never
before experienced!"

"I am heartily sorry that you are prevented from going with us,
Surigny," declared Dave, holding out his hand to the young Frenchman.

"I shall pray for better fortune next time," smiled the Count, rather
sadly.

"We are all desolate that you cannot go with us, Surigny," declared
Dalny, also holding out his hand. Dan, too, shook hands with Surigny.
Then the international plotter led the two Americans to the carriage
awaiting outside.

After the Count of Surigny had waved his hand to the party and had
walked away, Dalny placed Dave and Dan on the rear seat of the
barouche, while he himself sat facing them.

A few words in Italian from Dalny, and the horses started. For half an
hour the driver took his fares past ordinary sights.

"But we are not much interested, driver," cried Dalny, turning at last
to the man who held the lines. "We are bored with this dullness, when
Naples holds so much that may be seen by night. Take us through the
Strada di Mara."

So the driver headed his horses toward the eastern, or older, part of
the city. The Strada di Mara leads through one of the most thickly
populated sections of Naples, and a part of the street extends up a
steep hillside.

"You see how poor the people are here," said Dalny, as the horses
slowed down to a walk. "We shall come soon, however, to a more
interesting part of the street. Crime lurks here, also; not the more
desperate crimes though. The Strada di Mara, in one part, is the
resort of thieves who wish to dispose of their petty plunder by
turning it into cash. And, as strange merchandise is dealt in here,
the shops offer a variety of wares. We will presently look into one or
two of the shops."

"What on earth can Dalny be driving at?" wondered young Ensign Darrin.
"Can he think that we would enter such shops, and buy the plunder that
thieves have sold there?"

At the next street corner an Italian lad with a sweet voice began to
sing. Danny Grin noticed that most of the people in this steep, narrow
alley, that was by courtesy called a street, were now going indoors.
Only a man here and there remained outside.

"That's curious," thought Dan to himself. "Don't these people like
music, that a street singer should drive them inside?"

When the carriage had passed on to the next block a man came out of a
shop and waved his hand to the driver, who promptly reined in his
horses.

"Gentlemen," urged the shop-keeper, in English, "be