el Binda, Paris."
"I must go on there by the night train," he at once resolved. "Here is
a juncture where all our various interests are deeply involved. You
and Justine may lose the well-earned reward of years. I must be near
Justine, now, to protect you both. I fear this old mummy Fraser! If he
controls the fortune, then he and his hopeful son will probably steal
half of it. Thats a fair allowance for an ordinary executor! It is all
for one, and, one for all, now! Write under seal to Justine that I am
near--only do not mention names!" With an affected tenderness, Hawke
kissed the pallid lips of the daughter of Minerva, and slipped away to
Lausanne, whence he took the midnight train for Paris.

"I might look around and dispose of my jewels in Paris," he thought as
he neared that "gay and festive city." But his serious business with
the Credit Lyonnais as to the negotiation of the four "raised" bills
of exchange, and his desire to at once come to terms with Madame Berthe
Louison, caused him to postpone the vending of the jewels so neatly
extorted from Ram Lal.

"I have lots of ready money now--too much, even, for safety in travel,
and the jewels will keep." With a strange anxious craving to see his
fair employer he drove directly to No. 9 Rue Berlioz on his arrival in
Paris. The impassive face of Jules Victor met his gaze at the door.

"Madame, suddenly summoned to Poland, had begged Monsieur le Major to
address her by letter, as telegrams were most unreliable in Russian
Poland. Monsieur would, however, surely find letters at his London
address, and it was true that Madame had not expected Monsieur's arrival
for a fortnight."

"I don't believe a damned word of this fellow's yarn. There is some
sly juggling here!" ejaculated the Major as he drove back to the Hotel
Binda. His brow was black as he descended, and it grew blacker still
when he read a telegram from Euphrosyne Delande. He studied over the
unwelcome news while he made a careful business toilet to visit the
Credit Lyonnais. And a white rage shone out upon his handsome face as he
learned that Justine was useless to him now. "Discharged without even a
reward! Thrust out like a beggar without a word of warning." "Justine on
her way home. Passed through Paris last night. Can you not return?"
The signature "Euphrosyne" was a guaranty of the unwelcome truth. Major
Hawke swore a deep and bitter oath as he penned a telegram to the Swiss
preceptress: "Coming to-night.