unscrewing a screw from the woodwork.  This aroused my interest, and next day I made a minute examination of the paneling, where, in one part, I found two small brass screws that had evidently been recently removed.  Therefore I succeeded in getting hold of a screwdriver from the carpenter’s shop, and next night, when everyone was asleep, I crept out and unscrewed the panel, when to my surprise I saw that the secret cavity behind was filled with beautiful jewelry, diamond collars, tiaras, necklets, fine pearls, emeralds and turquoises, all thrown in indiscriminately.

“I replaced the panel and kept careful watch.  At Marseilles, where we called, more jewelry and a heavy bagful of plate was brought aboard and secreted behind another panel.  Then I knew that the men were thieves.

“But surely,” continued the strange story my mute love had written, “I need not describe all that occurred upon that eventful voyage, except to tell you of one very curious incident which occurred.  I had spoken confidentially with Muriel regarding my suspicions of the men who were our fellow-guests, and when in secret I showed her several places on board the yacht where valuables were secreted, she also became convinced that the men were expert thieves to whom her father, for some unexplained reason, rendered assistance and asylum.  She told me that since she had left school she had been on quite a number of cruises, and that the same party always accompanied her father.  She had, however, never suspected the truth until I pointed it out to her.  Well, one hot summer’s night we were lying off Naples, and as it was a grand festa ashore and there was to be a gala performance at the theater, Leithcourt took a box and the whole party were rowed ashore.  The crew were also given shore-leave for the evening, but as the great heat had upset me I declined to accompany the theater-party, and remained on board with one sailor named Wilson to constitute the watch.  We had anchored about half a mile from land, and earlier in the evening the Baron had gone ashore to send telegrams to Russia, and had not returned.

“About ten o’clock I went below to try and sleep, but I had a slight attack of fever, and was unable.  Therefore I redressed and sat with the light still out, gazing across the starlit bay.  Presently from my port-hole I saw a shore-boat approaching, and recognized in it the Baron with a well-dressed stranger.  They both came on board, and the boatman, having been paid, pulled back to the shore.  Then the Baron and his friend—­a dark, middle-aged, full-bearded man, evidently a person of refinement—­went below to the saloon, and after a few moments called to the man Wilson who was on the watch, and gave him a glass of whisky and water, which he took up on deck to drink at his leisure.