"You have stolen a march," proclaimed the General; "these are comfortable free quarters—a good billet. Better than the Imperial!"
"Yes; the Gascoignes have been most pressing," said Lola; "so kind. They were greatly averse to my staying at an hotel."
She paused. The couple were coming out on the verandah, to find her and the table thus surrounded. After a few minutes' greetings and talk, General Bothwell said:
"So I hear you are off, Gascoigne. I met Hawkins at the gate, and he told me."
"Yes; I've had a wire, and I leave to-morrow for Garhwal."
"About this lake scare—most unnecessary fuss, don't you think so, eh?"
"No; I'm on the other tack—better be sure than sorry."
"Please do explain all about it," said Mrs. Lacy; "I am so interested."
"The explanation is, that an enormous landslip has dammed up a large valley, and a mountain river, and turned it into a lake, five miles long and four hundred feet deep."
"That's big enough for canoeing," remarked Sir Capel.