can bring ye to town, or the dealers can
come." It was, thus self-deluded, that Andrew Fraser noted the coming
cheerfulness of his defiant young charge. He fancied he had provided
every wish of her lonely heart. But the trailing lines of smoke of
the daily Southampton packets only spoke to Nadine of a growing
correspondence with Major Harry Hardwicke, Royal Engineers. She waited
now for Simpson's arrival for news of the Delhi mystery--the death of
the unloving parent, who had been only her jailer.

At Rosebank Villa, Major Hardwicke was busied with Captain Murray, while
Anstruther drew Alixe Delavigne aside. "Listen to all Murray proposes,
and agree to it. You may be astonished at our plans, but between you and
I, alone, lies the deeper secret. My secret orders from the Viceroy
are for your ear alone. Your life-quest to reach Nadine's side can
only betaken up after Murray and Hardwicke have finished their little
masquerade at the 'Banker's Folly.' Let this secret be ours, alone! Do
you promise me, Alixe? I will aid you, heart, life, and soul!" And,
with her eyes softly shining in a growing tenderness, Alixe Delavigne
murmured: "I trust you in all things! It shall be as you wish."

Captain Anstruther then led the way to the library, and closing the
doors with the minute attention of a true conspirator, cried: "Murray,
we will hear from you first!" Seated, with her lips parted in an
expectant smile, Alixe Delavigne listened in amazement as "Red Eric"
proceeded.

"I got the little idea from Frank Halton, of the Globe. You may
know that he was out at the Khyber Pass seven years ago, as the war
correspondent of the Telegraph, and he ran over Cabul at the time of the
Penj-Deh incident. He has prepared a series of varied skits and personal
items covering the visit incognito of Prince Djiddin, a Thibetan noble
of ancient and shadowy lineage. This 'Asiatic Lion' will be duly kept
in the shadows of a mysterious seclusion in the Four Kingdoms until we
introduce him to a small section of the British public.

"The Globe, the Indian Mail, the Mirror, the Colonial Gazette, and other
periodicals will darkly hint at his itinerary, and he will be paraded
judiciously, and no vulgar eye must ever rest upon him. These items will
be widely copied. A graceful, social phantom, a Veiled, mysterious young
potentate is Prince Djiddin!" "The humbug will be easily discovered!"
said Anstruther, still at sea.

"Not if you flung your protecting m