ye, who stared at her fixedly for some time. At the dinner at
the Mess that night the two ladies wore frocks that were very little
_decollete_. Burke, as Mess President, had arranged the table so that
the _Amban_ was as far away from them as possible; and Wargrave and he
mounted guard over Miss Benson when the meal was ended.

The _Deb Zimpun_ had fixed his departure for an early hour on the
following morning and was to be accompanied by the Political Officer,
who was going to visit the Maharajah of Bhutan. In the course of the day
the Chinese _Amban_ had announced to Colonel Dermot that he did not wish
to leave so soon and desired to remain longer in Ranga Duar; but the
Political Officer courteously but very firmly told him that he must go
with the Envoy.

Early next morning, while Noreen Dermot was occupied with her children,
and her husband was completing his preparations for departure, Muriel
Benson went out into the garden. Badshah, pad strapped on ready for the
road, was standing at one side of the bungalow swinging his trunk and
shifting from foot to foot as he patiently awaited his master. The girl
greeted and petted him, then went to gather flowers and cut bunches of
bright-coloured leaves from high bushes of bougainvillea and poinsettia
that hid her from view from the house.

Suddenly a harsh voice sounded in her ears.

"I have tried to speak to you alone, but those fools were ever in my
way. Do not cry out. You must listen to me."

She started violently and turned to find the _Amban_, dressed in khaki
and ready to march, behind her. Courageous as she usually was the
extraordinary repulsion and terror with which he inspired her kept her
silent as he continued:

"I want you, and I shall take you sooner or later. Listen! I am one of
the richest men in all China. One day I shall be President--and then
Emperor the next; and when I rule my country shall no longer be the
effete, despised land torn with dissension that it is now. I can give
you everything that the heart of a woman, white or yellow, can
desire--take you from your dull, poverty-stricken life to raise you to
power and immense wealth. I shall return for you one day. Will you come
to me?"

The girl drew back, pale as death and unable to cry out. He glanced
around. The tall, red-leaved bushes hid them; there was no one or
nothing within sight, except the elephant shifting restlessly.

"Answer me!" he said almost menacingly.

She was silent. He s