tful invalid, or sitting up half the night on
duty--and on guard. Herr Krauss was frequently from home, being
incessantly engaged in winding up his affairs. Business took him one
week to Moulmein, the next to Calcutta. This fat, elderly man
displayed a sort of volcanic energy; he lived in a fever of repressed
excitement and scarcely gave himself time to gobble his huge meals.
Numbers of people--principally natives--pressed for interviews; one or
two arrived in fine motor-cars; evidently it was not a European
business that appeared to absorb all his time and faculties. However,
whatever its nationality, Herr Krauss was happy and exultant; there was
an expression of assured triumph upon his frog-like visage.

Naturally this triple life left its mark on Sophy, though she kept her
miseries and responsibilities to herself. Mrs. Gregory and other
friends put their heads together and decided that she looked ill and
careworn; and the ever-active Fuchsia laid certain information before
Shafto, with the result that the following day he arrived at
"Heidelberg" to make a formal call. Of late he found that he could
never have a word with Miss Leigh; she rarely rode in the morning and
was seldom to be seen at the Gymkhana, and so he, as Fuchsia had
suggested, "bearded the lioness in her den"--that is, he called at
"Heidelberg" between the orthodox hours of four and five.

"This is very formal," exclaimed Sophy, as he entered the somewhat
dusky drawing-room; "visiting hour and visiting card complete. What
does it mean?"

"It merely means that I wish to see you," replied Shafto; "I can never
get a look in elsewhere. One would almost think that you avoided me
and wanted to cut me."

"What a ridiculous idea!" she exclaimed, sitting down and motioning him
to a chair.

"Well, it does seem ridiculous that we see so very little of you. I
hope you are not ill?"

"No, indeed, why should I be ill? Do I look like an invalid?"

"Since you ask me, I don't think you seem particularly fit. How is
Mrs. Krauss?"

"Oh, much the same. Sometimes she is able to be out in the car and
sits in the veranda; other days she cannot appear at all."

"And you and Herr Krauss are _tete-a-tete_! How do you get on
together?"

"Oh, pretty well. I only see him at breakfast and dinner, and we talk
about food and cooking and the servants. It's all right when he is
alone, but when he brings friends to dinner it is rather disagreeable.
I unders