to-day, go to Hugh Johnstone's house. He
has bidden me to a private interview. And he gives a tiffin in my honor.
I have known him in past years. He does not as yet know of my official
position. My duties are secret. My very honor forbids me to divulge
it. I dare not openly acknowledge an acquaintance with you, with your
sister. It rests with you that we meet again, for my sake, for your own
sake, for your sister's sake. I cannot lose you for a mere quibble."

There was a genuine alarm in Justine Delande's voice as she started up,
crying out, "You come to us to-day?"

"Precisely!" gravely said Major Hawke, as he tried a long shot.
"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.

"The day after to-morrow, at the same time," said Alan Hawke, his heart
leaping up in a secret victory, "but no living soul must ever know of
it. I will be here in the pagoda, waiting for you. Ram Lal will wait for
you himself and admit you. Do you promise?" he said, with a glance which
set her pallid cheeks aflame.

"I promise! I promise! Let me go, now!" gasped the excited woman. With
stately courtesy, the Major then led her b