"My friend, I am perfectly certain that you quarrelled with those sailors to bring me on deck," she responded, "and that being the case, I see that you are a man of resource. Serve me, and I pay you well. And," she added, bending towards him with a fierce look, "I do not fear your talking. If I employ you, I employ others also, and if you talk, a knife thrust will soon silence you." "This is England, and not lawless Indiana," retorted Kind. "All the same, you have had your warning," replied Señora Guzman in a careless tone. "Here," she took out a gold net purse, and produced from it a couple of sovereigns, "this is for bringing back the shawl. I will pay you well, if you will keep your eyes open, and find this missing man. I can do nothing until he tells me what really took place on that night." Kind felt inclined to explain that Herries was perfectly ignorant of what had taken place, but he did not wish to let this very vehement lady know his real position, and therefore accepted her gratuity with thanks. But before withdrawing he wished to learn one thing,--was Donna Maria in love with Kyles? He believed she was from the glances she threw occasionally at the photograph. If she did love the buccaneer, did she know that he was engaged to Miss Maud Tedder? If she did not, here would be a chance of putting--as the saying is--a spoke in Captain Kyles' wheel. Sweetlips did not doubt but what Captain Kyles had something to do with the crime, although to be sure, his doubts were founded upon uncertain evidence. He put the matter to an immediate test. "Will I report to Captain Kyles, Señora?" he asked, with simplicity. "No. Certainly not. Why should you report to Captain Kyles?" she asked quickly, and with sudden suspicion. "Well, ma'am, since he is in command of this----" "He is the captain, but the political business of Indiana is in my hands," said she haughtily, "you know what you have to do, go and do it. But if you talk,----" she looked so significantly at him that Kind, although not over-imaginative, shivered. It was ill-work dealing with this tiger-cat. At first sight, it seemed as though she had trusted a man unknown to her, very rashly, but now that he saw she was prepared to stick at nothing, to secure any necessary silence, he became aware that there was method in her rashness. All the same he had not yet learned if she loved Kyles, and ventured again to feel his way. "Well, Señora, I daresay the Captain will be glad enough, not to be bothered with me while he's better employed." "What do you mean?" asked Donna Maria, abruptly, and her eyes narrowed like those of a cat. "There was a cove at Desleigh," went on Kind, watching her face, "a chap as is a doctor and a friend of Mr. Herries at that, Dr. Browne he is, and I did hear him say that the dead man's daughter is engaged to marry----" The lady flew across the room, and grasped Kind's arm fiercely. "Not to--to----" she could not proceed. "To Captain Kyles, ma'am."