I'll grind them all to powder!" he growled. For the tide was on the
turn, and it was dead water again at Geneva, the tide fast receding,
and the man who was "a devil for luck" was soon left on the rocks of a
silent despair.

Alan Hawke's eyes gleamed out with a murderous sheen as he scanned both
letters carefully. "It is his work--the low dog--and he shall die.
Wait till Jack Blunt and I get a hack at him," he mused, with a sudden
conviction that he dared not now show himself at St. Heliers, nor openly
approach the Banker's Folly. "I stand to lose all and win nothing. I
must work in the dark. I cannot dare to brave this Anstruther. They
would simply drive me from India. But, Simpson and Ram Lal shall pay!
And, Berthe Louison--Ah! By God! I will strike her to the heart now! I
see the way!"

The official words of Captain Anstruther were few but crushing in there
stern brevity. And Alan Hawke's heart sank as he read them over again.
"By the orders of His Excellency, the Viceroy, I have the honor to
inform you that he has withdrawn your temporary rank, and all powers
heretofore delegated to you will cease on the receipt of this letter,
which please acknowledge. On reporting to me in London in person, you
will receive the payment of all your accounts with your back pay
and transportation back to Calcutta, the place of your temporary
appointment. All the Consuls in continental Europe have now been
notified of the cessation of your powers, and you will therefore, in
no way act in the future in regard to the confidential business once in
your hands. The inquiry has been finally abandoned by the order of the
Indian Government.

"Please do report as soon as possible, and deliver over all papers
and vouchers now remaining in your hands. With assurance of my
consideration, Yours,

"ANSON ANSTRUTHER, Captain and A. D. C."

"Official,

"Confidential."

The letter of the Credit Lyonnais was even more menacing in its tone.
The Direction G'entrale referred to a formal letter of the solicitors of
the estate of Hugh Fraser Johnstone, deceased, totally repudiating
the four unaccepted drafts of five thousand pounds sterling each, and
legally notifying the Direction of an intended suit to recover from the
payee and the in-dorser, the first draft for five thousand pounds paid
before Executor Andrew Fraser had filed his objections with Messrs.
Glyn, Carr & Glyn. "The arrival from India of the papers of the
deceased, and the testimony