asked me to tell you that he is very sorry not to be able to thank you
personally for your heroic behaviour. He hopes to be able to do so
later on. He has been ordered to go to Lahore in great haste and for an
indefinite period. There was not time for him to see you, in order to
thank you."

Heideck imagined that he knew what this order meant. But he only asked:
"And are you going to stay on here under the protection of the Colonel?"

"Nothing definite has been arranged as yet. Nobody knows what may happen
to-morrow. It is certain that extraordinary events are in preparation.
In case of war, we poor women have to do as we are told, you know."

"And the Maharajah? You have not heard about him?"

"Colonel Baird saw the Prince officially yesterday; but I do not know
anything more; I had not the courage to ask. It seems to me quite
certain that the Maharajah is hostilely disposed towards the Colonel.
The event which happened here to-day is, I think, immediately to be
connected with the Maharajah. I know the ways of these Indian despots!"

"May I venture to ask what has happened?"

"An attempt to poison the Colonel at his own table."

"To poison the Colonel?" asked Heideck surprised.

"Yes. Colonel Baird's habit is to drink a tumbler of ice-water before
each meal. To-day, at tiffin, the Indian butler gave it him as usual.
The water appeared to him rather cloudy. He did not drink it at once,