h esteem in which all the other men held Dermot. He was seated
beside her and shared with her the good wishes of the company. His health
was drunk with all the honours after hers, and the planters did not spare
his blushes in their loudly-expressed praises of his achievements.
Cordiality and good humour prevailed, and, although the fun was fast and
furious, Parry was the only one who drank too much. Before he became
objectionable, for he was usually quarrelsome in his cups, he was
dexterously cajoled out of the room and safely shepherded to his bungalow.

CHAPTER XI

THE MAKING OF A GOD

Parry's departure served as a hint to Noreen that it was time for her to
say good-night to her guests and withdraw. As soon as she left the room
there was an instant hush of expectancy, and all eyes were turned to
Dermot. The servants had long since gone, but, after asking his host's
permission, he rose from his place and strolled with apparent carelessness
to each doorway in turn and satisfied himself that there were no
eavesdroppers. Then he shut the doors and asked members of the party to
station themselves on guard at each of them. The planters watched these
precautions with surprise.

Having thus made sure that he would not be overheard Dermot said:

"Gentlemen, a few of you already know something of what I am going to tell
you. I want you to understand that I am now speaking officially and in
strict confidence."

He turned to his host.

"I must ask you, Mr. Daleham (Fred looked up in surprise at the formality
of the mode of address) to promise to divulge nothing of what I say to your
friend, Mr. Chunerbutty."

"Not tell Chunerbutty, sir?" repeated the young planter in astonishment.

"No; the matter is one which must not be mentioned to any but Europeans."

"Oh, but I assure you, Major, Chunerbutty's thoroughly loyal and reliable,"
said Daleham warmly.

"I repeat that you are not to give him the least inkling of what I am going
to say," replied Dermot in a quiet but stern voice. "As I have already told
you, I am speaking officially."

The boy was impressed and a little awed by his manner.

"Oh, certainly, sir. I give you my word that I shan't mention it to him."

"Very well. The fact is, gentlemen, that we are on the track of a vast
conspiracy against British rule in India, and have reason to believe that
the activity of the disloyalists in Bengal has spread to this district. We
suspect that the Brahmins who,