"

In a transport of rage the Prince sprang up from his chair. He hurled an
abusive epithet into the Colonel's face, and his right hand sought the
dagger in his belt. The attendant, who was about to serve up to his
master a ruddy lobster on a silver dish, recoiled in alarm. But the
Colonel, without moving an inch from his place, placed the silver
hunting whistle that hung from his shoulder to his mouth. Two shrill
calls, and at once the trotting of horses and the rattle of arms was
audible. The high, blue-striped turbans of the cavalry and the pennons
of their lances made their appearance under the terrace.

"Call my bodyguard!" cried the Prince, with a voice hoarse with rage.

But in a voice of icy calm the Colonel retorted, "If you summon your
bodyguard, Maharajah, you are a dead man. That would be rebellion; and
with rebels we make short shrift."

The Prince pressed his lips together; the rage he had with the greatest
difficulty suppressed caused his body to quiver as in a paroxysm of
fever, but he had to realise that he was here the weaker, and without a
word more he fell back again into his chair.

The Colonel stepped to the balcony of the terrace.

"Sergeant Thomson!" he called down into the park.

Heavy steps were heard on the marble stairs, and the man summoned,
followed by two soldiers, stood at attention before his superior
officer.

"Sergeant, do you know the gentleman sitting at that table?"

"Yes, sir! It is His Highness the Maharajah."

"If I gave you orders to arrest this gentleman and bring him to camp,
would you hesitate to obey?"

The sergeant regarded his superior officer as if the doubt of his loyal
military obedience astonished him. He at once gave the two soldiers who
were with him a nod and advanced a step further towards the Prince, as
though at once to carry out the order.

"Stop, sergeant!" cried the Colonel. "I hope that His Highness will not
let matters go as far as that. You are perhaps ready now, Maharajah, to
receive me?"

The Indian silently pointed to the golden chair at the other end of
the table. At a sign from the Colonel the sergeant and the two soldiers
withdrew.

"I have a very serious question to put to you, Maharajah."

"Speak!"

"Last evening, during Captain Irwin's absence, several rascals entered
his house with the intention of committing an act of violence on
the person of the Captain's wife. What do you know about the matter,
Maharajah?"

"I do not und