“I must try and make a royal present to Willoughby’s wife,--a timely one--and lose a half a lac of rupees to Abercromby. They may find a way to pass the matter over.” He dared not press Ram Lal to a public exposition of all the wanderings of Mirzah Shah’s jewels. “If I had not told them that fairy tale, I might hedge; but it’s too late now. I will go down to Calcutta, see the Viceroy, and then clear out for good. And I must placate Alan Hawke. I was a fool to ignore him. But, to make an enemy of him, on account of that damned woman, would be ruin. He chums with Ram Lal. He might cable to Anstruther.” In fact Alan Hawke’s bold social revolt had imposed on Johnstone. “He might help to cover all up if I induced Abercromby to get him back on the staff once more. I was a fool to slight him.” Hugh Fraser Johnstone was dimly conscious that his own line of battle was wavering, and that his flanks were unguarded--his rear unprotected. “I will only trust my homeward pathway to Simpson, and my health is a good excuse for clearing out for good. I can easily locate on the Continent--in Belgium, or Switzerland--and out of reach of any little trouble to come. They’ve no proof. This fellow has no list, thank Heaven. I’ll slip down to Ceylon and catch the first boat there to Suez. Then ho for Geneva!” But Ram Lal Singh’s slight defenses fell instantly before the golden battering-ram of Madame Berthe Louison’s direct onslaught. “I was busied in the bazaars, buying jewels,” he expostulated, when Jules Victor led him into Madame Louison’s boudoir. Even then Major Hawke was curiously noting the dismantled condition of the reception-room, where Johnstone had at last thrown off the mask. “I leave Major Hawke here to close all my business, Ram Lal,” she said. “I go to Calcutta. I may be gone for some months. But I have watched you and him. You are close friends--very close friends. Now, remember that I pay him and I pay you. I wish you to give me--to sell me--the list of the jewels which Johnstone took away from you and hid, when he was Hugh Fraser.” The old scoundrel began to protest. Berthe Louison rang her silver bell. “Jules!” she said, “I wish you to go to General Willoughby with this letter, and tell him to send a guard here to arrest a thief who has government jewels.”