FICTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 39

FICTION.

BY ANTHONY HOPE,

(Copyright, ISOG in the United Slates of America by 4. 11. Hawkins.) “PHBOSO ”

Author of' The Prisoner of Zemin.’ CHAPTER I. A LONG THING ENDING IN 1 I’OULOS.’ Quol homines, tot sententire —so many men, bo many fancies. My fancy was for an island. Perhaps boyhood’s glamour hung still round sea-girt rocks, and fairy lands forlorn still beckoned; perhaps I felt that London was too full, the Highlands rather fuller, the Swiss mountains most insufferably crowded, of thorn all. Money can buy company, and it can buy retirement. The latter service I asked now of the moderate wealth with which my poor cousin Tom’s death had endowed mo. Everybody was good enough to suppose that I rejoiced at Tom’s death, wlic eas 1 was particularly sorry for it, and was not consoled even by the prospect.' of the island. My friends understood this wish for an isl tnd as litt : e as they appreciated my feelings about poor Torn. Beatrice was most emphatic in declaring that ‘ a horrid little island ’ had no charms for her and that sho would never set foot in it. This declaration was rather annoying, because T had imagined myself spendingl my honeymoon with lieatrico on the island; but life is not all honeymoon, and I decided to have the island none the less. In the first place, I was not to be married for a year. Mrs Jiennott Hipgrave had insisted on this delay in order that we might he sure we knew our own hearts. And as I may say without unfairness that Mrs Hipgrave was to a considerable degree responsible for the engagement—she asserted the fact herself will: pride—l thought that she had a right to some voice in the dato of the marriage. Moreover, the postponement gave mo exactly time to go over and settle affairs in the island.

For I had bought it. It cost me .£7551, rather a fancy price ; but I could not haggle with the old lord—half to be paid to the lord's bankers in Loudon, and the second half to him in Ncopalia, when he delivered possession to me. The Turkish Government had sanctioned the sale, and I had agreed to pay JSIOt) yearly as tribute. This sum I was entitled, in my turn, to levy on the inhabitants. 'ln fact, my deir lord,' said old Mason to mo when I called on him in Lincoln's Inn Fields, 'the whole affair is fettled. I congratulate you on hxvin.v got just what was your whim. You are over 100 miles from the nearest land—Uhodes, you see.' (lie laid a map before me.) ' You arc off the steam-hip tracks; the Austrian Lloyd's to Alexandria leaves you far to the north-oa<t. Yon are equally remote from any submarine cable ; here on the south-west, from Alexandria to Candia, is the nearest. You will have to foteh your letters.'

'I shouldn't think of doing such a thing,' said I, indignantly. 'Then you'll only get them once in three month-'. Neopalia is extremely rugged and picturesque. Jt is nine miles long and five broad ; it grows cotton, wine, oil and a little corn. The people are quite unsophisticated, but vory good-hearted ' 'And,' s.iid I, ' there are only 370 of them, all told. I really think I shall do very well there.'

'I hare no doubt you will. By the way, treat the old gentleman kindly, lie is terriby cut up at having to sell. "My dsar island," he writes, "is second to my dead son's honour and to nothing else." Bis son, yon know, Lord Wheatloy, was a bad lot -a very bad lot, indeed.' ' He loft a lot of unpaid debts, didn't her'

'Yes, gambling debts! He snout his time knocking about Paris and London with his cousin Constantinc— by no means an improving companion, if report speaks truly. And your money is to pay the debt-', you know.' 'Boor old chip,' said I. I sympathised with him in the loss of his island. 'Hero's the house.' you see,'said Mason, turning to the map and dismissing tie 1 sorrows of theol 1 Lord of Noopalia, 'about the mid He of the island, nearly a thousand fe:<t above the sea. I'm afraid it's a tumbledown old pi ice, and will swallow a lot of money without looking much better for the dose. To put it into reptir for th •. reception of the future Lady YVhcatlcy would cost ' ' The future Lady Wheatloy a iys sho won't go there on any account,' I interrupted. ' But my dear lord,' cried he aghast, ' if sho won't ' 'She won't, and thero's an end of it, Mason. Well, good day. I'm to h'.ve po.;Rcssion in <a month.' ' I'u a mouth to the very d ty -on the JCn of Mav.' 'All light, I shall be there to take it.' end escaping from the legal quarter, 1 made mv way to .iiv sister's house in Cavendish square. Hhe ha 1 a parlv, and I was bound to go by brolho-dv duly. A • luck would have it, however, I was rewar.le.i for my virtue-(ami if that's not luck in this huddle-muddle world, I don't know what is), the Turkish ambassador dropped in. and presently James eu, lie and took me up to him. My brother-in-law, James Cardow, is always anxious that J should know the right people. The I'asha received me with great kindness. 'You are the purchaser of Ncopalia, aren't you?' ho asked, after a little conversation. 1 Tlio matter came beforo me officially.' ' I'm much obliged,' said I, ' for your ready assent to the transfer.' ' Oh, it's nothing to us. In fact our tribute, such as it is, will bo safer. Well, I'm sure I hope you'll settle in comfortably.' 'Oh, I shall be all right. I know the Greeks very well, you know—been there a lot —and, of course, I talk the tongue, because I spent'two years hunting antiquities m the Morea and some of the islands.' Tho Pasha stroked his beard, as he observed in a calm tone — , , . . , ~ "The last time'aStoffanopoulos tried to sol Ncopalia, tho people killed him, and turned the purchaser-he was a Frenchman -a Baron d'Bzonville—adrift in an open boat witii nothing on but his shirt.' ' Good heavens ! was that recently ? _ _ ' No ; two hundred years ago. But it s a conservative part of the world, you know. And His Excellency smiled. ' They wcro described to mo as good-hearted folk—unsophisticated of course, but goodhearted.' , , . ' They think that the island is theirs, you

see,' ho explained, 'and that the lord has no business to sell. They may bo Lord Wheatley, but they are tenacious of their rights.'

' But they can't have any rights,' I expos tulated.

' None at all,' ho assented. ' But a man is never so tenacious of his rights as when he hasn't any. However, autres tempt, av.'res mwii ):-■; I don't suppose you'll have any trouSlo of that kind. Certainly, I hope not, my dear lord.' ' Surely your Government will see to that,' I suggested.

His Excellency looked at me ; although by nature a grave man, ho gave a low humorous chuckle, and regarded me with visible amusement.

' Oh, of course, you can rely on that, Lord Wheatley,' said he. ' That is a diplomatic assurance, your Excellency?' I ventured to suggest witli v smile.

'lt is unofficial,' said he, ' but as binding as if it were official. Our Governor in that part of the world is a very active man--yes, a decidedly aclivo man.' The only result of this conversation was that when I was buying my sporting guns in ,St. James' street tho next day f purchased a couple of pairs of revolvers at the same time. It is well t > be on the safe side, and although I attached little importance to the bygone outrage of which the Ambassador spoke. I did not suppose that the police service would bo very efficient, and I thought it prudent to be ready for any trouble that the oldworld notions of tho Ncopalians might occasion. But in my heart I intended to be very popular with them; for 1 cherished th > generous design of paying the whole tribute u?.t cl my own pocket and disestablishing in \*eopalia what seemed to be the only institution in no danger of such treatment here -the tax-gatherer. If they understood that, they would hardly be so short-sighted a-- to set me adrift in my shirt, like a.second Baron d'K/.onville, or so unjust as to kill poor old Stofi'unopouios as they had killed his auocstor. Besides, as I comforted myself in repeating. they wore a good-hearted race—unsophisticated, of course, but thoroughly good-hearted. My cuisin, young Denny Swinton, was to dine with us that evening at the Optimum. Lenny (which is short for DennU) was tieonly member of the family who thoroughly sympathised with me about Ncopalia. He was wild with interest in the island, and 1 looked forward to telling him nil 1 had heard about it. I knew he would listen, for he was to go with me and help me to take possession. The boy had almost wept on my neck when I asked him to como. lie had just 1 'ft Woolwich, and was not to join his regiment for six montln. He was thus, as he put it, 'at a loose end,' and succeeded in persuading his parents that ho ought to learn modern Greek. General Swinton was rather cold about the. project; he said that Lenny had spent ten years on ancient Greek, and knew nothing about it, and wouid not probably learn much of tha newer sort in three months; but his wife thought it would be a nice trip for Denny.

Well, it turned out to be a very nice trip for Benny; but if Mrs Swinton had known—however, if it, comer, to that, 1 might just as well exclaim, ' If I had known myself!' Denny had taken a table next but one to the west end of the room, and was drumming his fingers impatiently on the cloth when I entrod. He wanted both his dinner and the latest news about Neopalia ; so I sat down and male hade to satisfy him in both respects. Travelling with equal steps through the two matters, wo had reached the first enlreo and the fate of the murdered Stcffaoopoulos (which Denny, for some reason, declared was a Mark') when two people earn", in and sat clown at the table beyond ours and next to the wall, where two chairs hud been tilted up in token of pre-engugouienl. Tho man —for tho pair were man and woman—was tall and powerfully built; his complexion was dirk, and he had good regular features ; he looked also as if ho had a bit of a temper somewhere about lain. I was conscious of having seen him before, and suddenly recollected tha 1 .. by a curious chance 1 had run up against him twice in St. James' street that very day. The lady was hand-omc; she had an Italian east of face, and moved with much ''race ; her manner was rather elaborate, anil

when she spoke to tho waiter I detected a pronounced foreign accent. Taken together they were a remarkable couple, an I presented a distinguished appearance. I behove I am not a conceited man, but, I could not help wondering whether their thoughts paid mo a shirk'' compliment. For I ci rtiinly detected both of them cading more than one curious glance towards our table, and when the man whispered once to a waiter I was sure that J form (1 the subject of his question. Perhaps ho also remembered our two encounters. ' 1 wonder it there is any chance of :;. row !-' ns.id Denny, in a tone that sounded wistful. ' Going to take anybody with you. Charh-y-' 1 Only Watkins —I must hare him. he always k.iows where everything is, and I've t)ld Itogvurdt, ev old dragoman, to meet us in Uhodes. He'll talk their own luigt'.age to the beg-rars, you know.' • Hut in''-- i German, isn'l lt n r' ' If- thinks :-",' 1 answer,-!. ' lie's not certain, yon kuoiv. Anyhow, le; .-hitter.. Greek like e pai rot. He's a pretty good man in e row. too. But there won't be a low, yull know.' ; 1 sup"o.i'j there won't,' admitted Denny, ruefullv.' • For my own part.' said !, meekly, 'as f am going there to be quiet, L hope there won't.' la the interest of conversation 1 had forgotten our neighbouts; but now, a lull occurring in Denny's questions and surmises, I heard the 1 lily's voice. She began a sentence --and began it in Greek ! That was a little unexpected ; but it was more st-iungo that her companion cut her short, saying very peremptorily, 'Don't talk Creek; talk Itahun.' This he said in Italian, and 1, though no great hand at that language, understood so much. Now why shouldn't the lady talk Creek, if Greek were the language that came naturally to her tongue r It would bo as good a shield against idle listeners as most langua ;es - unless, indeed, I, who was known to be an amateur of Greece and Greek things, were looked noon as a possible listener. Recollecting the glances which I had detectedrecollecting again those chance meetings, I ventured on a covert gaze at the lady. Her handsome face expressed a mixture of anger, alarm aid entreaty. The man was speaking to her nor.- in low, urgent tones; ho ratsea his hand once and brought it down on the table, as though to emphasise some declaration—perhaps some promise—which ho was making. Sno regarded him with half angry, distiustful eves. Ho seemed to repeat Ms words; ami she flung at him in a tone that suddenly grow louder, and in words that 1 could translate 'Enough! I'll see to that: I shall come, too 1'

Her heat stirred no answering fire in him. He dropped his emphatic manner, shrugged a tolerant 'As you will' with eloquent shoulders, smiled at her, and reaching across the table patted her hand. She held it up before his eyes, and with the other hand pointed at a ring on her finger.

' Yes, yes, my dearest,' said he, and be was about to say more when, glancing round, he caught my gaze retreating in hasty confusion to my plate. I dared not look up again, but I felt his scowl on me. I suppose that 1 deserved punishment fur my eavesdropping. ' And when can we get off, Charley.'' asked Denny in his clear young voice. My thoughts had wandered from him, and I paused for a moment as a man does when a question takes him unawares, 'there was silence at tho next, table also. The fancy seemed absurd, but it occurred to me that there also my answer was being waited for. Well, they could know if they liked ; if was no secret.

'ln a fortnight,' said I. ' We'll travel easily and get, there on the 7th of next month, that's the day on wbieh I'm entitled to take over my kingdom. Wo shall go to Bhodes. Ilogvardt will have bought me a little yacht, and then good-bye to all this !' And a great longing for solitude and a natural life came over me as I looked round

on flic gilded cornices, the gilded mirrors, the gilded flower vases, mil tee highly gilded company of th-i Optimium.

1 was roused from my pi- asanf dreams by a high vivacious voice which I knew very well. Look'ng up 1 saw Miss Hipgrave, her mother, and young Bennett Ilamlyn stmding before me J disliked young Hatuiyu, but he was always wry civil to me. 'Why, how early you {wo have dim* 1 '.' cried Beatrice. ' You're at the savoury, an n't you ': We've only jus-., come.' 'Are you going to dine l .'' I asked, rising. ' Take this table ; we're just, off.' 'Well, wo may as well, mayn't tver' said my Ji:niri ; '. 'Sorry you're going, though. Dh, yes, we're going to dine with Mr Bennett Hauilyn. That's what you're for, isn't if, Mr Hamlytir Why, he's not listening.' Ho was not, strange to say, listening, although, as a. rule, ho listened to Beatrice with infinite attention and the l most deferential of smiles ; but just now he was engaged in returning a bow which our neighbour at the next table had bestowed on him. The lady there had risen already and was milking for the door. The man lingered and looked at Hau.lyn, seeming inclined to back up his bow with a, few words of greeting.

Hamlyn's air was not. however, encouraging, .mil the stringer contented him-elf with a nod ami a careless ' How are your' and with that followed his companion.

Hauilyn turned round, conscious (hat he ha-1 n»glectcd Beatrice's remark and lull of penitence for his momentary neglect. ' I beg your pardon,' said he, with an apologetic smile.

'Oil,' answered she, 'I was only saying that men like you wore invented to Rive dinners; you're a sort ol automatic feeding machine. You ought to stand open all day. Beady, 1 often miss von at lunch time.'

'Mydear Beatrice!' said Mrs Bennett Hipgrave, with that peculiar lift of her brows that meant ' How naughty tho ch.ar child is oh. but how clever !'

'lt's all right,' said Ilamlyn, meekly. ' I'm awfully happy lo give you a dinner, anyhow, Miss Beatrice'

Now, I had nothing to add on thi.s subject, but I thought I would just make this remark—

' Miss Hipgrave,' said I, ' is vory fond of a dinner.'

Beatrice laughed. Sho understood my little correction. 'He doesn't know any better, do you !-' said she pleasantly to liamlyn. ' We'shall civilise him in timo, though. '1 hen I believe he'll be nicer than you, Charley. 1 really do. You're ' ' I shall be uncivilised by then,' said I. 1 Oh, that wretched it land !' cried Beatrice. ' You're really going?' ' .Most, undoubtedly. By the way, Ilamlyn, who's your friend r' Surely this was an innocent onongh question ; but little Ilamlyn went red from the edge of his clipped whhker on the right to the edge of his mathematically equal whisker on the left. ' Friend !' said he in an angry (one. ' He's nof, a friend of mine. 1 only met him on the Kiviera.'

■ That,' I admitted, 'does not happily constitute in itself a friend-hip.' 'And he won a hundred lotii; of main the train between Cannes and Monte Carlo.'

• Not bad going that,,' observed Denny, in an approving tone. ' I.- he then tin Grcc ?' asked Mrs Hipgrave, who love- a scrap ol French. •in both sense*, I believe,' answered Ilamlyn, viciously.

'And what's Ids nam?'-' said I. 'Kcaliy, [ don't recollect,' said Ilamlyn rather petulantly. 'lt doesn't matter,' observed Beatrice at La iking her oysters, which had now inad(

their appearance. 'My dear '"eaU'ioe,' i remonstrated, ' you are the most charming en.'.: ure in flic world, hut not the only one. Vou mean that it doesn't matter to your' 'Uh, don't bo tiresome. Itdoe-n'l matter to you either, you know. Do go away and leave me to dine in peace.' • Haß a minute,' said Hauilyn. ' I thought [',) -r,,i ii ju-t now. I,u! it's gone again. Look here, lb nigh, I believe us one of those long things that end in " poulos." ' • (.i!,, it < uds in "' pouloV does itr' sael 1. in a. meditative tone. ' My dear Charley.' said Beatrice, ' ! shall end in Be Ham if you're so vory tedious. What in the world i tdiall do when I'm married, 1 don't know.' 'My ilearort,' said Mrs Hipgrave (and a stage direction might, add, ' Business with brows as before.') 'Poulos,' I repeated. 'Could it bo Constantinopoulosr' asked ilamlyn. with a nervous deference to my Hellenic learning. ' if might inconceivably,' 1 hazarded, 'be Co.'i.-.tantine Steffanopoulos.' ' 'J hen,' saiel Haml.yn, ' J shouhln t wonder if it was. Anyhow, the less you sec of him, Wheatley, the better. Take my word for that.' , 'But.' 1 objacted—ana I must admit that I have a habit of thinking that everybody follows ray train of thought—' it's such a small place, if he goes I shall be almost bound to meet him.' ' What's such a small placer' cried Beatrice, with emphasised despair. ' Why. Neopalia, of course,' said I. 'Why should anybody, except you, bo so insane as to go there r' she asked. 'lf he's the man I flunk, he comes from there,' I explained, as I rose for the last time -fori had'been getting up and sitting down again several times. "'Then he'll think twice before ho gees

back,' pronounced Beatrice, decisively. Sho was irreconcilable about my poor island. Denny and I walked oil together. As we went, ho observed—

' I suppose that chap's got no end of money ?' ' Stel'fan ? I began.

'No, no. Hang it, you're as bad as Miss Hipgrave says!—l mean Bennett Hauilyn.' 'Oh, yes; absolutely no end to it, I believe.' Denny looked sagacious. 'He's very free with his dinners,' he observed. 'Don't let's worry about it,' I suggested, taking his arm. 1 was not worried about it myself. Indeed, for the moment my island monopolised my mind, and my attachment to Beatrice was not of such a romantic character as to mike me ready to be jealous on slight grounds. Mrs Hipgrave said the engagement was based on'general suitability.' Now, it is difficult to be v-ry passionate over that. ' If you don't mind, I don't,' said Denny, reasonably.

That's rigid. It's only a little way Beat

1 stopped abruptly. Wc were now on Die steps outside the' restaurant, and I had just perceived a scrap of paper lying on the mosaic pavement. J stooped down and picked it up. It proved to be a fragment torn from the menu card. I turned if over. 'Hullo! whirl's this!' said 1, searching for my eyeglass, which was i;ts tisti il) somewhere in the small of my back.

Denny gave me* the glasts, and I read what was written on tho back. It was written in Greek, ami it ran thus—'By way of Bhodes —small yacht therearrive 7th.'

I turned the piece of paper over in my hand. I drew a conclusion or two; one was that my tall neighbour was named Stell'auopoulos; another, tint ho had made good u e of his cars—better than 1 had made of mine ; for a third 1 guessed that he would go to Neopalia; for a fourth, I fancied thai Neopalia was the place to which the lady had declared she would accompany him. Teen I fell to wondering why all these things should be so—why he wishe 1 to remember the route of my journey, the date of my arrival, ami the fact that 1 meant, to hire a yacht. Finally those two chance encounters, taken with tho rest, assumed a more interesting complexion, ' When you've done with that bit of paper.' observed Benny in a, tone expressive of exaggerated patience, 'we might as well go on, (dd fellow.' ' All right,. I've done with it—for tho present,' said I. And J took (he liberty of slipping Mr Constantino Stell'anopoulos's memorandum into my pocket. The general result of (lie evening was to iii'Tei-" most distinctly my interest in Neopalia. I wont to bod still thinking of my purchase, and 1 recollect that the last thing which cam", into my head before I went to sleep wis -' Whit did sue mean by pointing to the ring ?' Well, I found an answer to that later on. CII U'TBIi 11. A CONSERVATIVE COIfKTKi.

Until the moment of our parting came, T had no idea that Beitrico Hipgrave felt my going at all. She was not in the habit of displaying emotion, and I was much surprised :it the reluctance with which she separated from mo. So far, however, was she from reproaching me, that she took-nil the blame upon herself, faying that it .-lie had been kinder and nicer to me J should never have thought about my island. In this she was quite wrong, but when 1 told h.'-r so and assured her that I Lad no fault, lo lis. 1 with hor behaviour, 1 w.-is met with an almo.-t passiona'c assertion of her unworthiness and an entreaty that I should n A spend on her a love that she did not deserve.

Her abasement and penitence compelled me to show and, indeed, to feel a, good deal of tenderness for her. Hie was pathetic and pretty in her unusual earnestness and unexpl lineal distress. I wci I. the ) ngl h • i of' to put oil' any expedition until after our wedding; and although she besought me to do nothing of the kind, 1 believe that we might in the end have arrange,! matters on (his footing had we been left to ourselves.

But, Mrs Hipgrave saw lit, to intrude on our interview at ibis point, and .-le- at once pooh-poohed the notion, declaring that I should be better out of the way for a few month;. Beat nee' did not resist her mother's conclusion, but when we were alone again sho became very acitatod, boerging me always to think well of her and asking if I wore really attached to her. 1 did not understand this iuo,|, which was very unlike her usual manner; bul 1 responded with a hearty and warm avowal of confidence in her, ami J met her questions as to my own feelings by pledg-

ing my word very solemnly that ab-.enco should, so far as I was concerned, make no difference, and tlr.it she might rely implicitly on my faithful affection; This assurance seemed to give h--r very little comfort.. although I repeated it. more than on.-, and when I left her I was in a s' ite of som - pc-r-

lier thoughts I'ornnpreemte the Kvlnu-s thai, moved her. I was, however, oo.ishle'rubly touch -d, and upbraided myself i'--r no l , h.iving hitherto done ju-d.iec f » the depth and siu-IVh-o'iiiy. "l expressed this .---ll'-e-m-h intuition t<) Ilenny Swinton, but he nml it very coldly of Hit! raibject. Benny no rer concealed hi ■ ooiuiou.s, ;ui.| had never proceeded fo bo enthusiastic about mv engag- ment. ThL attitude of hi- hid not troubh I me b-fore, li-.i! i was annoyed by it inw, and i re! :*■■.';•! by i. uii'io'f oven evils'rifod eue.d.u i ■ -. i 1 h -r----tor me -villi no le.- i vehemence. The.-) troubles and p- r ; ,h xifies vani led before tho zest and interest which our pi ■- preparations an 1 si irt excited. Denny and 1 were like a pair of schoolbovs o!V for a holida.v. ami spent hours ill forecasting wii.it. we should do and how we should fare in the i-lmJ. These speculations -ere extremely amusing, but in the long run they weio proved'to be. one and ail. v.idcof flu: mark. Had 1 known Xe-e.alia then as well a i came to know if afterwards, I should have r.-eog-ni s--[ tho futility of attempting to prophesy what would or would not happen 1 here, -vs it was, wo spun our cobwebs merrily all the way to Bhodes, whore we arrived without event and without accident. Then we picked up Hogvar.lt and embarked in the smart little steam yacht which he had hired for me. A day or two was spent in arranging our stores and buying what more we wautod, f.-r we could not expect to be able to procure anything in Neopalia .1 was rather surprised to find no letter free, the old lor t awaiting me. but f had no tin m..hi. ■■!' wnitin.g for :>, forma! invitation. :i!:d ; :e .el on the hour of departure as much as I ■• mi I. Hero also I saw the first of my new »r.l)jccts, Hogvardt having engaged a couple of men

who had como to him saying they were fr< Ncopalia and were anxious to work their pi. sage back. I was delighted to have them, a: fell at once to studying them with immeii' attention. They were fine, tall, capab. looking fellows, and they two, with on selves, made a crew more than large cnoue for our little boat, for both Denny and would make ourselves useful on board, aIlogvardt could do something of everythi, on kind or water, whilst Watkins acted ; cook and steward.

The Ncopalians were, as they stated answer to my questions, brothers ; tl) names were Spiro and Demetri, and th informed us that their family had served i Lords of Neopalia for many genoratio; Hearing this, I was less inclined to rest the undeniable reserve and even surlim with which they met my advances. Imi allowance for their hereditary attachment tee outgoing family, and their natural w of cordiality towards the intruder did i prevent me from plying them with many qi lions concerning my predecessors on

throne of the island. My perseverance was rewarded, but 1 succeeded in learning thai only member of the family on the island lie-; the old lord was a girl whom they called Lady IL'uphrosyne, the daughter of the lo: brother, who was dead. First 1 asked n my friend of the Optimium Restaurant, < stinline. Ile was this lady's cousin one twice removed. I. did not make out the c degree of kinship; but Deiuetri hastene--inform me he cam" wry seldom to the is!;, and had not been there for two years. " And ho is not expected there now,' asked. 'He was not when we left, my lo ■ an-wered Deiuetri, and it reemed to mo tl > he threw an enquiring glance at his brolln..", whoa-ldel hastily- - ' But what should we poor men know of the. Lord Constantino's doings:' •Hi you know where he is now ':' I asked. ' No,'my lord,' they answered together and with great emphasis. I cannot deny that something struck me as peculiar in their manner, but when 1 mentioned my impression to Denny he scoffed at m -. ' You've been residing old Byron again,'ho said scornfully. ' \\> you think they're However a man is not a fool simply because ho reads Byron, and 1 maintained my opinion that tho brothers were embarrassed at my questions. Moreover, 1 caught b'piro, tho mare truculent-looking of the pair, scowling at me more than once when he did not know ) h id my eye on him. Ther-e little however, did nothing but ml I sauce to my delight us wc sprang over the blue waters, and my joy was complete when on the morning ol the day 1 bad appointed- the 7ih May, Denny cried 'Land,' and looking ov-.-r the starboard' bow I saw tho cloud on tha sea thai was Ncopalia. Day came bright and glorious, and as we drew nearer fo our enchanted isle, wo distinguished Its features and conformation. The coast wis rocky, save wh-ve a small harbour op I to'the .-et; and the recks ran up from the coti.-t, ri-ing higher and higher, till they culminated in a quite respectable peak in tho centre. Tho telescope showed cultivated (.round iiu-1 vineyards mingled with woods oil the slopes of the mountain; and about half way up. sheltered on three sides backed by thick woods, and commanding a splendid sea : vCw, stood an old, gray, battleinentcd house. 'There's my house:' I cried, in natural exultation, pointing with my linger. It was a moment in my life- a moment to mark. ' Hurrah I'Vried Denny, throwing up his hat in sympathy. Deui.'tri was shunting near, and met this ebullition with a grim smile. • I. hope my lord will lind the house coni- ' We shell soon make it comfortable,'said llogvai'dt, ' I darcsiy it's half a ruin now.' 'ft is goe-l enough now for a Steffanopoulos,' .-ai I flic fellow, with a surly frown. 'j ho inference we were meant to draw was plain even 1 1, inability. At 0 o'clock in the evening we entered tho harbour of Neopulia and brought up alongside a, rather crat'.y wooden jetty that ran some sf» feet out from Hie shore. Our arrival appeared to ereate great excitement. Men, women and children came running down the narrow, steep street, which climbed up tho hill from tho harbour. We heard - brill cries, and a hundred lingers were pointed at ■::.-. \Ve landed ; nobody enme forward to greet in. I looked round, but saw 1.0 one who eould be the old lor I ; but I perceived a stout, man who wore an air of importance, and walking up to him I a-ked him very politely if he would be so good as to direct me to the inn -for 1 had discovered from D'.mefri that there was a modest house where we could lodge i hat night, and I was too much in love with my island to think of sleeping on board the yacht. The stout man looked at Denny and me, then he looked at Lem.etri and Spiro, who stoo I near us, smiling their usual grim smile. Ar.'l he answer,,tl my question by another, a rail) r abrupt one ' What do vou want, Kirr' and ho slightly li!,, d his lasselled ee.p and replaced it on his leee! ' t want i-j know the way to the inn,' I aiMwcred. 'You have come to vieit Ncpaliar' ho A number of people bad gathered round us now, and a ! l fixed their eyes on my face. 'Oh,' saifl !, carelessly, 'I am the pur- ■ 1.-i i-r ot the isl tud, you know ; 1 have como t. , t ike ], is s-s-iem.' h.'.,l- sty spoke-. Perfect silence reigned for hull' it miutifo. '1 Imps; we shall get on well ( .gefher,' I .add with my plea emtesf .-mile. Mil] no e.m-wer "\\\,'\ The pis,pic round still .-:•;■-!. AI 1 1 the stout man. altogether ignoring m,. friendly advances, said curtly—- ' 1 lie.p the iim. Come, 1 will take you to is,.' lie turned and l-.-l the way nil the street. Wc followi d, the in ople making v. lane for us and stiil regarding us with stony staro?. De.'iny gave expression fo my feelings as well ' It can hardly be described as an ovation,' ' Surly brute:; ;' muttered ilogvardt. ' It is not the way to receive his, lordship,' agreed Watkins, more in sorrow than in auger. Watkins had very high ideas of the deference due to ' his lordship.' The fat innkeeper walked ahead ; I quickened my pace and overtook him. ' The peoplo do not seem very pleased to see mo,' i remarked. He shoo!,- his head but made no answer. Then ho stopped before a substantial house. Y-. : ; 'e i; .1 ill a. j ) ated h r l-.-l us urns'.mils ti a large room, it overlooked the street, but f.oinowhat fo my surprise, the windows wero h avil; burred. The door also was massive and had large b„!t:i insula ami outside. ' Yon take gaud care of your hoilSCi, my friend.' .stiid Denny, with a laugh.

1 We like to keep what we have in Neopalia,' said he.

I asked him if he would provide us with a meal, and, assenting, gruffly, he left, us alone. The food was somo time in coming, and we stood at the window, peering through our prison bars. Our high spirits wore dashed by the unfriendly reception. My island should have been moro gracious, it w.t.3 so beautiful.

' However, it's a hotter welcomo than wo should have got 200 yoars ago,' I said with a laugh, trying to mako the host of the matter.

Dinner, which the landlord brought in himself, cheored us again, and wo lingered over it till dusk began to fall, discussing whether I ought to visit tho lord or whether, seeing that he had not coino to receive me, my dignity did not demand that I should await his visit, and it was on this latter course that we finally decided. ' But ho'll hardly come to-night,' said Denny, jumping up. 'I wonder if there are any decent beds here ?'

llogvardt and Watkins had, by my directions, sat down with us, and the former was now smoking his pipo at the window, while Watkins was busy overhauling our luggage. We had brought light bags, tho rods, guns and other smallor articles. The rest were in tho yacht. Hearing beds mentioned, Watkins shook his head in dismal presage, saying—- ' Wo had better sleep on board, my lord.' ' Not I. What, loavo the island now we've got here? No, Watkins!' 'Very good, my lord,' said Watkins, impassively. A sudden call came from Hogvardt, and I joined him at the window.

Tho s;ceno outside was indeed remarkable. In tho narrow, paved street, gloomy, now, in the lailing light, thero must have boon 50 or (GO men standing in a circle, surrounded by an outer fringe of women and children ; and in tho centre stood our landlord, his burly figure swaying to and fro ho poured out a lowvoiced, but vehement, harangue. Sometimes he pointed towards u«, oftener along the ascending road that led to tho interior. I could not hoar a word he said, but presently nil his auditors raised their hands towards heaven. I saw that tho hands held, somo guns, somo clubs, some knivos, and all tho men cried with furious energy—'Nai, nai! Yes, yes!'

And then the wholo body—and tho greater part of the grown men on tho island must havo been present - started off in compact array up tho road, the inkeepor at their head, and by his side walked anothor man whom I had not noticed before, and who wore an ordinary suit of tweeds, but carried himself with an assumption of much dignity. His faco I did not seo.

' Well, what's tho meaning of that?' I exclaimed, looking down on tho street, empty now save for groups of white-clothod women, who talked eagerly to one another, gesticulating and pointing now towards our inn, now towards where tho mon had gono. ' Perhaps it's their parliament,' suggested Denny. ' Or perhaps they've rcponted of their rudeness and aro going to erect a triumphal arch.'

These conjectures, being now obviously ironical, did not assist the mattor, although they amused thoir author. 'Anyhow,' said I, ' I should like to investigate the thing. Suppose we go for a stroll?' The proposal was accepted at once. We put on our hats, took sticks and prepared to go. Then I glanced at the luggago.

' Since I was so foolish as to was to my money on revolvers,' said I, with an enquiring glance at Hogvardt. ' Tho evening air will not hurt them,' said ho, and we each stowed a revolver in our pockets. We felt, I think, rathor ashamed of our peculiarities, but the Neopalians certainly looked rough customers. Then I turned the handle of the door. Tho door did not open. I pulled hard at it. Then I looked at my companions.

' Queer,' said Denny, and ho began to whistle.

Hogvardt got the little lantern whicli he always had handy, and carefully inspected the door.

' Locked,' he announcod, ' and bolted top and bottom. A solid door, too !' and ho struck it with his hand. Then ho crossed to the window and looked at tho bolts; and finally be said to me, 'I don't think wo can havo our walk, my lord.' Well, 1 burst out laughing. Tiie thing was too absurd. Under cover of our animated talk tho landlord must have bolted us in. Tho bars mado tho window no use. A skilled burglar might have beaten those bolts, and a battering ram would, no doubt, have smashed tho door ; wo had neither burglar nor ram. ' Wo aro caught, my boy,' said Denny. ' Nicely caught! But what's the game ?' I had asked myself that question already, but had found no answer. To toll tho truth I was wondering whether Noopalia was going to turn out as conservative a country as the Turkish Ambassador had hinted.' It was Watkins who snggoatcd an answer.

' I imagine, my lord,' said ho, ' that tho natives (Watkins always called tho Neopalians natives)—havo gono to speak to the gentleman who sold tho island to your lordship.' 'Gad!' said Denny. 'I hope it'll be a pleasant interview.' Hogvardt's broad, good-humoured face had assumed an anxious look. He kne.v something about tho people of those islands. So did I. ' Troublo, is it ?' I asked him.

' I'm afraid so,' ho answered

And then we turned to the window again, except Denny, who wasted some energy and made a useless din by battering at the door till wo beseeched him to let it alono. 'there we sat for nearly two hours. Darkness fell; tho women had ceasod their gossiping, but still stood about tho street and in the doorways of the houses. It was 0 o'eloek before matters showed any progress, 'then came shouts from tho road abovo us, the flash of torches, the tread of men's foet in a quick, triumphant march. And the stalwart figures of (Jut picturesque fellow?, with their white kilts gleaming through the darkness, came again into sight, seeming wilder and more imposing in the alternating glare and gloom of tho torches and the deepening night. The man in tweeds was no longer visible. Our innkeeper was alono in front. And all, as they marched, sang loudly, in a rude, barbarous' sort of chant, repeating it again and again, and the women and children crowded out to meet the men, catching up the refrain in shrill voices, til) tho wholo air seemed full of it, and so martial and inspiring was tho rude tune that our feet began to beat in time with it, and I felt tho blood quicken in my veins. I havo tried to put the words of it into English, in a shape as rough, I foar, as tho rough original. Here it is— j

Our 3 is the land! Death to the hand That filchos the land ! Dead is that hand, Ours is the land ! For ever we hold it. Dead's he that sold it! Our 3 is tho land, Dead is the hand !

Again and again they hurled forth tho defiant words, until they stopped at last opposite tho inn witli ono final long-drawn shout of savage triumph. ' Well, this is a go !' said Denny, drawing a long breath. ' What aro the beggars up to ?' ' What havo tliey been up to?' 1 askod ; for I doubted not that the song we had hoard hud been chanted ovor a dead Steffanopoulos 200 years beforo. At this ago of tho world the idea scorned absurd, preposterous, horrible. But thero was no land nearer than Rhodes, and there only Turk's law. The only law hero was the law of the Stcffanopouloi; and if that law lost its forco by tho crime of the hand that should wield it, why, strange things might happen oven to-day, in Neopalia. And we were caught like rats in a trap in tho inn ! ' I do not sec,' remarked old Hogvardt, laying a hand on my shoulder, ' any harm in loading our revolvers, my lord.' I did not see any harm in it either, and wo all followed Hogvardt's advice, and also filled our pockets with cartridges. I was determined—l think wo wero all determined—not to be bullied by these islanders and their skull and crossbow ditty.

A quarter of an hour passed and thero come a knock at the door, whilo the bolts were shot back.

' I shall go out,' said I, springing to my feet.

The door opened and the faco of a lad appeared. ' Vlacho, the innkoepor, bids you descend,' said ho, and then, catching sight, perhaps, of our revolvers, he turned and ran downstairs again at his best speed. Following him we camo to tho door oi the inn. It was ringed round with men, and directly opposite to us stood Vlacho. When ho saw me ho commanded silence with his hand, and addressed mo in the following surprising style — 1 The Lady L'uphrosyno, of her grace, bids you depart in peace. Go then to your boat and depart, thanking God for His mercy.' ' Wait a bit, my man,' said I, ' where is tho lord of tho island.' ' Did you not know that he died a week ago ?' asked Vlacho with apparent surprise. ' Died !' we exclaimed one and all. 1 Yes, sir. The Lady Luphrosyne, Lady of Neopalia, bids you go.' ' What did he die of?'

'Of a fever,' said Vlacho, gravely. And several of the mon round him nodded their heads and murmured in no less grave assent, 1 Yes, of a fever.' 'I am very sorry for it,' said I. 'But as he sold tho island to me before he died, I don't see what tho lady, with all respect to her, has got to do with it. Nor do I know what this rabblo is doing about the door. Send them away.'

This attempt at hauteur was most decidedly thrown away. Vlacho seemed not to hear what I said. Ho pointed with his finger towards the harbour.

1 There lies your boat. Domctri and Spiro cannot go with you, but you will bo ablo to manage lier yourselves. Listen now! Till 6 in tho morning you are free to go. If you are found in Neopalia one minute after, you will never go. Think and bo wise.' And he and all the rest of thorn, as though one spring moved them, wheelod round and marched oIT up the hill again, breaking out into tho old chant when they had gono about a hundred yards. And wo were left alono in the doorway of the inn, looking, I must admit, rather blank.

Upstairs, again, we wont, and I sat down by tho window and looked out on tho night. It was very dark, and seemed darker now that the gloaming torches wore gone. Not a soul was to bo seen. 'The islanders, having put matters on a clear footing, woro gone to bed. I sat thinking. Presently Donny came to me and put his hand on my shoulder. ' Going to cave in, Charloy ?' ho asked. ' My dear Denny,' said I, ' I wish you wero at home with your mothor.'

Ho smiled and repeated, ' Going to cave in, old chap?'

'No, by Jove, I'm not!' cried I, leaping up. 'They've had my money, and I'm going to have the island.'

' Take the yacht, my lord,' counselled Hogvardt, 'and come back with enough force from Rhodes.'

Well, that was sense ; my impulse was non sense. We four could not conquer the island I swallowed my pride.

'So bo it,' .said I. 'But look here, it's only just 12. We might havo a look round before wo go. I want to see the place, you know.' For I was very sorely vexed at being turned out of my island.

Hogvardt grumbled a little at this, but hero I overruled him. Wo took our revolvers again, left the inn and struck straight up the ro.id. For nearly a mile we mounted, tho way becoming steeper ami steeper at every step. Then there was a sudden turn off the main road.

'That will lead to the house,' said Hogvardt, who had btudied the map of Neopalia very carefully. 'Then we'll have a look at the house. Show us a light, Hogvardt;. It's precious dark.'

Hogvardt opened hi.; lantern and cast its light in tho way. Jiut suddenly he extinguished it again, and drew us close into tho rooks that edged the road, and we saw conniv towards iisin lha darkness two figures. Tliey rotle small horses. I'liuir faces could not bo seen : but as they passed our silent, motionless forms, one said in a clear, sweet, girlish voice—

' Suroly they will go !' ' Aye, they 11 go or pay the penalty,' said the other voice, with much energy, and at tho sound of it I started. Fo? it was tho voice of my neighbour in the restaurant —Couatantino Steffanopoulos. ' I shall be near at hand, sleeping in tho town,' said the girl's voice, ' and the pcoplo will listen to me.'

'The people will kill them if they do not go,' we heard Constantino answer in tones that witnessed no great horror at tho idea. Then the couple disappeared in tho darkness. 'On to tho house !' I cried in sudden excitement. For I was angry now —angry at tho utter humbling scorn with which they treated mo.

Another ten minutes' groping brought us iu front of the o'd grey house which wo had seen from the sea. We walked boldly up to it. Tho door stood open. Wo wont in and found ourselves in a largo hall. Tho wooden floor was carpeted here and there with mats and skins. A long table ran down tho middle ; the walls were decorated with mediaeval

armour and weapons. The windows were but narrow slits; the Avails massive and deep. The door was a ponderous iron bound affair, that shamod even the stout doors of our inn. I called loudly, 'ls anyone here ?' Nobody answered. Tho servants must have boon drawn off to tho town by tho excitement of tho procession and tho singing; or perhaps there were no servants. I could not toll. I sat down in a largo armchair by the table. I enjoyed the sonso of proprietorship. Denny sat on the table by mo, dangling his legs. For a long whilo none of us spoke. Then I exclaimed suddenly

' tty heavens ! why tdiouldn't wc seo it through?' And I rose and put my hands agiinst tho massive door and (dosed and bolted it, saying, ' Let them open that at (i o'clock in the morning.' ' Hurrah !' cried Denny, leaping down from his table, on fire with excitement in a moment.

I faced hogvardt. Ho shook his head, but lie smiled. Watkins stood by with his usual imperturbability. He wanted to know what his lordship decided—that was all ; and when I said nothing mors, he asked 'Then your lordship will sleep here tonight ?' ' I 11 stay hero to-night, anyhow, Watkins,' said I. ' I'm not going to be driven out of my own island by anybody!'

And I brought my fist down with a crasli on tho table. And then, to our amazement, wo heard—from somewhere in the dark recesses of tho hall, wdicre tho faint light of Hogvardt's lantern did not reach—a low, but distinct groan, as of someone in pain. Watkins shuddered, Hogvardt lo >ked rather uncomfortable, Denny and I listened eagerly.

Again the groan came. I seized the lantern from Hogvardt's hand and rushed iu the direction of the sound. And there, in the corner of tho hall, on a conch covered with a rug, lay an old man in an uneasy attitude, groaning now and then, and turning restlessly. And by his side sat an old serving woman in weary, heavy slumber. In a moment I guessed the truth—part of tho truth. ' Ho's not dead of that fever yet,' said I. {To 02 continued.)