And five of the six were occupied in wondering what in the world Sir Charles Luffe, K.C.S.I., could have learnt of value to him at a solitary supper party with a lady of comic opera.

For it was evident that he had spoken in deadly earnest.
Captain Lynes of the Sikhs broke the silence: "What's this ?" he asked, as an orderly offered to him a dish.
"Let us not inquire too closely," said the Political Officer.

"This is the fourth week of the siege." The rice-fields of the broad and fertile valley were trampled down and built upon with sangars.

The siege had cut its scars upon the fort's rough walls of mud and projecting beams.

But nowhere were its marks more visible than upon the faces of the Englishmen in the verandah of that courtyard.
Dissimilar as they were in age and feature, sleepless nights and the unrelieved tension had given to their drawn faces almost a family likeness.