d keenly
watched the younger man.

"I am on the inside of the matter," soberly said Alan Hawke. "It was an
open secret when I left London, and I've heard more since. A brief delay
only,--a matter of a few months--no more."

"Take a weed! They serve in half an hour!" abruptly said Hugh Johnstone,
as if anxious to change the subject. The old man then strode forward
and closed the door. Then, turning sharply upon his visitor, frankly
demanded, "Now, tell me why you are here?"

"That depends partly upon your affairs," said Hawke, meeting his
questioner's gaze unflinchingly. "I may have something to say to you
about the Baronetcy, by and bye." He paused to notice the keen old
Scotchman wince under the thrust, "but, in the mean time, I am merely
waiting orders here, and I want you to post me about the condition of
affairs up there." He vaguely indicated with his thumb the far-distant
battlement of the Roof of the World. Hugh Johnstone rang a silver bell,
and muttered a few words in Hindostanee to an attendant. "I must know
more from Calcutta before I can explain just where I stand," said the
renegade soldier, with caution.

Before the silver tray loaded with ante-prandial beverages was produced,
Hugh Johnstone quietly turned to his guest. "Did you see Anstruther in
London?" he demanded, with a scarcely veiled eagerness.

"We were together some days," very neatly rejoined the now confident
Major. "In fact, I'm to operate partly under his personal directions. We
are old friends."

"I wonder when he will return?" dreamily said Johnstone, as if the
subject was growing annoying in its bold directness.

"I believe that he has a long leave--a furlough of a year," lightly
answered the Major. "In fact, I am to carry on some official matters for
him in his absence, but he is wary and non-committal."

"What is his English address?" abruptly said Johnstone, as they bowed
formally over their glasses.

"I do not know," frankly returned Hawke. "I am to send all reports to
headquarters in Calcutta."

"Are you going down there soon?" asked the old nabob, with a growing
uneasiness.

"Not unless I am sent for by the Viceroy," quietly said the Major, with
a listless air, gazing around admiringly on the magnificence of the
apartment.

"I will give you a letter to my nephew, Douglas Fraser, when you do go,"
said Johnstone. "He is a fine youngster, and he will have charge of all
my Indian affairs, if I go home. He is in the P. and O