Page:Vance--Terence O'Rourke.djvu/358

 yet the memory of the princess of his dreams lured him northwards irresistibly.

As he waited, upon a pier-head, for the boat which was to bear him and Danny and their luggage to the steamer, a man came bounding hurriedly through the precipitous streets of Tangiers, and caught him almost at the last moment,—a young man, with a glowing, happy face, breathing heavily because of his haste.

"I have come to bid you God-speed, O'Rourke," said William Everett Senet, Consul-General, grasping the adventurer's ready hand. "And—and I suppose I am wrong to feel this way, but I have good news—of a sort."

O'Rourke lifted his brows. "The Count of Seyn-Altberg?" he asked.

Senet nodded. "Von Wever confessed—you know. We found the poor fellow—the count—But there's no profit going over that. He—it was terrible; he was beyond aid. Died this morning, early. Von Wever's gone inland … hunting!"

"And yourself?"

"Oh, I've sent in my resignation," said young Senet. "I'm going to take Nellie home—the countess, I mean—" he blushed furiously—"just as soon as my successor arrives."

"That's right," said O'Rourke. "Me boy, 'tis no place for the likes of ye—this Tangiers. May ye both be happy!"