ge. He sprang
forward, in a genuine surprise, as Mademoiselle Justine Delande, aided
by the stout Swiss maid, tottered over the gangplank. "Madame is ill, a
la bonne heure! Let me conduct you to the Hotel Croix d'Or, where Madame
Louison is even now awaiting the Paris train." The ex-zouave was a
miracle of politeness and, he proudly conducted Justine to a waiting
fiacre, having deftly reserved himself the choice of staterooms. With
the skill of his artful kind, Jules hastened upstairs at the Hotel Croix
d'Or, to announce to his mistress the lucky find of a windy afternoon on
Granville quay.

That night, when Justine Delande reached Paris, she was assured in her
heart that her own future fortunes were safe, and that her sister would
surely be the recipient of Nadine Johnstone's future bounty. For Madame
Berthe Louison, ever armed against possible treachery, announced her own
instant departure for Poland. "But, I leave Jules in charge in Paris,
and he will find the way to deliver your letters to your young friend."

When Justine Delande was safely escorted to the train by the smiling
Madame Berthe Louison, she proceeded to register a packet for London,
addressed to "Major Harry Hardwicke."

That young officer's heart was light, three days later, when he received
the letter of Nadine which Madame Louison had cajoled easily from the
Swiss woman. And the happy Major's heart was no lighter than Nadine's
for the watchful Janet Fairbarn, now on duty, with her selected
subordinates, wondered to see the pale-faced girl laugh merrily as she
chatted over the garden wall with a strolling French peddler. "I may
trade at the gate, may I not, Miss Janet," said Nadine, "or is that
one of the crimes?" But Jules Victor had brought her a new life. She
whispered, "He will come!"

CHAPTER XIII. AN ASIATIC LION IN HIDING.

Madame Alixe Delavigne sat alone in her snug apartment of the Hotel
Croix d'Or, at Granville-sur-Mer, four days after Justine Delande had
been driven forth from the Banker's Folly! The perusal of a long letter
from Jules Victor was interrupted by the arrival of a telegram from that
rising young soldier, Captain Anson Anstruther. It needed but a single
glance to call the resolute woman to action.

Smartly ringing the bell, she ordered the maid, her bill, and a voiture
to convey her to the Boulogne station. "So, Hardwicke and Captain Murray
are safely in London! Major Hawke is at Geneva, and I am to hide
at R