.

"There is only one thing lacking; this great-grandson himself. He will
be yonder somewhere. For the man in the chimney was he or his agent."

"And aren't you afraid?"

"Of what?" proudly.

"It will not be a comedy. It is in the blood of these Napoleons that
nothing shall stand in the path of their desires, neither men's lives
nor woman's honor."

"I am not afraid. There is the sun at last What a picture! And the
shame of it! I am hungry!"

At half after six the yacht let go her anchor a few hundred yards from
the quay. Every one was astir by now; but at the breakfast table there
was one vacant chair--Breitmann's. M. Ferraud and Fitzgerald exchanged
significant glances. In fact, the Frenchman drank his coffee hurriedly
and excused himself. Breitmann was not on deck; neither was he in his
state-room. The door was open. M. Ferraud, without any unnecessary
qualms of conscience, went in. One glance at the trunk was sufficient.
The lock hung down, disclosing the secret hollow. For once the little
man's suavity forsook him, and he swore like a sailor, but softly. He
rushed again to the deck and sought Captain Flanagan, who was enjoying
a pipe forward.

"Captain, where is Mr. Breitmann?"

"Breitmann? Oh, he went ashore in one of the fruit-boats. Missed th'
motor."

"Did he take any luggage?"

"Baggage?" corrected Captain Flanagan. "Nothin' but his hat, sir.
Anythin' wrong?"

"Oh, no! We missed him at breakfast." M. Ferraud turned about,
painfully conscious that he had been careless.

Fitzgerald hove in sight. "Find him?"

"Ashore!" said M. Ferraud, with a violent gesture.

"Isn't it time to make known who he is?"

"Not yet. It would start too many complications. Besides, I doubt if
he has the true measurements."

"There was ample time for him to make a copy."

"Perhaps."

"Mr. Ferraud?"

"Well?"

"I've an idea, and I have had it for some time, that you wouldn't feel
horribly disappointed if our friend made away with the money."

M. Ferraud shrugged; then he laughed quietly.

"Well, neither would I," Fitzgerald added.

"My son, you are a man after my own heart. I was furious for the
moment to think that he had outwitted me the first move. I did not
want him to meet his confederates without my eyes on him. And there
you have it. It is not the money, which is morally his; it is his
friends, his lying, mocking friends."

"Are we fair to the admiral? He has set his hea