Then remembrance sprang at him, like a wild
thing upon its prey: and his lids fell again heavily. In that first
moment of consciousness he understood why men of proven honour and
courage have been known to take liberties with the laws of life and
death.

Zyarulla, entering soundlessly, set down the _chota hassri_ on a small
table at his master's elbow without betraying his surprise and concern
by so much as the flicker of an eyelash. For not even your immaculate
family butler can excel, in dignity and true reserve, a bearer of the
old school, whose Sahib stands only second to his God, and who would
almost as soon think of defiling his caste as of entering another man's
service. We have educated the grand old ideal of service out of our
own land; and we are fast educating it out of India also: though it
remains an open question whether the good wrought by over-civilisation
can honestly be said to counterbalance the evil. A question few
Anglo-Indians will be found to answer in the affirmative.

Lenox poured out his tea, and drank it thirstily. But the first
mouthful of toast was enough for him. He pushed the plate away; and
his hand went out instinctively to the pipe Zyarulla, had laid beside
it.

"Damn!" he muttered between his teeth, almost flinging it from him; and
at that instant the door opened.

"_Desmin, Sahib argya_," [1] the Pathan announced; and with a startled
sound, Lenox got upon his feet, and began fastening his waistcoat.

"Good morning," he said quietly. "Made a night of it, as you see; and
overslept myself."

But beneath his quiet he was acutely aware of the contrast between his
own dishevelled aspect, and Desmond's unobtrusive neatness and
freshness.

"Hope I don't intrude," the latter apologised, smiling: but his keen
eyes searched the other's face, and read tragedy there. "As you hadn't
turned up by ten-thirty, my wife was afraid something might have gone
wrong. So I came over to set her mind at rest!"

"Your wife? Why, of course! And I promised to be round by
ten--ill-mannered cur that I am!" He sank wearily into his chair.
"Truth is," he added in a changed tone, "I couldn't get a wink of sleep
till near dawn; and then it came down on me like a sledge-hammer. You
know the sort of thing."

Desmond nodded, and took a seat on the edge of the table.

"Are you often given that way?" he asked with seeming unconcern.

"Now and again."

"Ever been really bad with it?"

"Pretty