executorship of your brother's estate in favor of your
son, Douglas Fraser. He is honest! You are unfit to control your ward!
You can also first file your written consent to the immediate marriage
of your ward, Nadine Fraser Johnstone, to myself, and apply to have your
accounts passed and approved upon your discharge as guardian upon her
marriage. This alone will save you from a felon's cell. She shall be
free. Douglas Fraser may be made the sole trustee of her estate until
the age of twenty-one. On these two conditions alone will I consent to
veil the shame of your brother and spare you, for we have traced the
stolen jewels, step by step, with the list, the insurance, and the
delivery by Hugh Johnstone to you. If you wish to stand your trial for
complicity in the theft and concealing stolen goods, you may. General
Willoughby, General Abercromby, and the Viceroy of India have watched
these jewels on their way. And I came here only to recover them, and to
free that white slave, your poor niece!"

There was the sound of broken wailing sobs, and the three officers left
their detected wrong-doer alone. Out on the lawn, the young soldiers
joined General Wragge, who now looked impatiently at his watch. It was
but a quarter of an hour when old Andrew Fraser tottered to the front
door. "What must I do? I care not for myself!" he cried plucking at
Major Hardwicke's sleeve. "Only save Douglas, my boy, this public
shame!"

"It rests all in your hands, Sir," gravely answered the lover. "Shall I
call Miss Johnstone down now to have you express your consent and sign
these papers in the presence of the General?" Major Hardwicke saw his
enemy weakening, even as a child.

"Yes, yes, anything, only get her away out of my sight--out of my life!"
groaned the broken old miser, whose sin had found him out. "But, you'll
keep all this from Douglas--the story of a father's disgrace? I did it
all for Hugh!"

"The family honor is mine, now, Sir! I will save your niece all
suffering!" stiffly replied the Major, as he boldly mounted the stair.
Captain Anstruther led Andrew Fraser aside. "I had the papers drawn up
at once so that you would not be humiliated in public by your
obstinacy, and General Wragge will now witness them. He has offered the
hospitalities of his family to your niece until she is made a wife."

"I am ready," tremblingly said Professor Fraser, and in haste a singular
group soon gathered in the library. A notary and the magis