Money I must have, her money first, to pay the piper,"
he laughed, which proposed liberality was destined to doubly bribe
the wily old jewel merchant. At that very moment Ram Lal, securely
hidden away in the native compartment of the train, rushing on from
Allahabad toward Delhi, was dreaming of the long-deferred triumph
of a life!
"If he has them--if they can be traced--they shall be mine if
every diamond gleams red with his heart's blood! Perhaps these two
strange people have brought them. Who knows? They are rich; it may
be the jewels!" And Ram Lal dreamed of a tripartite watch upon the
three principal figures of the opening drama. "The jewels were a
king's ransom. But I shall know all," he softly smiled, for every
attendant of the beautiful recluse now burning to meet her advance
spy was a sworn confederate of Ram Lal in a dark brotherhood whose
very name no man even dared to lisp! And so the long, blazing day
wore away, bringing the hunter and the hunted nearer together. The
mysterious bungalow was now alive with the slaves of luxury, while
Alan Hawke secretly inspected the last finishing touches, for he,
alone, was master of the private entrance once used by a man whose
glittering rank had lifted him presumably above all human weaknesses!
Major Hawke departed for the Club in a very good humor, after his
hour of inspection of the jewel box bungalow now ready for his
fair employer.
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