Sir John, however, intervened with smooth speeches and for the rest of supper the conversation was kept to less painful topics.

But the Colonel had not said his last word.

As they went upstairs to their rooms he turned to Shere Ali, who was just behind him, and sighed heavily.
"If I had shot a tiger in India," he said, with an indescribable look of pathos upon his big red face, "it would have made a great difference to my life.".