“‘Now there are a great many if’s contained in that answer, but let it rain if’s until I return, and I will surmount them all. If my path was sown thick with dragons’ teeth, and at every step producing armed men to oppose me, I would march on to secure my great prize!’ “‘Edward, can you not postpone the time set for you to start to Philadelphia for a few weeks?’ “‘Yes, and will gladly do so, for I must settle the question of the if’s before I go. I must know Mr. Rockland’s mind, as well as Harry’s in regard to our betrothal, before I leave Memphis.’” CHAPTER X. “Well,” said Ivanhoe to Scottie, “what was it you wished to say to me?” “Oh, I was dying of curiosity, you see, and I thought maybe you could save my life by telling me something. I declare, something strange is going to happen; and you must tell me what it is.” “It would be an easy task to tell you all about it, if I knew anything about it myself; but as I happen to know nothing, how can I tell you anything?” “Pshaw! You are no true knight, Sir Ivanhoe, else you would not let a lady die of sheer curiosity, without an effort to save her. You are not like the brave knight of Ivanhoe of Sir Walter Scott’s creation.” “Show me an enemy who fights with steel, face to face, and then you’ll have cause to change your mind. By the by, what discoveries have you made about the black domino?” “Very little, I assure you--just enough to keep me on the rack. But have you really unearthed no secret respecting the two seedy men?” “Just enough to keep me on the rack, too.” “Well, aren’t you going to tell me what it is?” “I have been setting Greek against Greek, and you know what Byron says will happen when Greek meets Greek.” “Oh, bother Byron and his Greeks; tell me what you know?” “I bribed the chamber-maid and set her on the track of the seedy men.” “And, pray, what’s the result?” “They are sure-enough detectives; that much I have discovered through my spy.” “Good! What else?” “They are shadowing some one on this boat.” “They are doing what to some one on this boat?” “Shadowing him.” “Oh, is that all? You mean that they are keeping some one out of the sunshine.” “No, no! I mean to tell you that they have spotted their man.” “Spotted their man! Poor fellow! what color were the spots they put on him?” “Ah, Scottie, I perceive that you are not posted in regard to the peculiar language usually employed by the police department; when a detective officer sees a man who he thinks is the one he wishes to catch, he begins to follow and watch him, and this is called shadowing him.” “Ah, indeed! then what is meant by spotting their man?” “The same thing.” “Yes, yes, I see now; but who have they been spotting or shadowing?” “Ingomar.” “Goodness gracious! Is it possible?” “It is not only possible, but it is absolutely so.”