“No, I sincerely hope not, as I have no weapon but your parasol. Joking apart, you are perfectly safe. This”—with a wave of the aforesaid parasol—“is not their style of hunting-ground.”

“And what is their style, as you call it?”

“Oh, lots of high grass and jungle, in a cattle country.”

“Have you shot many tigers?”

“Two last month. My friend and I had rather good sport down in Travancore.”

“I suppose you live out here?”

“No, I have only been about six months in the country.”

“I wish I had been six months in India.”

“May I ask why?”

“Certainly you may. Because I would be going home in six months more.”