s to be found?"

"I know it from your servant, Morar Gopal. She is there, in that tent
of the Maharajah of Chanidigot, before whose door the two Indians are
standing sentry. Take care and do not attempt to force your way in, for
the sentries would cut you to pieces before allowing you to put a foot
in the tent."

"It may be that you are right," said Heideck, whose breast was now
filled with a blissful feeling at having at last learned with certainty
that the adored woman was close by. "But how shall you be able to get to
her?"

"I am a woman, and I know how one must treat these miserable Indian
rogues; the Maharajah of Chanidigot is ill, and in his pain he has
something else to think of than of the joys of love. You must make use
of this favourable moment, sir! and in this very night whatever is to
happen must happen."

"Certainly! every minute lost means perhaps a terrible danger to Mrs.
Irwin. But if you have a plan for saving her please tell me--"

The Circassian shook her head.

"Why talk of things that must be first accomplished? Return to the
banquet, sir, that no one may suspect of you. At midnight you will find
the English lady in your tent, or you will never set eyes on me again."

She turned as if to go; but after having taken a few steps came back
once more to him.

"You will not tell the Prince that I am here, do you understand? It is
not time yet for him to learn that."

With these words she disappeared, before Heideck could ask another
question. Little as he felt inclined after what he had just experienced
to return to the mad riot of the banquet, he perceived that there
was scarcely anything else open to him, for any interference with the
unknown plans of the Circassian would scarcely be of any advantage to
Edith.

But if the minutes had hitherto appeared endless, they now crept on with
quite intolerable slowness. He scarcely heard or saw anything that was
taking place about him. The rajah who had the next place to him tried in
vain to open a conversation in his broken English, and at last, shaking
his head, abandoned the silent stranger to his musings, which in the
middle of this riotous festivity must certainly have appeared very
strange to him.

Shortly before midnight, before Prince Tchajawadse and his other
comrades thought of moving, Heideck once more left the state tent of the
Maharajah and turned his steps towards the Russian camp, which was far
away visible in the red glare of the