"If she can only hold her tongue and keep a secret, she may be the foundation of my fortunes.

I think that I can make it worth her while, but she must never fall under the influence of this she-devil in petticoats, who comes to-morrow night! And yet, the Louison knows she is here! A friendship between them must be prevented!" He closed his eyes dreamily, and studied the problem of the future attentively, revolving every point of womanly weakness which he had observed in his past experience.
He had finally hit upon the right thing.

It came to him just as Ram Lal entered, with his finger on his lip.

"She is in there, waiting for you, and she came alone!" said the crafty merchant.

"I can perhaps frighten her with the idea that Madame Louison wishes to supplant her as lady bear leader.