mbrella," said Gordon, "and go stand over there out of
the way."

The man rose from his knee without showing any resentment and walked
some little distance away, where he stood with his arms folded, looking
out to sea. He seemed much too occupied with something of personal
interest to concern himself with a woman's fainting-spell. The girl
lifted herself slowly to her elbow, and then, before Gordon could
assist her, rose with a quick, graceful movement and stood erect upon
her feet. She placed a detaining hand for an instant on the American's
arm.

"Thank you very much," she said. "I am afraid I have been imprudent in
going out into the sun." Her eyes were fixed upon the Frenchman, who
stood moodily staring at the sea and tearing one of his finger-nails
with his teeth. He seemed utterly oblivious of their presence. The
girl held out her hand for the parasol she had dropped and took it from
Gordon with a bow.

"May I walk back with you to your hotel?" he asked. "Unless this
gentleman----"

"Thank you," the girl said, in tones which the Frenchman could have
easily overheard had he been listening. "I am quite able to go alone
now; it is only a step."

She was still regarding the Frenchman closely; but as he was obviously
unconscious of them she moved so that Gordon hid her from him, and in
an entirely different voice she said, speaking rapidly,--

"You are Mr. Gordon, the American who joined us last night. That man
is a spy from Messina. He is Renauld, the Commander-in-Chief of their
army. He must be gotten away from here at once. It is a matter for a
man to attend to. Will you do it?"

"How do you know this?" Gordon asked. "How do you know he is General
Renauld? I want to be certain."

The girl tossed her head impatiently.

"He was pointed out to me at Messina. I saw him there in command at a
review. He has just spoken to me--that was what frightened me into
that fainting-spell. I didn't think I was so weak," she said, shaking
her head. "He offered me a bribe to inform him of our plans. I tell
you he is a spy."

"That's all right," said Gordon, reassuringly; "you go back to the
hotel now and send those guards here on a run. I'll make a charge
against him and have him locked up until after we sail to-night.
Hurry, please; I'll stay here."

Gordon felt a pleasurable glow of excitement. It was his nature to
throw himself into everything he did and to at once become a partisan.
It was a