long-hated dead wife.
From your own disclosures and Madame's own words, we must all fear
that her first appearance would be the signal for the spiriting away of
Nadine until the minority is at an end. And it might invite some secret
crime. She bears the hated face of her dead mother, you say!"

"True," murmured Anstruther. "My solicitor tells me, too, that a
guardianship by will is the very strongest tying-up of a rich young
ward. We can follow on later, perhaps, if this opening could be
made, but where have we a 'Prince Djiddin,' and where, the wonderful
'Moonshee?'"

"There is Prince Djiddin," laughed Captain Murray, pointing to Major
Harry Hardwicke, "and here is the Moonshee," he tapped his own broad
breast.

"I fail to understand you," slowly replied Anstruther, now blankly
gazing at the two men in a growing wonderment.

"Nothing easier," briskly answered Murray. "I go quietly over to Jersey
and spend a honeymoon week with Flossie. She is soldier enough to
know that my little masquerade means full 'duty pay and traveling
allowances.' I will hide her safely with my Jersey friends, and while
Frank Halton works his secret Literary Bureau, I will steal over to
Southampton and bring 'Prince Djiddin' over to St. Heliers. I will see
that he naturally falls in with Prof. Alaric Hobbs, and then, 'fond
of seclusion,' I will embower my 'Asiatic Lion' not a league from the
'Banker's Folly.' I will be near my Flossie, and I propose to bring
'Prince Djiddin' soon face to face with the heiress.

"As the Prince speaks not a word of English, even old Fraser will be
disarmed. Neither Hobbs, Alaric of that ilk, nor Fraser have ever been
in India, and we can easily fool them. Neither of us have ever been been
in Jersey, and fortunately our figures, age, and complexions aid the
makeup. I can do the Moonshee. It was my 'star' cast in many a garrison
theatrical show. Remember, none of them have ever seen Hardwicke or
myself--only Miss Nadine will know us."

"But," faltered Alixe Delavigne, "Captain Murray makes no provision
for me. Must I be hidden here always?" Her voice was trembling with the
surging love of her longing heart.

"Ah! dear Madame!" replied Murray. "Place aux dames. You can be later
quietly escorted to St. Heliers. Old bookworm Fraser does not leave the
'Folly' once in six months. You shall, on to-morrow, arrange with Mrs.
Flossie Murray to share 'those days of absence' with her, while I am
playing the 'Moonshee