186
XXVIII. A CLIMAX. 193
XXIX. A GOOD-NIGHT MESSAGE. 201
XXX. SOME TREASURES. 208
XXXI. IN A GARDEN AT POSILIPO. 215
XXXII. FRIEND AND SWEETHEART. 223
XXXIII. INTERVENTION. 230
XXXIV. AN ENCOUNTER. 237
XXXV. THE MOTHER. 245
XXXVI. THE VELVET GLOVE. 252
XXXVII. SANTA CLAUS. 259
XXXVIII. A SUMMONS. 266
XXXIX. A NEW HOME. 274
XL. A CONCLAVE. 280
XLI. IN THE DEEPS. 288
XLII. A COMMUNICATION. 295
XLIII. A QUARREL. 302
XLIV. A TWICE-TOLD TALE. 308
XLV. SOUTHWARD. 316
XLVI. THE BEECHES. 321
XLVII. AT PORTICI. 329
XLVIII. AN APPEAL. 337
XLIX. AN EMISSARY. 345
L. A WEAK BROTHER. 352
LI. THE CONJURER. 359
LII. FIAT JUSTITIA. 366
LIII. THE TRIAL. 373
LIV. PUT TO THE PROOF. 380
LV. CONGRATULATIONS. 387
LVI. A COMMISSION. 394
LVII. FAREWELL! 401
LVIII. A SACRIFICE. 409
LIX. NATALIE SPEAKS. 416
LX. NEW SHORES. 424

CHAPTER I.

A FIRST INTERVIEW.

One chilly afternoon in February, while as yet the London season had not
quite begun, though the streets were busy enough, an open barouche was
being rapidly driven along Piccadilly in the direction of Coventry
Street; and its two occupants, despite the dull roar of vehicles around
them, seemed to be engaged in eager conversation. One of these two was a
tall, handsome, muscular-looking man of about thirty, with a sun-tanned
face, piercing gray eyes, and a reddish-brown beard cropped in the
foreign fashion; the o