." The old fellow wagged his head solemnly until his
glasses shook upon his nose. The recollection of the incident,
whatever it was, seemed to afford him considerable satisfaction, though
why it should have done so was by no means apparent to Browne.

"But with regard to what he says in the letter?" the young man at last
exclaimed in desperation. "Will you be able to help me, do you think?"

"Ah! I know noddings about dat," answered Schmidt. "I do not
understand what dis business is. If it is Chinese silk, or curios, or
gondiments of any kind, den I know what you want. Dere is no one on
dis island can subbly you so goot as Johann Schmidt."

Browne did not know what to say. For his own sake he knew that it
would not be safe to broach such a delicate subject to a man, like the
one seated before him, whose only idea in life seemed to be to cross
one fat leg over the other and to fill and smoke his pipe until the
room was one large tobacco-cloud, unless he was quite certain of that
person's identity with the individual, to whom he had been directed to
apply.

"To put the matter in a nutshell," said Browne, lowering his voice a
little in order that it should not carry farther than the man seated
before him, "I understood from Herr Sauber that if any one happened to
have a friend, who had the misfortune to be compelled to stay rather
longer in a certain place, than was quite conducive to his health or
peace of mind, by applying to you an arrangement might possibly be
made, whereby his release might be effected."

Herr Schmidt for the first time took the pipe out of his mouth and
looked at him. "Bardon, mein frien, but I do not understand what is
meant by dat speech," he replied. "If de place, where dat frien of
yours is living, is not to his health suited, why does not he elsewhere
go?"

Though Browne felt morally certain that the man understood what he
meant, he did not feel justified in speaking more plainly at the
moment. He had to feel his way before he definitely committed himself.
However, a little reflection was sufficient to show him, that it would
be impossible to make any progress at all unless he spoke out, and that
even in the event of his doing so, he would not be placing himself in
any way in the other's power. He accordingly resolved upon a line of
action.

"The truth of the matter is, Herr Schmidt," he began, leaning a little
forward, and speaking with all the emphasis of which he was maste