"Am I right in inferring that the ladies, are the daughters of the
famous Professor Delande?" the Major hazarded, with a wild guess.
Before the votary of Minerva finally descended, Francois had artfully
"yielded up" much valuable information to the gravely interested
visitor. The attendant was the richer by a five-franc piece when
he retired to vigorously fall upon the Major's hat and brush it in
an anticipatory manner.

It was but a half an hour later when Alan Hawke had concluded his
deftly worded compliments upon the justly famed Institute, and had
subjugated the still susceptible spinster by his adroitly veiled
flatteries. The easy aplomb with which he introduced the forgotten
commission of Captain Anstruther was aided by the presentation of
that gentleman's visiting card, and the charms of an interesting
word sketch of Delhi and its surroundings.

The sound of distant girlish voices punctuated the refined murmur
of the ensuing conference, which was an exposition of Mademoiselle
Delande's grand manner! Hawke adroitly soothed the natural uneasiness
of the cunning Swiss spinster as to her sister's comfort, safety, and
the surety of Hugh Johnstone's fabulously liberal money inducement
to retain Miss Justine in his service for a year. The flattered
woman fell easily into Alan Hawke's net, and she freely dilated
upon the singular eccentricities of the Indian magnate as to his
daughter's education.

There was a breaking light now illumining the strange childhood of
a girl, nurtured by proxy, and kept in ignorance of her brilliant
future and vast monetary inheritance.