquainta

red yet where you

aw some one like her. But

're

blonde with Titian hair. And

ed, and went off to bed, that she might be fresh for sight-seeing next morning, also to write a puzzled letter to the

sprang up from her chair, and before Roger knew what she meant

ou a thousand, thousand times for

ng yet," he returned. "T

ad employed the cleverest detectives in Paris and London they might never have discovered wh

ing about, dear ch

You've been very good, Roger. I've appreciated it, for you never believed in his innocence. Now y

d; whether Maxime Dalahaide or another was her murderer, there is no possible doubt that she is dea

ouse, and Providence sent me here to see

ahaide show you th

pt everything of his. I looked at them again and again, until I knew the features line by line. I can't be mistaken. T

r One was blonde. Number One, a Frenchwoman, was murdered in Paris; Number Two, a Portuguese, is spending the winter in Cairo. There is absolutely nothing to link these women together except a resemblance of feature, which, though strong, is not convincing even to a man who saw Number

h unwonted meekness; "nevertheless, I'm absolutely

ntification and burial of Liane Devere

in-yet. There was a mista

re had been such a mistake, another woman, murdered and buried in her place

woman's disappearan

s marvellous private information, supplied to your brain only? If the Countess de Mattos is really Liane Devereux, come to life, one might

culties," said Virginia. "Only

plotting to accuse the Countess to her face, and have

nswered slowly. "But I don't want to leav

by a suit for slander just as it's begun. My advice is, dear, put this mad idea out of your head, and let

perstitious. I believe that I was brought here for a particular purpose,

though there had been no bargaining, she had voluntarily led him to hope for a reward which, to him, was beyond any other happiness the world might hold.

heard her, and supposed that she was talking in her sleep. But the truth was that a plan had at that instant sprung full

t up. Every moment would be long now until the machinery could be set in motion, and she bathe

irs, looking about in vain for Roger or George, and stepped out on to the wide verandah, for a look at the Nile by morning light. To her joy the beautiful Portuguese countess was there, breakfasti

el she was reading as she sipped her coffee. The eyes had appeared almost black in the evening; now Virginia saw that they were a

fortune at its flood, and spoke in English, making the most of the pretty, drawling Southern accent

hope you understand my language, b

es during a silent moment of inspection, which must have shown her Virginia divi

arming accent, and in a voice musical but unexpectedly deep. "You are Americ

afraid you'd think me rude. But I just couldn't help it, you are so beautiful. I adore beauty. You can be sure now I'm American, can't you? for nobody but an American girl would say such things to a perfect stranger. I'm glad I am American, for if I didn't

hotels when one has nothing better to do, is it not? They told the truth in one thing, for they said that you were très belle. And you have bought the yac

t as if the Countess de Mattos were playing into her hands. It seemed too good to be true. She was afraid that something would happen to ruin all;

ba is at Alexandria, and we should all love taking you. My cousin and my half-brother, George Trent, couldn't talk of

ooked at her admiringly, yet sharply, and said to herself: "If that rich, dark complexion of yours is make-up-

to the verandah together, both looking very much surprised

y. But the calm expression of the beautiful, dark

from the Countess to introduce her brother and cousin; and soon they we

thoughtful. He was more certain than ever, if that were possible, that this woman was not Liane Devereux, f

e; besides, Virginia's idea was ridiculous. But he began to wonder whether the lovely Portuguese had a right to her title, or, if sh

ortuguese aristocracy, and though he believed that he understood, only too well, Virginia's motive for

arked in Cairo, no matter how quietly she might live at the Ghezireh Palace H

of Cairo, and had never had a chance to stop there in luxury before. She did not, however, like the Countess de Mattos, who was much too handsome to be acceptable to her; and before the slower and more prudent Roger had learnt anything, she was primed with

She traded on her beauty and the lovely clothes with which some trusting milliner must have supplied her, to pick up rich or influential friends, from whom s

gh he was bound to admit that it was all very vague, he begged Virg

all I should care," obstinately returned the girl. "But she is Liane Devereux,

set about doing th

. "Only let me alone and don't thw

t and apprehensive. He