Had the man murdered and robbed him ere flinging him down to the torrent that had swept his body away?
The wonder tormented her as of old, but with renewed intensity.

She had awaked with the conviction strong upon her that the man was not far away, that she had seen him recently, and that Everard Monck had seen him also.
That brought her thoughts very swiftly to the present, to Monck's illness and dependence upon her, and in a flash to the realization that she had spent nearly the whole day as well as the night in sleep.

In keen dismay she started from her bed and began a rapid toilet.
A quarter of an hour later she heard Peter's low, discreet knock at the door, and bade him enter.

He came in with a tea-tray, smiling upon her with such tender solicitude that she had it not in her heart to express any active annoyance with him.
"Oh, Peter, you should have called me hours ago!" was all she found to say.
He set down the tray with a deep salaam.

"But the captain _sahib_ would not permit me," he said.
"He is better ?" Stella asked quickly.
"He is much better, my _mem-sahib_.