for me personally, this despot believes he has smoothed over everything
that could possibly spell trouble for him--the plot against Mrs. Irwin
as well as the diamond powder business. For, of course, he has already
been informed by the butler who has disappeared of the failure of his
plot, and he is well aware of what is in store for him if I report the
scandalous story to Calcutta."

It was the first time the Colonel had openly declared his conviction
that the Maharajah was the author of both plots. No doubt he had
especial reasons for this, and Heideck fancied he had fathomed them,
when, in reply to the question of the regimental surgeon as to his
intention of sending in such a report, the Colonel replied--

"I do not know--I really do not know yet. According to the principle,
fiat justitia, pereat mundus, I ought to do so, no doubt. But the pereat
mundus is, after all, a debatable point. Probably war is imminent, and
I am afraid the Viceroy would not be grateful to me were I to add fresh
cares to all his other anxieties. At present these Indian princes are
indispensable to us. They have to place their troops at our disposal,
and we must not have any enemies in the rear when our army is engaged
in Afghanistan. A harsh procedure against one of them, and all these
princes might revolt. And a single defeat, or even only the false report
of one, might entail incalculable consequences."

Doctor Hopkins assented without further discussion, and also the other
officers present shared the opinion of their chief. As usual, during
these last days a lively discussion had arisen as to the probabilities
of war, and as to the probable course events would take. Heideck,
certain of learning nothing new from the mouths of these gentlemen, all
so confident of victory, utilised the opportunity afforded by the noisy