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the same evening； in the cabin； reading the news； and making
savoury comments on the decline of England and the poor
condition of the navy； when I suddenly observed him to change
countenance。
'Hullo！' said he； 'this is bad； this is deuced bad； Miss
Valdevia。 You would not listen to sound sense； you would
send that pocket…book to that man Caulder's son。'
'Sir George；' said I； 'it was my duty。'
'You are prettily paid for it； at least；' says he； 'and much
as I regret it； I； for one； am done with you。 This fellow
Caulder demands your extradition。'
'But a slave；' I returned； 'is safe in England。'
'Yes； by George！' replied the baronet； 'but it's not a slave；
Miss Valdevia； it's a thief that he demands。 He has quietly
destroyed the will； and now accuses you of robbing your
father's bankrupt estate of jewels to the value of a hundred
thousand pounds。'
I was so much overcome by indignation at this hateful charge
and concern for my unhappy fate that the genial baronet made
haste to put me more at ease。
'Do not be cast down；' said he。 'Of course； I wash my hands
of you myself。 A man in my position … baronet； old family；
and all that … cannot possibly be too particular about the
company he keeps。 But I am a deuced good…humoured old boy；
let me tell you； when not ruffled； and I will do the best I
can to put you right。 I will lend you a trifle of ready
money； give you the address of an excellent lawyer in London；
and find a way to set you on shore unsuspected。'
He was in every particular as good as his word。 Four days
later； the NEMOROSA sounded her way； under the cloak of a
dark night； into a certain haven of the coast of England； and
a boat； rowing with muffled oars； set me ashore upon the
beach within a stone's throw of a railway station。 Thither；
guided by Sir George's directions； I groped a devious way；
and finding a bench upon the platform； sat me down； wrapped
in a man's fur great…coat； to await the coming of the day。
It was still dark when a light was struck behind one of the
windows of the building； nor had the east begun to kindle to
the warmer colours of the dawn； before a porter carrying a
lantern； issued from the door and found himself face to face
with the unfortunate Teresa。 He looked all about him； in the
grey twilight of the dawn； the haven was seen to lie
deserted； and the yacht had long since disappeared。
'Who are you？' he cried。
'I am a traveller；' said I。
'And where do you come from？' he asked。
'I am going by the first train to London；' I replied。
In such manner； like a ghost or a new creation； was Teresa
with her bag of jewels landed on the shores of England； in
this silent fashion； without history or name； she took her
place among the millions of a new country。
Since then； I have lived by the expedients of my lawyer；
lying concealed in quiet lodgings； dogged by the spies of
Cuba； and not knowing at what hour my liberty and honour may
be lost。
THE BROWN BOX （CONCLUDED）
THE effect of this tale on the mind of Harry Desborough was
instant and convincing。 The Fair Cuban had been already the
loveliest； she now became； in his eyes； the most romantic；
the most innocent； and the most unhappy of her sex。 He was
bereft of words to utter what he felt： what pity； what
admiration； what youthful envy of a career so vivid and
adventurous。 'O madam！' he began； and finding no language
adequate to that apostrophe； caught up her hand and wrung it
in his own。 'Count upon me；' he added； with bewildered
fervour； and getting somehow or other out of the apartment
and from the circle of that radiant sorceress； he found
himself in the strange out…of…doors； beholding dull houses；
wondering at dull passers…by； a fallen angel。 She had smiled
upon him as he left； and with how significant； how beautiful
a smile！ The memory lingered in his heart； and when he found
his way to a certain restaurant where music was performed；
flutes （as it were of Paradise） accompanied his meal。 The
strings went to the melody of that parting smile； they
paraphrased and glossed it in the sense that he desired； and
for the first time in his plain and somewhat dreary life； he
perceived himself to have a taste for music。
The next day； and the next； his meditations moved to that
delectable air。 Now he saw her； and was favoured； now saw
her not at all； now saw her and was put by。 The fall of her
foot upon the stair entranced him； the books that he sought
out and read were books on Cuba； and spoke of her indirectly；
nay； and in the very landlady's parlour； he found one that
told of precisely such a hurricane； and； down to the smallest
detail； confirmed （had confirmation been required） the truth
of her recital。 Presently he began to fall into that
prettiest mood of a young love； in which the lover scorns
himself for his presumption。 Who was he； the dull one； the
commonplace unemployed； the man without adventure； the
impure； the untruthful； to aspire to such a creature made of
fire and air； and hallowed and adorned by such incomparable
passages of life？ What should he do； to be more worthy？ by
what devotion； call down the notice of these eyes to so
terrene a being as himself？
He betook himself； thereupon； to the rural privacy of the
square； where； being a lad of a kind heart； he had made
himself a circle of acquaintances among its shy frequenters；
the half…domestic cats and the visitors that hung before the
windows of the Children's Hospital。 There he walked；
considering the depth of his demerit and the height of the
adored one's super…excellence； now lighting upon earth to say
a pleasant word to the brother of some infant invalid； now；
with a great heave of breath； remembering the queen of women；
and the sunshine of his life。
What was he to do？ Teresa； he had observed； was in the habit
of leaving the house towards afternoon： she might；
perchance； run danger from some Cuban emissary； when the
presence of a friend might turn the balance in her favour：
how； then； if he should follow her？ To offer his company
would seem like an intrusion； to dog her openly were a
manifest impertinence； he saw himself reduced to a more
stealthy part； which； though in some ways distasteful to his
mind； he did not doubt that he could practise with the skill
of a detective。
The next day he proceeded to put his plan in action。 At the
corner of Tottenham Court Road； however； the Senorita
suddenly turned back； and met him face to face； with every
mark of pleasure and surprise。
'Ah； Senor； I am sometimes fortunate！' she cried。 'I was
looking for a messenger；' and with the sweetest of smiles；
she despatched him to the East End of London； to an address
which he was unable to find。 This was a bitter pill to the
knight…errant； but when he returned at night； worn out with
fruitless wandering and dismayed by his FIASCO； the lady
received him with a friendly gaiety； protesting that all was
for the best； since she had changed her mind and long since
repented of her message。
Next day he resumed his labours； gl