"
And so he slept the sleep of the just, for he was making the woes
of others the cornerstones of his newer fortunes.
Major Hawke arose with the lark, by a previous arrangement with the
Hotel Bureau. His face was eminently businesslike in its gravity,
as he summoned the porter and dispatched all his luggage to the
care of the Chef du Gare, Geneva. "Business of extreme importance
awaiting upon Madame's complete recovery had caused her to depart
to consult an eminent specialist. Thank you, there will be no
letters," said the Major, as he pocketed both receipted bills. He
amused himself while watching for the morning boat, as the mountain
mists, lifting, revealed the glittering lake, in sending a very
carefully sketched letter to Mademoiselle Euphrosyne Delande, No.
123 Rue du Rhone, Geneva. This letter was of such moment that it
went on to London, to be posted back duly stamped with good Queen
Victoria's likeness. A very careful Major!
The lofty semi-official tone, in which the writer spoke of a possible
return to India "under the auspices of the Foreign Office," was
well calculated to fill the spinster's bosom with the flattering
unction that a mighty protector had been raised up for the adventurous
Justine, now supposed to be environed with all the glittering snares
of society, as well as enveloped in the mystic jungle.
A week later, when Euphrosyne Delande laid down the pen and abandoned
her unfinished "Lecture Upon the Influence of the Allobroges, Romans,
Provencal Franks, Burgundians, and Germans Upon the Intellectual
Development of Geneva," she read Alan Hawke's letter with a thrill
of secret pride.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96