Trent, leaving the theater, let his eyes quest over the crowd in search of Tambusami. But he had gone. However, the Englishman suspected he would find him at the hotel, the essence of innocence.
"Now that you've seen the Chinese quarter and a Bengali theater," he said as they rode toward the modern city, "what other reason can you think of to prowl about after dark?"
"I won't have another chance in Calcutta," she answered, smiling. "I'm leaving to-morrow; and when I'm with my brother--well, you know how brothers are.... I felt so sorry for the Rani in the play--she looked as I've always visualized _Ameera_, in 'Without Benefit of Clergy.' Was that really a custom--the part about the bracelet-brother?"
"It was superb romance." The brown eyes deepened. "I shall always remember that story of Humayun and Kurnavati--and remember you for explaining it to me."
Silence of a few seconds followed. Then Trent ventured:
"I daresay I sha'n't see you again before I go. I sail to-morrow noon."
"Really? I'm sailing then, too. I suppose you're going back to England?"
"No. I"--he hesitated--"I'm bound for Burma."
She laughed, a bit tremulously--that laugh of soft monsoon showers.
"Why, so am I. Surely you're not booked on the _Manchester_?"
The face that was turned to her, faintly bronze in the street-lights, was impassive enough; his only expression was of mild, polite surprise.
His thoughts were swept by two currents, one shot with chill warnings, the other warm with the wine of anticipation. But for the incident of the uniform at Benares, the announcement that she would sail on the same boat would have done anything but disturb him. However, even if she did suspect his brother-fabrication, she could not guess his mission. As Tavernake she knew him. A few days more--a lengthening of the _intermezzo_, rich notes and chords of harmony to remember afterward--then, at Rangoon, the finale. _Allegro moderato_.... No harm, this Tavernake interlude; a cool breath to the being, like temple-dusk after arid desert heat.
"What a coincidence!" she remarked; then explained, "My brother lives in Rangoon. But he isn't there now. He had an--an accident in Delhi, and I came ahead to attend to some matters for him. Oh, nothing serious happened to him, or I wouldn't be here. But it is queer that we're going on the same boat. Don't you think so?"