be
that some excuse can even be found for his way of regarding things. It
is, possibly, an atavistic relapse into the views of his ancestors, who,
when they were sick of their wives, led them with a halter round their
necks into the marketplace and sold them to the highest bidder. They say
it is not so long ago that this pretty custom has gone out of vogue."

"No more, Mrs. Irwin," Heideck broke in; "I cannot bear to hear you
speak like that. I must say that I still consider the Captain to have
been out of his mind when he dared to expect such a thing of you."

The young wife shook her head with a severe quiver of the lips. "Oh no!
he was neither intoxicated nor especially excited when he asked me to do
him this 'LITTLE' kindness; he probably considered that I ought to
feel myself intensely flattered that His Indian Highness thought my
insignificant person worth such a large price. I have certainly for some
time past been quite conscious of the fact that, quite unwittingly, I
have attracted the notice of the Maharajah. Immediately after our first
meeting he began to annoy me with his attentions. I never took any
notice, and never, for one moment, dreamt of the possibility that
his--his--what shall I call it--his admiration could rise to criminal
desires; but, after what I have experienced to-day, I cannot help
believing that it is the case."

"But this monstrosity, Mrs. Irwin, will be past and gone as soon as you
indignantly repudiate the suggestion of your abandoned husband?"

"Between him and me--yes, that is true. But I am not at all certain if
the Maharajah's infatuation will then have really ceased to exist. My
Indian handmaid has been told by one of her countrymen to warn me of a
danger that threatens me. The man did not tell her wherein this danger
consists, but I am at a loss to know from what quarter it should
threaten, if not from the Maharajah."

Heideck shook his head incredulously.

"You have certainly nothing to fear in that quarter; he knows full well
that he would have the whole of the British power against him dared
he only--be it with one word--attempt to wrong the wife of an English
officer. He would be a sheer madman to allow things to come to that
pass."

"Well, after all, he may have some despotic insanity in him. We must
not forget that the time is not so far distant when all these tyrants
disposed absolutely of the life and death and body and soul of their
subjects. Who knows, too, what m