"The real object is to spy out the
interior of Fraser's household without alarming him, and to locate
his hidden treasure, and, moreover, to open a safe, personal
communication with Nadine Johnstone. Letters and messages finally
go astray. And, at the very first sign of danger, old Andrew would
clear out to the Continent, shut up the girl, get rid of that
insured package, and cut all future communications! In the long three
years, the girl might die, be estranged from you, or perhaps fall
into the hands of some foreign fortune hunter. Human nature--woman
nature--is a mutable quantity. But once we are in communication we
can provide for future correspondence in any event.
"And you, Anstruther, would be defeated in recovering the hidden
property of the Crown. Moreover, these two Frasers are the only
heirs-at-law.
"Who knows what might not be done for a million, when a beggarly
fifty pounds will buy a death certificate in many a little continental
town?" They were all gravely silent as Murray soberly clinched his
argument. "It is idle not to believe that old Hugh Fraser Johnstone
laid out his brother's whole future course! He certainly has
trusted him with his stealings, the lost crown jewels! He trusts
his child's whole future to the care of these two cold Scotsmen,
and gives the heiress over to old Andrew, to keep her safe from
Madame," Murray bowed, "his only living enemy, and from all the other
relatives of his long-hated dead wife.
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