rest fiacre. In ten minutes, Alan Hawke
disappeared into the railway waiting-room, and returned after a visit to
the luggage store-room. Jack Blunt was astonished at his pal's evident
distrust. "Here you are, Jack," the Major cordially cried, as they
sought the rear room of the neat cafe opposite the gare. "Now, count
over your five hundred pounds. I'll give Garcin the other sum in your
presence. Then, I suppose that I am safe," he coldly smiled. "Tell me
now where has old Fraser hidden the stuff."

"In his study on the first floor, in a secret hiding place. The girl
Mattie has watched the old fellow through the keyhole. I know just where
to easily break in on the ground floor. These damned Hindus are far away
in the other wing, so there's only Simpson to hinder. Now, I'll have a
couple of the boys pipe him off at the Jersey Arms. Old Janet Fairbarn's
strait-laced ways make him sneak out late at night for his toddy. When
he is 'well loaded' and tired with climbing up the cliff, they will
follow him and fix him, for good. One of the boys will come along with
me, to my hiding place, and be 'outside fence' while the two others
will watch the road and the gardener's quarters. The three men are two
hundred yards away, in the porter's lodge. The old Scotch woman
sleeps like a post. Then I make my way when I've done, at once to the
Hirondelle, alone and hide my plant. The men relieved can rally on your
party at the old martello tower, and so we will be ready to sail when
your part of the job is done. Two on board, three with me, nine with
you, will be plenty! My work is a quiet job! I can do the whole trick in
five minutes! Yours, I leave for yourself. I know just where to lay my
hand."

"But, should any trouble occur?" said Alan Ha wke, "any outcry, any
pursuit?"

"Then I will bury the stuff on the shore, saunter back openly to the
Jersey Arms, and just stay there as friend Joseph Smith, till I can get
over to Granville by the steamer. The Hirondelle will not be seen by any
one; there are fifty luggers always hovering around. She will first land
us all in Bouley Bay in the morning, or drop half the men off at St.
Catherine's Bay in the early afternoon. They all know every inch of
the ground." In half an hour the chums in villainy dined gayly with
"Angelique," and a running mate, rejoicing in the cognomen of "Petite
Diable Jaune." The next day, a secret meeting with a confidential Jewish
money-lender, enabled Major Alan Haw