He smiled pensively and played with the tassels of his cushion.
"And yet," he said, "how true it is that his Highness thinks only of the Colonel Sahib's safety." Some note of satisfaction, not quite perfectly concealed, some sly accent of triumph sounding through the gently modulated words, smote upon Luffe's ears, and warned him that the true meaning of the Diwan's visit was only now to be revealed.

All that had gone before was nothing.

The polite accusations, the wordy repetitions, the expressions of good will--these were the mere preliminaries, the long salute before the combat.

Luffe steeled himself against a blow, controlling his face and his limbs lest a look or a gesture should betray the hurt.

And it was well that he did, for the next moment the blow fell.
"For bad news has come to us.