said Brockford, paying no attention to the
other's state of bewilderment.

"It was necessary for me to come," I returned. "We have searched for him
all the world over, but without success. His absence is breaking my
mother's heart."

"Poor Max," said Brockford with a sigh, more to himself than to me.

Realising that it would be of little use our remaining where we were, we
returned to Montezma's office, Mr. Brockford accompanying us. We had
been absent something like half an hour, and were hoping that we should
find Max awaiting us. To our dismay, however, this did not prove to be
the case. The clerks had seen nothing of him. Once more we sat down to
wait. The suspense, for me at least, was growing unbearable.

"What can have become of him?" I cried at last. "Do you think he has
heard of my arrival, and is purposely keeping out of my way?"

Brockford shook his head.

"I should consider it very improbable," he answered. "He certainly had
no idea of such a thing this morning, and, as I take it, you did not
travel under your own name he would scarcely have penetrated the mystery
of your alias."

In the interval, clerks had been sent out in all directions, in the hope
that one of them might find him. They invariably returned, however, with
the same reply: he was not at the place where they had searched. It was
nearly six o'clock before we were confirmed in our belief that there was
something more in his absence than met the eye. Our minds, mine
especially, were filled with the gloomiest forebodings. At last, just as
Brockford was beginning to wonder whether Max could have been taken ill,
and have chartered a boat and returned to the Island before his time, a
small nigger made his appearance in the outer office. He carried in his
hand a letter, which was addressed to Senor de Montezma.

"It is from Senor Mortimer himself!" he cried. "Now we shall know the
reason of his strange behaviour."

With that he opened the envelope, and, spreading the letter out upon the
table, began to read it. It was not a very long one; but, such as it
was, it was sufficient to cause him not only great astonishment, but
also a considerable amount of pain. Tears trickled down his cheeks
before he had finished, and when he laid it down it was with an audible
sob.

"MY GENEROUS FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR (it began),

"How will you feel towards me, when I tell you that it is necessary
I should leave Rio at once, perhaps never to