He would fight like a rat on general principles." At Rosebank Villa, Madame Alixe Delavigne was nightly busied now in official conferences with Major Harry Hardwicke, who had lingered in the concealment of Anstruther's home.

The Captain found abundant time to prosecute his "official business" with his lovely aid in the secret service.

And he had learned all of Alixe Delavigne's lessons now, save to acquire the patience to wait.

But a growing album of newspaper clippings was daily augmented by Frank Hatton's artfully disseminated items regarding "Prince Djiddin of Thibet," the first visitor of rank from that land of shadows.

The warring journals who wrangled over the rich young visitor's "stern retirement" from all public intrusion referred to the political coup de main to be looked for in "the near future." From various parts of the United Kingdom, the mysterious princely visitor's trail was daily telegraphed, and a hearty laugh from all three of the conspirators of Rosebank Villa greeted the final article in the St.Heliers Messenger, stating that a learned Moonshee or Pundit, "the only Asiatic attendant of Prince Djiddin of Thibet" was arranging for a brief visit of a descendant of the Dalai-Lamas.
Anstruther and Hardwicke laughed merrily at Frank Halton's last graceful touches.