rs to stop and search
every suspicious vessel on the high seas, as well as to make any
investigations upon the coast which I may consider advisable. My name
is Count Zeno von Ungern."

Surely the Master's features must long ago have assumed the repose of
death itself not to have been convulsed with every evil passion at the
very mention of that name--the worst passion of all being joy.

It was his brother who stood before him.

The two sons had never seen each other since their earliest childhood.
Zeno had visited his elder brother's house only in Feodor's absence at
sea, while Feodor had never once appeared in the brilliant salons of
the court. The elder brother, moreover, now looked much older than he
really was. It was impossible, therefore, for Zeno to recognise him.

Feodor acknowledged his visitor's mission with a polite bow.

"I am delighted," he said, "to have this pleasure. My name is Baron
Helmford."

"Ah!--a Swede?"

"My ancestors may have been so. I am from Friesland."

"And for what purpose do you live here?"

"I live here," answered the Master calmly, "mainly for scientific
pursuits. There is, indeed," he added hesitatingly, "another reason as
well, but one which, after all, I have really little reason to conceal
from you."

"Why, then, do you not inform me of it at once?"

"Because a child might also hear it."

The Master here glanced significantly at the young midshipman who was
also in the room.

"Oh, that is my son Paul," said the Commodore, with fatherly pride.
"He is anything but a child. He is a midshipman on his Majesty's ship
the _St. Thomas_, and has already been through many a deadly fray."

"I do not doubt it. And yet, he can hardly be more than--ah!--thirteen
years old?"

"That is, in fact, exactly his age."

"I also have a son," said the Master. "He is sixteen years of age, and
he too has seen and heard many fearful things. But one thing, you
know, he must not hear--tales in which a woman----"

"Ah! you are right," said the Commodore hastily. "If it is a question
of that sort I need ask no more."

"Now, Commodore, if you wish it, I will myself show you all the rooms
and passages in the building. Be good enough to accompany me."

Feodor led the way down the stone steps connecting one floor with
another. The smallness of the rooms into which each story was divided
easily made the stranger imagine that he was seeing the whole of the
space between the walls, whereas he re