Maud turned very pale and seemed about to faint. She felt keenly how hard it would be to see her lover depart upon an adventure of this uncertain character, the end or duration of which no one could even guess at. But she recovered her self-possession with an effort and, looking steadily at Templemore, said, "What you said you would do for our sakes is to be very quickly put to the test, it seems. You--will--go, Jack?" "Yes," he answered firmly; "since it is your wish." "You must," she answered. "It is hard to lose you; it will be hard for us both. But go--and go with a good heart. Be sure I will be a daughter to your mother while you are away." He took her hand in his and pressed it to his lips. "For your sake, dear Maud, I shall go," he said. "For your sake and for my mother's; in the hope that some success may result; but not--Heaven knows--for the mere sordid hope of gain." CHAPTER II. MONELLA. Two days later Dr. Lorien and his son arrived in Georgetown and, after taking rooms at the Kaieteur Hotel, went at once to call upon the Kingsfords. This haste was, in reality, prompted by Harry, whose thoughts were bent upon his hopes of once more seeing the pretty Stella; but the ostensible reason that he urged upon his father was somewhat different, and had to do with the message of which they were the bearers from the white stranger they had met in their travels. At the evening dinner the matter was discussed, Mr. Kingsford and his son Robert and the others being present. The two travellers had much to tell of their adventures, which had been full of both interest and danger, apart from the matter of the stranger's message. "And yet, I think," observed the doctor, thoughtfully, "our meeting with this stranger, and his behaviour, impressed me more than almost all else that happened to us." "How so? What is he like?" asked Mr. Kingsford. "In figure he is very tall; of a most commanding stature and appearance. _I_ am not short." "Why, you are over six feet!" put in Harry. "And yet I almost think, if he had held his arm straight out, I could have walked under it with my hat on, and without stooping." "I'm sure you could, dad," Harry corroborated. "As to age--there I confess myself at sea. As a doctor I am accustomed to judge of age; yet he thoroughly puzzled me. If I could believe in the possibility of a man's being a hundred and fifty years old and yet remaining strong and hale and vigorous, I should not be surprised if he had claimed that age. On the other hand, if one could believe in a young, stalwart, muscular man of thirty with the face and white hair of an old-looking, but not _very_ old man, then I could have believed it if I had been told he was no more than thirty. In fact, he was a complete puzzle to me; a mystery. But the most remarkable thing about him was the expression of his eyes; they were the most extraordinary I have ever seen in my life." "Wild--mad-looking?" Templemore asked.