"Do you mean the Rajah? No, I haven't heard anything, but if he is making himself a nuisance, I am not surprised. I expected it."
"Don't talk like that!" Stafford exclaimed, bringing his clenched hand down on the table. "How dare you! Have you no sense of responsibility? For you it was no more than a doubtful speculation, and you took care that there were no risks; but for Marut it means—Heaven knows what it means!"
"Nothing!" returned Travers coolly. "Nothing to get heated about. The Rajah feels sore, no doubt, but that will pass. And that is not my fault. It would have been all right if Miss Cary had not—well, made such a fool of herself, and incidentally of us all."
Stafford gazed steadily at the man who smiled at him. He could not understand a character so absolutely without all moral foundations.
"You are no doubt preparing to start for Madras?" he asked, controlling his voice with a strong effort.
"Certainly. There is nothing more to be done here."
"Let me tell you that you are not likely to leave Marut alive."
Travers laughed.
"Nonsense, my dear Captain! I am not to be frightened with nursery tales."
"It is not a nursery tale. I give you my word of honor that before nightfall we shall be overwhelmed by a force a hundred times larger than anything we can bring on the field for weeks to come."