e opened the tin: took from his pocket a briar of great age and
greater virtue; filled it; lighted it; and drew in the first mouthful of
aromatic fragrance, with such rapture of refreshment as a man, parched
with fever, drains a glass held to his lips.

A great peace enfolded him: and no thought of resistance arose to break
the enchantment. For the 'mighty and subtle' drug kills with kindness.
Coming to a tormented man in the guise of an angel of peace, it lures
him, lulls him, and wraps him about with false contentment before
plunging him into the pit.

While the holiday folk trooped into the long mess-tent, laughing or
lamenting over the afternoon's vicissitudes, Lenox sat at his table in
shirt and trousers, his pen devouring the loose sheets before him. He
bade Zyarulla bring him meat, bread, and a cup of coffee, and deny
admittance even to 'Desmond Sahib' himself. And throughout the night he
worked, and smoked, and finally slept as he had not slept since the
Bachelors' Ball.

Before dawn he was up, and out: a gun on his shoulder, field-glasses
slung across his back. He had given orders for a party of beaters to be
requisitioned, in his name, from the Rajah's camp; and Zyarulla could be
trusted to see to it that he should not starve. All day he tramped and
climbed, shot and sketched, to his huge satisfaction; and returning at
dusk, repeated his programme of the night before.

His departure without a word of explanation had roused Desmond's anxiety.
He suspected a fresh supply of tobacco; and this sudden invisibility
confirmed his worst fears. He spoke of them to his wife after breakfast:
and for all her radiant hopefulness of heart, she had small consolation
to offer him.

The 'week's' events had disappointed her grievously; for the deadlock
between man and wife seemed complete.

"Truly, Theo, I don't know what to make of them both," she concluded
desperately. "They are the most perverse couple that were ever invented.
Benedick and Beatrice were turtle-doves by comparison! After this week I
shall give them up in despair."

"Poor darling! They ought to mend their ways, if only out of
consideration for you! Come on now and comfort your soul with tilting.
I want you to carry all before you in the tournament."

"Do you indeed!" she answered, laughing. "But I shan't hit a single ring
to-day. This distracting muddle is getting on my nerves!"

And if Honor Desmond found the strain of sympathetic anxiet