in the young woman's face deepened. His memory
failed him completely. Changing the subject she said quickly:

"There's something else I wish to mention to you, dear. It is about
Signor Keralio----"

He started quickly to his feet. How came his brother's wife to know
the name of the arch-plotter, the man who had sentenced her own husband
to death? Was it possible that she knew more? Was she aware of his
real identity? Was her present amiability of manner merely simulated?
Was she waiting her time before calling in the police and exposing him
as an impostor?

"Keralio?" he echoed hoarsely. "What about Keralio?" Making a step
forward he exclaimed savagely: "Has he squealed? Is the game up? He's
to blame, not I!"

Impulsively, instinctively, Helen sprang from her chair and fell back
with a startled exclamation. Now thoroughly alarmed, more than ever
convinced that the shipwreck had affected his brain, her one solicitude
was to keep him quiet until she could get a doctor. Soothingly she
said:

"Of course, dear; of course. We won't speak of Signor Keralio now.
He's not worth discussing anyhow."

He watched her closely for a moment, as if trying to see if she were
deceiving him, but her face was frank and serene. Suddenly, taking
hold of her hand, which she abandoned willingly enough in his, he
murmured:

"You mustn't mind what I say. I'll soon be all right. I'm a bit mixed
up. My mind's been queer ever since that awful night."

"Perhaps you would prefer if we had no one to dinner. I could easily
give some excuse and put them all off."

His first impulse was to promptly accept this suggestion, yet what was
the good? If he did not meet them to-day he must do so to-morrow. It
was best to get it over with. The quicker he got to know the people
the easier it would be for him. If he seemed to avoid meeting them, it
might only arouse suspicion. Shaking his head, he said:

"No, dear. That's all right. I'm glad they're coming. It will liven
things up."

Helen's face brightened. It was the first cheerful remark he had made.

"That's what I think. You must forget what you have gone through.
After all it's not so bad, but it might be a lot worse. Mr. Parker
will feel badly about the stones, of course, because he had counted on
making capital out of the advertising they would receive. But who
knows? Perhaps it's all for the best. They may find other stones even
more valuable."

A sudden k