The detective a was fully convinced, from what he overheard, that the smugglers were innocent of old Tom Pearce's death; indeed, he had so believed from the first; but it was one of his methods to make sure, and when once really convinced he knew as stated, where to look for the real assassin, and he folded his tent, like the Arab, and as silently stole away. CHAPTER XLIII. Upon the day following the scenes described in our preceding chapter, a strange interview was in progress in a magnificent apartment in a house situated in one of the most fashionable quarters of New York. A beautiful young lady, richly attired, had been sitting alone in the elegant apartment described when a man of dark complexion entered the room, and, with silent step and a pleased smile upon his dark face, he advanced toward the girl. Just a moment preceding the entrance of the dark-faced man, the girl had indulged in a brief soliloquy. She murmured: "Well-well, my mind is made up. I have fooled that villain! He thinks I love him. He thinks I have been dazzled and bewildered by the possession of all these fine clothes and the wearing of these costly jewels; but he is mistaken. I hate him--I abhor him! He is an assassin! He thinks I do not know it; but I saw him strike down that good old man, Tom Pearce, and I have but hired him on with a promise of my love, only that I might hold him until an opportunity offers to hand him over to justice." A moment the girl was thoughtful and silent, but speedily she resumed her soliloquy, salving: "I wonder what could have become of Vance! He lives--he has been successful, I saw in a paper yesterday. Why does he not come to me? Well, well! as he does not come to me, I will go to him. It is time that I unmasked before this scoundrel, who thinks he has won me by the tragedy through which he temporarily obtained possession of me. But we shall see! I am 'Renie, the Wild Girl of the Shore,' as Vance once called rue, and I will prove myself more than a match for this deep, designing scoundrel." The girl had just uttered the words above quoted when the door opened, and the man entered the room. As stated, he advanced with a pleased smile upon his face. "Renie, darling," he said. "I have pleasant news for you." "Indeed!" "Yes, my dear. To-day we sail for my beautiful home in Cuba where you will be the belle of society, and where we shall be married." "We sail for Cuba to-day?" "Yes, to-day." "I thought you did not intend to go until the season was more advanced?" "I have decided to go to-day; business calls me there." "And you sail to-day?" "Yes." "I cannot go with you." "You cannot go with me?" "No."