eath.' His
admiring gaze rested full on her. For a moment the oars ceased to move.

She gave a gesture of impatience.

'It happened that I saw you last night in your carriage,' he said. 'The
fact is, I had not had the audacity to go to Berlin with my story. I
stopped in Ostend to see whether I could do a little detective work on
my own account.

It was a piece of good luck that I saw you. I followed the carriage as
quickly as I could, and I just caught a glimpse of you as you entered
that awful house. I knew that Jules had something to do with that house.
I guessed what you were doing. I was afraid for you. Fortunately I had
surveyed the house pretty thoroughly. There is an entrance to it at the
back, from a narrow lane. I made my way there. I got into the yard at
the back, and I stood under the window of the room where you had the
interview with Miss Spencer. I heard everything that was said. It was a
courageous enterprise on your part to follow Miss Spencer from the Grand
Babylon to Ostend. Well, I dared not force an entrance, lest I
might precipitate matters too suddenly, and involve both of us in a
difficulty. I merely kept watch. Ah, Miss Racksole! you were magnificent
with Miss Spencer; as I say, I could hear every word, for the window was
slightly open. I felt that you needed no assistance from me. And then
she cheated you with a trick, and the revolver came flying through the
window. I picked it up, I thought it would probably be useful. There was
a silence. I did not guess at first that you had fainted. I thought that
you had escaped. When I found out the truth it was too late for me to
intervene. There were two men, both desperate, besides Miss Spencer--'

'Who was the other man?' asked Nella.

'I do not know. It was dark. They drove away with you to the harbour.
Again I followed. I saw them carry you on board. Before the yacht
weighed anchor I managed to climb unobserved into the dinghy. I lay down
full length in it, and no one suspected that I was there. I think you
know the rest.'

'Was the yacht all ready for sea?'

'The yacht was all ready for sea. The captain fellow was on the bridge,
and steam was up.'

'Then they expected me! How could that be?'

'They expected some one. I do not think they expected you.'

'Did the second man go on board?'

'He helped to carry you along the gangway, but he came back again to the
carriage. He was the driver.'

'And no one else saw the business?'

'The q