trate entered
with due professional decorum.

And then, Captain Anstruther, addressing the executor, in the presence
of the gray-bearded old General, repeated the words of voluntary
resignation and surrender of all rights as guardian over Nadine
Johnstone, first taking his written consent to the marriage. There was
not a word spoken as the trembling old scholar hastily signed the papers
presented to him. Then he turned to the sweet woman clinging to Major
Hardwicke's arm. "I'll be thankful to ye if ye leave my home to me in
peace, as soon as ye can! Janet Fairbarn will be my representative!"
With a last glance of cold aversion at Hardwicke, he bowed to the
Commander of the forces, and then tottered across the hall to his study,
when the tall form of Alaric Hobbs hovered at the door.

"My dear child," kindly said the old veteran General, lifting her
trembling hand to his lips, and bowing reverently, "Let me be, this day,
your father, as you are soon to be born into the service. Here, Major
Hardwicke, I give her to you to keep against the whole world, if the
lady so consents." Nadine's answer was an April smile, when her lover
clasped her hand, and then she hid her blushes on Hardwicke's breast.

"Take me away forever from this horrible prison-house," she whispered.

"Mrs. Wragge's carriage will be here at four for you, and we will have a
little dinner en famille at seven, Miss Nadine, for you," said the happy
General, as he jingled away, his dangling sword, jingling medals, and
waving white plume, making a gallant show. It was truly "an official
capture."

"Now," whispered Captain Murray to Hardwicke, "I will clear out with
Anstruther, and at once deliver over the unlucky jewels to him to be
sealed up and deposited with General Wragge until the Viceroy's orders
are received. I've a cablegram that Ram Lal has been arrested.

"And I fancy Miss Nadine will be astonished at seeing two new faces
at the dinner table. Let Simpson and the maid at once pack all her
belongings, for we can not trust her with this old wreck of humanity.
He is half crazed already. I will cable and write to Douglas Fraser that
'ill health' forces the old gentleman to at once give up his trust. Now,
I belong, in future, only to Mrs. Eric Murray, of the Eighth Hussars. I
throw up my job as an all-round Figaro!"

"Stay a moment," said Major Hardwicke to Captain Anson Anstruther,
when Nadine had fled away to prepare for her flitting from the unlove