p aboard the steamer,
and did not awake until miles at sea."

Sir Donald intently had listened to that part of the girl's narrative
about the trip from London to Southampton, and thence to Bombay. His
wonder and admiration grew with her frank, dramatic, yet timid recital
of tactics employed to elicit incriminating clews from the secretive
Laniers. Alice had shown marked heroism remaining alone at Bombay, and
in her strange treatment of the infatuated Paul. These experiences had
left an indelible impress upon Alice, whose confiding sincerity and
generous impulsiveness always must bear effects of the shock, but that
tableau and recital revealed a tragic craft foreign to such a nature,
bordering the verge of madness.

How under pressure intense natures evolve new traits and latent powers
become dominant!

Seeing that Sir Donald seemed in a reverie, Alice awaited invitation to
proceed. Her face bore such a weary, questioning look that he proposed
that they join Esther and Charles. To this Alice nervously objected,
saying:

"I ought to see Uncle Thomas."

Sir Donald then suggested that she see her uncle, and that both dine
with his family. Alice objected with some energy, closing with these
words:

"Not until my whole story is told will I meet Esther or your son."

Sir Donald admired the commendable deference and spirit of the girl's
sentiments. It was then arranged that on the following day Alice would
finish her story.

The next afternoon the recital is continued.

"Though the trip from Bombay to Calcutta was rough, I felt great relief.
The strain since arrival at Bombay had been fearful. Sitting on deck,
gently swaying with the ship's motion, watching seabirds, looking at
approaching squalls, or tossing in stress of tropic storms, proved a
restful quiet for my fevered consciousness. Such change reversed the
whole current of thought, driving away the awful past. Neither Lanier
would harass me on this journey.

"Uncle Thomas left his old-time assistant at Bombay to shadow Paul.
Arrangements to communicate with each other had been made. If Paul
should quit Bombay, that assistant would be on the same vessel. We
surmised that Paul would join his father at Calcutta.

"On board ship, Uncle Thomas and I assumed new disguises. In Calcutta we
were known as father and daughter.

"Later Uncle Thomas often met Pierre Lanier, but himself remained
unknown.

"Soon after our arrival, that assistant landed at Calcutta and