VIII

THE PAMIRS


In vain did Heideck, on the day following the night-attack, wait for a
message from Edith, giving him an opportunity of seeing her again. He
was prepared to be taken to task by Irwin on account of his evening
visit at the villa. But the Captain did not show himself.

In the early morning Heideck had been summoned to the Colonel to report
on the incident of the preceding night. The conversation had been short,
and Heideck gained the impression that the Colonel observed a studied
reserve in his questions.

He evidently desired the German to believe that in his own conviction
they had only to deal with bold burglars, who had acted on their own
responsibility. He mentioned quite incidentally that the dead man
had been recognised as one of the Maharajah's bodyguard. To Heideck's
inquiry whether the killing of the man could involve him in difficulties
with the civil authorities, the Colonel answered with a decisive--

"No. You acted in justifiable self-defence in shooting the fellow
down. I give you my word, you will neither be troubled about it by the
authorities nor by the Maharajah."