led his delight at
finding that, after all, it seemed probable that their search was
likely to be crowned with success.

"Of course we will manage it," he said. "I will put aside that narrow
Benares cloth-of-gold work for trimmings, and you can be as long as
you like looking for it. They will be too busy examining the other
things to give it a thought, after you have gone out."

"I can be back at half-past eight," Dick said, "for the man told me he
was locked up at that hour. If it had not been for that, I should have
arranged for him to come a little later. But, of course, I shall have
opportunities for talking to him tomorrow.

"There is someone at the door."

Surajah opened it, and a soldier entered with their evening meal, and
a request that they would go across to the governor's as soon as they
had finished it, as the ladies had already assembled there. They
hurried through their food, and then went across. There was quite a
large gathering, for not only had the wives of the officers in the
other fort come over, but all those who had been there in the morning
were again present, several of them prepared to make further
purchases. Trade was as actively carried on as it had been before.

When he judged it to be nearly eight o'clock, Dick nudged Surajah, who
said, a minute afterwards:

"We have forgotten the Benares cloth-of-gold. I am sure that will
please the ladies for waist bands, or for trimmings. It must have got
into the other bales, by mistake."

"I will go and fetch it," Dick said, and, rising, left the room.

A figure was standing at the door, when he reached the house.

"I was afraid you had forgotten me," the man said. "It is not quite
eight o'clock yet, but as I found that you were both out, I began to
be afraid that you might be detained until after I had to go; and you
don't know how I long for a pipe of that tobacco. The very thought of
it seems to bring old days back again."

By this time they had entered the house, and Dick shut the door behind
him. He had left a light burning, when they went out. Dick was so
agitated that he felt unable to speak, but gazed earnestly in the
man's face.

"What is it, old chap?" the latter said, surprised at the close
scrutiny. "Is anything wrong with you?"

Dick took off his spectacles, rather to gain time than to see more
clearly, for a plain glass had been substituted for the lenses.

"I want to ask you a question," he said. "Is your name Holland?"