boat sailing for Australia, and what would be done with my baggage on its arrival at the other end, and then made my way as best I could out of the office.
Hastening back to the hotel, I told my story from beginning to end to my astonished companion, who sat on his bed listening open-mouthed. When I had finished he said feebly:
"But what does it all mean? Tell me that! What does it mean?"
"It means," I answered, "that our notion about Nikola's abducting us in order to blackmail your father was altogether wrong, and, if you ask me, I should say not half picturesque enough. No, no! this mystery is a bigger one by a hundred times than even we expected, and there are more men in it than ourselves. It remains with you to say whether you will assist in the attempt to unravel it or not. Oh! my beauty Baxter, if ever I get hold of you! What a meeting that will be!"
"What do you mean by saying it remains with me to say whether we shall unravel it or not? Do I understand you to mean that you intend following it up?"
"Of course I do. Nikola and Baxter between them have completely done me—now I'm going to do my best to do them. By Jove!"
"What is it now?"
"I see it all as plain as a pikestaff. I understand exactly now why Baxter came for you, why he telegraphed that the train was laid, why I was drugged in Plymouth, why you were seasick between Naples and this place, and why we were both kidnapped so mysteriously!"
"Then explain, for mercy's sake!"
"I will. See here. In the first place, remember your father's peculiar education of yourself. If you
