"Nadine was brought to us a child of three by the wife of Professor Fraser, since deceased! And, by special arrangement, she was taken by us, and her whole girlhood has been passed in our charge.

We have never seen her uncle, Professor Fraser, whose duties at Edinburgh University chained him down.

It was her own father's written and positive direction that no one, whomsoever, should be admitted to converse with his child.

And so Justine and myself have formed her entirely!" Hawke's keen eyes glowed for a moment, in a secret satisfaction.

"I have you, my lady! They wished to keep you away from this young Peri, formed upon such heroically antique models." Major Hawke gazed upon the leather-faced visage of the slaty-eyed woman, whose age none might venture to guess.