f pyjamas, and with a scarlet sash about his waist.

He was lolling back in a reclining-chair as I entered, and he wrinkled
his face, half-closing his eyes, and drawing his heavy moustache close
up under his nose in a very unpleasant way, as he stared at me.

"Oh, you're our new fire-eater," he said, in a bantering tone. "I heard
you had come while I was away. How are you? Sit down and have a cigar.
Here, hi!"

He clapped his hands, and a grave-looking native in white entered,
salaamed, and said softly--

"Sahib?"

"Mix two cool drinks, and put in plenty of ice. Look sharp!"

"Don't order anything for me," I said, as the man bowed and left the
room.

"Don't object to my having one, do you?" was said sneeringly, as I sat
down; and then the officer laughed. "Take a cigar."

"Thank you. I don't smoke."

"Don't drink--don't smoke? Ah, well, I dare say we can teach you before
we've done. Well, how do you like Rambagh?"

"I haven't been here long enough to tell yet. It is very hot."

"Pooh! this is nothing. Ninety. Wait a bit, and we'll give it to you
up to twenty."

"No, that's too cold," I said, laughing.

"Is it? Wait till you try."

"Oh, you mean a hundred and twenty."

"I do. You will not be so ready to use a lot of words when one will do,
after you've been here a while."

"I suppose it does make you languid."

"Yes, and you can't get a thing done by the lazy hounds you have for
servants. The more you keep, the less there is done. I had to thrash
my new syce this morning to bring him to his senses."

"Yes, I heard you," I said. "Are you allowed to knock people about like
that?"

He opened his eyes, and then squeezed them up again, as he stared at me
wonderingly.

"Allowed? Who's to prevent it?"

"I don't know," I said. "I'm new to the place."

Just then the native servant brought in two glasses of some cool-looking
drink, and handed them to his master.

"Now, idiot! how often am I to tell you to go to the visitors first?"

"Ask pardon, master," said the man; and he brought the brass tray to me,
but the lieutenant took his own first.

"Health," he said shortly, and half drained his glass. I sipped mine,
and set it down as the man left the room.

"Let's see; you came over with Brace, didn't you?"

"Yes; in the _Jumna_. He advised me to call and see you this morning,
as you were out when we came."

"Much obliged to him. Fond of shooting?"

"I dare say I should be.