"I don't know; all it says is 'Return at once.' Some silly inspection, I suppose. But I ain't going. I'll wire to say 'Regret impossible.' Here, you fool with the belt, give me a form."
"I'm afraid you can't do that, Graeme," said his host gravely.
"Can't I? I'll soon show you I can. Why ... what do you mean, do you know anything of this, Sir Reginald?"
"The 1st Lancers leave Riwala for the frontier to-night. The Afridis have risen, after all, and seized the Khyber forts. I'm very sorry, Mrs. Graeme, but I was afraid of it all along. That's why I didn't want to come to-day."
Lucy said nothing.
"What's all this?" said Lady Wilford, coming up. "Oh," on hearing the news, "I do call that a shame, my dear, I am so sorry."
Lucy again made no answer, but, turning, left the group and walked slowly away to her tent.
"Oh, but, Reginald," continued his wife, really distressed, "surely something can be done, these two poor creatures, why not send a wire to say Captain Graeme's sick and can't move? They'd believe you, though of course they wouldn't him."
"My dear, what you suggest is impossible."
"I should just think it is," said Graeme, the anger on whose face had now turned to joy. "What! me skulk up here while my regiment's fighting on the frontier, not much. Here, I must get back to Shiraz at once. Ahmed Khan, put my things together, ek dum.[#] And you," to the peon, "order me a tonga when you get back. Gad, but this is good business, Lucy. Now where's my wife got to?"