"Both Captain Anstruther and myself have the gravest secret duties
in connection with Hugh Johnstone's future. He soon may be Sir Hugh,
you know. And I dare not divulge to him my own delicate functions
in this matter. Now you understand me at last," said Hawke, warmly
pressing Justine Delande's hand. "I feel that I must not lose you,
because I have my duty to perform, and I trust my honor to you. All
will be well if you will only favor me with your womanly kindness,
and trust to me as frankly as I to you. We must meet to-day at Hugh
Johnstone's as absolute strangers. We must also remain strangers
to all appearances for a time," he said at last. The Swiss spinster
gazed up at him piteously.

"May I not even tell Nadine?" she faltered.

"Ah!" carelessly said Alan Hawke, "she is a mere child; I shall
probably never see her. It is you alone that I would trust. Will
you not come here again? I dare not, for your own sake, detain you
longer now." The timid woman glanced hurriedly at her watch.

"I have been here already too long, and I must go! And there is so
much I would say to you!" She was almost handsome in her blushing
confusion.

"Then you will come again, here? Ram Lal is my old factotum!" the
young Major pleaded.

"I will come!" the half-subjugated woman whispered under her breath.
"But when?" Her eyes were meekly downcast and her faltering voice
trembled.