few
words as may be. You remember the crime committed by this fellow--for of
course you know that, before he was Convict 1280, he was Maxime
Dalahaide?"

"I know that. I know he is a murderer. But it is eight years, you must
recollect, since I was in France, long before the thing happened. I took
no particular interest in the crime, as I had never met the Dalahaides.
He killed a woman: so much I recall. You were acquainted with him, I
suppose?"

"To my sorrow. I thought he was my friend. He was a traitor. I cared for
his sister. She loved and would have married me; but because I knew too
much about him and his evil ways, he did not want me in the family. He
told the girl and her parents lies. They believed them and sent me away.
He borrowed huge sums of money of me, and never paid--never meant to pay.
Always he was my secret enemy, yet when the world knew he was a murderer
I strained every nerve to save his life, for his sister's sake. I did
save it. But for every one concerned it was better that he should be
removed where he could no longer strike at society, and I could scarcely
regret his fate. Four years passed; I loved again, this time a beautiful
American girl, the most perfect creature I have ever seen, and a great
heiress. Madeleine Dalahaide had learned to detest me. She prejudiced
this girl against me, and, not satisfied with that, excited her romantic
nature to sympathy for the murderer, as a victim of injustice. The _Bella
Cuba_ is this girl's yacht--Miss Beverly's. She bought it in the hope of
rescuing Maxime Dalahaide, and if he can escape, there is little doubt
that she will put her hand in his, red though it is with a detestable
crime. She must be saved from so ghastly a fate. But if she learns that
she owes the failure of her plans to me, she will hate me to the death,
and I shall lose all hope of her; whereas, if my agency in this affair
could be hidden from her knowledge, the chances are that, if I could keep
my head, I might win back her heart, after it is healed from its first
disappointment. Help me to accomplish this, De Letz, for the sake of old
times, and there's nothing you can ask of me that I will not do. Italian
though I am, you know that my French cousins have powerful political
influence. They shall use it to the utmost for you, and get you what post
you please. I promise it--and I never break a promise to a friend."

"You fire me with your own enthusiasm!" cried De Letz. "We shall work