"And towards the close of dinner Mrs. Ballantyne left the room?"
"Yes."
"She did not come back again?"
"No."
"No. The two men were then left alone?"
"Yes."
"After dinner was the table cleared?"
"Yes," said Baram Singh, "the Captain-sahib called to me to clear the table quickly."
"Yes," said Travers. "Now, will you tell me what the Captain-sahib was doing while you were clearing the table?"
Baram Singh reflected.