Then，havingignoredtheevidenceofthemessage，wasitnotreasonabletoassumethathemeantnevertoclaimhisbirthright？
Ifthiswereso，whatrighthadhe，WilliamCecilClayton，tothwartthewishes，tobalktheself—sacrificeofthisstrangeman？IfTarzanoftheApescoulddothisthingtosaveJanePorterfromunhappiness，whyshouldhe，towhosecareshewasintrustingherwholefuture，doaughttojeopardizeherinterests？
Andsohereasoneduntilthefirstgenerousimpulsetoproclaimthetruthandrelinquishhistitlesandhisestatestotheirrightfulownerwasforgottenbeneaththemassofsophistrieswhichself—interesthadadvanced。Butduringthebalanceofthetrip，andformanydaysthereafter，hewasmoodyanddistraught。OccasionallythethoughtobtrudeditselfthatpossiblyatsomelaterdayTarzanwouldregrethismagnanimity，andclaimhisrights。
SeveraldaysaftertheyreachedBaltimoreClaytonbroachedthesubjectofanearlymarriagetoJane。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbyearly？\"sheasked。
\"Withinthenextfewdays。ImustreturntoEnglandatonce——Iwantyoutoreturnwithme，dear。\"
\"Ican’tgetreadysosoonasthat，\"repliedJane。\"Itwilltakeawholemonth，atleast。\"
Shewasglad，forshehopedthatwhatevercalledhimtoEnglandmightstillfurtherdelaythewedding。Shehadmadeabadbargain，butsheintendedcarryingherpartloyallytothebitterend——ifshecouldmanagetosecureatemporaryreprieve，though，shefeltthatshewaswarrantedindoingso。
Hisreplydisconcertedher。
\"Verywell，Jane，\"hesaid。\"Iamdisappointed，butIshallletmytriptoEnglandwaitamonth;thenwecangobacktogether。\"
Butwhenthemonthwasdrawingtoacloseshefoundstillanotherexcuseuponwhichtohangapostponement，untilatlast，discouragedanddoubting，ClaytonwasforcedtogobacktoEnglandalone。
TheseverallettersthatpassedbetweenthembroughtClaytonnonearertoaconsummationofhishopesthanhehadbeenbefore，andsoitwasthathewrotedirectlytoProfessorPorter，andenlistedhisservices。Theoldmanhadalwaysfavoredthematch。HelikedClayton，and，beingofanoldsouthernfamily，heputratheranexaggeratedvalueontheadvantagesofatitle，whichmeantlittleornothingtohisdaughter。
ClaytonurgedthattheprofessoraccepthisinvitationtobehisguestinLondon，aninvitationwhichincludedtheprofessor’sentirelittlefamily——Mr。Philander，Esmeralda，andall。TheEnglishmanarguedthatonceJanewasthere，andhometieshadbeenbroken，shewouldnotsodreadthestepwhichshehadsolonghesitatedtotake。
SotheeveningthathereceivedClayton’sletterProfessorPorterannouncedthattheywouldleaveforLondonthefollowingweek。
ButonceinLondonJanePorterwasnomoretractablethanshehadbeeninBaltimore。Shefoundoneexcuseafteranother，andwhen，finally，LordTenningtoninvitedthepartytocruisearoundAfricainhisyacht，sheexpressedthegreatestdelightintheidea，butabsolutelyrefusedtobemarrieduntiltheyhadreturnedtoLondon。Asthecruisewastoconsumeayearatleast，fortheyweretostopforindefiniteperiodsatvariouspointsofinterest，ClaytonmentallyanathematizedTenningtonforeversuggestingsucharidiculoustrip。
ItwasLordTennington’splantocruisethroughtheMediterranean，andtheRedSeatotheIndianOcean，andthusdowntheEastCoast，puttinginateveryportthatwasworththeseeing。
AndsoithappenedthatonacertaindaytwovesselspassedintheStraitofGibraltar。Thesmaller，atrimwhiteyacht，wasspeedingtowardtheeast，andonherdecksatayoungwomanwhogazedwithsadeyesuponadiamondstuddedlocketwhichsheidlyfingered。Herthoughtswerefaraway，inthedim，leafyfastnessofatropicaljungle——andherheartwaswithherthoughts。
Shewonderedifthemanwhohadgivenherthebeautifulbauble，thathadmeantsomuchmoretohimthantheintrinsicvaluewhichhehadnotevenknowncouldeverhavemeanttohim，wasbackinhissavageforest。
Anduponthedeckofthelargervessel，apassengersteamerpassingtowardtheeast，themansatwithanotheryoungwoman，andthetwoidlyspeculatedupontheidentityofthedaintycraftglidingsogracefullythroughthegentleswellofthelazysea。
Whentheyachthadpassedthemanresumedtheconversationthatherappearancehadbrokenoff。
\"Yes，\"hesaid，\"IlikeAmericaverymuch，andthatmeans，ofcourse，thatIlikeAmericans，foracountryisonlywhatitspeoplemakeit。ImetsomeverydelightfulpeoplewhileI
wasthere。Irecallonefamilyfromyourowncity，MissStrong，whomIlikedparticularly——ProfessorPorterandhisdaughter。\"
\"JanePorter！\"exclaimedthegirl。\"DoyoumeantotellmethatyouknowJanePorter？Why，sheistheverybestfriendIhaveintheworld。Wewerelittlechildrentogether——wehaveknowneachotherforages。\"
\"Indeed！\"heanswered，smiling。\"Youwouldhavedifficultyinpersuadinganyoneofthefactwhohadseeneitherofyou。\"
\"I’llqualifythestatement，then，\"sheanswered，withalaugh。
\"Wehaveknowneachotherfortwoages——hersandmine。
Butseriouslyweareasdeartoeachotherassisters，andnowthatIamgoingtoloseherIamalmostheartbroken。\"
\"Goingtoloseher？\"exclaimedTarzan。\"Why，whatdoyoumean？
Oh，yes，Iunderstand。YoumeanthatnowthatsheismarriedandlivinginEngland，youwillseldomifeverseeher。\"
\"Yes，\"repliedshe;\"andthesaddestpartofitallisthatsheisnotmarryingthemansheloves。Oh，itisterrible。
Marryingfromasenseofduty！Ithinkitisperfectlywicked，andItoldherso。IhavefeltsostronglyonthesubjectthatalthoughIwastheonlypersonoutsideofbloodrelationswhowastohavebeenaskedtotheweddingIwouldnotletherinviteme，forIshouldnothavegonetowitnesstheterriblemockery。ButJanePorterispeculiarlypositive。
Shehasconvincedherselfthatsheisdoingtheonlyhonorablethingthatshecando，andnothingintheworldwilleverpreventherfrommarryingLordGreystokeexceptGreystokehimself，ordeath。\"
\"Iamsorryforher，\"saidTarzan。
\"AndIamsorryforthemansheloves，\"saidthegirl，\"forhelovesher。Inevermethim，butfromwhatJanetellsmehemustbeaverywonderfulperson。ItseemsthathewasborninanAfricanjungle，andbroughtupbyfierce，anthropoidapes。HehadneverseenawhitemanorwomanuntilProfessorPorterandhispartyweremaroonedonthecoastrightatthethresholdofhistinycabin。Hesavedthemfromallmannerofterriblebeasts，andaccomplishedthemostwonderfulfeatsimaginable，andthentocaptheclimaxhefellinlovewithJaneandshewithhim，thoughsheneverreallyknewitforsureuntilshehadpromisedherselftoLordGreystoke。\"
\"Mostremarkable，\"murmuredTarzan，cudgelinghisbrainforsomepretextuponwhichtoturnthesubject。HedelightedinhearingHazelStrongtalkofJane，butwhenhewasthesubjectoftheconversationhewasboredandembarrassed。
Buthewassoongivenarespite，forthegirl’smotherjoinedthem，andthetalkbecamegeneral。
Thenextfewdayspasseduneventfully。Theseawasquiet。
Theskywasclear。Thesteamerplowedsteadilyontowardthesouthwithoutpause。TarzanspentquitealittletimewithMissStrongandhermother。Theywhiledawaytheirhoursondeckreading，talking，ortakingpictureswithMissStrong’scamera。Whenthesunhadsettheywalked。
OnedayTarzanfoundMissStronginconversationwithastranger，amanhehadnotseenonboardbefore。Asheapproachedthecouplethemanbowedtothegirlandturnedtowalkaway。
\"Wait，MonsieurThuran，\"saidMissStrong;\"youmustmeetMr。Caldwell。Weareallfellowpassengers，andshouldbeacquainted。\"
Thetwomenshookhands。AsTarzanlookedintotheeyesofMonsieurThuranhewasstruckbythestrangefamiliarityoftheirexpression。
\"Ihavehadthehonorofmonsieur’sacquaintanceinthepast，Iamsure，\"saidTarzan，\"thoughIcannotrecallthecircumstances。\"
MonsieurThuranappearedillatease。
\"Icannotsay，monsieur，\"hereplied。\"Itmaybeso。Ihavehadthatidenticalsensationmyselfwhenmeetingastranger。\"
\"MonsieurThuranhasbeenexplainingsomeofthemysteriesofnavigationtome，\"explainedthegirl。
Tarzanpaidlittleheedtotheconversationthatensued——hewasattemptingtorecallwherehehadmetMonsieurThuranbefore。
Thatithadbeenunderpeculiarcircumstanceshewaspositive。
Presentlythesunreachedthem，andthegirlaskedMonsieurThurantomoveherchairfartherbackintotheshade。
Tarzanhappenedtobewatchingthemanatthetime，andnoticedtheawkwardmannerinwhichhehandledthechair——hisleftwristwasstiff。Thatclewwassufficient——asuddentrainofassociatedideasdidtherest。
MonsieurThuranhadbeentryingtofindanexcusetomakeagracefuldeparture。Thelullintheconversationfollowingthemovingoftheirpositiongavehimanopportunitytomakehisexcuses。BowinglowtoMissStrong，andinclininghisheadtoTarzan，heturnedtoleavethem。
\"Justamoment，\"saidTarzan。\"IfMissStrongwillpardonmeIwillaccompanyyou。Ishallreturninamoment，MissStrong。\"
MonsieurThuranlookeduncomfortable。Whenthetwomenhadpassedoutofthegirl’ssight，Tarzanstopped，layingaheavyhandontheother’sshoulder。
\"Whatisyourgamenow，Rokoff？\"heasked。
\"IamleavingFranceasIpromisedyou，\"repliedtheother，inasurlyvoice。
\"Iseeyouare，\"saidTarzan;\"butIknowyousowellthatIcanscarcelybelievethatyourbeingonthesameboatwithmeispurelyacoincidence。IfIcouldbelieveitthefactthatyouareindisguisewouldimmediatelydisabusemymindofanysuchidea。\"
\"Well，\"growledRokoff，withashrug，\"Icannotseewhatyouaregoingtodoaboutit。ThisvesselfliestheEnglishflag。
Ihaveasmuchrightonboardherasyou，andfromthefactthatyouarebookedunderanassumednameIimaginethatIhavemoreright。\"
\"Wewillnotdiscussit，Rokoff。AllIwantedtosaytoyouisthatyoumustkeepawayfromMissStrong——sheisadecentwoman。\"
Rokoffturnedscarlet。
\"Ifyoudon’tIshallpitchyouoverboard，\"continuedTarzan。
\"DonotforgetthatIamjustwaitingforsomeexcuse。\"
Thenheturnedonhisheel，andleftRokoffstandingtheretremblingwithsuppressedrage。
Hedidnotseethemanagainfordays，butRokoffwasnotidle。InhisstateroomwithPaulvitchhefumedandswore，threateningthemostterribleofrevenges。
\"Iwouldthrowhimoverboardtonight，\"hecried，\"wereI
surethatthosepaperswerenotonhisperson。Icannotchancepitchingthemintotheoceanwithhim。Ifyouwerenotsuchastupidcoward，Alexis，youwouldfindawaytoenterhisstateroomandsearchforthedocuments。\"
Paulvitchsmiled。\"Youaresupposedtobethebrainsofthispartnership，mydearNikolas，\"hereplied。\"WhydoyounotfindthemeanstosearchMonsieurCaldwell’sstateroom——eh？\"
Twohourslaterfatewaskindtothem，forPaulvitch，whowaseveronthewatch，sawTarzanleavehisroomwithoutlockingthedoor。FiveminuteslaterRokoffwasstationedwherehecouldgivethealarmincaseTarzanreturned，andPaulvitchwasdeftlysearchingthecontentsoftheape—
man’sluggage。
HewasabouttogiveupindespairwhenhesawacoatwhichTarzanhadjustremoved。Amomentlaterhegraspedanofficialenvelopeinhishand。AquickglanceatitscontentsbroughtabroadsmiletotheRussian’sface。
WhenheleftthestateroomTarzanhimselfcouldnothavetoldthatanarticleinithadbeentouchedsinceheleftit——Paulvitchwasapastmasterinhischosenfield。
WhenhehandedthepackettoRokoffintheseclusionoftheirstateroomthelargermanrangforasteward，andorderedapintofchampagne。
\"Wemustcelebrate，mydearAlexis，\"hesaid。
\"Itwasluck，Nikolas，\"explainedPaulvitch。\"Itisevidentthathecarriesthesepapersalwaysuponhisperson——justbychanceheneglectedtotransferthemwhenhechangedcoatsafewminutessince。Buttherewillbethedeucetopaywhenhediscovershisloss。Iamafraidthathewillimmediatelyconnectyouwithit。Nowthatheknowsthatyouareonboardhewillsuspectyouatonce。\"
\"Itwillmakenodifferencewhomhesuspects——afterto—night，\"
saidRokoff，withanastygrin。
AfterMissStronghadgonebelowthatnightTarzanstoodleaningovertheraillookingfarouttosea。Everynighthehaddonethissincehehadcomeonboard——sometimeshestoodthusforanhour。AndtheeyesthathadbeenwatchinghiseverymovementsincehehadboardedtheshipatAlgiersknewthatthiswashishabit。
Evenashestoodtherethisnightthoseeyeswereonhim。
Presentlythelaststragglerhadleftthedeck。Itwasaclearnight，buttherewasnomoon——objectsondeckwerebarelydiscernible。
Fromtheshadowsofthecabintwofigurescreptstealthilyupontheape—manfrombehind。Thelappingofthewavesagainsttheship’ssides，thewhirringofthepropeller，thethrobbingoftheengines，drownedthealmostsoundlessapproachofthetwo。
Theywerequiteclosetohimnow，andcrouchinglow，liketacklersonagridiron。Oneofthemraisedhishandandloweredit，asthoughcountingoffseconds——one——two——three！
Asonemanthetwoleapedfortheirvictim。Eachgraspedaleg，andbeforeTarzanoftheApes，lightningthoughhewas，couldturntosavehimselfhehadbeenpitchedoverthelowrailandwasfallingintotheAtlantic。
HazelStrongwaslookingfromherdarkenedportacrossthedarksea。Suddenlyabodyshotpasthereyesfromthedeckabove。Itdroppedsoquicklyintothedarkwatersbelowthatshecouldnotbesureofwhatitwas——itmighthavebeenaman，shecouldnotsay。Shelistenedforsomeoutcryfromabove——forthealways—fearsomecall，\"Manoverboard！\"
butitdidnotcome。Allwassilenceontheshipabove——allwassilenceintheseabelow。
Thegirldecidedthatshehadbutseenabundleofrefusethrownoverboardbyoneoftheship’screw，andamomentlatersoughtherberth。
Chapter13
TheWreckofthe\"LadyAlice\"
ThenextmorningatbreakfastTarzan’splacewasvacant。
MissStrongwasmildlycurious，forMr。Caldwellhadalwaysmadeitapointtowaitthathemightbreakfastwithherandhermother。AsshewassittingondecklaterMonsieurThuranpausedtoexchangeahalfdozenpleasantwordswithher。Heseemedinmostexcellentspirits——hismannerwastheextremeofaffability。AshepassedonMissStrongthoughtwhataverydelightfulmanwasMonsieurThuran。
Thedaydraggedheavily。ShemissedthequietcompanionshipofMr。Caldwell——therehadbeensomethingabouthimthathadmadethegirllikehimfromthefirst;hehadtalkedsoentertaininglyoftheplaceshehadseen——thepeoplesandtheircustoms——thewildbeasts;andhehadalwayshadadrollwayofdrawingstrikingcomparisonsbetweensavageanimalsandcivilizedmenthatshowedaconsiderableknowledgeoftheformer，andakeen，thoughsomewhatcynical，estimateofthelatter。
WhenMonsieurThuranstoppedagaintochatwithherintheafternoonshewelcomedthebreakintheday’smonotony。
ButshehadbeguntobecomeseriouslyconcernedinMr。
Caldwell’scontinuedabsence;somehowsheconstantlyassociateditwiththestartshehadhadthenightbefore，whenthedarkobjectfellpastherportintothesea。
PresentlyshebroachedthesubjecttoMonsieurThuran。
HadheseenMr。Caldwelltoday？Hehadnot。Why？
\"Hewasnotatbreakfastasusual，norhaveIseenhimoncesinceyesterday，\"explainedthegirl。
MonsieurThuranwasextremelysolicitous。
\"IdidnothavethepleasureofintimateacquaintancewithMr。Caldwell，\"hesaid。\"Heseemedamostestimablegentleman，however。Canitbethatheisindisposed，andhasremainedinhisstateroom？Itwouldnotbestrange。\"
\"No，\"repliedthegirl，\"itwouldnotbestrange，ofcourse;
butforsomeinexplicablereasonIhaveoneofthosefoolishfemininepresentimentsthatallisnotrightwithMr。Caldwell。
Itisthestrangestfeeling——itisasthoughIknewthathewasnotonboardtheship。\"
MonsieurThuranlaughedpleasantly。\"Mercy，mydearMissStrong，\"hesaid;\"whereintheworldcouldhebethen？
Wehavenotbeenwithinsightoflandfordays。\"
\"Ofcourse，itisridiculousofme，\"sheadmitted。Andthen:
\"ButIamnotgoingtoworryaboutitanylonger;I
amgoingtofindoutwhereMr。Caldwellis，\"andshemotionedtoapassingsteward。
\"Thatmaybemoredifficultthanyouimagine，mydeargirl，\"
thoughtMonsieurThuran，butaloudhesaid:\"Byallmeans。\"
\"FindMr。Caldwell，please，\"shesaidtothesteward，\"andtellhimthathisfriendsaremuchworriedbyhiscontinuedabsence。\"
\"YouareveryfondofMr。Caldwell？\"suggestedMonsieurThuran。
\"Ithinkheissplendid，\"repliedthegirl。\"Andmammaisperfectlyinfatuatedwithhim。Heisthesortofmanwithwhomonehasafeelingofperfectsecurity——noonecouldhelpbuthaveconfidenceinMr。Caldwell。\"
AmomentlaterthestewardreturnedtosaythatMr。Caldwellwasnotinhisstateroom。\"Icannotfindhim，MissStrong，and\"——hehesitated——\"Ihavelearnedthathisberthwasnotoccupiedlastnight。IthinkthatIhadbetterreportthemattertothecaptain。\"
\"Mostassuredly，\"exclaimedMissStrong。\"Ishallgowithyoutothecaptainmyself。Itisterrible！Iknowthatsomethingawfulhashappened。Mypresentimentswerenotfalse，afterall。\"
Itwasaveryfrightenedyoungwomanandanexcitedstewardwhopresentedthemselvesbeforethecaptainafewmomentslater。
Helistenedtotheirstoriesinsilence——alookofconcernmarkinghisexpressionasthestewardassuredhimthathehadsoughtforthemissingpassengerineverypartoftheshipthatapassengermightbeexpectedtofrequent。
\"Andareyousure，MissStrong，thatyousawabodyfalloverboardlastnight？\"heasked。
\"Thereisnottheslightestdoubtaboutthat，\"sheanswered。
\"Icannotsaythatitwasahumanbody——therewasnooutcry。
ItmighthavebeenonlywhatIthoughtitwas——abundleofrefuse。
ButifMr。CaldwellisnotfoundonboardIshallalwaysbepositivethatitwashewhomIsawfallpastmyport。\"
Thecaptainorderedanimmediateandthoroughsearchoftheentireshipfromstemtostern——nonookorcrannywastobeoverlooked。MissStrongremainedinhiscabin，waitingtheoutcomeofthequest。Thecaptainaskedhermanyquestions，butshecouldtellhimnothingaboutthemissingmanotherthanwhatshehadherselfseenduringtheirbriefacquaintanceonshipboard。ForthefirsttimeshesuddenlyrealizedhowverylittleindeedMr。Caldwellhadtoldherabouthimselforhispastlife。ThathehadbeenborninAfricaandeducatedinPariswasaboutallsheknew，andthismeagerinformationhadbeentheresultofhersurprisethatanEnglishmanshouldspeakEnglishwithsuchamarkedFrenchaccent。
\"Didheeverspeakofanyenemies？\"askedthecaptain。
\"Never。\"
\"Washeacquaintedwithanyoftheotherpassengers？\"
\"Onlyashehadbeenwithme——throughthecircumstanceofcasualmeetingasfellowshipmates。\"
\"Er——washe，inyouropinion，MissStrong，amanwhodranktoexcess？\"
\"Idonotknowthathedrankatall——hecertainlyhadnotbeendrinkinguptohalfanhourbeforeIsawthatbodyfalloverboard，\"sheanswered，\"forIwaswithhimondeckuptothattime。\"
\"Itisverystrange，\"saidthecaptain。\"Hedidnotlooktomelikeamanwhowassubjecttofaintingspells，oranythingofthatsort。Andevenhadhebeenitisscarcelycrediblethatheshouldhavefallencompletelyovertherailhadhebeentakenwithanattackwhileleaninguponit——hewouldratherhavefalleninside，uponthedeck。Ifheisnotonboard，MissStrong，hewasthrownoverboard——andthefactthatyouheardnooutcrywouldleadtotheassumptionthathewasdeadbeforehelefttheship’sdeck——murdered。\"
Thegirlshuddered。
Itwasafullhourlaterthatthefirstofficerreturnedtoreporttheoutcomeofthesearch。
\"Mr。Caldwellisnotonboard，sir，\"hesaid。
\"Ifearthatthereissomethingmoreseriousthanaccidenthere，Mr。Brently，\"saidthecaptain。\"IwishthatyouwouldmakeapersonalandverycarefulexaminationofMr。Caldwell’seffects，toascertainifthereisanyclewtoamotiveeitherforsuicideormurder——siftthethingtothebottom。\"
\"Aye，aye，sir！\"respondedMr。Brently，andlefttocommencehisinvestigation。
HazelStrongwasprostrated。Fortwodaysshedidnotleavehercabin，andwhenshefinallyventuredondeckshewasverywanandwhite，withgreat，darkcirclesbeneathhereyes。
Wakingorsleeping，itseemedthatsheconstantlysawthatdarkbodydropping，swiftandsilent，intothecold，grimsea。
Shortlyafterherfirstappearanceondeckfollowingthetragedy，MonsieurThuranjoinedherwithmanyexpressionsofkindlysolicitude。
\"Oh，butitisterrible，MissStrong，\"hesaid。\"Icannotridmymindofit。\"
\"NorI，\"saidthegirlwearily。\"IfeelthathemighthavebeensavedhadIbutgiventhealarm。\"
\"Youmustnotreproachyourself，mydearMissStrong，\"
urgedMonsieurThuran。\"Itwasinnowayyourfault。
Anotherwouldhavedoneasyoudid。Whowouldthinkthatbecausesomethingfellintotheseafromashipthatitmustnecessarilybeaman？Norwouldtheoutcomehavebeendifferenthadyougivenanalarm。Forawhiletheywouldhavedoubtedyourstory，thinkingitbutthenervoushallucinationofawoman——hadyouinsisteditwouldhavebeentoolatetohaverescuedhimbythetimetheshipcouldhavebeenbroughttoastop，andtheboatsloweredandrowedbackmilesinsearchoftheunknownspotwherethetragedyhadoccurred。No，youmustnotcensureyourself。YouhavedonemorethananyotherofusforpoorMr。Caldwell——youweretheonlyonetomisshim。Itwasyouwhoinstitutedthesearch。\"
Thegirlcouldnothelpbutfeelgratefultohimforhiskindandencouragingwords。Hewaswithheroften——almostconstantlyfortheremainderofthevoyage——andshegrewtolikehimverymuchindeed。MonsieurThuranhadlearnedthatthebeautifulMissStrong，ofBaltimore，wasanAmericanheiress——averywealthygirlinherownright，andwithfutureprospectsthatquitetookhisbreathawaywhenhecontemplatedthem，andsincehespentmostofhistimeinthatdelectablepastimeitisawonderthathebreathedatall。
IthadbeenMonsieurThuran’sintentiontoleavetheshipatthefirstporttheytouchedafterthedisappearanceofTarzan。
Didhenothaveinhiscoatpocketthethinghehadtakenpassageuponthisveryboattoobtain？Therewasnothingmoretodetainhimhere。HecouldnotreturntotheContinentfastenough，thathemightboardthefirstexpressforSt。Petersburg。
Butnowanotherideahadobtrudeditself，andwasrapidlycrowdinghisoriginalintentionsintothebackground。
ThatAmericanfortunewasnottobesneezedat，norwasitspossessorawhitlessattractive。
\"SAPRISTI！butshewouldcauseasensationinSt。Petersburg。\"
Andhewould，too，withtheassistanceofherinheritance。
AfterMonsieurThuranhadsquanderedafewmilliondollars，hediscoveredthatthevocationwassoentirelytohislikingthathewouldcontinueondowntoCapeTown，wherehesuddenlydecidedthathehadpressingengagementsthatmightdetainhimthereforsometime。
MissStronghadtoldhimthatsheandhermotherweretovisitthelatter’sbrotherthere——theyhadnotdecideduponthedurationoftheirstay，anditwouldprobablyrunintomonths。
ShewasdelightedwhenshefoundthatMonsieurThuranwastobetherealso。
\"Ihopethatweshallbeabletocontinueouracquaintance，\"
shesaid。\"Youmustcalluponmammaandmeassoonaswearesettled。\"
MonsieurThuranwasdelightedattheprospect，andlostnotimeinsayingso。Mrs。Strongwasnotquitesofavorablyimpressedbyhimasherdaughter。
\"IdonotknowwhyIshoulddistrusthim，\"shesaidtoHazelonedayastheywerediscussinghim。\"Heseemsaperfectgentlemanineveryrespect，butsometimesthereissomethingabouthiseyes——afleetingexpressionwhichIcannotdescribe，butwhichwhenIseeitgivesmeaveryuncannyfeeling。\"
Thegirllaughed。\"Youareasillydear，mamma，\"shesaid。
\"Isupposeso，butIamsorrythatwehavenotpoorMr。
Caldwellforcompanyinstead。\"
\"AndI，too，\"repliedherdaughter。
MonsieurThuranbecameafrequentvisitoratthehomeofHazelStrong’suncleinCapeTown。Hisattentionswereverymarked，buttheyweresopunctiliouslyarrangedtomeetthegirl’severywishthatshecametodependuponhimmoreandmore。Didsheorhermotheroracousinrequireanescort——wastherealittlefriendlyservicetoberendered，thegenialandubiquitousMonsieurThuranwasalwaysavailable。
Heruncleandhisfamilygrewtolikehimforhisunfailingcourtesyandwillingnesstobeofservice。MonsieurThuranwasbecomingindispensable。Atlength，feelingthemomentpropitious，heproposed。MissStrongwasstartled。
Shedidnotknowwhattosay。
\"Ihadneverthoughtthatyoucaredformeinanysuchway，\"shetoldhim。\"Ihavelookeduponyoualwaysasaverydearfriend。Ishallnotgiveyoumyanswernow。
Forgetthatyouhaveaskedmetobeyourwife。Letusgoonaswehavebeen——thenIcanconsideryoufromanentirelydifferentangleforatime。ItmaybethatIshalldiscoverthatmyfeelingforyouismorethanfriendship。IcertainlyhavenotthoughtforamomentthatIlovedyou。\"
ThisarrangementwasperfectlysatisfactorytoMonsieurThuran。
