AN ABUNDANCE OF EVIDENCE Captain Passford had certainly kept his own counsel with punctilious care; for he had never even mentioned the skilful detective in his family, though the members of it had met the gentleman in Paris and in Havre.

Mr.Gilfleur was in constant communication with him while he was working up the exposure of the treason of Davis, who might have been a relative of the distinguished gentleman at the head of the Southern Confederacy, though there was no evidence to this effect.
"If the captain of this steamer manages his affair well with the Ionian, I expect to find letters on board of her signed by Davis," continued Mr.
Gilfleur.

"From the information I obtained, your father put American detectives on the scent of Davis, who dogged him day and night till they found the Ionian, and ascertained in what manner she obtained her cargo; but she had been partly loaded before they reached a conclusion, and it is suspected that she has arms under the pieces of machinery, perhaps cannon and ammunition." The detective continued to explain his operations at greater length than it is necessary to report them.

Christy listened till nearly midnight, and then he went on deck to ascertain the position of the chase before he turned in.

He found the captain on the quarter-deck, vigilant and faithful to his duty, and evidently determined that the Ionian should not elude him.
"You are up late, Mr.Passford," said the captain, when he recognized his passenger in the gloom of the night.
"I have been busy, and I came on deck to see where the Ionian was before I turned in," replied Christy.
"I think the rascal has a suspicion that we have some business with him, for at four bells he turned his head in for the shore," added the commander.