The civil authorities will not unveil the dark past of
a man who once wore the Queen's uniform in honor. General Wragge
and the authorities have softened the blow to Justine Delande, whom
he would have made his dupe. You must only know this, darling, from
me--from me, alone! And so, to shield poor, faithful Justine, we
will all leave Jersey at once. Strange irony of fate. The Viceroy
has cabled that Ram Lal Singh has paid over twenty thousand pounds, to
be held for Justine Delande, to whom Alan Hawke left all his dearly
bought bribes; and also the money he left hidden at Granville--jewels
and notes to the value of ten thousand pounds more. The wages of
sin, even death, was all he gained, and, strangely, through him,
Justine will be shielded from penury; for she bears a broken heart.
All that she knows is of his sudden death.
"And now, darling, for I must tell you, the assassin of your father
has saved his miserable life by a full confession made to General
Willoughby. None but myself must ever tell you that your father's
memory, your uncle's liberty were all involved in a tangled story
of olden greed, intrigue, shame, and crime. Let the dead past rest
unchallenged. The seal of the tomb will be unbroken. And it is your
mother's tender love that will gild your bridal. Let me be your
sister forever. None but you and I must know the history until
others have a right to it.
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