nsify his hatred for Mr. Harley, and to render more sultry that
passion for Dorothy which was both love and hate. Little by little his
lawless imagination suggested methods by which he might have revenge on
Mr. Harley and gain possession of Dorothy; and the methods so suggested,
like the ingenious cogs of a wheel, mashed into that other enterprise of
gold which had enlisted the _Zulu Queen_ and London Bill. The thought of
revenge on Mr. Harley, and a physical conquest of Dorothy the beautiful,
grew and broadened and extended itself like some plant of evil in
Storri's heart. It worked itself out into leaf and twig and bud of
sinful detail until the execution thereof seemed the thing feasible;
with that the face of Storri began to wear a look of criminal triumph in
anticipation.

The San Reve observed this latter phenomenon and read it for a good
sign, holding it to be evidence of the contentment born of their happier
relations, and also of clearing skies of stocks. It spoke of fair
weather in both love and business, and the San Reve was at considerable
care not to disturb Storri with either query or comment.

To show how wrong was the San Reve, glance at this fragment of the
thought of Storri.

"What should be better," mused Storri, with that leer which Satan gave
him, "than to carry away the gold of these pig Americans, and the
daughter of one of them, on the same night? We should be off the coast
of Africa in a fortnight, and were I to tire of her I could sell her to
the Moors. Who would hear of her after that?"

Thus did Storri rear his sinful castles in the air; and as he brooded
his black designs, smoking his cigars and tossing off his brandy in
silence, the San Reve sat drinking him in with adoring gray-green eyes,
pleasing herself by conjecturing his meditations, and going miles to
leeward of the truth. Had the San Reve but guessed them, there might
have descended an interruption, and Storri's purposes suffered a
postponement at once grisly and grim.

Richard, about this time, troubled the club with his presence no oftener
than did Storri--and that was natural enough. He must see so much of
Dorothy at either her own house or Bess Marklin's, he was left scanty
time for clubs. It is wonderful how love will engage the hours and
occupy the faculties of a man.

One evening as Richard was coming from the Harley house he met Inspector
Val. Richard, wrapped in visions whereof the constituent elements were
roses and