ad served as frame to one of Gerrard's pictures of
imaginary bliss, when Charteris broke the silence.

"Well, you are in the blues, my boy, and no mistake! What's the
meaning of it? Here are you just returned from the giddy haunts of
society and fashion, with a face as long as one of Padri Jardine's
sermons, while I, who have seen no European countenance for a month but
the rough-hewn phiz of our Mr James, am as cheerful as a cricket."

"Result of having got what I wanted, I suppose Antony would say. Did
you indulge a sneaking hope of gaining a little credit on the score of
our exploits here, Bob?"

"Hardly. There's a prejudice nowadays against subalterns annexing
empires without orders, you know. Precious silly, of course, but one
must take it into account."

"Well, I might have been an escaped convict from Botany Bay, by the way
Antony jawed me. And other people took their tone from him, naturally,
except---- By the way, I dined at the Cinnamonds' one night."

"And was our bright particular star visible?"

"She was. So was a young cub of a civilian--just gone into stick-ups,
I should imagine."

"Dangerous?"

"I think not. Merely having his mind and morals improved, if I am any
judge."

"Ah, we know all about that, don't we, old boy? Not that any beggarly
civilian is going to join this noble fellowship, is he? The more he
keeps his distance the better we shall be pleased. And the lady of our
mutual adoration----?"

"She barely spoke to me. At least"--with an effort--"she did ask
whether I sent to request your help or whether you came of your own
accord. Of course I told her it was that."

"And then?"

"She said it was just what she would have expected of you."

Charteris burst into a roar of laughter. "Oh, poor old beggar! and he
ain't jealous, not a bit! Never mind, Hal; when you have pulled me out
of a hole, I shall have to praise you up to her, and won't it go
against the grain! Ray-ther--just a few! But has the fair lady lent
an ear to slander? You don't think she can have heard anything about
the Rani?" cautiously.

"What do you know about the Rani?" cried Gerrard furiously.

"Simply that James Antony thought fit to tell me it had struck him that
it would be very convenient for the transaction of public business, and
very much for the safety of Kharrak Singh, if you or I married the
lady. You were the favourite, as in a way marked out by her husband's
will. One of our Mr Ja