tonishment of the Professor visibly increased.

"Mrs. Edith Irwin? Is it possible? The daughter of my old friend, the
excellent Rector Graham? Yes, beyond doubt, it must be the same, because
she was married to a captain in the lancers."

"Since yesterday she is this officer's widow. He fell in the battle of
Lahore, and she herself is among the prisoners interned in Anar Kali."

"Then I must endeavour to find her, for she has a claim, for her
father's sake, upon my assistance. But, certainly, for the moment," he
observed, with a somewhat melancholy smile, "I am myself in the greatest
need of protection."

"I believe you may be perfectly easy in your mind as to this lady. My
friend, Prince Tchajawadse, has just now ridden over to Anar Kali in
order, at my request, to look after the lady."

He had not concluded the sentence when the tall form of the Prince made
its appearance at the entrance of the tent. His downcast face presaged
no good news. He advanced to Heideck and shook his hand.

"I am not, unfortunately, the bearer of any good news, comrade. I have
not discovered the lady whose guardian you are."

"What! Has she left? And you could not learn whither she is gone?"

"All that I have been able to elicit is that she was driven off in an
elegant carriage, in the company of several Indians. An English lady who
saw the occurrence told me this."

A fearful dread overcame Heideck.

"In the company of Indians? And does nobody know whither she was taken?
Did she leave no message for me or anyone else?"

"The lady had no opportunity of speaking to her. She saw the departure
at a distance."

"But she must have noticed whether Mrs. Irwin left the mausoleum of her
own free will or under compulsion?"

The Prince shrugged his shoulders.

"I cannot, unfortunately, say anything about that. My inquiries were
without result. Neither any one of the English prisoners or of the
Russian sentries was able to give me further information."

XVII

DOWNING STREET

A meeting of the Cabinet Council was being held at the Foreign Office
in London. With gloomy faces the Ministers were all assembled. The
foreboding of a catastrophe brooded over England like a black cloud;
all manner of rumours of disaster were current in the land, and coming
events were awaited with sickening dread.

"A telegram from the general in command," said the Prime Minister,
opening the paper he held in his hand. A deadly silence fell upon the