o Nice," he said. "We'll attract less attention
there, and probably I'll be able to get into touch with your old Mr.
Jaggs. You've no idea where I can find him? At any rate, I can go to the
Villa Casa and discover what sort of a yarn is being told."

"And probably I can get my clothes dry," she said with a little grimace.
"I wonder if you know how uncomfortable I am?"

"Pretty well," he said calmly. "Every time I move a new stream of water
runs down my back."

It was half-past three in the afternoon when they reached Nice, and
Marcus saw the girl safely to an hotel, changed himself and brought the
yacht back to Monaco, where Briggerland had seen him.

For two hours Marcus Stepney wrestled with his love for a girl who was
plainly a murderess, and in the end love won. When darkness fell he
provisioned the _Jungle Queen_, loaded her with petrol, and heading her
out to sea made the swimming cove of Cap Martin. It was to the boat that
Jean flew.

"What about my father?" she asked as she stepped aboard.

"I think they've caught him," said Marcus.

"He'll hate prison," said the girl complacently. "Hurry, Marcus, I'd
hate it, too!"

Chapter XL

Lydia took up her quarters in a quiet hotel in Nice and Mrs.
Cole-Mortimer agreed to stay on and chaperon her.

Though she had felt no effects from her terrifying experience on the
first day, she found herself a nervous wreck when she woke in the
morning, and wisely decided to stay in bed.

Jack, who had expected the relapse, called in a doctor, but Lydia
refused to see him. The next day she received the lawyer.

She had only briefly outlined the part which Marcus Stepney had played
in her rescue, but she had said enough to make Jack call at Stepney's
hotel to thank him in person. Mr. Stepney, however, was not at home--he
had not been home all night, but this information his discreet informant
did not volunteer. Nor was the disappearance of the _Jungle Queen_
noticed for two days. It was Mrs. Cole-Mortimer, in settling up her
accounts with Jack, who mentioned the "yacht."

"The _Jungle Queen_," said Jack, "that's the motor-launch, isn't it?
I've seen her lying in the harbour. I thought she was Stepney's
property."

His suspicions aroused, he called again at Stepney's hotel, and this
time his inquiry was backed by the presence of a detective. Then it was
made known that Mr. Stepney had not been seen since the night of
Briggerland's arrest.

"That is where they'