“You are very kind, Mr. Cutler, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to both yourself and your sister,” Mona said, feelingly.  “But, truly,” she added, flushing, “I shall not feel quite easy until we get off, for I am in constant fear that Mr. Hamblin will discover my flight, and come directly here to search for me.”

“Well, even if he does, you need fear nothing,” Mr. Cutler returned, reassuringly; “you shall have my protection, and should Mr. Hamblin make his appearance before we sail and try to create a disturbance, we will just hand the young man over to the authorities.  The only thing I regret in connection with him,” the gentleman concluded, with a twinkle in his eye, “is that I cannot have the pleasure of witnessing his astonishment and dismay when he makes the discovery that his bird has flown.  Now, ladies, make yourselves comfortable, then come and join me on deck.”

He left them together to get settled for their voyage, and went up stairs for a smoke and to keep his eye upon the shore, for he fully expected to see Louis Hamblin come tearing down to the boat at any moment.  The reader has, of course, recognized in Justin Cutler the gentleman who, at the opening of our story, was made the victim of the accomplished sharper, Mrs. Bently, in the diamond crescent affair.  It will be remembered also that he came on to New York at the time of the arrest of Mrs. Vanderheck, and that he informed Detective Rider of his intention of going to Cuba to meet his invalid sister and accompany her home, and thus we find him acting as Mona’s escort and protector also.

While the three voyagers were settling themselves and waiting for the steamer to sail, we will see how Louis Hamblin bore the discovery of Mona’s escape.

He did not rise until eight o’clock, and after having his bath and a cup of coffee in his own room, he went to Mona’s door and knocked.

Receiving no answer, he thought she must be sleeping, and resolved that he would not arouse her just then.

He went down stairs, and had his breakfast, then strolled out to smoke his cigar, after which he went back, and again tapped upon Mona’s door.

Still no answer.

He called her name, but receiving no response, he took the key from his pocket and coolly unlocking the door, threw it wide open.

The room was, of course, empty.

There were no signs that the bed had been occupied during the night, and both the girl and her trunk were gone.

With a fierce imprecation of rage, the astonished young man rushed down to the office to interview the proprietor as to the meaning of the girl’s disappearance.

Although Mona had supposed there was no one in the house who could speak English, there was an interpreter, and through him Louis soon made his trouble known.

“Impossible!” the amazed proprietor asserted; “no trunk had been removed from Number Eleven, and no young lady had left the house that morning.”