Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: Web Archive https://ia800506.us.archive.org THE GIRL FROM MALTA BY FERGUS HUME. AUTHOR OF "_THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB_," AND "_MADAME MIDAS_." TORONTO: THE NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY ======================================================= Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture by the NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, Toronto, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine. ======================================================== CONTENTS. CHAPTER. I. A RUINED LIFE II. IN THE STRADA REALE III. FOUND DEAD IV. THE NEW PASSENGERS V. A DAY AT "GIB" VI. MRS. PELLYPOP TALKS VII. THE END OF THE VOYAGE VIII. COUNSEL'S OPINION IX. VERSCHOYLE _v_. VERSCHOYLE and MACGREGOR X. A CONFERENCE OF THREE XI. AN ARTISTIC EVENING XII. THE MISSING LINK XIII. THE APPLE OF DISCORD XIV. A LETTER FROM MALTA XV. MARCHESE MATTEO VASSALLA XVI. CARMELA IS QUESTIONED XVII. MAN AGAINST WOMAN XVIII. THE SECRETS OF THE PENNY POST XIX. WOMAN AGAINST MAN XX. JULIAN ROPER REPORTS XXI. AT MARLOW REGATTA XXII. THE TESTIMONY OF THE DAGGER XXIII. A LOOK INTO THE PAST XXIV. MRS. VERSCHOYLE PAYS A VISIT XXV. GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY XXVI. CARMELA SAYS "YES" XXVII. EXIT MRS. VERSCHOYLE XXVIII. A SCRAP OF PAPER THE GIRL FROM MALTA. CHAPTER I. A RUINED LIFE. It was a calm southern night, with a silver moon shining serenely in a cloudless sky, and over the glittering expanse of ocean steamed the P. and O.'s vessel "Neptune" on her way from Brindisi to Malta. Every revolution of her powerful engines sent her plunging through the blue waters, with the waves breaking in tumbling masses of white foam from her towering sides. The passengers, numbering about three hundred, were all in high spirits, having had a most delightful voyage from Australia, and were looking forward, with pleasure, to their arrival at Valletta on the morrow. Can there be anything in the world more pleasant than sea life on a steamship with jolly people? Anyone, who is a good sailor, will answer "No," though perhaps Ulysses, who travelled over these same waters, might not agree, but then the wandering Greek had not a P. and O. steamer at his command. On this charming night a dance was in progress on the hurricane deck, and the immense area had been draped with brilliantly coloured flags, thus turning it into an admirable ball-room. Miss Kate Lester, the belle of the ship,--a position she knew she occupied, and, by the way took full advantage of all benefits to be derived therefrom,--was the pianist, and was playing the "Venetia Valse," to which a number of young people were dancing. The white dresses of the ladies, the darker costumes of the men, and the vivid tints of the flags, all seen under the powerful radiance of the electric lights, made up a very pretty picture.