Colonel Bradlaw came up and joined them, and after a little the Rajah also. He stationed himself beside Olga, and began to talk in his smooth way of all the wonders in the district she had yet to see.
She wished he would not take the trouble to be gracious to her, but he was always gracious to European ladies and there was no escape. The British polish over the Oriental suavity seemed to her a decidedly incongruous mixture. She infinitely preferred the purely Oriental.
"My shikari has told me of a man-eater at Khantali," he said presently. "You have not seen a tiger-hunt yet? I must arrange an expedition, and you and Captain Ratcliffe will join?"
Olga explained that she had never done any shooting.
"But you will like to look on," he said.
She hesitated. "I am afraid," she said, after a moment, "I don't like seeing things killed."
"No?" said the Rajah politely.
She wondered if the dusky eyes veiled contempt, and felt a little uncomfortable in consequence of the wonder.
"You have never killed—anything?" he asked, in a tone of courteous interest.
"Nothing bigger than a beetle," said Olga.