"It fits," I agreed. "But it does seem a rather wild story to me."

"Well, we were in a wild country. Things are different there ... and here ... from what they are at home. It just seems improbable because you are putting it into an English setting. I think Tom acted splendidly—so quickly ... so efficiently."

"Yes, I shall have to thank him."

"What would have happened if he hadn't been there!" She shivered. "It is too awful to contemplate."

"Sir Fabian says that Tom was acting on his orders."

"He would, wouldn't he?"

"It sounds ... possible."

Alice lifted her shoulders. "I think Tom was wonderful," she said.

I could see that she was obsessed by Tom and I wondered what the outcome would be.

We chatted in the nursery together when the children had gone to bed. Alice was more talkative than usual.

"Tom is apparently a wonderful man," I said. "They all seem to think highly of him."

"His life is very adventurous. I don't suppose he'll stay here long. He is always on the move. He was delighted to see us."

"He was delighted to see you."

"He did say that he was. Then ... he said a strange thing ... how glad he was to have met us, but he did not think it was a good time for us to be here. I asked him what he meant by that, but he was rather noncommittal."

"I told Sir Fabian about the discovery of that plant in the Khansamah's garden. He was rather disturbed."

"There is a strange feeling in the air. This matter of the Thugs ... I think it is causing them a great deal of concern."

"Naturally it would. It's rebelling against the law."

"Tom says he expects to be here only a few days and he never knows where he will go next." She was silent for a while; then she went on, "It was really wonderful what he did in the desert."

She smiled proudly. I hoped everything would turn out well for her. She deserved some good fortune.

As soon as I saw Tom Keeping I told him I now knew what he had done and I thanked him.

"It was a pleasure," he said. "I only wish I could have had that man arrested. But it is not easy in such places. I recognized him at once, for he had tried the same tactics before. There was a young girl who was going out to be married. Lasseur was one of the party and they disappeared together on the journey across the desert. He had procured a small carriage at the stables, persuaded the girl that they would take the last stage of the journey in greater comfort and ... she was never seen again."

"I don't know what to say to you. It is so bewildering. When I try to think of what might have been ..."

He laid a hand on my arm. "Well, it didn't happen. Sir Fabian did not like the idea of you two ladies travelling unaccompanied and he told me to look out for you, as I was in the neighbourhood and would be making the last part of the journey back to India with you. I saw at once that he was trying the same trick again. I thoroughly enjoyed foiling the loathsome creature."

"He will probably do it again."

"Doubtless he will. I should have liked to expose him, but it is a tricky thing to do. His employer is, I believe, a man of great wealth and power. Heaven knows what the consequences would be if anyone interfered with one of his men. It could be an international incident! Discretion had to be the better part of valour on that occasion and I had to content myself with bringing you safely to your destination."

"Well, thank you."

"You should thank Sir Fabian. Your safe arrival was a matter of the utmost importance to him."

I felt a glow of pleasure which, ridiculously, seemed to make the dangers through which I had passed worthwhile.

Then something disturbing did occur. It was afternoon, that time when the day was at its hottest and the household was quiet.

Lavinia had asked me to go to her. She wanted to chat and ask my opinion about a new dress she was having made up. Not that she would take my advice on such a matter; but she wanted to talk.

I thought this would be a good time. She usually rested at this hour, though she did not sleep, so I guessed I would find her alone.

As I approached her door I heard the sound of voices. Lavinia's was high pitched. She sounded alarmed.

I ran to the door and opened it. For a few seconds I stared in blank amazement. She was standing by the bed; her peignoir had fallen from her shoulders. She looked startled and afraid— and with her was the Great Khansamah. He was there beside her, his puggaree awry ... his face distorted. It seemed to me that he was attacking Lavinia. His eyes were glazed and there was something odd about him.

As for Lavinia, her hair was loose about her bare shoulders. She was very flushed. When she looked at me I saw the fear fade from her face and an almost smug expression cross her features.

"I think," she said to the Khansamah, "that it would be better if you left now."

I could see that he was desperately trying to recover his dignity. His hand went to his half-opened shirt. He looked at me and said haltingly, "Missie come to see Memsahib Countess. I will go."

"Yes, Khansamah," said Lavinia, a trifle imperiously. "You should go now."

He bowed and throwing a look of dislike in my direction, he departed.

I said, "What was that all about?"

"My dear Drusilla, I was most surprised. The fellow thought I might allow him to make love to me."

"Lavinia!"

"Don't look so surprised. He thinks he is better than any of us."

"How could you allow it!"

"I didn't allow it. I protested vigorously."

"Why should he have thought it would be possible?"

"I tell you, he has a high opinion of himself."

"You must have given him some encouragement."

She pouted. "That's right. Blame me ... as you always do."

"Don't you see how dangerous this is?"

"Dangerous? I could have handled him."

"You looked rather alarmed when I came in."

"In the nick of time!" she said dramatically.

"You should never have received him the way you have. You should have seen him downstairs for your daily consultations."

"What nonsense! I was only doing what all the women do. They see their khansamahs every morning."

"This one is different. You have behaved foolishly. You have flirted with him. You must have made him think that he might be successful with you. It would never have entered his mind if you had behaved with decorum as the others do. Who else would dream of encouraging the servants to have such ideas?"

"I did nothing of the sort."

"You did. I have seen you. Receiving him in your negligee ... smiling at him, accepting his compliments. Naturally he thought he was making headway with you."

"But he is a servant here. He should remember that."

"Not when you behave like a slut."

"Be careful, Drusilla."

"It is you who have to be careful. If you do not want plain speaking there is no point in our going on talking."

"I thought you would be sympathetic."

"Lavinia, don't you realize the situation here? Tom Keeping is here because of it. There is unease ... unrest ... and you create this situation with that man!"

"I didn't make it. He did. I didn't ask him to come to my room."

"No. But you have implied your interest in him."

"I have never said a word."

"Looks speak as loud as words. You are just as bad as you were at school."

"Oh, you are going to bring all that up, are you?"

"Yes, I am ... as an example of one piece of folly. This is almost as bad."

She raised her eyebrows. "Really, Drusilla, you do give yourself airs ... just because I have been friendly towards you."

"If you don't like my manner ..."

"I know. You'll go home. You would go back to that boring old rectory ... so you think. But you can't. You can't marry Colin Brady, because he's already married."

"I never intended to marry him. And I don't want to be where I am not wanted."

"Fabian would never let you go."

I flushed slightly. She saw it and laughed. "He's quite interested in you ... but don't deceive yourself. He'd never marry you. Fabian is no better than I am, really. But ... you shouldn't be so standoffish with him, you know."

I prepared to go, but she cried piteously, "Drusilla, wait a minute. I'm so glad you came in when you did. I think the Khansamah would be very determined. I was really getting just a little scared that he might rape me."

"I don't want to hear any more, Lavinia. What happened was largely your fault. I think you ought to be a little more responsible. I believe he was drugged. I know he grows datura in his garden. This would account for his indiscretion, for I cannot believe that even he would dare presume so much in the normal way."

"So what are you going to do now? Tell Dougal what a terrible wife he has? Don't bother. He knows already. Tell him he's such a bore and that is why I have to find a little divertissement. "

"Of course I shall not tell Dougal."

"I know. You'll tell Fabian. Drusilla, for Heaven's sake don't do that."

"I think perhaps it ought to be mentioned. It's intolerable ... his coming to your bedroom like that."

"Well, I am rather irresistible."

"And full of implied promises."

"Drusilla, please don't tell Fabian."

I paused. Then I said, "I think it might be important in view of . . "