but myself, so I
do not give it. Having read it I folded it up and put it in my pocket,
feeling that if I had been on board the boat I should in all probability
have allowed Mr. Prendergast to understand that his attentions were
distasteful and not in the least required. If I could only have foreseen
that within a fortnight I was to be enjoying the doubtful pleasure of
that very gentleman's society, under circumstances as important as life
and death, I don't doubt I should have thought still more strongly on
the subject.

The handwriting of the second envelope was bold, full of character, but
quite unknown to me. I opened it with a little feeling of curiosity, and
glanced at the signature, "Beckenham." It ran as follows:--

"West Cliff, Bournemouth,
"Tuesday Evening.

"MY DEAR MR. HATTERAS,

"I have great and wonderful news to tell you! This week has proved
an extraordinarily eventful one for me, for what do you think? My
father has suddenly decided that I shall travel. All the details
have been settled in a great hurry. You will understand this when I
tell you that Mr. Baxter and I sail for Sydney in the steamship
_Saratoga_ next week. My father telegraphed to Mr. Baxter, who is
in London, to book our passages and to choose our cabins this
morning. I can only say that my greatest wish is that you were
coming with us. Is it so impossible? Cannot you make your
arrangements fit in? We shall travel overland to Naples and join
the boat there. This is Mr. Baxter's proposition, and you may be
sure, considering what I shall see _en route_, I have no objection
to urge against it. Our tour will be an extensive one. We visit
Australia and New Zealand, go thence to Honolulu, thence to San
Francisco, returning, across the United States, _via_ Canada, to
Liverpool.

"You may imagine how excited I am at the prospect, and as I feel
that I owe a great measure of my good fortune to you, I want to be
the first to acquaint you of it.

"Yours ever sincerely,
"BECKENHAM."

I read the letter through a second time, and then sat down on my bed to
think it out. One thing was self-evident. I knew now how Nikola had
become aware that I was going to sail in the mail boat on Friday; Baxter
had seen my name in the passenger list, and had informed him.

I undressed and went to bed, but not to sleep. I had a problem to wor