inces to its aid the situation could be none
other than critical. War had certainly not yet been declared, but
Heideck's mission might, under the circumstances, suddenly acquire a
peculiar importance, and it was, at all events, impossible to make at
this moment any definite plans for the immediate future.

The walk to his bungalow in the immediate vicinity of the English camp
took perhaps an hour, and was sufficient to give him a keen appetite.
He was not, therefore, at all disappointed to find his Russian comrade
sitting at breakfast in a shady spot before the door of the hotel, and,
heartily returning his salutation, he lost no time in seating himself
at the table. Prince Tchajawadse looked pale, and applied himself to
soda-water, which, contrary to all established usage, he drank without
the slightest admixture of whisky. The appetising dish of eggs and bacon
was standing untouched before him, and he smiled rather sadly when he
saw what an inroad his guest made upon it.

They had hardly exchanged a few commonplace words when two Indian girls
made their appearance, offering all sorts of nicknacks for sale. The
younger, whose bare breast glowed like bronze, was of marvellous beauty,
even the paint on her face could not destroy the natural grace of her
fine features. Yet, beautiful as she was, she was as great a coquette.
She had evidently determined to make an impression on the Russian.
Stepping behind his chair, she held her glittering little wares before
his face. Her manner became more and more intimate. At length she
slipped a golden bracelet on her slender brown wrist and bent, in order
that he should notice it, so far over his shoulder that her glowing
young breast touched his cheek.

Prince Tchajawadse was of too passionate a temperament to long resist
such a temptation. His eyes flashed, and with a rapid movement he turned
round and embraced the girl's lithe body with his arm.

A stop was put to further familiarities, however, for this little
adventure, which was very distasteful to Heideck, was suddenly
interrupted.

Without being perceived by those sitting at the table, the handsome
young page of the Prince had stepped from the door of the bungalow
with a plate of bananas and mangoes in his hand. For a few seconds he
regarded with flashing eyes the scene just described, and then, stealing
nearer with noiseless steps, flung, without saying a word, the plate
with the fruit with such vigour and unerring aim