"But what am I to do with the beast?"
"My dear fellow," returned the Consul, "I've been your wife's devoted slave for the last two days, and I have restored her safe and sound to your arms, but I really can't undertake to manage your aunt's elephants into the bargain."
"But at least you might advise me."
"Turn him over to Cassim."
"To whom?"
"Why, to his own mahout, the little brown man who is dancing round him now. I discovered him tearing his hair at Southampton station, where he was left by mistake yesterday, and brought him along."
"Then for heaven's sake make him get his beast off the line!" cried Scarsdale, dragging Allingford up to the native keeper.
"My lord desireth his mid-day meal, and the sahib of the watch-tower hath it within," explained that functionary.
"Tell his lordship that he'll have a great deal better dinner if he will go back to the square," said Allingford.
Just what the mahout said to the elephant will never be known, but it proved convincing: for, with a grunt of dissatisfaction, the beast consented to retrace his steps.