It ended in failure, for though they found the captain of the Italian steamer they boarded in the cabin of his vessel, he could not aid them.  He was very polite about it, and seemed quite sorry that he could be of no service.

It was the same in a number of other cases.  Some of the captains remembered Grace, for she had crossed with them once or twice, but none of them recalled a man answering Mr. Potter’s description making the voyage with them recently.

The last place they visited was the dock of the line to which the wrecked Olivia belonged.  This line Grace had never traveled on, but she had a letter of introduction to the manager from the captain of the Messina, on which she had made her last trip.  The commanders of two steamers of this company were in port.  One of them was at the dock, for his vessel was about to sail.

To him Grace made her inquiries, but fruitlessly.  She turned away, rather disappointed.  There was but one more chance left.  The other captain was at his hotel, not far away, for seamen like to remain near the water front.

“We’ll go there,” said Larry, “and then I must get back to the office, and write my story for to-day’s paper.”

“I wish you had some better news,” spoke Grace.  “But I am afraid Captain Padduci, whom we are now going to see, will prove as disappointing as the rest.”

“We’ll hope for the best,” remarked Larry.  “I wish——­”

But what he wished he never told, for at that instant his attention was attracted by a voice.  It was that of a man who stood at the small window of the steamship office.  The window was one which he and Grace had just stepped away from, after inquiring as to where Captain Padduci’s hotel was.

If the voice attracted Larry the sight of the man himself did more to rivet his attention.  For the first glance showed him the inquirer was none other than the mysterious individual, Mah Retto.

“I would like to inquire where I can find Captain Tantrella of the steamer Olivia,” the man asked of the clerk.

“The Olivia is lost,” replied the steamship clerk.

“I know it, but I would like to see the captain.  He was saved, I believe.”

“Yes, he was.  He commands a freight ship now.  She’s due in port in a few days.  The Turtle is her name.  You can come around when she gets in.”

The mysterious man turned away as though disappointed.  As he did so he caught sight of Larry, and instantly he hurried out of the office.

Larry was greatly excited.  He was convinced, more than ever, that there was something in this man’s actions that made him an object of suspicion.  He felt that he must follow the fellow, but he could not leave Grace.  He looked around for her, but she had gone to the ladies’ dressing room to adjust her veil and hat, which had been blown about by the high wind.  She came back presently, to find Larry much agitated.