t once responded. "Convey our
thanks to the Rajah," he said, "and say that the gracious gift will be
much appreciated! I shall give myself the pleasure of calling upon him
to assure him of this in person to-morrow."

The messenger salaamed again deeply, and withdrew.

"I wish he'd keep his precious moonstones!" grumbled the Colonel. "They
are more bother than they're worth. Hurry up, there, Noel! It's getting
late."

"Just finished, sir," came Noel's cheery answer. "I must just get a hat
to hold the ballot-papers."

He did not offer a paper to Olga, who still kept her place by Sir
Reginald, her young face white and tired under the pile of fair,
powdered hair.

"I think I shall go when this is over," she whispered to Sir Reginald.

"So you shall," he said kindly. "I will escort you myself. I expect we
shall find Nick waiting for us," he added, with a smile. "Some business
has delayed him, I have no doubt."

She tried to smile in answer, but her lips quivered in spite of her. She
turned her face aside, ashamed of her weakness.

Noel came up with the ballot-papers, and emptied them out upon the table
without a glance at her.

"I must get you to help," said Sir Reginald, drawing her gently
forward.

"I can manage, sir," said Noel shortly.

But the Colonel broke in, "Nonsense, Wyndham! One scrutineer isn't
enough."

And Noel pushed across a handful of papers to Olga without lifting his
eyes.

With fingers that trembled slightly, she began to sort, assisted by Sir
Reginald. Several of the papers bore her own name, a fact which at first
she scarcely noticed, but which very soon became too conspicuous to be
ignored.

"I believe it's yours," murmured Sir Reginald at her elbow.

"Oh, impossible!" she said, flushing.

But in a very few minutes the suspicion was verified. Noel looked up
from his sorting with a brief, "You've won!"

Olga raised her eyes swiftly, but he instantly averted his, and turned
to communicate the result to the Colonel.

The latter shook hands with her, and shouted the news in his loudest
parade voice to the assembled company. There ensued applause and
congratulations that Olga would gladly have foregone. Then, as her
friends began to press round, Sir Reginald stepped forward.

"It is my proud privilege," he said, "to present to Miss Ratcliffe in
the Rajah's name his very handsome gift."

He took the golden key from the top of the casket and handed it with a
bow to Olga.

She too