d gaily and the air was full of
silver music.

"Now I should like to show you the reverse of this scene," said Salter;
"it won't take you long," and he led his companion away to a solitary,
deserted place at the rear of the Pagoda.

"Here," he said, indicating some dilapidated moss-grown stones, "are a
number of totally-forgotten English graves. There was desperate
fighting all round this very plateau when we first came to this
country, some seventy odd years ago; these dead, forgotten pioneer
fellows struck a stout blow for the British flag. British and German
trade, thanks to them, have flourished like a green bay tree; ships and
railways carry all before them, and the days of the caravan are
numbered. Well, now we shall move on to the Royal lakes and Dalhousie
Park, and see all we can, for, after to-day, you won't have much spare
time for doing the tourist--you will be a cog in the machine."

The scene presented by the Royal lakes proved an uncompromising
contrast to that at the Pagoda; save for the Eastern background of
palms and bamboos the gathering might have been in London. Here were
motor-cars, smart carriages, pretty women wearing the latest fashions,
men in flannels and tweeds; there was but little colour in their
clothes--or their complexions--no brilliant orange or flaming scarlet,
no bells, gongs, buoyant vitality, or merry laughter; the community
were languidly discussing the mail news, the latest bridge tournament,
and the approaching race meeting. By the lakes you encountered
Europe--more particularly Great Britain. At the Shwe Dagon you found
yourself in touch with an older world and face to face with the silken
East!

CHAPTER XIII

"KEEP AN EYE UPON HER"

Gregory's proved to be a vast and imposing concern, occupying a
prominent situation on the Strand and evidently doing an immense trade.
All this the new assistant readily gathered as Salter steered him in
the direction of the manager's sanctum.

Here he found the head of the firm, a tall individual, with grizzled
hair covering a fine square head, a hard, clean-shaven face, and a
pince-nez--which pince-nez he invariably removed when about to make a
disagreeable remark. He received the new employe with an air of cool
detachment, and shook hands in a manner that implied, "You must not
expect this sort of thing every day." Being taller than Shafto, he
appeared to tower over him as he questioned him respecting the firm in
London--w