hold of a thread, however slender, of the conspiracy against British rule.

"You seem very interested in that coolie, Major Dermot," remarked Noreen.

"Eh? Oh, I beg your pardon," he said, turning to her. "Yes. You see, it is
very unusual to find such a man doing this sort of work."

He did not enter into any further explanation. The suspicion that he
entertained must for the present be kept to himself.

When Daleham left them the girl felt curiously shy. Perfectly at her
ease with men as a rule, she now, to her surprise, experienced a
sensation of nervousness, a feeling almost akin to awe of her guest. Yet
she liked him. He impressed her as being a man of strong personality.
The fact that--unlike most men that she met--he made no special effort
to please her interested her all the more in him. Gradually she grew
more at her ease. She enjoyed his tales of the jungle, told with such
graphic power of narrative that she could almost see the scenes and
incidents that he depicted.

Dinner-time brought Chunerbutty, who did not conduce to harmony in the
little party. Dermot regarded him with interest, for he wished to discover
if the engineer played any part in the game of conspiracy and treason.
Although the Hindu was ignorant of this, it was evident that he resented
the soldier's presence, partly from racial motives, but chiefly from
jealousy over Noreen. He was annoyed at her interest in Dermot and objected
to her feeling grateful for her rescue. He tried to make light of the
adventure and asserted that she had been in no danger. Gradually he became
so offensive to the Major that Noreen was annoyed, and even her brother,
who usually saw no fault in his friend, felt uncomfortable at Chunerbutty's