"Well, you are in the blues, my boy, and no mistake! What's the meaning of it? Here are you just returned from the giddy haunts of society and fashion, with a face as long as one of Padri Jardine's sermons, while I, who have seen no European countenance for a month but the rough-hewn phiz of our Mr James, am as cheerful as a cricket."
"Result of having got what I wanted, I suppose Antony would say. Did you indulge a sneaking hope of gaining a little credit on the score of our exploits here, Bob?"
"Hardly. There's a prejudice nowadays against subalterns annexing empires without orders, you know. Precious silly, of course, but one must take it into account."
"Well, I might have been an escaped convict from Botany Bay, by the way Antony jawed me. And other people took their tone from him, naturally, except---- By the way, I dined at the Cinnamonds' one night."
"And was our bright particular star visible?"
"She was. So was a young cub of a civilian--just gone into stick-ups, I should imagine."
"I think not. Merely having his mind and morals improved, if I am any judge."
"Ah, we know all about that, don't we, old boy? Not that any beggarly civilian is going to join this noble fellowship, is he? The more he keeps his distance the better we shall be pleased. And the lady of our mutual adoration----?"
"She barely spoke to me. At least"--with an effort--"she did ask whether I sent to request your help or whether you came of your own accord. Of course I told her it was that."
"She said it was just what she would have expected of you."
Charteris burst into a roar of laughter. "Oh, poor old beggar! and he ain't jealous, not a bit! Never mind, Hal; when you have pulled me out of a hole, I shall have to praise you up to her, and won't it go against the grain! Ray-ther--just a few! But has the fair lady lent an ear to slander? You don't think she can have heard anything about the Rani?" cautiously.
"What do you know about the Rani?" cried Gerrard furiously.
"Simply that James Antony thought fit to tell me it had struck him that it would be very convenient for the transaction of public business, and very much for the safety of Kharrak Singh, if you or I married the lady. You were the favourite, as in a way marked out by her husband's will. One of our Mr James's witticisms, of course, and in vile taste, as usual."