st instinctively the fear of that first word which probably would
have broken down the last barrier between them. And Captain Irwin's name
was not mentioned by either.

VII

THE MAHARAJAH

It was noon the next day when Captain Irwin stepped out of the Colonel's
bungalow and turned towards home. The interview with his superior
officer appeared to have been serious and far from pleasant for him, for
he was very pale. Red spots were burning on his cheeks, and his deep-set
eyes flashed darkly, as though with suppressed wrath. A few minutes
later the Colonel's horse was led to the door, and a company of lancers
under the command of a sergeant rode into the courtyard.

The commander came out in full uniform, and, placing himself at the head
of the company, galloped towards the Maharajah's palace.

The cavalry drew up before the palace gates, and Colonel Baird shouted
out in a loud commanding voice to the servants lounging at the door that
he wished to speak to the Maharajah.

A few minutes passed, and a gorgeously attired palace official made
his appearance with the answer that His Highness could not receive at
present; the Colonel would be informed as soon as the audience could be
granted.

The commander leapt from the saddle, and with jingling spurs walked
firmly into the palace, trailing his sword noisily over the marble
floor.

"Tell the Prince I desire to see him at once," he called out in a
threatening voice to the palace officials and servants who followed him
in evident embarrassment. It was evident that no one dare disobey such
a peremptory command. All gates flew open before the Englishman, and he
had hardly to wait a minute in the anteroom before the Prince consented
to receive him. On a small high-raised terrace of the ground floor the
Maharajah sat at luncheon. He purposely did not change his easy attitude
when the English resident approached, and the glaring look which his
dark eyes cast at the incomer was obviously intended to intimidate.

With his helmet on his head and his hand resting on his sword the
Colonel stood straight before the Prince.

"I desire to have a few words with you, Maharajah!"

"And I have instructed my servants to inform you that I am not at your
service. You see I am at luncheon!"

"That, in your case, is no reason for refusing to receive the
representative of His Britannic Majesty. The message you sent me was an
insult, which, if repeated, will have to be punished.