Face it! Could she? She hesitated, and at that moment a step sounded outside, rapid, with a clink in it--the clink of spurs!
'Here, baboo!' said a guttural Northern voice. 'This for dispatch--be-rung (bearing) Sirkâri. Take it, fool--I have no time to lose--and give receipt!'
There was a pause, then the clink of spurs passed again, and Jack Raymond, who had slipped into his chair, crossed to the desk, looked over the baboo's shoulder at the telegram, which was in cipher, and turned to Lesley smiling.
'Perhaps we shan't have to face it after all! They are sending to Fareedabad off their own bat. Well! better late than never!' There was a ring of bitterness in his voice.
'You mean----' began Lesley, who had crossed too, and now stood looking down at the official signature below the cipher with a half comprehension.
'That they will be a bit surprised when the troops turn up at nine; but stay! we can dodge them a bit! Baboo! what time was this telegram given in?'
The baboo glanced at the clock. 'A quarter to eight, sir.'
'Nothing of the kind!' contradicted Jack Raymond in a tone of voice which turned his hearer grey-green once more; 'it came in at--let me see, what is the latest I can give it?--twenty minutes to seven. Fill that in, baboo, and file it--not there, you fool!--below the other one--that didn't come in till half-past! You won't forget these facts, will you? If you don't, I--I won't remember that you made a mistake in telegraphing at first. Do you understand? Now, Miss Drummond, you should have just time to get home and dress for dinner.'
After he had pushed away the table and unlocked the door, she followed him out into the still almost-deserted station without a word. A lamp or two had been lit; at the farther end a group of coolies lounged; closer in, a light showed from an office.
'I'll bring the cycles,' said Jack Raymond, and she passed out from the semi-darkness and shadow into the clear dusk beyond, and stood waiting, full of a vague amazement at herself and all things.