lixe Delavigne had finally approved the plan,
when Anson Anstruther drew her away to confer upon the risk. "You see,"
he pleaded, "Murray will never even speak to Miss Johnstone. All that
pleasing task is left to Prince Djiddin, who can and will, of course,
choose any unguarded moment. Captain Murray will hold old Fraser
personally in limbo, while you and Prince Djiddin can meet the pretty
captive in alternation. At any danger signal, the Prince and Moonshee
can quit Jersey at once." Then the lightning thought came to the lady:
"She already loves him! It must be so! He is the only young officer who
was ever allowed to enter the Marble House in that long year of golden
bondage. It shall be so! I can trust to him for her sake, if he loves
her for Love's own sake. I can remain near Nadine then, even if they
have to disappear, for Jules will keep the pathway open." And yet,
shamefaced in her own growing tenderness for her mentor, Anstruther, she
took these wise counsels away to hide them in her own happy heart. "It
will make us then, Captain Murray," she said, as she extended her hand
in good night, "a little circle of five, gathered around this motherless
and fatherless girl to save her from the secret schemes of tyrant and
fortune hunter."

"Precisely so, Madame," laughed Murray, "when I have sworn in my
beautiful recruit to-morrow. Then we will be five in very truth." There
was a flying early morning visit to Hunt and Roskell's on the morrow,
which greatly astonished Captain Anstruther, who had escorted Madame
Alixe Delavigne down on her way to the pretty chapel at Kew, where
Captain Murray duly "swore in his beautiful recruit," with bell, book,
and candle. The parure of diamonds which the lady of Jitomir gave to
Mrs. Flossie Murray caused even the eyes of "The Moonshee" to open in
wonder at the little campaign breakfast of the leaders of this Crusade
of Love. "Only suited to the wife of Prince Djiddin's High Chamberlain,"
laughed Alixe Delavigne, as the happy Captain departed on his honeymoon
tour, escaping showers of rice, to "move upon the enemy's works in
Jersey."

"Thank God that I have got that sharp-eyed Hawke safely out of town,"
cried Captain Anstruther to his beautiful confidante, as they escorted
Miss Mildred back to beautiful Rosebank. The "lass o' Richmond Hill" was
no fairer than the happy woman who had seen Major Hardwicke depart for
a long conference with that all powerful sprite of the magic pen, Frank