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36
THE DEATH-DOCTOR

nation of the inmates of the hotel became intense as they made out the list of their losses. By Jove! Laurence! if half the curses showered upon our heads had come to pass we should have had a very hot time. Of course, we had, each of us, lost articles of value, and joined most heartily in execrating the thieves. Indeed, we also put in a claim for what had been taken!

Of course, nothing was discovered, and in two days' time I returned to Naples, Featherson and Ella following me very shortly. She, poor child, seemed to have lost her good looks; her brightness and vivacity had disappeared, and she was ready to cry at the slightest thing.

Featherson, cute customer, knocked the stones from their settings and brought them away in his pockets, first having cast the settings into the sea.

Once more reunited in Naples, we held another council of war. Featherson suggested that he should take his daughter back to France, where it was to be hoped she would throw off the depression and melancholy which had recently obsessed her, and afterwards betake himself to Antwerp, at which centre of stolen goods he could get rid of the spoils of the two adventures in which I had taken part.