Jastrow disappeared; and when the door closed behind him Virginia
faced her irate clan-chief bravely.

"He was a spy, and he would have been a traitor. But I am little
better. What will you do to me?"

The Rajah's wrath evaporated quickly, and a shrewd smile, not
unkindly, wrinkled the ruddy old face.

"So it was a case of the trappeh trapped, was it, my deah? I'm
sorry--right sorry. I might have known how it would be; a youngeh man
would have known. But you have done no unpahdonable mischief: Misteh
Winton would have found out for himself in a few hours, and we are
ready for him now."

"Oh, dear! Then he will be beaten?"

"Unquestionably. Faveh me by going to bed, my deah. Your roses will
suffeh sadly for all this excitement, I feah. Good night."




XI

THE RIGHT OF WAY


It seemed to Virginia that she had but just fallen asleep when she was