son, and the Anglo-Indian society of Kundaghat attended it in
force.

Beryl went with the Commissioner and his wife, but in the crowd of
acquaintances that surrounded her almost from the moment of her arrival
she very speedily drifted away from them. One after another claimed her
attention, and almost before she knew it she found herself moving
unattached through the throng.

She was keenly interested in the brilliant scene about her. Flashing
jewels and gorgeous costumes made a glittering wonderland, through which
she moved as one beneath a spell. The magic of the East was everywhere;
it filled the atmosphere as with a heavy fragrance.

She had withdrawn a little from the stream of guests, and was standing
slightly apart, watching the gorgeous spectacle in the splendidly
lighted hall, when a tall figure, dressed in regimentals, came quietly
up and stood beside her.

With a start she recognised Fletcher. He bent towards her instantly, and
spoke.

"I trust that you have now quite recovered from your fatigue, Mrs.
Denvers."

She controlled her flush before it had time to overwhelm her.

"Quite, thank you," she replied, speaking stiffly because she could not
at the moment bring herself to do otherwise.

He stood beside her for a space in silence, and she wondered greatly
what was passing in his mind.

At length, "May I take you to have some supper?" he asked. "Or would you
care to go outside? The gardens are worth a visit."

Beryl hesitated momentarily. To have supper with him meant a prolonged
_tete-a-tete_, whereas merely to go outside for a few minutes among a
host of people could not involve her in any serious embarrassment. She
could leave him at any moment if she desired. She was sure to see some
of her acquaintances. Moreover, to seem to avoid him would make him
think she was afraid of him, and her pride would not permit this
possibility.

"Let us go outside for a little, then," she said.

He offered her his arm, and the next moment was leading her through a
long, thickly carpeted passage to a flight of marble steps that led
downwards into the palace-garden.

He did not speak at all; and she, without glancing at him, was aware of
a very decided constraint in his silence. She would not be disconcerted
by it. She was determined to maintain a calm attitude; but her heart
quickened a little in spite of her. She saw that he had chosen an exit
that would lead them away from the crowd.

Dumbly they desce