ally saw only about two-thirds
of it. A vertical partition, running from the vaults beneath up to the
upper story, shut off a portion of the space. It was here that all the
plundered treasure, ammunition and guns were carefully concealed.
Through this section a secret passage led down to the rooms in which
the provisions were stored, and to the subterranean "chapel" in which
the armed men were hidden, waiting for the signal to force their way
by means of a trap-door into the upper portions of the tower.

The living rooms through which the Commodore was conducted had quite
the appearance of such as might be used by some contemplative and
learned recluse. They contained naturalists' collections, shell-fish
and corals, antiquities, and book-cases filled with yellow-edged
folios.

Presently the officer glanced out of a window in one of the rooms and
saw away beneath him the flower garden with the asters and
chrysanthemums blooming in the autumn sun.

"Ah!" he exclaimed; "that garden tells plainly enough that this tower
has also a mistress."

"I am very sorry that I cannot conduct you thither, Count von Ungern,"
said the Master; "we should have to pass through the lady's boudoir."

"The lady is your wife, is she not?" inquired the Commodore.

"It is ill answering that question. Yes, and yet No."

"Ah! A secret, I perceive."

"Yes, Count. But to show you that the secret is in no way a suspicious
one, I will make a suggestion. Where a man may not enter, a guest who
is still a child may fitly enough be seen."

So saying, he opened a door and called:

"Alexander!"

In response, a tall sunburnt lad stepped from the adjacent room. His
face betrayed much perplexity upon perceiving the strangers.

Feodor gently pushed him towards the younger youth.

"See," he said; "this is Count Paul von Ungern, a midshipman. Take him
with you to see your mother; and be sure that you make good friends
with each other."

Alexander gazed in wonder with his great dark eyes, first at his
father and then at the strange lad. He then silently held out his hand
to Paul, drew him towards him, and embraced him. Finally he linked his
arm in Paul's and led him away to see his--mother.

The frank wonder expressed by the boy's flushed face quite disarmed
the Commodore's suspicions. He began to believe that, after all, those
walls might merely conceal the secret of some tragedy of passion. One
might well have grounds, he imagined, for shutting