CHAPTER XIV.—Continued).

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1890, 23 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued).

"Well, what do you think of it," he said.

"It is certainly my photo," answered the stranger, gravely. " The back of the card is marked Paris : I never had a likeness taken in Paris."

"It may bo a copy from London," suggested Dusk.

" Nay, I have had no photograph taken in Europe at all."

" Here is another of the same personage," quoth the detective, producing a second picture. <l You see that was taken at Portland prison. Perhaps you never saw the convict establishment."

"Never, upon my honor," answered the man with a gay laugh.

" O;' course you haven't," sneered Dusk. "Such a name as Victor Mauprat, for instance, has never been on your visiting card. You never heard of Sharpe alias the 'Ferret.' You know nothing of Captain Vipont, or the Salon de Dames at Nice ? oh, dear, no."

Again the man stared at the officer with a perplexed look.

"1 think my friend, it i 3 you who have broken out of some lunatic asylum in tha vicinity, if one may form an opinion of what you say. It is the particular craze of the lunatic to dub the remainder of the world insane."

" Your cunning rejoindera will not serve yon," replied the detective. t; Yoa are Victor Mauprat, swindler and convict, who escaped from Portland prison, two years ago."

<: You are certainly mad, ray man ! there is no mistake about it," muttered the stranger, at the same time keeping his giiz3 fixed on that of his companion. "Poor devil, it would be a pity to harm him. I might have guessed it after my terrible experiences in that living hell in Venice. Look here," he cried to Dask > '■' ring the bell, and lotus have a bottle of wine."

"Don't try to gammon me," said the detective, with a fierce oath. "I'm Peter Dusk, and I mean to arrest you, Victor Mauprat. "

"Are you serious ?"

*' Ayo. I ain't followed you half over the continent of E irope, and through E-'ypt, to lot you slip out of my hands now."

" I swear to you that I never heard the name of Victor Mauprat in my life till tuis moment," cried the other, with such earnest emphasis that the officer paused irresolute.

"Do you mean to tell me that you're not the man who kept the gaming hell at C liro?'' he said. "No." "Nor the monte table at IS ice?" " JS"o ! I say. Why do you accuse me of these things?" " You are a study, my fine fellow," responded the detective, with gentle sarcasm. "It won't do with me, let me tell you. I've seen too miny of your sort in my time. Answer me one thing. Where did you get to when you and Sharpe burnt the ' Seagull ' ?"

" The ' Seagull' I" cried the other looking at his inveterate questioner with a vague idea as to his sanity depicted on every feature of his pale, handsome face.

"Are you really crazy after all."

"You'll find that out presently 1" responded Dusk, with a grim smile. "I ask you again, how many of the gaol birds escaped the burning wreck besides the Ferret and yourself V

" Who's the Ferret, pray ?"

"Your sham valet, and the biggest rogue in Europe !" said Dusk with a sigh of impatience. " Come, 'sir, you can serve no purpose by playing innocence with me. The game's up, I tell you."

The stranger sab down and pressed his hands over his face for the space of a minute. Raising his head, at length, and looking the detective full in the eyes, he said :

" My worthy fellow, you are evidently insane. Otherwise, you have made one of the most stupid blunders on record. You say my name 13 Victor Mauprat, and that I am au escaped convict, accused of innumerable crimes."

"That's it!"

" Will you have the goodness to make things a little clearer as to my implication in these things ; also my identification with Victor Mauprat? I confess you have some ground for suspicion, if the photograph is a faithful picture o? the man you Beck." "1 have found him.'' "Very well. I am satisfied if you ■will be good enough to explain."

Peter Dusk rang .the bell on the table.

"Bring a bottle of wine," he said to the waiter.

When the man appeared with the liquor, he handed him half a sovereign and a scrap of paper.

''Let that note be taken to Bow street at once," he said. And the waiter nodded and withdrew.

"lo's rather dry work talking," continued the detective. " I'm nob a dab at it -at any time ; howsomever, I don't mind telling you what I've been after these last twelve months, and as I mean to be brief about it oblige by filling the glasses. "

With his elbows on lhe table, propping up his hard, stern, sunburnt face, and his unwinking eyes fixed on those of the man opposite with lynx-like watchfulness, Peter Dusk recounted all the points in the life of Hilton Fernbrook, from his leaving New Z -aland to his escape from the burning ship the "Seagull."

It would be impossible to describe the changes thatcatue and went over the man's

face aa h-3 listened. Now fierce and frown ug, with sp.\suvxlic clutching <"»f tl.e strong hands ; anon smiling in absolute di3dam a-id witheung contempt.

" And now," said the detective, when he had concluded, " what have you to reply? You are the man ?"

" I am Hilton Fernbrook, and Colonel de Roal icas my friond. That is my reply at present," answered tho stranger, slowly.

" You will have to accompany me to gaol." " I am ready." And the pair went out into the darkii' 83 of the night.