A young man came to the house. He had ridden from afar. He was quite exhausted and wanted to be taken to the Great Khansamah without delay.

In due course we learned that the message that had been brought was from the Khansamah's brother, and that the Khansamah's son, Asraf, who had recently been married to Roshanara, was dead. He had been murdered.

The Khansamah shut himself into his room in mourning. A pall of gloom fell over the house. Fabian was deeply disturbed. Tom Keeping and Dougal were in the study with Fabian for a long time. They did not emerge for dinner and, as on other occasions, trays were sent to the study.

Lavinia and I met over dinner alone. We talked, as the whole household was talking, about Asraf's death.

"He was so young," I said. "He and Roshanara have only just been married. Who could have wanted to kill him?"

Even Lavinia was shocked.

"Poor Khansamah. It is such a blow to him. His only son!"

"It is terrible," I said, and felt sorry for the man in spite of the fact that he was fast becoming a sinister figure in my imagination.

Lavinia said she would retire early and she went to her room. I was in no mood for sleep. I felt very disturbed. I wondered what would happen to Roshanara. Poor child, she was so young.

I sat in the drawing room in the dark, with the curtains drawn back so that I could look out on the beauty of the moonlit garden.

Just as I was thinking I would retire, the door opened and Fabian came in.

"Hello," he said. "Still up? Where is Lavinia?"

"She has gone to bed."

"And you are sitting here alone?"

"Yes. All this is so disturbing."

He shut the door and advanced into the room. "I agree," he said. "Very disturbing."

"What does it mean?" I asked.

"It means that for some reason Asraf has been murdered."

"Perhaps it is one of those thugs. They murder without reason."

He was silent for a while. Then he said, "No ... I do not think it was the thugs this time ... though it might be connected with them."

"You think that someone murdered ... not just for the sake of killing ... but for a definite reason?"

He sat down opposite me. "It is imperative that we find out what is going on."

"I understand that."

"It could be of the utmost importance to us. I don't like the way things look. I have been discussing with Dougal and Tom the possibility of getting Lavinia and you away with the children."

"Away! You mean ..."

"I should feel happier." He smiled at me a little sardonically. "I don't mean happier ... exactly ... I mean relieved."

"I don't think Lavinia would go."

"Lavinia? She will go where and when she is told to go."

"She has a will of her own."

"It's a pity she hasn't some sense to go with it."

"I don't think I would like to be sent here and there ... like a parcel."

"Please don't be difficult. Things are hard enough to decide, so don't make them worse."

"It is just that one wants to have a little say in what happens to one."

"You have no idea what is going on and yet you want to make decisions. Women and children should not be here."

"You raised no objections to Lavinia's coming out here. The children were born out here."

"She came with her husband. I could not arrange where the children were born. I am just stating that it is unfortunate that she and they and you are here. But all that came about naturally enough. I blame myself for bringing you and Miss Philwright out."

"You did not bring us out."

"It was my suggestion that you come."

"Why?"

"I thought perhaps you would have some influence on Lavinia. You did in the past and, as I believe I told you ... or implied at least ... I also considered the benefits your presence here would give me."

"Because you think with your mother that it is necessary for the children to have an English governess and an English nanny."

"But of course ..."

"And now you regret it."

"For one reason only. I don't like the situation here and I think it would be better not to have too many women and children around."

"I think your concern does you credit."

He said with a touch of sarcasm, "You know the real reason why I manoeuvered your visit. It was because I wanted a little pleasure for myself."

"I am surprised that you should think I could provide it."

"You can't be. You know, for one thing, how I enjoy these spirited conversations ... also, I wanted to get you away from the odious Colin Brady."

"I thought he was regarded as a devoted Framling subject."

"All the more reason why I should dislike him. I wanted to see you ... so I arranged it. Besides, what would you have done at home? You couldn't stay at the rectory without marrying Brady. Where would you have gone?"

"Where I did go. To my old nurse."

"Ah yes, that good woman. I wanted you here, that was all. In spite of your indifference to me, I am fond of you, Drusilla."

I hoped I did not show the pleasure I felt. He was irrepressible. He must know that I would never indulge in a light love affair with him; but he never gave up.

I changed the subject. "Why are you so disturbed now?"

"This Asraf business."

"The murder?"

"Exactly. Why was he killed? He was little more than a boy. Why? It is something we have to find out ... quickly. If it were the Thugs, I think I would feel easier. But this was an isolated killing. Thugs deal in numbers. The blood of one innocent boy would not placate Kali for long. As much as I would deplore further outbreaks, I feel that would be more understandable than this mystery. You see, this comes back to our own household. I have a feeling that that is significant."

"Can you question the Khansamah?"

He shook his head. "It might be dangerous. We have to find out what is going on. Why was Asraf murdered? We must know whether it was a ritual killing or for some other reason. Tom has left at once for the tea plantation. We may have some news when he gets back."

"It is all very mysterious."

"There are many mysteries in this country. Drusilla, I think I should warn you. I may decide that you would have to go at a moment's notice. I should have sent you off before now, but travelling is so difficult and the journey might prove more dangerous than staying here. It might be necessary to move you to another town here in India. But we have to understand what this murder means first. So much depends on what is behind it."

There was silence for a few moments. Then he said, "How peaceful it seems out there ..." He did not go on. I stood up suddenly. I wondered what Lavinia would think if she came down and found me in this darkened room with her brother.

I said, "I will say good night."

I heard him laugh. "You think being here alone with me ... is a little improper?"

Again he was reading my thoughts, which surprised and disconcerted me every time I discovered it.

"Oh ... certainly not."

"No? Perhaps you are not quite so conventional as I sometimes think. Well, you came on a very hazardous journey. You came with great risk across the desert ... so it is hardly likely that you can be afraid of me just because we are alone and in a darkened room."

"What an idea!" I said lightly.

"Yes, it is, isn't it? Stay awhile, Drusilla."

"Oh, I am very tired. I think I should go to bed."

"Don't worry too much about what I have told you. I may be wrong. There could be a logical answer to all these things ... chains of coincidence and that sort of thing. But one must find out and be prepared."

"Of course."

"I would be most unhappy if you had to go."

"It is kind of you to say so."

"It is merely truthful. I wish you were not so afraid."

"I am not afraid of you, you know."

"Afraid of yourself, perhaps?"

"I assure you I am by no means overawed or in terror of myself."

"I didn't mean in that way."

"I must go."

He took my hand and kissed it.

"Drusilla, you know I am very fond of you."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me for what I can't help. Stay awhile. Let's talk. Let's stop hedging, shall we?"

"I was not aware of hedging."

"It's built up between us. You planted the seeds and they grow like weeds ... of the most prolific kind. I know what started it. It was that business in France. It had more effect on you than it had on Lavinia. You decided that all men are liars and deceivers and you have made up your mind never to be lied to or deceived."

"I think you are talking about something of which you are quite ignorant."

"Well, give me a chance to learn. I shall be your humble pupil."

"I am sure you would never be humble ... nor take instruction from me. So I'll say good night. I will remember what you told me and hold myself in readiness for departure at any moment."

"I hope it doesn't come to that."

"Nevertheless I shall be prepared."

"Do you insist on going?"

"I must," I said. "Good night."

I went upstairs in a mood of exhilaration. I wished that I could believe it when I told myself I was indifferent to him.

Alice showed me a letter Tom Keeping had left for her to read after he had gone. He was expecting to return before long and then perhaps she would have an answer for him. He was asking her to marry him. He knew that she would not want to give a hasty reply and would need time to think. They had known each other such a short time, but he himself was certain that he wanted to marry her.

"The times are somewhat uneasy," he wrote. "I shall be here for some years, I imagine. You would be travelling with me. It could be dangerous at times and there would be occasions when we would be apart. I do want you to consider all this. I thought it better to write, for I did not want my feelings to carry me away to such an extent that I glossed over the difficulties. Everything will be different from what you have known. But I love you, Alice, and if you care for me I should be the happiest man on Earth."

I was deeply moved when I read it. It might not have been an effusive love letter, but it conveyed a deep sincerity.

I looked at Alice and I did not have to ask what her answer would be.

"I would not have believed such a thing could happen to me," she said. "I never thought for one moment that any man would want to marry me ... and a man like Tom. I feel I must be dreaming."

Dear Alice! She did look bemused, but incredibly happy.

"Oh, Alice," I said. "It's wonderful. It's a beautiful romance."

"That it should happen to me! I can't believe it. Do you think he really means it?"

"Of course he means it. I'm so happy for you."

"I couldn't marry him yet."

"Why not?"

"What about my job here? The Countess ..."

"The Countess wouldn't care about you if it suited her. Of course, you must marry him. You must begin this wonderful life as soon as you can."

"What about the children?"

"They have a good nurse in Ayah and an excellent governess in me."

"Oh, Drusilla, we have been such friends!"

"Why the past tense? We are good friends. We always shall be."

It was wonderful to see the change in Alice. She was like a different person. She had never thought to meet someone like Tom Keeping who would love her and whom she loved. She was very fond of children and wanted to have her own; but she had long thought that it would be her mission in life to look after other people's.

A wonderful vista was opening out before her. An adventurous life ... travelling through India with a man who had a most unusual and exciting job—and she would be with him forevermore.

She looked at me rather wistfully, and I guessed that, like many people in love—unselfish ones like Alice, that is—she wanted to see others in the same state, and especially me.

"I wish ..." she said rather sadly.

I knew what she was going to say and added quickly, "You wish that Tom would come back quickly and you are wondering when you can be married. It will be quite simple, I imagine. Think of all the girls who come out to be married. They must be quite used to it by now."