a rather imprudent way.

"I am a faithful friend of the English, but the burden they lay upon us
is becoming every day more intolerable. If England is bent upon war, why
should we sacrifice our blood and treasure upon it? Do we not know full
well what powerful foes England has? You do not belong to this nation,
as my Minister informed me; you are in a position, therefore, to
instruct me about these matters. It is true I have been in Europe, but
I was not permitted to go beyond London, whither I had proceeded to
congratulate the late Queen on her birthday. I have seen nothing but
many, many ships and a gigantic dirty town. Are there not in Europe
strong and powerful states hostile to England?"

Such questions were disagreeable for Heideck to answer, and he therefore
preferred to avoid giving a definite reply.

"I have been in India for nearly a year," he replied, "and know about
such political matters only what the India Times and other English
newspapers report. Of course, there is always a certain rivalry among
the European great Powers, and England has, during the past few decades,
become so great that she cannot fail to have enemies; but on this point,
as also on that of the present political situation, I do not venture to
express an opinion."

The Maharajah gloomily shook his head.

"Transact the business with this gentleman in the way you think best,"
he said, turning abruptly to his Minister, a wave of the hand at the
same time denoting to the young German that the audience was at an end.

As Heideck again stepped into the loggia he saw Captain Irwin appear at
the entrance door in company with an official of the Court. The British
officer started on perceiving the man who passed for a commercial
traveller. He cast at him a malicious look, and an almost inimical
reserve lay in the manner with which he returned Heideck's salutation.
The latter took little notice, and slowly wended his way through the
extensive park, in whose magnificent old trees monkeys were disporting
themselves. The Maharajah's communication to him as to the English
orders which he had received, taken in conjunction with General Ivanov's
advance, entirely preoccupied him. After this he was no longer in doubt
that serious military events were impending, or were even then in full
swing. Quetta, in Beluchistan, lying directly on the Afghan frontier,
was the gate of the line of march towards Kandahar; and if England was
summoning the Indian pr