At Rosebank Villa, Major Hardwicke was busied with Captain Murray,
while Anstruther drew Alixe Delavigne aside. "Listen to all Murray
proposes, and agree to it. You may be astonished at our plans, but
between you and I, alone, lies the deeper secret. My secret orders
from the Viceroy are for your ear alone. Your life-quest to reach
Nadine's side can only betaken up after Murray and Hardwicke have
finished their little masquerade at the 'Banker's Folly.' Let this
secret be ours, alone! Do you promise me, Alixe? I will aid you,
heart, life, and soul!" And, with her eyes softly shining in a
growing tenderness, Alixe Delavigne murmured: "I trust you in all
things! It shall be as you wish."
Captain Anstruther then led the way to the library, and closing
the doors with the minute attention of a true conspirator, cried:
"Murray, we will hear from you first!" Seated, with her lips parted
in an expectant smile, Alixe Delavigne listened in amazement as
"Red Eric" proceeded.
"I got the little idea from Frank Halton, of the Globe. You may
know that he was out at the Khyber Pass seven years ago, as the war
correspondent of the Telegraph, and he ran over Cabul at the time
of the Penj-Deh incident. He has prepared a series of varied skits
and personal items covering the visit incognito of Prince Djiddin,
a Thibetan noble of ancient and shadowy lineage. This 'Asiatic Lion'
will be duly kept in the shadows of a mysterious seclusion in the
Four Kingdoms until we introduce him to a small section of the
British public.
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