ed person, because it is of vegetable
nature, and gets absorbed in the tissues."

A cry of horror escaped Mrs. Baird. She covered her eyes with her hand.

Mr. Hopkins continued: "I have never before come across the diamond
powder, notwithstanding its use is said not to be uncommon. The
preparation of it is a secret, anxiously guarded by the Indian
physicians. It seems to play the same part at the Courts of the Indian
princes that the celebrated 'aqua tuffana' did in the Middle Ages
amongst the Italian despots."

These learned explanations of Doctor Hopkins were not adapted to raise
the spirits of the company. Everyone remembered that this horrible
attempt had only been frustrated by a lucky chance. The Colonel,
who seemed to feel very uncomfortable on listening to the Doctor's
conversation, gave a sign to his wife to rise, rather sooner than usual.

Tea and drinks cooled in ice were served in the verandah, charmingly
illuminated by coloured lamps. Heideck had only had eyes for Edith all
the evening. But he had avoided anxiously everything which might have
betrayed his feelings. And, even now, he would not have dared to join
her in the half-dark corner of the verandah, where she had seated
herself, unless she had called out to him asking him to take the empty
seat at her side.

"Mr. Heideck, here is another chair," she said, in a perfectly natural
voice, drawing aside the pleats of her foulard skirt in order to let him
pass. Again their eyes met unnoticed by the others. The violent beating
of his heart would have told him that he was entirely in the thraldom of
this beautiful young woman had he not known it already.

Suddenly the well-known shouts and cries of Indian drivers were
heard. The conversation stopped and everybody looked and observed with
astonishment the curious procession of waggons which they could see
approaching, as the night was pretty clear. The Colonel excepted, no one
understood the meaning of this spectacle. There were five waggons
drawn by richly harnessed bullocks and escorted by a bodyguard of the
Maharajah on horseback. Their captain rode till close to the verandah,
then dismounted, and went up the steps. His mien was distinguished,
and at the same time dignified. He was young and handsome, with Greek
features and big, melancholy eyes. He wore a blouse of yellow silk, held
around the waist by a shawl of violet silk, English riding-breeches,
and high, yellow boots. A string of pearls was lai