play where he was concerned."

He spoke with such decision that she looked at him in surprise. "I often
have suspected it," she said.

"I know. But you have no reason for doing so. I should try to forget it
if I were you. Let the past be past!"

It was evident that he would not discuss the matter, and, wondering
somewhat, she let it pass. The bare mention of Dacre seemed to be
unendurable to him. But the suspicion which his words had started
remained in her mind, for it was beyond her power to dismiss it. The
conviction that he had met his death by foul means was steadily gaining
ground within her, winding serpent-like ever more closely about her
shrinking heart.

Monck went his way, whether deeply disappointed or not she knew not. But
she realized that he would not reopen the subject. He had made his
explanation, but--and for this she honoured him--he would not seek to
convince her against her will. It was even possible that he preferred
her to keep her own judgment in the matter.

They dined at the Mansfields' bungalow that night, a festivity for which
she felt small relish, more especially as she knew that Mrs. Ralston
would not be present. To be received with icy ceremony by Lady Harriet
and sent in to dinner with Major Burton was a state of affairs that must
have dashed the highest spirits. She tried to make the best of it, but
it was impossible to be entirely unaffected by the depressing chill of
the atmosphere. Conversation turned upon Mrs. Ermsted, regarding whom
the report had gone forth that she was very seriously ill. Lady Harriet
sought to probe Stella upon the subject and was plainly offended when
she pleaded ignorance. She also tried to extract Monck's opinion of poor
Captain Ermsted's murder. Had it been committed by a mere _budmash_ for
the sake of robbery, or did he consider that any political significance
was attached to it? Monck drily expressed the opinion that something
might be said for either theory. But when Lady Harriet threw discretion
to the winds and desired to know if it were generally believed in
official circles that the Rajah was implicated, he raised his brows in
stern surprise and replied that so far as his information went the Rajah
was a loyal servant of the Crown.

Lady Harriet was snubbed, and she felt the effects of it for the rest of
the evening. Walking home with her husband through the starlight later,
Stella laughed a little over the episode; but Monck was not responsive.