Jack Harkaway and his Sons Escape from the Brigands of Greece | Page 8

of the tale."
"What?"
"Why, that girl has left the villa unprotected."
"Nonsense! there's old Constantino there."
"Useless."
"And Mike."
"He barks, but don't bite."
"Besides; you may be mistaken," urged Dick.
"Not I. I knew her at once, and what's more, she recognised me."
"The deuce!"
"And she bolted directly I pronounced her name."
"How was she dressed?"
Mr. Mole gave a hurried description of Marietta's dress, and they want
off in search through the house and grounds after the flighty Marietta.
* * * * *
In another part of the grounds three men met.
"Hunston."
"Toro."
"Captain."

"Here."
"All safe?"
"Yes."
"Good!"
"What have you learnt, Toro?"
"Not much."
"And you, captain?"
"Nothing, or next to nothing," was the reply.
"And you, Hunston?"
"I have gained knowledge," answered the latter; "good, useful
knowledge."
The other two laughed heartily at this reply.
"You were always of a studious turn of mind, Hunston."
"Ha, ha, ha!"
[Illustration: "'WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED?' ASKED THE
CAPTAIN"--ADV IN GREECE, VOL II, PAGE 21]
It may be as well to mention that they had sought a secluded part of the
contessa's gardens, and met now by appointment.
They were all three arrayed in that peculiar style of costume which the
prince of darkness is popularly supposed to don when he makes his
appearance to German students, in certain weird and wild works of
fiction, or in the supernatural drama.
It sounded really remarkable to hear these three men, disguised as

devils, discussing matters generally in such an offhand manner.
The dresses of all three were alike nearly in every particular.
The only mark of distinction between them was a small straight feather
they wore in their caps.
One wore a yellow feather.
Another had a feather of brilliant red.
The third one's feather was of a bright emerald green.
Now these feathers were small, but yet, by reason of the conspicuous
colours, could be seen at a considerable distance.
"What is it you have discovered?" asked the captain.
"Out with it, Hunston," said Toro, in his old impatient way.
"Well, in the first place," was Hunston's reply, "our letters to old Mole
and to the girl Marietta were perfectly successful."
"Of course."
"The vanity of the one, and the conceit of the other, made it an easy
matter."
"It did."
"I saw the interview from a snug place of concealment, and took care to
let her know it."
"How?"
"By humming her song which you heard her sing up at the villa."
The latter looked somewhat alarmed at this.

"Was that prudent?"
"Of course she did not see me, only we must get a thorough hold over
this girl, so as to have her as an accomplice in the enemy's camp
always."
"Good."
"Now let us get back to the ball-room, and see what is to be picked up
there."
Back they went, and arrived in the large ball-room just as a dance was
being got up.
The three diabolical companions deemed it prudent now to separate,
that no undue attention might be drawn upon their movements.
And they went sauntering about the rooms, each upon the look-out for
any slice of luck which might turn up.
Hunston had added a long red cloak to his costume, so as to envelope
his figure and cover his arm, for fear of accidentally running across
Harkaway or Harvey, or in fact, any of the party.
In this cloak he was wrapped, and silently watching two young and
lovely girls, whose grace and elegance were commanding universal
admiration,
One was fair as a lily, with light, golden, wavy hair, and full blue eyes.
This beautiful girl it was who excited Hunston's curiosity
"Who can she be? Perhaps Harvey's daughter," he thought
Now these two were equally lovely to gaze upon, the beauty of each
being of a totally different character.
"If we can but spirit little Emily away to the mountains," said Hunston
to himself, "I shall be able to repay them for all I have suffered. Nay,

more, I shall be able to satisfy the greed of Mathias and the band, by
making the accursed Harkaway disgorge some of his enormous
wealth."
A hand was placed upon his shoulder.
"Hah!"
"It is I," said a voice in his ear.
And looking up, he beheld the devil in the red feather.
"Mathias."
"Hush! I have to rejoin a lady now, to whom I am engaged for the
dance."
"The dance!"
Mathias nodded.
"She accepted at once a dance with the devil; I'll lead her a devil of a
dance."
And the brigand captain laughed hugely at his own conceit.
But Hunston was not in laughing humour.
"I'm glad to find you so merry, captain."
The Greek did not observe his gloomy manner; he only replied--"You
will be merry, too, when