rest, quietly revolving the plan of campaign.

"There was then a sealed chapter in Valerie Troubetskoi's life.
And the key of that is in Berthe Louison's keeping. Now, my fair
employer, it is diamond cut diamond. I think that I have done a
fair day's work." And he thanked his lucky stars for the precipitate
flight of his mysterious employer. "She evidently feared the noble
Casimir following upon the trail. Strange--strange pathways! Strange
footprints on the sands of Time! It is a devilish funny world,
but, after all, the best that we have any authentic account of."
And so he slept the sleep of the just, for he was making the woes
of others the cornerstones of his newer fortunes.

Major Hawke arose with the lark, by a previous arrangement with the
Hotel Bureau. His face was eminently businesslike in its gravity,
as he summoned the porter and dispatched all his luggage to the
care of the Chef du Gare, Geneva. "Business of extreme importance
awaiting upon Madame's complete recovery had caused her to depart
to consult an eminent specialist. Thank you, there will be no
letters," said the Major, as he pocketed both receipted bills. He
amused himself while watching for the morning boat, as the mountain
mists, lifting, revealed the glittering lake, in sending a very
carefully sketched letter to Mademoiselle Euphrosyne Delande, No.
123 Rue du Rhone, Geneva. This letter was of such moment that it
went on to London, to be posted back duly stamped with good Queen
Victoria's likeness. A very careful Major!

The lofty semi-official tone, in which the writer spoke of a possible
return to India "under the auspices of the Foreign Office," was
well calculated to fill the spinster's bosom with the flattering