"

Alan Hawke was staggered. "Get me a horse, at once! I must report to the
General! When, where, how? Tell me all! Send off a man for the horse!"
And, as Hawke hastily donned his uniform, he heard the Hindu servant's
story.

"Be off! Tell Simpson I go first to the General, and, then, I will come
over to the house!"

As Major Hawke strode through the clubroom, a half-dozen half-dressed
clubmen seized upon him. He waved off their inquiries, as an orderly
dashed up to the door.

"General Willoughby's compliments, Sir. You are to report to him
instantly at the Marble House! You can take my horse, Major! I'll bring
yours on." And so, lightly leaping into the saddle, the Major galloped
away, with an approving nod. "There'll be a devil of a racket over this
thing!" he reflected, as he dashed along. And he chuckled with glee at
his prudence in hiding away the dagger which he had picked up in the
garden. For, a moonlight-eyed Eurasian girl, hidden in a little cottage,
was the only human being in Delhi who knew of the hasty visit her secret
lover had made in the night. The jeweled dagger of Mirzah Shah was now
securely locked in a little chest where Alan Hawke kept a few articles
hidden away in the humble home of the passive plaything of his idle
hours. As he caught sight of the Marble House, with its gathered crowds,
he saw the gleam of musket barrels, as a company of foot were picketing
the vast garden inclosure, and forcing back the excited crowd.

A non-commissioned officer swung open the heavy gates which would only
turn on their hinges once more for Hugh Johnstone going out on his last
journey. "The General awaits you, Major," said the sergeant, touching
his cap. "He has already asked for you." And as Hawke rode up to the
front door he was suddenly reminded of his imperiled interests. "The
drafts! They may be stopped now! By God! I must see Ram Lal! I need him
now and he needs me."

With an unruffled professional calm, however, Major Hawke reported to
the visibly disturbed General commanding.

With a single warning gesture of silence, General Willoughby drew the
Major aside. "I shall put you in entire charge here. I have seen all
the civil authorities. This is your affair. It touches your mission. The
Viceroy has been telegraphed, and you are to guard the whole property
here till we have his pleasure. Now come with me and let us question
Simpson. The rest are merely a lot of apes."

And so Major Alan Hawke had am