cised as to the development of his character. At times he had
visions of obtaining a European tutor for him--an absolutely
revolutionary innovation for those days--but the impossibility of
bringing the Durbar to see the wisdom of such a course, or of securing
proper support for the unhappy man who might be appointed, deterred
him. To remove the child from the city, into surroundings mentally
more healthy, was of course impossible, and therefore Kharrak Singh
continued to come each day to the Residency with his attendants,
dismissing all but a favoured few with a regal wave of the hand at the
foot of the steps, and climbing on the divan arranged for him, to sit
there and talk under the pretence of looking at pictures. Gerrard had
sent for his books from down-country by this time, and after long
journeying on the heads of groaning coolies, and many vicissitudes by
the way, they now graced his meagrely furnished rooms. In the daytime
they were useful in teaching Kharrak Singh the bare beginnings of the
English language, and in the long evenings they served to mitigate the
loneliness of the house which had presented itself as an abode of bliss
for two, but was sadly too large for one.

CHAPTER X.

THE DOOR IS SHUT.

Nearly a year had passed since Charteris and Gerrard had entered into the
agreement which was to regulate their rivalry for the hand of Honour
Cinnamond, but the end of the six months' armistice had arrived without
any renewal of hostilities. It was tacitly recognised between them that
it would be a mistake to conduct operations by letter, and neither of
them was in a position to ask for leave. When Charteris returned to
Darwan, he found that the Granthi subordinate left in charge had improved
the shining hour by adding to the number of his wives a daughter of the
principal robber-clan of the district. His official position gave him
the means of doing many little kindnesses to his new relations, and with
their concurrence he arranged to gladden Charteris's eye on his return by
the spectacular destruction of an old disused fortress, the clan's
headquarters being transferred to a larger post in a more sequestered
district. Unfortunately, in following up a raid, Charteris tracked the
raiders to their lair, and as they thought their kinsman-in-law had
betrayed them, and retaliated by informing on him, the whole matter came
out. Thereupon ensued a change of personnel in Charteris's staff, the
destru