He was a man, moreover.

He had been little more than a boy when he had dined with Linforth in the mess-room at Chatham.
"After all," Linforth continued, and his voice now really had something of genuine friendliness, for he understood that Shere Ali had suffered--had suffered deeply; and he was inclined to forgive his temerity in proposing marriage to Violet Oliver--"after all, it is not so much more than a year ago when we last talked together of our plans." Shere Ali turned to the younger of the two who stood beside him and spoke a few words in a tongue which Linforth did not yet understand.

The youth--he was a youth with a soft pleasant voice, a graceful manner and something of the exquisite in his person--stepped smoothly forward and repeated the words to Linforth's Pathan.
"What does he say ?" asked Linforth impatiently.

The Pathan translated: "His Highness the Prince would be glad to know what your Excellency means by interrupting him." Linforth flushed with anger.

But he had his mission to fulfil, if it could be fulfilled.
"What's the use of making this pretence ?" he said to Shere Ali.