y husband--But perhaps you are right.
It may only be a foolish suspicion that has upset me; and it is just for
this reason that I did not wish to speak about it to any of my husband's
messmates. I have opened my heart to you alone. I know that you are an
honourable man, and that nobody will learn from your mouth what we have
spoken about during this past hour."

"I am very much indebted to you, Mrs. Irwin, for your confidence, and
should be only too willing to do what I could to relieve your anxiety
and trouble. You are apprehensive of some unknown danger, and you are
this night, in your husband's absence, without any other protection but
that of your Indian servants. Would you permit me to remain close by,
until tomorrow daybreak?"

With a blush that made her heart beat faster, Edith Irwin shook her
head.

"No! no! that is impossible; and I do not think that here, in the
protection of my house and among my own servants, any mishap could
befall me. Only in case that something should happen to me at another
time and at another place, I would beg of you to acquaint Colonel Baird
with the subject of our conversation this evening; people will then
perhaps better understand the connexion of things."

And now Heideck perfectly understood why she had chosen to make him, a
stranger, her confidant; and he thought that he understood also that it
was not so much of an attempt on the part of the Maharajah as of her
own husband's villainy that the unhappy young wife was afraid. But his
delicate feelings restrained him from saying in outspoken language that
he had comprehended what she wished to convey. It was after all enough
that she knew she could rely upon him; and of this she must have been
already sufficiently convinced, although it was only the fire of his
eyes that told her so, and the long, warm kiss that his lips impressed
upon the small, icy-cold hand which the poor young lady presented to him
at parting.

"You will permit me to pay you another call tomorrow, will you not?"

"I will send you word when I expect you. I should not care for you to
meet my husband; perhaps he has some idea that you are friendly inclined
towards me; and that would be sufficient to fill him with suspicion and
aversion towards you."

She clapped her hands, and as the Indian handmaid entered the room to
escort the visitor to the door, Heideck had to leave her last remark
unanswered. But, as on the threshold he again turned to bow his
farew