The Maids of Paradise

As far as the writer knows, no treasure-trains were actually sent to

the port of Lorient from the arsenal at Brest. The treasures remained

at Brest.

Concerning the German armored cruiser Augusta, the following are the

facts: About the middle of December she forced the blockade at

Wilhelmshafen and ran for Ireland, where, owing to the complaisance of

the British authorities, she was permitted to coal.

From there she steamed towards Brest, capturing a French merchant

craft off that port, another near Rochefort, and finally a third. That

ended her active career during the war; a French frigate chased her

into the port of Vigo and kept her there.

To conclude, certain localities and certain characters have been

sufficiently disguised to render recognition improbable. This is

proper because "The Lizard" is possibly alive to-day, as are also the

mayor of Paradise, Sylvia Elven, Jacqueline, and Speed, the latter

having barely escaped death in the Virginius expedition. The

original of Buckhurst now lives in New York, and remains a type whose

rarity is its only recommendation.

Those who believe they recognize the Countess de Vassart are doubtless

in error. Mornac, long dead, is safe in his disguise; Tric-Trac was

executed on the Place de la Roquette, and celebrated in doggerel by an

unspeakable ballad writer. There remains Scarlett; dead or alive, I

wish him well.

ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.

Ormond, Florida, Feb. 7, 1902.