gay old would-be lover jingled away
on his morning ride.

"This may be my one anchor of safety!" gasped the wondering Johnstone,
as Alan Hawke came dashing into the grounds. In half an hour, the
broken entente cordiale was restored, and Johnstone had slipped away and
questioned the wary Ram Lal.

"All I know is that the lady hired the house temporarily from me, I am
agent for Runjeet Hoy, who owns it now. She went without a word, and
gave me three hundred pounds yesternight, for her rent and supplies. I
asked the Mem-Sahib no questions. She went away all by herself, in the
middle of the night."

"Ah! You know nothing more?" sharply queried Johnstone.

"Of course not! I thought you, or Hawke Sahib, or General Wilhoughby,
was a secret friend." Slyly said Ram Lal.

"She owes you nothing? You do not expect her to return?" the nabob
cried.

"I think she has gone to Calcutta! She came from there."

"Come to-night, privately, Ram Lal. I'll show you how to get in. Just
tap at my bedroom window three times. Come secretly, at eleven o'clock,
and find out all you can. Wait in the garden till the house is dark.
I'll pay you well," continued Johnstone, leading the old jeweler to his
bedroom. "I will leave this one window unfastened. So you can come in!
The room will be dark!"

"The Sahib shall be obeyed!" said Ram Lal, salaaming to the ground, and
he was happy at heart as he glided out of the garden. A ferocious smile
of coming triumph gleamed in his dark face. "I have him now! He will
never slip away in the night! But I must please him, and lie to him!" It
was the chance for which he had vainly waited there many years, and Ram
Lal prayed to great Bowaaee to aid him.

"Hawke!" said Johnstone, when his astounded listener heard all of
Johnstone's proposed infamy. "I have telegraphed to Allahabad and
Calcutta. This strange woman has gone down there. Now, I want you to
fall in with Abercromby. He will go down in a few days. Bring them
together in any way you can. The General and the beauty. No fool like
an old fool!" he grinned. "Watch them and post me! Abercromby is already
well disposed to you. Make a play on him. He will get you a temporary
rank from the Viceroy.

"Your matchless knowledge of the Himalayas and the whole northern
frontier will earn you a regular rank. Coddle Anstruther, too, and cling
to the Vice-roy! I'll back you with any money you need. It's the one
chance of a life!"

"And what am I to do for you,