"It means," said Mr. Daly, affably, "that your uncle engaged me to make the West Indian voyage in your company and protect you from any designing persons. The price per day was the one he himself fixed, and is somewhat less than I am in the habit of receiving. A desire to visit that part of the world induced me to accept the lower rate. The expenses, I hardly think you will deny, have been kept very reasonable." I reddened more than ever. "In plain English, sir, you have been dogging my footsteps, and desire me to foot the bill." "You or your uncle--it is all the same to me," he responded, quite unruffled. "I think you have had some narrower escapes, sir, than you yet realize." With Miss May's confession lying before me on the table I could not well doubt that. Still the shame of my position was no less galling. "We can postpone the consideration of that little matter for the present, if you desire," continued Daly, for such I must now call him. "What is of more pressing importance, is the examination of Jack Hazen, or Robert Edgerly, as you knew him, which is set down for day after to-morrow." "What!" I cried, startled out of myself. "Oh, I forgot. You know the check for $350 that you gave him when he buncoed you on the Madiana? Well, he raised that to $3500, and was arrested while trying to collect that sum at your bank. After you told me you had given him the check I had just time to stop the swindle by cable." Edgerly arrested? Poor Marjorie! That was all I could think of. "He is an old offender," continued Daly, "and will get a sweetener this time. At what hour can I expect you to-morrow at the district attorney's office? Twelve o'clock will suit me. Twelve? All right. I see you are busy. Good day, Mr. Camran." He was gone and I sat there alone with my reflections. It may readily be guessed they were not agreeable. The only thing I was sure of was that I should pay Daly's bill at once, if I had the requisite balance to my credit in the bank; and that I wished he had been in a warmer place than Barbados before he ever interfered in my affairs. CHAPTER XXVI. BEHIND THE BARS. Why should I blame poor Daly for doing what his profession and the law he followed dictated plainly? Why should I blame my Uncle Dugald for putting me under guardianship, after I was supposed to have reached the years of discretion? These are indeed pregnant questions. If the reader has had neurasthenia and only partially recovered, he will know that the victim of that malady needs no legitimate reason for any fancies that possess him. It is plain to me--now--that in sending Daly on my track, my Uncle was acting the part of a considerate and thoughtful relation. It is equally clear to me--now--that the conduct of Daly, from first to last, deserves the highest praise. Instead of demurring for an instant at his bill I would have done well to add $500 to it as a present.