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 him, and if it did not reach the place it was intended for, it was only because Corsican suddenly appeared and stopped him with a quick gesture.

But, addressing himself to his enemy, Fabian said, in a cold, sarcastic tone,—

"Do you accept that blow?"

"Yes," replied Drake, "and here is my card!"

Thus, in spite of our efforts, an inevitable fatality had brought these two deadly enemies together. It was too late to separate them now, events must take their course. Captain Corsican looked at me, and I was surprised to see sadness rather than annoyance in his eyes.

In the meantime Fabian picked up the card which Harry Drake had thrown on the table. He held it between the tips of his fingers as if loath to touch it. Corsican was pale, and my heart beat wildly. At last Fabian looked at the card, and read the name on it, then with a voice stifled by passion he cried,—

"Harry Drake! you! you! you!"

"The same, Captain Mac Elwin," quietly replied Fabian's rival.

We were not deceived, if Fabian was ignorant until now of Drake's name, the latter was only too well aware of Fabian's presence on the "Great Eastern."