to avoid everything that can
lead to friction with the native Princes, and that my superiors laid
great stress upon a good understanding with the Maharajah of Chanidigot
was not known to me at the time of our conversation. He was the first
who openly declared for Russia and whose troops have come over to our
side. The happy issue of the Battle of Lahore is perhaps in no small
degree due to him. You understand, Captain, that it would make the worst
possible impression were we to come into conflict with a man so needful
to us for such a trifling cause."

"Trifling cause?" Heideck asked earnestly, his eyes sparkling with
excitement.

"Well, yes, what appears to you of such great importance is, when
regarded from a high political point of view, very trifling and
insignificant. You cannot possibly expect that the political interests
of a world empire should be sacrificed for the interests of a single
lady, who, moreover, by nationality belongs to our enemies."

"Shall she then be handed over helpless to the bestiality of this
dissolute scoundrel?"

Prince Tchajawadse shrugged his shoulders, while at the same time he
cast a strange side-glance at Heideck, who was riding beside him, which
seemed to say--

"How dense you are, my dear fellow! And how slow of understanding!"

But the other did not understand this dumb play of the eyes; and, after
a short pause, he could not refrain from saying in a tone of painful
reproach--

"Why, my Prince, did you so generously procure for me permission to take
part in this expedition if I was at once to be doomed to inaction in
a matter, which, as you know, is at present nearer my heart than aught
else!"

"I do not remember, Captain, to have imposed any such restraint upon
you. It was purely my own attitude as regards this matter which I wished
to make clear to you. And I hope that you have completely understood me.
I will not, and dare not, have anything officially to do with the affair
of Mrs. Irwin, and I should like to hear nothing about it. That I, on
the other hand, do not interfere with your private concerns, and
would not trouble about them, is quite a matter of course. It entirely
suffices for me, if you do not bring me into any embarrassment and
impossible situation."

That was, at all events, much less than Heideck had expected after the
zealous promises of his friend. But after quiet reflection he came to
the conclusion that the Prince could, as a matter of fact, scarc