ndeed, my dear Duke," said Harley

"Hush, hush! Diavolo, don't call me Duke yet; I am at home here once
more as Dr. Riccabocca."

"My dear doctor, then, allow me to assure you that you overrate my claim
to your thanks. Your old friends, Leonard and Frank Hazeldean, must come
in for their share. Nor is the faithful Giacomo to be forgotten."

"Continue your explanation."

"In the first place, I learned, through Frank, that one Baron Levy, a
certain fashionable money-lender, and general ministrant to the
affairs of fine gentlemen, was just about to purchase a yacht from Lord
Spendquick on behalf of the count. A short interview with Spendquick
enabled me to outbid the usurer, and conclude a bargain by which the
yacht became mine,--a promise to assist Spendquick in extricating
himself from the claws of the money-lender (which I trust to do by
reconciling him with his father, who is a man of liberality and sense)
made Spendquick readily connive at my scheme for outwitting the enemy.
He allowed Levy to suppose that the count might take possession of
the vessel; but affecting an engagement, and standing out for terms,
postponed the final settlement of the purchase-money till the next day.
I was thus master of the vessel, which I felt sure was destined to serve
Peschiera's infamous design. But it was my business not to alarm the
count's suspicions; I therefore permitted the pirate crew he had
got together to come on board. I knew I could get rid of them when
necessary. Meanwhile, Frank undertook to keep close to the count until
he could see and cage within his lodgings the servant whom Peschiera
had commissioned to attend his sister. If I could but apprehend this
servant, I had a sanguine hope that I could discover and free your
daughter before Peschiera could even profane her with his presence. But
Frank, alas! was no pupil of Machiavelli. Perhaps the count detected his
secret thoughts under his open countenance, perhaps merely wished to
get rid of a companion very much in his way; but, at all events, he
contrived to elude our young friend as cleverly as you or I could have
done,--told him that Beatrice herself was at Roehampton, had borrowed
the count's carriage to go there, volunteered to take Frank to the
house, took him. Frank found himself in a drawing-room; and after
waiting a few minutes, while the count went out on pretence of seeing
his sister, in pirouetted a certain distinguished opera-dancer!
Meanwhile the count