' to 'Prince Djiddin's' leading part. With your own
sly man-of-all-work, then how easy for the acute Jules Victor to
lead you into the extensive grounds, where you may often meet Nadine
Johnstone when all is safe. He has the friendly entree, and can hoodwink
the attendants of the garden, while your own ingenuity will enable
you to have stolen interviews in the splendid rambles of the 'Banker's
Folly.' Old Andrew never quits his study, and all we have to do is to
watch Miss Janet Fairbarn. Jules Victor can guard against a surprise by
her."

"It is an ingenious plan, but, a dangerous one," mused Anstruther.

"Not so," boldly replied Murray. "Remember that old Fraser is crazy on
his bookwork. Hobbs is his only male visitor. He has not a relative,
a friend--no one to watch on the outside while we hold the old chap at
bay. Miss Janet watches in the house." Anstruther had been carefully
studying the two men's faces. "'Prince Djiddin' will be all right, with
a little makeup, using walnut juice and a proper costume. His Indian
brown is quite the thing. But you, my boy, must be an Eurasian, the son
of a high English official and a native woman of rank. You were carried
away to Thibet by your beautiful Cashmere mother when she was abandoned.
The usual sad story will go. She, driven out by her family, refuges
finally in Hlassa, and your English was, of course, learned before
the death of your father, when you were eighteen. Your usefulness as
interpreter caused you to attach yourself to 'Prince Djiddin's' noble
family.

"Yes," said Hardwicke. "A couple of days spent in the British Museum,
and with your fertile imagination, Eric, you will be enabled to describe
the mysterious, lonely city on the Dzangstu, and even the gilded temples
of Mount Botala. You can easily book up all about the Dalai Lama. Make a
voyage a la Tom Moore to Cashmere!"

"Right you are!" laughed Eric Murray. "Frank Halton stole into the town
of Hlassa and he now offers to me his sketchbooks and private notebooks.
Foreigners from the south have occasionally been allowed to go into
Thibet since the Nepauese were driven out, but only very rarely. I will
have all the rig and quaint outlandish gear that Halton brought away. So
you see we are the 'Ever Victorious Army.' Yes. Prince Djiddin will be
a go." And the others were fain to agree in the plausibility of the
scheme.

It was midnight when the quartette separated to meet at the quiet
wedding of the morrow. A