excitement with the news that Captain Ermsted's murderer had
been arrested.

"All honour to Everard!" he said, flinging himself into a chair by
Stella's side. "The fellow was caught at Khanmulla. Barnes arrested him,
but he gives the credit of the catch to Everard. The fellow will swing,
of course. It will be a sensational trial, for rumour has it that the
Rajah was pushing behind. He, of course, is smooth as oil. I saw him at
the Club just now, hovering round Mrs. Ermsted as usual, and she
encouraging him. That girl is positively infatuated. Shouldn't wonder if
there's a rude awakening before her. I beg your pardon, sir. You spoke?"
He turned abruptly to Bernard who was seated near.

"I was only wondering what Everard's share had been in tracking this
charming person down," observed the elder Monck, who was smiling a
little at Tommy's evident excitement.

"Oh, everyone knows that Everard is a regular sleuth-hound," said
Tommy. "He is more native than the natives when there is anything of
this kind in the wind. He is a born detective, and he and that old chap
in the bazaar are such a strong combination that they are practically
infallible and invincible."

"Do you mean Rustam Karin?" Stella spoke very quietly, not lifting her
eyes from her work.

Tommy turned to her. "That's the chap. The old beggar fellow. At least
they say he is. He never shows. Hafiz does all the show part. The old
boy is the brain that works the wires. Everard has immense faith in
him."

"I know," Stella said.

Her voice sounded strangled, and Bernard looked across at her; but she
continued to work without looking up.

Tommy lingered for a while, expatiating upon Everard's astuteness, and
finally went away to dress for mess still in a state of considerable
excitement.

Stella and Bernard sat in silence after his departure. There seemed to
be nothing to say. But when, after a time, he got up to go, she very
suddenly raised her eyes.

"Bernard!"

"My dear!" he said very kindly.

She put out a hand to him, almost as if feeling her way in a dark place.
"I want to ask you," she said, speaking hurriedly, "whether you
know--whether you have ever heard--the things that are being said
about--about Everard and this man--Rustam Karin."

She spoke with immense effort. It was evident that she was greatly
agitated.

Bernard stopped beside her, holding her hand firmly in his. "Tell me
what they are!" he said gently.

She made a hopeless gestu