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delivered me from the madman。〃
〃Who are you？ and whence come you？〃 demanded the Commander of
Hurlstone； with grave austerity。
Hurlstone hesitated； the priest leaned forward with a half anxious；
half warning gesture。 There was a sudden rustle in the passage；
the crowd gave way as Miss Keene； followed by Mrs。 Markham；
entered。 The young girl's eyes caught those of the prostrate man。
With an impulsive cry she ran towards him。
〃Mr。 Hurlstone！〃
〃Hurlstone；〃 echoed the group； pressing nearer the astonished man。
The Comandante lifted his hand gravely with a gesture of silence；
and then slowly removed his plumed hat。 Every head was instantly
uncovered。
〃Long live our brave and noble ally； Don Diego！ Long live the
beautiful Dona Leonor！〃
A faint shade of sadness passed over the priest's face。 He glanced
from Hurlstone to Miss Keene。
〃Then you have consented？〃 he whispered。
Hurlstone cast a rapid glance at Eleanor Keene。
〃I consent！〃
PART II。 FREED。
CHAPTER I。
THE MOURNERS AT SAN FRANCISCO。
The telegraph operator at the Golden Gate of San Francisco had long
since given up hope of the Excelsior。 During the months of
September and October； 1854； stimulated by the promised reward； and
often by the actual presence of her owners； he had shown zeal and
hope in his scrutiny of the incoming ships。 The gaunt arms of the
semaphore at Fort Point； turned against the sunset sky； had
regularly recorded the smallest vessel of the white…winged fleet
which sought the portal of the bay during that eventful year of
immigration； but the Excelsior was not amongst them。 At the close
of the year 1854 she was a tradition； by the end of January； 1855；
she was forgotten。 Had she been engulfed in her own element she
could not have been more completely swallowed up than in the
changes of that shore she never reached。 Whatever interest or hope
was still kept alive in solitary breasts the world never knew。 By
the significant irony of Fate； even the old…time semaphore that
should have signaled her was abandoned and forgotten。
The mention of her namealbeit in a quiet； unconcerned voicein
the dress…circle of a San Francisco theatre； during the performance
of a popular female star； was therefore so peculiar that it could
only have come from the lips of some one personally interested in
the lost vessel。 Yet the speaker was a youngish； feminine…looking
man of about thirty； notable for his beardlessness； in the crowded
circle of bearded and moustachioed Californians； and had been one
of the most absorbed of the enthusiastic audience。 A weak smile of
vacillating satisfaction and uneasiness played on his face during
the plaudits of his fellow…admirers； as if he were alternately
gratified and annoyed。 It might have passed for a discriminating
and truthful criticism of the performance； which was a classical
burlesque； wherein the star displayed an unconventional frankness
of shapely limbs and unrestrained gestures and glances； but he
applauded the more dubious parts equally with the audience。 He was
evidently familiar with the performance； for a look of eager
expectation greeted most of the 〃business。〃 Either he had not
come for the entire evening； or he did not wish to appear as if he
had； as he sat on one of the back benches near the passage； and
frequently changed his place。 He was well； even foppishly； dressed
for the period； and appeared to be familiarly known to the loungers
in the passage as a man of some social popularity。
He had just been recognized by a man of apparently equal importance
and distinction； who had quietly and unconsciously taken a seat by
his side； and the recognition appeared equally unexpected and
awkward。 The new…comer was the older and more decorous…looking；
with an added formality of manner and self…assertion that did not；
however； conceal a certain habitual shrewdness of eye and lip。 He
wore a full beard； but the absence of a moustache left the upper
half of his handsome and rather satirical mouth uncovered。 His
dress was less pronounced than his companion's； but of a type of
older and more established gentility。
〃I was a little late coming from the office to…night；〃 said the
younger man； with an embarrassed laugh； 〃and I thought I'd drop in
here on my way home。 Pretty rough outside； ain't it？〃
〃Yes； it's raining and blowing； so I thought I wouldn't go up to
the plaza for a cab； but wait here for the first one that dropped a
fare at the door； and take it on to the hotel。〃
〃Hold on； and I'll go with you；〃 said the young man carelessly。 〃I
say； Brimmer；〃 he added； after a pause； with a sudden assumption of
larger gayety； 〃there's nothing mean about Belle Montgomery； eh？
She's a whole team and the little dog under the wagon； ain't she？
Deuced pretty woman！no make…up there； eh？〃
〃She certainly is a fine woman；〃 said Brimmer gravely； borrowing
his companion's lorgnette。 〃By the way； Markham； do you usually
keep an opera…glass in your office in case of an emergency like
this？〃
〃I reckon it was forgotten in my overcoat pocket；〃 said Markham；
with an embarrassed smile。
〃Left over from the last time；〃 said Brimmer； rising from his seat。
〃Well； I'm going nowI suppose I'll have to try the plaza。〃
〃Hold on a moment。 She's coming on nowthere she is！〃 He
stopped； his anxious eyes fixed upon the stage。 Brimmer turned at
the same moment in no less interested absorption。 A quick hush ran
through the theatre； the men bent eagerly forward as the Queen of
Olympus swept down to the footlights； and； with a ravishing smile；
seemed to envelop the whole theatre in a gracious caress。
〃You know； 'pon my word； Brimmer； she's a very superior woman；〃
gasped Markham excitedly； when the goddess had temporarily
withdrawn。 〃These fellows here；〃 he said； indicating the audience
contemptuously； 〃don't know her；think she's all that sort of
thing； you know；and come here just to LOOK at her。 But she's
very accomplishedin fact； a kind of literary woman。 Writes
devilish good poetryonly took up the stage on account of domestic
trouble： drunken husband that beat herregular affecting story；
you know。 These sap…headed fools don't； of course； know THAT。 No；
sir； she's a remarkable woman！ I say； Brimmer； look here！ I〃he
hesitated； and then went on more boldly； as if he had formed a
sudden resolution。 〃What have you got to do to…night？〃
Brimmer； who had been lost in abstraction； started slightly； and
said；
〃Ioh！ I've got an appointment with Keene。 You know he's off by
the steamerday after to…morrow？〃
〃What！ He's not going off on that wild…goose chase； after all？
Why； the man's got Excelsior on the brain！〃 He stopped as he
looked at Brimmer's cold face； and suddenly colored。 〃I mean his
planhis idea's all nonsenseyou know that！〃
〃I certainly don't agree with him；〃 began Brimmer gravely； 〃bu