dmittance. He looked beaten, tried beyond his strength.

It was growing rapidly dark as he followed Barnes's _khansama_ into the
long bare room which he used as his private office. The man brought him
a lamp and told him that the _sahibs_ would be back soon. They had gone
down to the Court House again, but they might return at any time.

He also brought him whisky and soda which Tommy did not touch, spending
the interval of waiting that ensued in fevered tramping to and fro.

He had not seen Monck alone since the evening of Tessa's birthday-party
nearly three weeks before. On the score of business connected with the
approaching trial, Monck had come to Khanmulla immediately afterwards,
and no one at Kurrumpore had had more than an occasional glimpse of him
since. But he meant to see him alone now, and he had given very explicit
instructions to that effect to the servant, accompanied by a substantial
species of persuasion that could not fail to achieve its object.

When the sound of voices told him at last of the return of the two men,
he drew back out of sight of the window while the obsequious _khansama_
went forth upon his errand. Then a moment or two later he heard them
separate, and one alone came in his direction. Everard entered with the
gait of a tired man.

The lamp dazzled him for a second, and Tommy saw him first. He smothered
an involuntary exclamation and stepped forward.

"Tommy!" said Monck, as if incredulous.

Tommy stood in front of him, his hands at his sides. "Yes, it's me. I
had to come over--just to have a look at you. Ralston said--said--oh,
damn it, it doesn't matter what he said. Only I had to--just come and
see for myself. You see, I--I--" he faltered badly, but recovered
himself under the straight gaze of Everard's eyes--"I can't get the
thought of you out of my mind. I've been a damn' cur. You won't want to
speak to me of course, but when Ralston started jawing about you this
afternoon, I found--I found--" he choked suddenly--"I couldn't stand it
any longer," he said in a strangled whisper.

Monck was looking full at him by the merciless glare of the lamp on the
table, which revealed himself very fully also. All the grim lines in his
face seemed to be accentuated. He looked years older. The hair above his
temples gleamed silver where it caught the light.

He did not speak at once. Only as Tommy made a blind movement as if to
go, he put forth a hand and took him by the arm.

"Tommy," h