The Indian silently pointed to the golden chair at the other end of
the table. At a sign from the Colonel the sergeant and the two soldiers
withdrew.

"I have a very serious question to put to you, Maharajah."

"Speak!"

"Last evening, during Captain Irwin's absence, several rascals entered
his house with the intention of committing an act of violence on
the person of the Captain's wife. What do you know about the matter,
Maharajah?"

"I do not understand, Colonel. What should I know?"

"Perhaps you would be well advised to try and remember. Do you mean to
tell me that you now hear of this business for the first time?"

"Certainly! I have not heard a word about it until now."

"And you have not been told that one of the assailants who was killed on
the spot was one of your servants?"

"No. I have a great many servants, and I am not responsible for their
actions, if they are not done by my orders."

"But this is exactly what I believe to have been the case. You will
hardly expect me to believe that one of your servants would have dared
to make such an attack on his own initiative. Unfortunately, the other