gap in the mess-table, that an officer of the regiment had
resigned his new-found commission.

And Dirkovitch, bland, supple, and always genial, went away too by
a night train. Little Mildred and another man saw him off, for he
was the guest of the mess, and even had he smitten the colonel
with the open hand, the law of that mess allowed no relaxation of
hospitality.

"Good-bye, Dirkovitch, and a pleasant journey," said little
Mildred.

"Au revoir," said the Russian.

"Indeed! But we thought you were going home?"

"Yes, but I will come again. My dear friends, is that road shut?"
He pointed to where the North Star burned over the Khyber Pass.

"By Jove! I forgot. Of course. Happy to meet you, old man, any
time you like. Got everything you want? Cheroots, ice, bedding?
That's all right. Well, au revoir, Dirkovitch."

"Um," said the other man, as the tail-lights of the train grew
small. "Of - all - the - unmitigated!"

Little Mildred answered nothing, but watched the North Star and
hummed a selection from recent Simla burlesque that had much
delighted the White Hussars. It ran -