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。