them, carefully hidden away as they would be.  He could not see, therefore, that the police could at present be of any utility whatever.  It might be necessary finally to obtain the aid of the police, but in that case it was Scotland Yard and not Cowes that the matter must be laid before; and even this should be only a last resort, for above all things it was necessary for Bertha’s sake that the matter should be kept a profound secret, and, once in the hands of the police, it would be in all the papers the next day.  If the aid of detectives was to be called in, it would be far better to put it into the hands of a private detective.

Having made up his mind upon this point, he returned to the yacht.

“I am sorry to say that I have no news,” he said to Lady Greendale, who was lying on the couch, worn out with weeping.  “I have ascertained almost beyond doubt that they did not land at the club stage or either of the other two landing places.”

“What can it be?” she sobbed.  “What can have become of them?”

“I am afraid there is little doubt that they have been carried off,” he replied.  “I can see no other possible solution of it.”

“But who can have done such a thing?”

“Ah! that is another matter.  I have been thinking it over and over, and there is only one man that I know capable of such a dastardly action.  At present I won’t mention his name, even to you; but I will soon be on his track.  Do not give way, Lady Greendale; even he is not capable of injuring her, and no doubt she will be restored to you safe and sound.  But we shall need patience.  Ah! there is a boat coming alongside.”

He ran up on deck.  It proved, however, to be only a shore boat, bringing off George Lechmere, who, having met a comrade in the town, had asked leave to spend the evening with him.  He was, of course, ignorant of all that had happened since he had left, and Frank told him.

“I have no doubt whatever that she has been carried off,” he said, “and there is only one man who could have done it.”

“That villain, Carthew,” George Lechmere exclaimed.

“Yes, he is the man I suspect, George.  I heard this evening that he had been hit tremendously hard on the turf at Goodwood.  He would think that if he could force Miss Greendale to marry him it would retrieve his fortune, and would, moreover, satisfy his vindictive spirit for the manner in which she had rejected him, and in addition give him another triumph over me.”

“That is it, sir.  I have no doubt that that is it.  But his yacht is not here—­at least I have not seen her.”