The Viceroy had been civil to me--he could not have been otherwise; in fact, he verged on friendliness before we parted--but that was all.

His Military Secretary had been as stiff as military etiquette could possibly make him.

There seemed to be, therefore, nothing much to expect as to audience from them.
"Then I was tired out--a more wearying morning and afternoon I had seldom experienced--and I bargained in my own mind, and even mentioned it to Ajeet Singh, that if there was not much of an audience I should leave them to bear the brunt of the burden.
"As we drove up the appearance of things seemed to confirm my anticipations.

Everything was silent.

They had been afraid of the roaring of the wild beasts disturbing the Meetings, but there was not a growl to be heard, nor a carriage to be seen, nor even a pedestrian.