hat--a solid, flat-crowned British affair. Eve took it from him and
laid it aside.

Captain Bontnor sat very stiffly down. His square form did not seem
to lose any of its height by the change of position, and with a
stiff back he looked admiringly round the room, waiting like a child
at a school treat.

As the meal progressed he grew more at ease, telling them of the
little difficulties of his journey, avoiding with a tact not always
found inside a better coat all mention of the sad event which had
caused him to take this long journey after his travelling days were
done.

That which set him at ease more than all else was the fact, at
length fully grasped, that Fitz was, like himself, a sailor. Here
at least was a topic upon which he could converse with any man.
General subjects only were discussed, as if by tacit consent. No
mention was made of the future until this was somewhat rudely
brought before their notice by the announcement that a second
visitor desired to see the senorita.

With a more assured manner than that of his predecessor, a small,
dark man came into the room, throwing off his cloak and handing it
to the servant. He bowed ceremoniously and with true Spanish grace
to Eve, with less ceremony and more dignity to the two men.

"I beg that your excellency will accept the sympathy of my deepest
heart," he said. "I regret to trouble you so soon after the great
loss sustained by your excellency, indeed, by the whole island of