She passed him, stepping over the bronze reptile; and, spreading wider the casement, went out onto the veranda.
In the act of following, the fact of the muffled cry recurred to him. Was it possible that the bullet, ricochetting from the metal casting, had found a mark beyond the window?
With one foot across the sill a scream seemed to stop his heart from beating. Certainly it held him motionless for a second or more. Yet he recovered himself in time—just in time—to catch Nina in his arms as she staggered backward, stunned and half-fainting. Nor was it any wonder that she screamed and was stunned and half-fainted.
For fate chose that moment for making her "silly dream" come true. She had seen a ghost on the veranda.
CHAPTER IV
A White Slipper and a Red Stain
The native servants, startled by the pistol-shot, flocked in haste to the veranda. In the lead was Jowar, the Darlings' khitmatgar, whom Nina hated. And he saw her in Andrews's arms.
It was only for an instant, however. The presence of Jowar revived her like a cold shower, and she stood on her own feet with her chin in the air.
"I saw a man running," she explained. "It must have been he that shot through the window. Oh, how frightened I was!"