dignified pace, the carriage of Hugh Johnstone led the way to
the Bank of Bengal, where a private room soon hid the three principal
parties from the gaze of the multi-colored throng of clerks and
accountants. A conference of the gravest nature ensued, as both the Bank
Managers jealously watched each other.

Hugh Johnstone was as pale as a man wrestling with the dark angel when
Madame Louison produced a faded document and a receipt of extended legal
verbiage. The Manager of Grindlay's gazed, in mute surprise, when the
highest dignitary of the Bengal Bank at last entered the room, followed
by two porters bearing two brass-bound mahogany boxes of antique
manufacture. Hugh Fraser Johnstone's stony face was carelessly
impassive.

"Pray examine these seals!" the newcomer said, "and, remember, Mr.
Johnstone, that we exact your absolute release for the long-continued
responsibility. Here is a memorandum of the storage and charges. You
must sign, also, as Hugh Fraser--now Hugh Fraser Johnstone."

Old Hugh Johnstone's voice never trembled, as he said, after a minute
inspection:

"I will give you a cheque." Then, dashing off his signature upon the
receipt tendered by Madame Louison, he calmly said: "These things
are only of a trifling value--some long-treasured trinkets of my dead
wife's. May I be left alone for a moment?"

The three silent witnesses retired into an adjoining room. In five
minutes, Hugh Johnstone called the Bank Governor to his side. "There is
your receipt, duly signed, and your cheque to balance, Mr. Governor. We
are now both relieved of a tiresome controversy. Will you please bring
in the others?"

With a pleasant smile, the flush of a great happiness upon his face,
Hugh Fraser Johnstone remarked: "I desire to state publicly that Madame
Louison and my self have, in this little transaction, closed all our
affairs. I have given to her a quit-claim release of all and every
demand whatsoever." With kindly eyes, Berthe Louison listened to a few
murmured words from Hugh Johnstone. Bowing her stately head, she swept
from the room upon the arm of the polite manager of Grindlay's.

"Home," said the genial banker, as he deferentially questioned the Lady
of the Silver Bungalow. "Do you honor us with a long visit?" he eagerly
asked.

"I return to-morrow evening, on the same train with the soon-to-be
Sir Hugh. I only came here to attend to some business at the French
Consulate and to adjust this trifling matter." H