"All young men immediately want to protect her," he was wont to say, "and their trouble is that they can't find anyone to protect her from." He watched Shere Ali and Dick Linforth with a sly amusement, and as a result of his watching promised himself yet more amusement during the next two days.

He was roused from this pleasing anticipation by his irascible friend, Colonel Fitzwarren, who, without the slightest warning, flung a loud and defiant challenge across the table to Shere All.
"I don't believe there is one," he cried, and breathed heavily.
Shere Ali interrupted his conversation with Mrs.Oliver.

"One what ?" he asked with a smile.
"Tiger, sir, tiger," said the Colonel, rapping with his knuckles upon the table.

"Of what else should I be speaking?
I don't believe there's a tiger in India outside the Zoo.

Otherwise, why didn't I see one ?" Colonel Fitzwarren glared at Shere Ali as though he held him personally responsible for that unhappy omission.