Southwards he went to Calcutta, and in that city for a time was lost to sight.

He emerged one afternoon upon the racecourse, and while standing on the grass in front of the Club stand, before the horses cantered down to the starting post, he saw an elderly man, heavy of build but still erect, approach him with a smile.
Shere Ali would have avoided that man if he could.

He hesitated, unwilling to recognise and unable quite to ignore.

And while he hesitated, the elderly man held out his hand.
"We know each other, surely.

I used to see you at Eton, didn't I?
I used to run down to see a young friend of mine and a friend of yours, Dick Linforth.