"
The detective glanced at the girl with an expression of
aroused curiousness as he said:
"You dreamed of me?"
"Yes."
"This is very strange. What could have suggested such a
dream"
"I have dreamed all my life that some good friend would come
some day and unravel the mystery of my parentage. It was
accident that brought you and me together; but I had come to
believe, although I have only known you for a few hours, that
you were the good angel who would open the sealed book."
The detective advanced close to the girl, fixed his eyes upon
her, and, while a bright flush reddened his cheek, he said, in
an earnest tone:
"And so I will, Renie!"
"No, no; you have only come to raise a false hope."
"You are a strange girl, Renie."
"Yes, I am a strange girl in your eyes; but there is nothing
strange about me. Mv surroundings make me appear so. Listen:
I long for other scenes and associations; there is nothing
that holds me to my present life. I know there is someone
somewhere who longs for me as I yearn for her."
"Your mother?"
"Yes, my mother."
"If your mother be alive, it shall be my good office to bring
mother and child together."
"Never."
"Why do you say never?"
"You are determined to go off on the yacht?"
"Yes, I shall go off on the yacht."
"We will never meet again."
"You take too gloomy a view of the situation."
"I know well the character of the crew of the 'Nancy.'"
"So do I."
A deeper pallor overspread the girl's face, as in a low,
husky voice she whispered:
"I believe they are leading you on.
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