That same afternoon, as I was exercising the children and the dogs in the middle Mall, I found myself suddenly confronted by Mr. Sandars. He looked uncommonly smart in his well-cut flannels, and hailed me with an air of joyous rediscovery. After a brief salutation, he said:
“So these are your charges. How are you getting on?”
“Very well, thank you.”
“I must say you don’t do much credit to Naini Tal air. You don’t look yourself—or happy.”
“You must not judge by appearances,” I answered gaily. “Remember the pearls.”
“Ah, yes, I remember the pearls—rather! I suppose you have them still?”
I nodded and asked, “How is General Pontifex?”
“Very fit.”
“Did you have good sport?”
“Splendid. I have stacks of heads, horns, and skins at Jubbulpore waiting for me to take them home.”