“Yes, of course I do. The man who went north from Bardur the week before I turned up there?”
“Well, there’s trouble brewing thereabouts. You know the Taghati country up beyond the Russian line. Things are in a ferment there, great military preparations and all the rest of it, and the reason, they say, is that the hill-tribes in the intervening No-man’s-land are at their old games. Things look very ugly abroad just now, and we can’t afford to neglect anything when a crisis may be at the door. So we want a man to go out there and find out the truth.”
Lewis had straightened himself and was on his feet before Wratislaw had done. “Upon my word,” he cried, “if it isn’t what I expected! We have been far too sure of the safety of that Kashmir frontier. You mean, of course, that there may be a chance of an invasion?”
“I mean nothing. But things look ugly enough in Europe just now, and Asia would naturally be the starting-point.”
Lewis made some rapid calculations in his head which he jotted on the wood of the fireplace. “It would take a week to get from Bardur to Taghati by the ordinary Kashmir rate of travelling, but of course the place is unknown and it might take months. One would have to try it?”
“I can only give you the bare facts. If you decide to go, Beauregard will give you particulars in town.”
“When would he want to know?”
“At once. I go back to-morrow morning, and I must have your answer within three days. You would be required to start within a week. You can take time and quiet to make up your mind.”
“It’s a great chance,” said Lewis. “Does Beauregard think it important?”
“Of the highest importance. Also, of course it is dangerous. The travelling is hard, and you may be knocked on the head at any moment as a spy.”