as if the name were
too precious to be breathed aloud. "I do not think you have ever met
her."

"Now I come to think of it, I believe I have," Maas responded. "At
least, I am not acquainted with her personally, but I have met some one
who knows her fairly well."

"Indeed!" said Browne, in some astonishment. "And who might that some
one be?"

"You need not be jealous, my dear fellow," Maas continued. "My friend
was a lady, a Miss Corniquet, a French artist. Miss Petrovitch, I
believe, exhibited in the Salon last year, and they met shortly
afterwards. I remember that she informed me that the young lady in
question showed remarkable talent. I am sure, Browne, I congratulate
you heartily."

"Many thanks," remarked the other; and so the matter dropped for the
time being.

Port Said and the work of coaling being things of the past, they
proceeded through the Suez Canal and down the Red Sea; coaled once more
at Aden, and later on at Colombo. By the time they reached Singapore,
Browne's impatience could scarcely be controlled. With every day an
increased nervousness came over him. At last they were only a few
hours' steam from Hong-kong. It was there that Browne was to interview
the famous Johann Schmidt, of whom Herr Sauber had spoken to him in
Paris. What the result of that interview would be he could only
conjecture. He wanted to get it over in order that he might have his
plans cut and dried by the time they reached Japan, where Katharine and
Madame Bernstein must now be. If all went well, he would soon join
them there.

At ten o'clock on a lovely morning they entered the Ly-ee-moon Pass,
steamed past Green Island, and at length they came in sight of the
crowded harbour of Victoria. Once at anchor, the steam-launch was
slung overboard and brought alongside, Browne and his friends took
their places in her, and she forthwith made her way to the shore. None
of the men had seen the wonderful city, they were now visiting, before,
so that all its marvels, its wealth, and its extraordinary mixture of
races were new to them. Though they had encountered him in his
American hybrid condition, it was the first time they had been brought
into actual contact with their marvellous Yellow Brother, who in
Hong-kong may be seen in all the glory of his dirt and sumptuousness.
Reaching the Praya, they disembarked, and ascended the steps.
Accosting an English inspector of police whom they met, they inquired
in what di