The time was ripe to pluck these men who had insulted and outraged
me; and when Bendigo Redmayne advertised for a motor boatman, the
challenge was accepted. I left my wife and, from Southampton,
offered my services as an Italian marine engineer familiar with this
country and now seeking occupation in England. The sea was my
playground in youth and I understood very perfectly the mechanism to
be under my control. That Ben would select me seemed improbable and
I regarded this tentative opening as unlikely to introduce me to my
first objective. I forged certain foreign letters of commendation
and left it at that. He approved, however. He liked Italians, from
experience of them aboard ship, and he appreciated my letter and my
imaginary war record. It was arranged that I should join him on a
day in late June; and I returned to Princetown with the interesting
intelligence.

My original plans need not be related; but any reader of imagination
will perceive that Bendigo Redmayne must quickly have been in my
power to dispose of as I thought best. Then, within a fortnight of
the date fixed for my arrival at "Crow's Nest," all was changed by
the advent of Robert Redmayne. Strange to say, upon the day previous
to his appearance, my wife had nearly prevailed upon me not to keep
my engagement with Bendigo. She had learned that Robert was at
Paignton and the danger of a meeting between him and me--the
possibility that he might visit his brother and recognize me--was
too considerable to risk. I had therefore almost abandoned the
impersonation of "Giuseppe Doria" when Robert arrived at Princetown
and we were reconciled. But then Jenny, to whom all credit belongs
at this stage--my devoted, glorious Jenny!--began to see a glimpse
of the dazzling opportunity now presented. Every detail was worked