"They all see it, and think me blind," he groaned as he literally reeled against the gate. "Those thoughts, then, were a warning--one I would not heed. Hester--Hester--my love," he moaned as he pressed his hands to his forehead. "Oh, my God, that it should come to this!" He stood leaning against the gate post for a few minutes in a stunned, dazed way, but recovering himself he clenched his hands and exclaimed through his teeth: "I will not believe it. She could not be no false." He strode in, apparently quite calm, to find Hester standing by the fire-place, looking very scared and pale, while Laure, who had thrown himself back upon the couch, began to laugh in a peculiar way. "Ah, you English husbands," he said, banteringly, "how you do forsake your beautiful wives. But there, the fair visitor was very sweet and gracious. I almost fell in love myself." Dutch Pugh's eyes flashed for a moment, but he said nothing, only glanced at his wife, who met his look in a troubled way, and then let her eyes fall to the carpet, while Laure went on talking in a playful, bantering manner. STORY ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN. MORE SHADOWS. From that night a complete change seemed to have come upon the home of Dutch Pugh. He had more than once determined upon putting an end to the Cuban's stay, feeling at the same time as if he would like to end his life; but reason told him that his were, after all, but suspicions, and that perhaps they were unjust. Under the circumstances, he sought for relief in work, and strove night and day to perfect the arrangements which now fast approached completion. Captain Studwick was to be in command of the large yacht-like schooner that had been secured, and was being carefully fitted with the necessaries in stores and machinery. Two of the divers engaged in raising the copper had volunteered to go, and a capital crew had been selected. The cabins were comfortably furnished, there being plenty of space, and places were set apart for the captain's son and daughter, while a gentleman friend--a naturalist-- had, on learning from Captain Studwick the part of the world to which the ship was to sail, petitioned hard, and obtained permission to go. This last gentleman said his object was to collect specimens of the wonderful birds of Central America; but the probabilities are that if he had not been aware that Bessy Studwick was to be of the party, he, being a very bad sailor, would have stayed at home. By degrees everything necessary was put on board the handsome vessel, and though the ship's destination was kept a secret, and the real object of her mission confided to few, she formed the general topic of conversation in the port, and plenty of exaggerations flew about.