He had dropped easily into the wooing and confidential
intimacy which lulled Justine Delande into a fool's paradise of
happy content.
She was sinking away and now losing her will and identity in his
own, without one warning qualm of conscience. For Alan Hawke's
dearly bought knowledge of womankind now stood him in great stead.
"One single familiarity, one questionable liberty, and this cold-pulsed
Heloise would fly forever. She must be left to her day dreams and
to the work of a sweet self-deception," he artfully mused. They
were interrupted but a moment, when Ram Lal Singh glided to the
door of the pagoda.
"I must now go to the bungalow to see Madame Louison and have her
approve her horses and carriage. She has sent word that she will
drive this afternoon. And," he whispered breathlessly, "Old Johnstone
is very sick. He has sent all over the city to find you, and now
his own private man bids me go there at once. He must have me, if
he can't find you."
Major Hawke mused a moment. "Give me the keys! Put your best man on
guard to watch for any intruders! Go first to the Mem-Sahib! Keep
your mouth shut! Remember about me and--" He pointed to the governess,
now timidly cowering in a shadowy corner. "Let the old devil wait
till you are done with her! Pump the old wretch! Find out what he
wants! Say that I went off for a day's jaunt!" Alan Hawke smiled
grimly as he seated himself tenderly at Justine Delande's side.
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