I am Colonel Dewes." "Yes, I remember," said Shere Ali with some embarrassment; and he took the Colonel's outstretched hand.

"I thought that you had left India for good." "So did I," said Dewes.

"But I was wrong." He turned and walked along by the side of Shere Ali.

"I don't know why exactly, but I did not find life in London so very interesting." Shere Ali looked quickly at the Colonel.
"Yet you had looked forward to retiring and going home ?" he asked with a keen interest.

Colonel Dewes gave himself up to reflection.