he would put it? 'A
revolution,' he would tell Sirdeller, 'is imminent in Spain. Here is the
new President of the Republic. Money is no more to you than water. You
are a patriotic American. Have you forgotten that the finest warship
your country ever built, with six hundred of her devoted citizens, was
sent to the bottom by the treachery of one of this effete race? The war
was an inefficient revenge. The country still flourishes. It is for you
to avenge America. With money Marsine can establish a republic in Spain
within twenty-four hours!' Sirdeller hesitates. He would point out that
it had never been proved that the destruction of the _Maine_ was really
due to Spanish treachery. It is the idea of a business man which
followed. He, at his own expense, would raise the _Maine_. If it were
true that the explosion occurred from outside, he would find the money.
You see, the message has arrived. After all these years, the sea has
given up its secret. Marsine will return to Spain with an unlimited
credit behind him. The House of Asturias will crumble up like a pack of
cards."

Sogrange looked out into the darkness. Perhaps he saw in that great
black gulf the pictures of these happenings, which his companion had
prophesied. Perhaps, for a moment, he saw the panorama of a city in
flames, the passing of a great country under the thrall of these new
ideas. At any rate, he turned abruptly away from the side of the vessel
and, taking Peter's arm, walked slowly down the deck.

"You have solved the puzzle, Baron," he said, gravely. "Now tell me one
thing. Your story seems to dovetail everywhere."

"The one thing," Peter said, "is connected with the Duchesse. It was
she, of her own will, who decided to come to America. I believe that but
for her coming Bernadine and the Prince would have waited in their own
country. Money can flash from America to England over the wires. It does
not need to be fetched. They have still one fear. It is connected with
the Duchesse. Let me think."

They walked up and down the deck. The lights were extinguished one by
one, except in the smoke-room. A strange breed of sailors from the lower
deck came up, with mops and buckets. The wind changed its quarter and
the great ship began to roll. Peter stopped abruptly.

"I find this motion most unpleasant," he said. "I am going to bed.
To-night I cannot think. To-morrow, I promise you, we will solve this.
Hush!"

He held out his hand and drew his companio