m Lal's
spacious snuggery in rear of his jewel mart and was soon ensconced in
a little pagoda, where Major Hawke seated himself at her side and
skillfully took up his soft refrains.

In half an hour they were thoroughly en ban rapport, for the graceful
Major Hawke adroitly conversed with his laughing eyes frankly beaming
upon the lonely woman. He had drawn a long breath of relief when he ran
over the letter which the delighted Justine frankly submitted to him
for his inspection. The fair Euphrosyne's secret advices justified his
warmest anticipations. He had conquered her heart.

"I will not delay you longer this morning," he said at last, with an
artful mock confidence. "I am infinitely grateful to you for so kindly
coming to meet me here. And it is only due to you to tell you why I
begged you to come here to-day. The nature of my important official
duties is such that I am not permitted to exhibit my real character to
any one here as yet. I am charged with some very delicate public duties
which may force me to linger here for some time, or perhaps disappear
without notice, only to return in the same mysterious manner. But in me
you have a stanch secret friend always. I have already written to your
charming sister, and I expect to receive from her letters which will be
followed by letters to you from her. And I shall write to-day and tell
her of your goodness to me." Miss Justine Delande's eyes were downcast.
Her agitated bosom was throbbing with an unaccustomed fire, and the
desire to be safely sheltered once more in Hugh Johnstone's marble
palace was now strong upon her.

Hawke paused, still keeping his pleading eyes fixed upon the
fluttering-hearted woman's face. "Miss Nadine sees absolutely no one!"
murmured the governess, "and, of course, I never leave her. It is a very
exacting and laborious position, this charge which I now fill, and
of course the life is a very lonely one, though Nadine is an angel!"
enthusiastically cried Miss Justine.

"And so," earnestly said Major Alan Hawke, "I am absolutely prevented
from seeing you, unless you will trust yourself to me, and come here
again." The frightened woman cast a glance at the unfamiliar loveliness
of the secluded garden, with the hidden kiosques, sacred to Ram Lal's
furtive amours.

"I dare not!" she said, with trembling lips. "I would like to come,
but--"

"Listen!" said Alan Hawke, softly taking her unresisting hand, "I will
confide in you. I must, even