nel
Dermot presented him with a gramophone--which, it appeared, he had
longed for ever since seeing one on a previous visit to India--and
taught him how to work it. He showed his betel-stained teeth in an
ecstatic grin when a record was turned on and from the trumpet came the
Political Officer's familiar voice addressing him by name and in his own
language with many flourishes of Oriental compliment.

Towards the termination of their call the _Deb Zimpun_ called in two
attendants with large baskets of fine blood oranges and walnuts from
Bhutan and presented them in return. A number of coolies were needed to
carry off the royal gift of the flesh of the bison, the sight of which
made the Envoy's eyes glisten. He shook Wargrave's hand warmly when he
learned to whose rifle he owed it. Then he and his Chinese companion
took their leave, and with their followers passed up the hilly road.
Wargrave, gazing after them, came to the conclusion that of the pair he
preferred the savage to the ultra-cultivated Celestial.

Having thanked the Colonel for permitting him to be present at the
interview, which had interested him greatly, the subaltern was about to
leave when Mrs. Dermot appeared at the office door.

"May I come in, Kevin?" she began. "Oh, good morning, Mr. Wargrave. I
was just sending a _chit_ (letter) to you and Captain Burke asking you
to tea this afternoon. A coolie has arrived from the _peelkhana_ to say
that Mr. and Miss Benson and Mr. Carter are on their way up and will be
here soon. So you'll meet them at tea. You will like Miss Benson. She's
a dear girl."

"Thanks very much, Mrs. Dermot. I'll be delighted to come, if you'll
forgive me should I be a little late. I've got to take the signallers'
parade this afternoon. I'll tell Burke when I get to the Mess. I'm going
straight there now."

"Thank you. That will save me writing. _Au revoir_."

Half-way up the road to the Mess Wargrave looked back and saw an
elephant heave into sight around a bend below the Dermots' house and
plod heavily up to their gate. On the _charjama_--the passenger-carrying
contrivance of wooden seats on the pad with footboards hanging by short
ropes--sat a lady and two European men holding white umbrellas up to
keep off the vertical rays of the noonday sun. When the animal sank to
its knees in front of the bungalow Wargrave saw the girl--it could only
be Miss Benson--spring lightly to the ground before either of her
companions could dismo